Karuizawa Slideshow

五さい !!!!!

Roo is five years old! Or as he likes to respond in Japanese, "go sai". Something about the Japanese response is more fun to say. Maybe it's the "go" for "five" that is also in the "Go Speedracer" song.

It was a full day. We returned home from Karuizawa at noon and....

baked a cake and made frosting,

got a little sticky, opened presents, which included a space station, and baddy (short for bad guys) aliens, and had dinner with friends.

Going to bed tonight, Roo commented, "it was the best birthday ever!". However, there was a sad moment. We bid farewell to very good friends, Jennifer, Arny and Ariana. Wednesday they leave Japan for the USA. As Ariana was leaving, Roo understood the reality of what our "see you later" meant and started crying. Since our arrival in Japan, he and Ariana have played together often. They were one of the first families we got to know. And, I'll miss Jennifer. Conversations on the phone, spontaneous play times at the park, and various "girls out" happenings. And Ryan will miss good conversation with Arny. Thank goodness for Internet video and Vonage telephone.

We are in Karuizawa

Friday afternoon we rode the Shinkansen to the mountain resort town of Karuizawa. It is an hour and ten minutes on the train, but a world away from the concrete and tall buildings of Tokyo. The ryokan where we are staying is surrounded by trees, yet close to the quaint shopping street lined with vendors. We arrived in the dark on Friday and found our way to an Italian restaurant for dinner. We were greeted at the door by a friendly waiter displaying a laminated card written in English politely asking us to keep our child in their seat to avoid an accident with the hazardous hot plates carried by the servers. Hmm...there must have been an incident. After dinner we donned our yukatas and made our way to the hot bath. Roo and I slept on futons, Ryan and his dad on western beds. We woke this morning with a view from our window of a Japanese wedding in progress, first a kimono, next the white dress. We visited a lovely waterfall, walked the shopping street, ate a Japanese style dinner, and finished with the bath. Tomorrow we travel back to Tokyo to celebrate Roo's 5th birthday.

Wee Travelers

I’m reading this book titled, Call Me Okaasan by Suzanne Kamata. It is an anthology of essays written my mothers who are raising their children in a multicultural environment. One of the essays in the book is written by a British mother who met her Iranian spouse while they both were living in Japan. They immigrated to Australia but returned to Japan when their son was young. He is attending Japanese primary school. From speaking with other foreign mothers, I’ve learned I am not the only one shocked by the young age at which Japanese children travel alone on the train or bus or by walk to get to their school. In her essay, this British Mother explains her struggles to come to terms with the school’s expectation that her six year old son walk unattended to school. Most likely with a friend and most definitely not with a parent. Mothers accompany their preschool age children and during this period they are learning the route and safety rules. But once they start primary school (age 6) they make their own way. It’s almost a rite of passage for the six year old and is considered important to build a sense of responsibility and independence. It helps that Japan is safe, security guards may be posted on well traveled routes, and the broader community takes a role in helping to police and ensure harmony. A Japanese mother explained this community role to me by giving an example. You’re encouraged to take your dog for a walk during the time children are en route so you can help keep watch over young commuters.

Grandpa has arrived

Roo's Grandpa (Ryan's dad) arrived last night from the USA, Minnesota. Roo was anxious all day asking many times about when Grandpa would arrive at the apartment. Adding to his excitement was the box of birthday presents Grandma had sent ahead. When the box was delivered, I had explained that he could open the presents once Grandpa arrived. He took it literally, interpreting arrived as the moment Grandpa stepped in the apartment. He's a very happy boy this morning, surrounded by new toys and Grandpa.

An accessory for a house plant

This afternoon as I sat down on the sofa to relax I noticed something sticking out of the dirt of a potted plant. Thinking out loud I said "what's in the plant"? Roo informed me: "It's a race car that had a crash. I'm pretending it's a tree." He's been watching the movie Speedracer a LOT.

Little Shopkeepers

This week Roo’s class is playing shopkeeper where they take turns selling baked goods to their classmates and teachers during snack period. The Moms are taking turns supplying the treat, and today was my day. I got to stand by as Roo and three other boys sold the snacks. They answered questions from their friends (how much is it?), received pretend money, and gave change from the cash register. When we got home Roo commented “we should turn our apartment into a shop”. When I asked him what would we do with his toys, he of course replied that we’d keep them all. I explained that he wouldn’t have time to play because he’d be working in the shop. Hmmm (Roo thinking) …. “No, I’d still have time to play and watch movies.” End of shop discussion. Tonight as he was going to sleep he did say “running the shop” was the best part of his day.