Montessori School

Today on the ride home from school Roo commented "this school is really making me like learning". It made my day! What better words could a mother hope for? He's voluntarily telling me about his day and refers excitedly to the materials he's using, skyscrapers and counting beads. His teachers have told me he's adjusted very well to his new classroom. Again, good news.

The Golden Rule

Roo has started "church school" (as he calls it) on Sundays at a Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation. Here is his work from this morning's topic, The Golden Rule.

When we picked him up after the service, he announced that he had so much fun he can't wait to go again! I think the cookies for snack influenced him but the kind teachers were effective too. His explanation of The Golden Rule: "it means being nice". A good reminder for us all.

Lewis (Louie for short)

This is Louie the Muskrat. According to our friendly neighbor and long time resident Ann, he lives under our wooden deck. Roo and I watched him for several minutes out the kitchen window yesterday afternoon. He's a busy little guy relentlessly searching for his grub in the grass. Given his size, I'd say he's been rewarded for his effort. This photo is taken through the glass, any slight noise sends him scampering up the nearby stone wall into a cluster of trees. He and the squirrels and striped gophers seem to have a cohabitation agreement as they jointly scour the yard with little concern of one another. In the winter we expect to see the deer that eat the evergreens bordering ours and Ann's property, so there's more to come. For those unfamiliar with Louie and his fellow successful North American fur balls, a muskrat is a rodent, but is not technically a rat.

Affordable Sweet Corn

Aaaahhh...affordable sweet corn! One of the joys of an American summer. Roo's favorite vegetable was expensive in Tokyo. I don't think I ever saw it in our neighborhood shops priced below $4.99 PER ear. Today's price at Whole Foods in town, 5 ears for $2 (172 Yen)! I have noticed that other common vegetables seem more expensive here; potatoes, carrots, yellow onions. And of course, daikon and cabbage (of which I have not purchased yet) are considerably pricier. Once I finally get my hands on Japanese goma dressing, I'm sure I'll feel the urge to purchase cabbage, and I'll need to figure out how to shred the cabbage Tokyo style, long delicate threads that remain lightly crunchy. Advice or a link to an "how to" video from readers would be much appreciated.

In Town

This photo captures the essence of the community to which we've moved. Just a block off of main street, the small barn in the yard is a reminder of days gone by. The front porch, the flag, the wooden fence, tidy lawn, all quaintly American. We've gone from mostly concrete to almost no concrete. The homes and shops in the town have retained their character but offer modern variety, including Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant and Powerflow hot yoga. Charming is a good word to describe the surroundings.

Konnichiwa

Today's drop off at school went smoother than yesterday. MUCH smoother. Yesterday involved two of the teachers holding a crying Roo while I left the scene. I was relieved to get a call mid morning saying he had calmed down after ten minutes and was doing well. What broke the ice was said in Japanese. Squeezing his teacher's hand because he was scared, he joined the circle time for roll call. The teacher whispered that he should say "konnichiwa", instead of "here" or "hola" as the other kids do, when his name is called. He complied and replied "konnichiwa", and then started laughing. The other kids started laughing, too. This was enough comic relief to lessen his anxiety and allow him to join in and have fun. Today he went up the steps by himself. He came home wearing an "everything seed" necklace that he's constructed the past two day. He explained that before there was a universe, there was an everything seed that contained all that was to be, including you and me. He's also repeating lines from a song he's learned "spirit of peace" and "all wars will cease". It's a good start!

Garden of Ideas

Like most Americans in suburbia, I'm now equipped with a set of wheels, a mini SUV, the same make and model I had before I left for Japan. Back in the saddle after three years of not owning a car. Ryan's turn next. After all, how does one live without a car for each driver? We gave it a good run this weekend and drove to Connecticut to visit friends that we met in Tokyo. Their daughter celebrated her 6th birthday yesterday. Roo was pleased with the Star Wars theme and the chance to play Star Wars Wii.

It's fun to see friends and reassuring to know that one can really "stay in touch". We arrived on Saturday night just in time for the community beach party complete with a bon fire and smores. Early on Sunday we visited an amazing "back yard" of one the neighbors. They've transformed their acreage into a cooperative garden where vegetables are grown, art is displayed, and refuge is possible for those needing a little escape. Very inspiring.

The Garden of Ideas - Ridgefield, CT

The squash area. How cool is this? I only recall rummaging through crawling vines.

Beautiful purple peppers! You can almost sense them becoming sweeter with every moment on the vine.

A walking path leaves the habitat less disturbed.

Sculptures throughout.

These chickens are feasting on heirloom tomatoes. Lucky birds!

I'll admit, the fresh air and green scenery feels good!

School Jitters

Roo is all jitters tonight. Tomorrow is his first day at his new school in America, and I'm certain the butterflies are having a fiesta in his tummy tonight. His anxiety is apparent and luckily he's expressing his concerns; "What if they make you write so much your hand gets tired?", "I'm scared of the big gym." , "What if you don't want to do something?", "Why are the teachers called Mrs. or Ms.?". As a parent it's tough to find the right soothing words because, truth be known, I'm a little nervous for him! The first day of school for every child every where likely carries some added emotion, and my childhood was no different. I try to remind him that he's a nice boy and the kids will be happy to meet him, and I explain that he'll meet some nice friends, and that mommy gets to go with him into the school and that we can talk with his teachers about anything of which he is concerned. Luckily he's sound asleep, and hopefully a good nights rest and a good breakfast will prepare him for his morning adventure ahead!

Sayonara

Yesterday we moved our sayonara potluck picnic INSIDE to our EMPTY apartment since the heat index made it unbearable to expend any energy outdoors. It worked amazingly well. The kids enjoyed themselves in wide open rooms and the adults were comfortable to hang out in the cool with the air con gunned. Everyone brought yummy food to share. We opened my ume shuu liquor that had been fermenting since June 2009 and it was surprisingly tasty, which has me thinking into the future and wondering if I'll be able to find rock sugar and unripe ume (plums) in New Jersey. The boys kept busy in one room doing bey blade battling,

many of the girls and some of the boys took part in the hooping entertainment led by beautiful Deanne of Hooplovers.com.

We leave Japan on Wednesday to begin a new journey back in the United States. The best word to explain how I'm feeling about it is "sad" mixed with "fortunate". Sad because we're leaving behind an amazing group of friends, but fortunate that we had the opportunity to experience Japan and the expatriate life for three years. The bright side is that we're moving to a good location, we will be in the same country as family and old friends, and the environment is more suitable for playing and doing outdoors, something that is almost necessary for a certain six year old boy. Of course there are many things I will miss about Japan, many being the details of life in our little pocket of a community in uber urban Tokyo. While my waistline might benefit from being away from the amazing food, restaurants and Donut Plant's tres leche, my gastronomic senses will likely feel dissed. I found retreat at Sun & Moon Yoga Studio, better posture at DMJ Body Balancing, enjoyment learning to speak Japanese in the comfort of my own home, fun friendship through book club, pampering at Jurlique spa, a community at Kspace international school, ikebana with neighborhood friends, amazing nail art at Nail Aria, nourishment at Karashi & Pio, dresses that fit a western figure at the Royal Closet and Regina Romatica, chocolate at Chocolate Erica, and many many creamy coffees and hours of conversation at Book Off cafe. Outside the neighborhood I'm certain to miss Wantanabe, the Loft, Tokyo Hands, washi crafting under the detailed eye of the patient women in the store and public transportation. I'm sure we'll settle in where we are going and once again build a life. One chapter closes, we have more great friends and experiences for life's coffer, and another chapter begins!