Official Reina's birthday party

Okay, it was an expensive birthday cake. But it was worth it. At least according to those who ate it.... Reina picked out the cake at the shop. We also liked how she could bring in a picture of the cartoon character Keroro and Tamama, and they included drew them on the plaque made of white chocolate.

Birthday girl looks happy and content. Thank you Kayo for taking these nice photos, unlike mine...

Reina's good friend Emily looks forward to eating the cake.

Reina making sure Hiroshi does a good job cutting the cake.

The girls decorated their own Halloween puzzles. Ayaka is proud of her cat.

Marlinah, Minori and Yadanar... um, I don't know what they are doing...

To me, Alexcia looks like Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Mana and Julie are having a good time.

The girls made Shin their personal karaoke DJ, not that he minded...

The parents also had a great time at the party. The booze helped. We fully used the facilities of our building: the party room, the kid's play room, the karaoke room and this is the Japanese tatami room.

Thanks Sascha and Dorthe (who is not pictured here because the photo I took was too awful to show....) for helping with the body tattoos.

Birthday parties are not that popular in Japan. But my children have always enjoyed theirs. Unlike the Obamas, my children don't get birthday presents from us, only a party. Rio will be turning 11 next year but he is still looking forward to his. It is tiring and a lot of work but I know I'd be sad and lonely the day he says, "Hey Mom, can I have some money to have pizza with my friends?"

Andersen Park in Chiba/ Reina's birthweek celebration

This is part two of Reina's birthweek celebration. The big party was with girls from her own grade. This was a sleepover with two of her favorite friends, Yuka and Maria, who are Rio's age! Instead of a fancy cake, Reina and I baked a chiffon cake (from a mix). It was the first time I made a chiffon cake and I had no idea they were BSing when they warned that the cake rises = A LOT! Still, it had colored candies inside, with whipped cream and strawberries, the girls and boy enjoyed it tremendously.

We also had cheese fondue with bread chunks, potatoes, broccoli, sausage, carrots. Tamami, Michiyo, Hiroshi and I also had wine and guacamole/chips. It was a nice little dinner party. Rio felt left out and actually cried when the girls wouldn't let him in their little tent. The three girls all slept on the sofa bed.

The next day, we went to a big park in Funabashi. I expected a 40-min. drive. It took about 90 minutes. Still, it was worth it. The park has great play areas outdoors and a children's museum section where they have shows, various crafts, a petting zoo, etc. Just everything!
Quiz: Rio is in the photo. Find him!

I just adore this picture. Yuka and Reina look so sweet and happy!

I love this picture. The girls had a great time and it shows!

Maria played older sister to the two girls. It was the first time Yuka met her but they quickly bonded.

Rio and Reina strutting their stuff at the adventure park. The previous weekend, we did an even more treacherous course with Hiro so they were aces at this one. The other one had water hazards...

Maria's curry dish.

Yuka's curry dish.

And Reina's. Michiyo and I thought it would be nice if they made something permanent to commemorate Reina's birthday so they made these clay dishes. Hiro had a wedding to go to so I was lucky that Michiyo agreed to sleep over and hang out with us for the day. The weather was perfect. We had yummy soft creams and milk mochi. The day was the last of a very busy social period that began with Jeannie and Jamie visiting from HK. We also had a blast with them, then a nice family weekend at Narita, followed by Reina's birthday events.

Last week, when I was struggling with finishing a long story and bogged down by having to refile my taxes... these pictures and memories helped me stay sane.

Appreciation and forgiveness

Reina looking cute practicing how to flip the board and land on it.

The need for speed.

Cool Reina, gosh she looks like Hiroshi.

LETTER I WROTE HER INSTRUCTOR:

As I may not catch up with you tomorrow, I also really want to extend my gratitude for going out of your way to teach her. She was bummed about not getting into any clubs this term (first graders don't have many choices) while her brother was doing two. She kept asking for skateboarding lessons which they hardly have in Tokyo and ones availabe are for teenagers. We read books, saw video clips and still had no inkling what an ollie was. Finally, I brought her skateboard in hoping to snag a secondary student who may know and show us. Instead, Miss McNeill saw Reina and and offered your services!! We were hesitant but she pointed you out from the schoolyard, working on the computer in your classroom, all unsuspecting.... Reina remembered your room from Acrodance and dashed upstairs. When you agreed to teach her, I felt relieved of a great burden. We honestly never expected you to do more than a one-time thing, but instead Reina got to be the envy of the school by having her private afterschool club!

Though she never came close to mastering the ollie, she gained so much from spending time with you. On the weekend, she practiced the flip trick, and made turns at greater angles. She pushed herself so far that she even fell a few times because you told her she has be stop being afraid. And by doing so, you taught her the biggest lesson in becoming a "risk-taker" (in PYP jargon.) or " challenging herself" in normal speech.

My husband said something really funny the other day when he realized the Reina's skateboarding instructor was in fact the same guy who is organizing the lunchtime soccer matches Rio's been so excited about. "And he is leaving this school? Well, why didn't you stop him? At least you could have tried!!!" Rio got 20 signatures requesting the adminstration to continue lunch time sports for next year, the Mr Mac legacy.

You've chosen a profession that won't garner you fame or fortune, but do believe that you have made a positive impact on so many lives by giving your heart and your time to children around the world. Best of luck in Germany and enjoy your new life.


Pretty crazy story. The teacher who volunteered him was his girlfriend and I laughed about that too because I put my husband's hand up for things without asking him first!!

The thing that shocked me was that on the day Reina found out the lessons were over, she stopped pushing herself! She was only doing it while he was around. So I am still recovering from the shock. But I will have to remind her. Sigh, kids.

Kids nowadays are so privileged. They seem to have so much more of everything -- attention, money, opportunities, affection. I don't want my kids to ever take anything for granted and appreciate the good things and people in their lives. This teacher went out of his way to teach her, I thought she should go out of her way to thank you.

I regret not taking a picture of it but she made a fancy album with pictures of her skateboarding, a letter and little pockets of "action origami." Reina is an ace at origami and I thought it would be a handy thing for him to show kids in Germany things Japanese kids do. So she made a frog that jumps, a "ball" that you can blow up, a "camera" that opens up and she drew a "photo" of them -- he tall with glasses, she with a skateboard. Reina also made a beautiful crane out of metallic purple holograph paper and Hiro connecting a keyholder onto it for his girlfriend.

He enjoyed the whole thing, especially the photos of her. He loved the one of her going fast and laughing. He asked her for a hug and she did but looked so embarassed. His whole class was still there. Reina is at heart a shy Japanese girl.

While we were working on this I told the story of how I was a summer day camp counsellor, to which she said, "Aw man, I wish you could have been my camp counsellor too!" (How cute is that?) I spent a lot of extra time doing things with my girls. And I will always remember one who made me a very fancy origami ball. Teaching kids is something you don't get enough financial rewards for. What keeps the good ones going is feeling that you are making a difference, and that people appreciate your efforts.

I know this myself and I want my children to be able to show appreciate for the good people in their lives.

Showing appreciation for someone she adores was not difficult. Now forgiving a teacher she didn't it was.... a lot harder.

Her acrodance teacher was a competitive gymnast grewing up and I swear he must have been coached by Eastern European tyrants because he was so tough on the kids. Anyways, he was responsible for the worst day of her school year when he told her that "she wasn't good enough" to have the lead position for the performance. Now, there were a million better ways to have dealt with the situation. He could have warned her saying that she MUST remember the entire routine or else it will go to someone else. He could have simply made a white lie, saying that the balance would be better if .... and her switched position. Instead, he made her feel like crap and boy, did I write an angry letter to the principal.

We had a meeting later that week but on the weekend, I had made Reina practice the routine six hours on Sat, and two more on Sun, to ensure that she was indeed the best. After the first hours, she wanted to give up. But then I had already written the letter and couldn't back out. If I was going to ask for her position back, she better prove that she deserved it. It would not be fair to the other kids. So I pushed her and she perfected it.

Anyways, we had a meeting and on his face, I saw genuine pain. He honestly had no idea how hurt she was and he felt so bad she felt bad. I began to feel bad for him. He is so socially awkward that Rio says "With that personality, no way he'd have a girlfriend." From Rio!!! In addition, he gave up two weeks of lunchtime practicing with the kids and spent hours putting together an awesome CD for them.

He made Reina famous after the school concert. High school girls came up to her and said that she was awesome. All the kids wanted to do acrodance next year. Except the instructor is not coming back. He is going to teach at a school across town, which is highly unusual.

He is in curriculum planning but wanted to go back to classroom teaching. Except the school wouldn't let him!!! I'm certain they've had so many complaints from parents about him that though the school had a teaching position opened from grade two to five -- they wouldn't give him one!!! It is the correct decision, but still I feel bad for him.... but Reina doesn't. I do get angry, but I also forgive pretty easily. I think it's a good way to live. Holding grudges just makes you feel bad.

She repeatedly says acrodance was the best thing she did this school year and yet she refused to even write him a measly generic card to say thank you. "NEVER."

I do get angry, but I also forgive pretty easily. I think it's a good way to live. Holding grudges just makes you feel bad. On the last day, I went up to him and wished him good luck. He looked really happy. Then I made Reina go up and say a quick thank you. I guess she was in a good mood, (after hugging skateboard guy) and actually spoke to acrodance guy nicely. He looked REALLY happy. It was almost sad how acceptance from a little girl could make a teacher feel that much better.

Both teachers are Australian, athletic, wears thick glasses, around 30, committed teachers. But they are so different. The school is under renovation so there isn't a lot of play space. Reina practices skateboard in a little space and lots of times Rio practices soccer next to them. Sometimes a friend may join him. Sometimes other kids will try skateboarding. We manage to use that tiny space nicely. But acrodance guy just sees "small space, too many people, DANGER" so he yells at kids to go home. One day, right after he made some boys leave, another boy arrived and started fooling around with a soccer ball. Skateboard guy whispered something in his ear and he put the ball away. Skateboarder knows it's not fair that some boys were made to stop so he didn't allow soccer that day. But he did it in a way that didn't make the boy feel bad.

Next year, they will both be gone. Guess another adventure will begin.

My attempt at Ukiyoe, Boso no mura

The kids painting their own original Japanese crafts. Rio chose a hoytoko (comedian) mask and Reina a rabbit with a wobbly head.

Yes, I did it! I printed my own version of a famous Hiroshige ukiyoe print. Okay, so I did get a bit of grey on the sail and did every mistake amateurs do, but it's my own and I'm so proud of myself.

As a writer in Tokyo for over a decade, I can't believe I've never been to Boso no mura (look it up, there is a simple English page). It's near Narita Airport and so it's pretty tourist friendly with instructions and explanations in English. For next to nothing, you get to learn and make your own traditional Japanese craft!!!!

This was a 3-hour workshop and the seven participants each got our own print and wooden block and had to print the color onto the print. It is pure artisan work, not particularly creative, but requires a detailed dedication to follow instructions carefully and use your hands deftly. (Neither tasks I am good at...) In particular, the sponging process of creating color gradulation (sp?) fascinating.

These workshops are held three times a year, half the participates are addicts and aim to complete to entire eight prints. There are also a two-day workshops for people interested in figuring out the colors, etc. There is also a wood block carving workshop. The instruction is the best known ukiyoe printmaking still alive. A simply wonderful experience!!

And this was lunch. Fancy sushi rolling is a regional speciality of Chiba. Yes, there are also workshops for making them too!!

There are full-day workshops to make your own paper mache daruma or manekin cat! Great original designs!!!

Reina concentrating very hard.

An array of other masks available. Unlike the longer workshops which are by reservations only, this activity is a drop-in one.

The kids also enjoyed learning how to walk around on handmade bamboo stilts.

Hiroshi would love to make his own knife but unfortunately, reservations were full. So WE WILL BE BACK.

This is a highly recommended day trip for everyone interested in Japanese traditional things. BTW, I am writing a story on traditional Japanese crafts. It's 2,500 words and I always struggle with longer stories but the end product is usually worth it. Plug away!

Rookies week

Rookies is one of the three Japanese television dramas I have watched in its entirety. Japanese series only have a one year run despite its popularity so the top stars get to star in a bunch of different roles for all the major networks.

Rookies follows the Japanese entertainment formula for success which only the most popular mangas become television shows and the most popular tv shows become big screen movies. There is nothing original about the plot. Passionate rookie teacher inspires a bunch of juvenile delinquents to believe in themselves and each other by playing baseball. The manga had a following of mostly male between 15-30.

TBS cleverly knew they had to expand interest for network tv and casts some very hot young actors. Not the biggest names, not one person would carry the show like a Takuya Kimura or Hiro Mizushima. But a bunch of upcoming and quirky actors including a former Mask Rider and a former Ultraman. Women, young and old, would then be onboard. We sat glued to the screen every week, joined in tears at the end of every show. I proudly shied more than the rest of my family.

As a tv show, it swept the Japanese Emmy's last year winning Best Drama of the year, the teacher got the Best Actor, my FAVORITE Hayato Ichihara (with the dramatic eyebrows) won the Best Supporting Actor. Greeen's Kiseki got Best Song, etc.




The new theme song for the movie.

Why the obsession? It's not a new story. Kids who have lost track of their goals and dreams inspired by a passionate teacher. But every week, as he makes each delinquent overcome fears and makes them believe in themselves, makes them feel it's okay to try at something, it just tingles the heart. The acting is excellent. And it's inspiring.

Rio wrote an essay about how Rookies has changed his life. His wasn't one of the two chosen out of the 11,000 entries to be read aloud. But we are proud of him for writing it. About how watching the show made him want to try sports, something he had avoided for two reasons: 1) Didn't like getting tired or hurt 2) Fear of failure. But playing baseball has made him able to take on challenges without any guarantee of victory. And even have fun doing it even if it may involve a little bruising here and there. This is such an important lesson in life.

On Wednesday, we went to a preview of the show (yes, it wasn't a pre-screening) with live appearances by the stars. One thing I emphasized to Rio is how nervous they were speaking to a packed stadium of 12,000. Aniya, the pitcher, (my favorite) who gets so nervous at talk shows and such hand wrote his speech. It went from serious to jokes, and at first, no one understood that he started joking... his voice trembled, he paused too embarassed to go on. But he did and the audience soon began laughing. Reina's favorite, Shinjo, the tall blonde one who has a Spanish mother, always waved and thanked the audience. I pointed to Rio how important it is to overcome shyness to thank people.





The Best Song of the Year. Hayato Ichihara is so wonderful as Keiichi Aniya, I can't bear to see him in any other role or with any other hairstyle, especially his current short, curly blonde look...


Reina wore her Rookies t-shirt to school today. She looked uber cute. Unfortunately, she didn't wear the hat long enough for people to get her Rookies outfit. The shirt is an original, the hate is a replica of what the team wears on the show. Anyways, I wore it after school because she wouldn't and I didn't want to lose it. I have never had so many high school boys greeting me!!! Construction workers pointed it out. Of course, Rio's entire baseball team, including the coach. (Darn, should have got him one!) Yeah, Rookies is very popular. Reina kind of envied the attention so she put it on and a fifth grade teacher who is American and has promised to teach her skateboarding saw her and he melted. "Rookies girl," he said. Guess even Americans living in Japan watch Rookies...

Anyways, I had to get this post out of the way to concentrate on my real work.

A Perfect Birthday Party and Mother's Day

You will know by now that I do enjoy having parties once in a while. I think this was one of the best we've had! It can be challenging having parties for boys getting older and because Rio has friends who don't know each other, it could have been difficult. But the slime theme games worked perfectly. What I did was make unsweetened jelly with food color -- in five colors, put the blogs in plastic bags and chill them. I paired up kids who don't know each other and right then, Callum and Rikuya soon bonded, as did Tony and Shoan. Reina and Jion won the balancing the bag race. Tony and Shoan won the slime toss. Part of the fun was that if you drop your bag, the chances are the bag will break. Everyone ended up winning one of the games which was so nice. They also played a marshmallow message game where you stuff two marshmallows in your mouth and have to recite a message to your partner. That was hilarious as well. Hiroshi only took videos and I forgot to ask Dawn to take pictures... Darn.

Then we all walked over to Toyosu Park and the kids had a wonderful time on the equipment. Then some started playing badminton and toss a baseball. Some parents came to pick up their kids. We invited the Yamauchis and the Simpsons over to eat leftovers!! (I overbought food at Costco) I felt bad about Jion going home on the subway by himself so I invited him over, promising his mom that I'd drive him home. Everyone left around 8 pm, but Jion wouldn't let me drive him and walked to the station with the Simpsons. What a nice boy, so responsible, he didn't want to bother me. I made him promise to call me when he got in which he did.

So it wasn't much of a Mother's Day celebration but Hiro and the kids got me some strapped on weights I've been wanting. Michiyo bought me flowers and Takako got me a fancy hand towel. Feeling thankful for life, family and friends.

Golden Week

The gentle giant. He must weigh at least three times more than me.
There are lots of French shintaidoists who come to Japan. I have to admit I've never gone out of my way to get to know any of them, except Georges. He is so huge and strong but capable of such gentle and fluid movement. I also loved speaking French to him, which I can only do because his English is perfectly fine and if I can't say something, (which is most of the time!) I switch to English, or ask Nancy!

Someone asked me what's this Golden Week thing all about. Well, it's simply a string of national holidays close together making it easy for people to take the whole week off. The holidays include the Emperor's birthday, Children's day, and Labor Union day (where strikes take place...) Unlike Japan's most important holiday which is New Years and lasts for three days, and Obon in August which is the time when the ancestral souls come back and descendants pay hommage at the graves, holidays during Golden Week are not that important so people tend to party!

For me, Golden Week has always meant the annual shintaido retreat (we did skip a few years when the kiddies were really little) and this year was no exception. Reina is writing about some other places we visited. The wonderful Hakone Outdoor Sculpture Museum http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/eng/index.html which has beautiful play sculptures for the kids to climb and explore. The Yunessan Spa was a blast because we went with Nancy, Sakae and Satoshi. http://www.yunessun.com/english/yunessun.html

Guess which of us is the serious martial artist?

Hiroshi participated in the instructor level course which consists of wooden sword techniques. It was INCREDIBLY challenging and never before have I seen so many people injured... It was incredible to think that women older than me and men in the 60s participating. Even in my prime, I just couldn't push myself to that level. Still I have an appreciate for them.

Oh, and about my weight. Would you believe it took me three days to gain back the 2 kgs, (under 5 lbs) I spent a month losing!!!! Breakfast buffets, 24 hour snack room and lavish dinners. Boo-hoo. Yes, Nancy, I have found a way to edit out our thighs before putting up the pix of us with the Doctor Fish nibbling away!!!

Trying to adjust back to normal life. School starts on Monday. Rio's b-day party Sunday. Take care everyone!