Summary of Last Week

Life keeps moving along here in Nishiokoppe. I’m grateful that Halloween is over. After two parties, pumpkin carving with the middle schoolers after school, and my adult education class, I’m about Halloweened out. Ridge is slowly adjusting to his pre-school. We are now on day four, and he seems to like it. Being in a school where very little English is spoken is difficult for him, however, and he has been asking to come home after lunch. He is not interested in the slightest in taking a nap at school. So, he stays for lunch and then Aaron comes to collect him. On a positive note, Aaron and Holt have been able to simply walk in and drop Ridge off each say. Last year, in Juneau, it took many weeks for me to be able to just drop him off, so this is really wonderful! Holt will have to wait until the new school year starts in April. He just wasn’t ready to say, “Bye-bye” to diapers, so we have quit worrying about it and will wait until spring. I think it’s nice for him to have some time during the day where he can do what he pleases and have Aaron to himself.

It has been a new experience to pack a lunch for Ridge. Somehow, having to prepare his lunch makes it seem as though he is growing up too fast. We have a little fabric bag that holds the small plastic containers I put his lunch in. I’ll have to take a picture some time. Of course, if Aaron packs lunch, it’s a WHOLE other story. I am always wondering what the teachers think about Ridge’s lunch as is, but Aaron really took the cake, so to speak, today. Ladies, I think you will groan aloud with me when I tell you that Aaron sent my son to school today (in Japan, a country obsessed with their food) with nothing but three left over, cold pancakes and a mandarin orange! They was sure to set tongues a’ wagging this morning.

Our week last week was topped off by some interesting events. First, Aaron chatted (sort of) with some of the teachers at the middle school and ended up doing three massages last week. I think it pained the ladies some when they tried to give Aaron a money gift (it was explained to me that they were not paying him, since that is illegal) and he refused. I countered Kurata’s explanation with one word: deportation. Aaron has no work permit, and massage is regulated here. It is very Japanese, however, to give gifts, so we are trying to steer people in the fruit and cheese area. Anyway, the massages were a bit of a challenge. Aaron does not really do relaxation massage. His goal is to work on trouble spots – trigger points- and communication is very important. Being the awesome guy he is, though, he seems to have worked out something of a system, and he just finished doing his fourth (a repeat visitor) about half an hour ago.

Friday night found us at Mr. Kamaya’s house (sorry for the blurry photos). He’s a really wonderful man to work with, and his family was equally lovely. His wife prepared a wonderful meal consisting of sushi and other traditional items. For the children, there were a variety of breads and some sausages. Mr. Kamaya plied Aaron with sake and picked squid. I was grateful to be the designated driver. After dinner, we visited as much as our Japanese/English allowed, and watched the boys play with Mrs. Kamaya. They gave the boys a gift of this wooden toy (pull the strings up and down to make it climb up the strings), among other little treats. The evening was topped off with some traditional Japanese green tea. First, powdered green tea was placed into bowls, and then covered with boiling water. We then whisked the tea into a froth (well, okay, I couldn’t get mine to froth. Hey, there’s a reason they teach Japanese people how to do this in school, you know), with a bamboo whisk. We then each chose a beautiful dessert made from adzuki bean paste. After eating the dessert, we picked up our bowls, turned them a quarter turn, three times, and then drank. It was a very pleasant evening and we all had a good time. The boys love Mr. Kamaya. I wonder how much of that is due to the fact that they remember him as the man who picked us up from the airport. Today, with a very little bit of encouragement, Ridge made and “wrote” a thank you note for the gift. We delivered it after I finished working today. As Ridge and I walked in holding hands (he was nervous), Holt trailing after, I explained to Mr. Kamaya that this was an American custom – the Thank You Note. He seemed genuinely pleased and touched at the card that Ridge made.
A lovely little dessert, with a bite taken out. The dark brown is more bean paste, sweetened, of course.

Wooden bird toy

A flaky cookie, filled with bean paste, made to look like a vase. This treat is called 'moneeka'.

Wooden frog clacker toy


This weekend has us playing mini-volleyball. I have been asked to join the Middle School team. Aaron was invited as well, but the Board of Education had already nabbed him. Mini-volleyball is played on half a tennis court using a beach ball made to look like volleyball. Four people from each team play on the court at a time. Tomorrow, I have to go to the middle school after work for practice. I can’t wait to see what the tournament is like.

Here are a couple of pictures taken in the department store we tried out in Monbetsu on Saturday. There was a large area full of flashing, blinking, and crazy games. Of course, my children were draw towards these like moths to a flame. As we were leaving, we treated ourselves to some fancy ice cream.
A treat for Aaron and me
Ridge's treat
Japanese arcade
Another shot of the Japanese 'arcade'

Oh, and Rusy, thanks for the comments! They do my ego a world of good!! I'm glad you are enjoying the blog.