Category Archives: useful

Trying To Do the Right Thing

January 29, 2013 By in Baseball, Chase, Cliff, Culture Shock, Daily Living, Family, Kathryn, Relocating, School, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Getting my Yakult On!!!

Getting my Yakult On!!

It’s been about a month since we’ve been back. Things are just starting to feel “normal”. I say this after going to Buford Farmer’s Market today and practically having an orgasm after finding they have Yakult Yogurt! I must have put on some kind of show because a lady who was nearby asked me, “Is it that good?” and then picked up a case for herself.

I’m still not comfortable driving. I swear every other car is being driven by people on their phones talking or texting and it makes me so paranoid. I keep having to remind myself to STAY ON THE RIGHT! STAY ON THE RIGHT!!! And on top of all that,  I don’t know how Georgia code allows mailboxes to be placed so close to the roads. It’s life and death getting your mail here.

Oops!

Oops!

CHASE

The last couple of weeks it has been like DefCon 4 here at the house. We decided at the last minute to try to apply Chase to different middle school Fall 2013. This involved last-minute EVERYTHING. We are applying to 3 different schools. To be honest, I just couldn’t muster the energy to apply to any more than three. They are like college applications nowadays. So for each school, I have to fill out involved background information and write essays about our family and Chase in particular. We have to pay registrations fees to each school. I have to request transcripts and teacher evaluations for each school from all the schools Chase has attended. I also had to late-register Chase for the SSAT which is required by private schools in Atlanta for entry evaluation. His test date is February 2nd. And by the way, did I happen to mention he had Spring Baseball tryouts last Saturday? All the schools have called and we have scheduled the interviews. Why are we going through this madness when we are already at a school with an excellent reputation that he attended since he was 3 years old? As much as we love Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School and appreciate its loving and nurturing culture, things have changed, and Chase has changed.

Very shortly after Chase returned to school, a boy known for being the bully type came up to Chase in the playground and forced him and a friend to stop playing. This boy, then got in Chase’s face and said, “So what are you?!? Chinese or Japanese?”

Next incident: Same boy comes up to Chase at recess and says, “Hey Chase, since you’re so fat, I’ll bet you’re slow too. Wanna race?”

Today, Chase told me he was challenged by this boy to a tether ball game and after Chase won, the boy hit Chase with the ball bruising his arms.

He started school January 7th.

The bullying is horrible, but this boy was a bully before we moved and it is obvious he has suffered no consequences for it.

The other issue is homework. In Tokyo, we often had 3 or more hours of homework each night. Here, we have hardly any homework and much of the homework is extremely easy. It is very hard for me to sit by and watch while Chase re-calibrates his effort towards schoolwork. We practically had nightly exorcisms to get to the point when Chase could survive academically in Tokyo and now there are days when he has no homework because “there’s a test tomorrow”.

Unlike most Japanese, people in the South have opinions. Especially about things like private schools. I’ve heard enough good and bad stories about every school at this point, I feel like it’s God’s Will. Even if we end up staying at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, I will take it as a sign that it is just meant to be. The great thing about HIES is I know they will cater Chase’s program for his needs. Given the fact that Cliff doesn’t want Chase to go to Woodward Academy because it’s “in a terrible neighborhood” (and he doesn’t think Chase will get to play sports because of all the black students), and I don’t want Chase to go to Westminster because I want him to have a life, that only leaves Pace Academy. In case you are interested, tuition to these private schools: Woodward ($19,770), Westminster ($22,270), Pace Academy ($22,570). Applications have to be completed around March and early April is when decision letters will be mailed out.

Making the decision to explore other schools for 6th grade is heart-breaking for me. Chase has been at Holy Innocents’ since he was 3 years old. His best friend is there and we have great friends and memories of the school. I don’t know what is the right thing. All I know is I’m just trying to do the best thing and for some reason this felt like it needed to be done.

Until next time…

Reading is Good For You

December 5, 2012 By in Culture Shock, Daily Living, Grocery, Living in Tokyo, Relocating, useful Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

The other day, I had some time, so I found myself on Freshly Pressed perusing a few other blogs. I was drawn to a blog titled “More Strange Book Covers” by Michael Bradley:

“Mom, why are you laughing so hard?”

I don’t want to steal Mr. Bradley’s thunder, so, I’m just gonna highly encourage you all to check it out. Make sure you aren’t drinking any hot liquids. It’s that hilarious.

When we first arrived in Tokyo, I started taking cooking classes. Specifically, Vegan Japanese cooking which has subsequently led to Vegan Indian cooking. My eyes were suddenly open to the world of satisfying, flavorful vegan dishes. Being the primary cook in our home, I soon declared, “You! Carnivores! From now on, we will have at least 1 vegetarian meal a WEEK!”  They groaned and moaned, but no one else was volunteering for the primary cook position.

Must Read

I’ve been deeply entrenched in the Omnivore’s Dilemma (aka Satanic Verses according to Cliff) and it has re-ignited my feelings about the industrial food system in America. After a few chapters, I made another declaration and announced, “You! Omnivores! We will from hence forth, eat salad every other day and intersperse fish & meat dishes on the other!”  Meatless Monday had arrived. Cliff and I had many heated discussions regarding Pastured Animals and I could tell Chase was ripe for picking. I knew then, I needed to get out the big guns.  I rented Forks Over Knives:

Must Watch!

After watching Forks Over Knives (speaking of Chase & myself only, Cliff fell asleep), I informed Cliff I was no longer buying milk for consumption “because it isn’t natural” but, I would buy it for him and cooking purposes. Judging from the whites of Cliff’s eyeballs and his comments, I know he thinks I’ve gone all Nick Nolte on him.

aka Health nut

I don’t want to substitute real food for capsules, powdered shakes and tablets! I love food. But I want to have good food for myself and my family. Moving back to the land of the Golden Arches, I am determined to do my best to support this lifestyle change and “opt out” of the industrialized food system as much as possible. Living in Japan, I have tasted and benefitted from eating fresh produce which has been driven to me and not flown. In Japan, my family eats meat that is pastured, properly massaged and kept inebriated,  as opposed to mutilated and abused. I looked into farmers markets around Sandy Springs, Georgia, but they are a mixed bag and as I recall, seem to be more about buying beaded jewelry than an assortment of fresh produce.

Must Order!

Then I came across Nature’s Garden Delivered. This is an organic food delivery service that will deliver Organic/Natural/Local goods right to your door! They won’t deliver goods from anywhere farther than one day’s drive. The Yelp! reviews for NGD are terrific so I am definitely planning to sign up as soon as we get settled in.

I know I may seem a bit nutty for all of this. Change is always perceived as insanity in the beginning. Not so long ago, I was begging for 1 vegetarian meal a week. Now, we have  “Meat Meals” once or twice a week.  But then I reflect: It wasn’t so long ago when having meat at the table signified a special evening. When everyone didn’t seem so fat. When kids didn’t have to stand in line to take their meds at lunch. When cows ate grass. These are the simple things that get swept away in the world’s attempts to make things easier but in the end they only complicate and make matters worse. I never expected living in Tokyo, I’d experience a simpler way of life, and I like it.

Allow me to encourage you to read more as well:

Another Classic

Until next time…

“Facing” the Situation

November 19, 2012 By in Daily Living, Girlfriends, useful Tags: , , 6 Comments

I understand. People want to stay in touch. Share a few photos. Know that “I got up on the wrong side of the bed today…” People will ask me, “Why aren’t you on Facebook Kathryn?” The truth is, I do have an account, but I only use it to get discounts. I used to have a real account and it went through several different evolutions as my “friends” started to evolve. In the end, I just started to question the whole situation:

  1. My sister, who is the Sydney Bristow of computer security does not have a Facebook page.
  2. If I call you a ”friend”, I do not want to qualify that with “Friend-Friend” or “Facebook Friend”
  3. Facebook Friend. What do it mean?!?
  4. I watched “The Social Network” and found Mark Zuckerberg was himself not such a good friend and no longer wanted to support his endeavors. I have heard he has Ass-pergers, but I still do not excuse this. He needs to go Gluten-free.

We’re not Facebook Friends

Maybe you won’t “like” me anymore. I completely understand. Isn’t life so much simpler now that relationships are so quickly established and deleted?

PINTERESTED?

My friend Adonica recently turned me onto Pinterest. I love it. I’m still just feeling my way through, but I’ve figured out how to turn an old T-shirt into a fringe scarf, keep my cut fruit from turning brown using salt water, and how to turn an empty toilet roll into an iPhone speaker amplifier! It’s a lot like having a cyber file cabinet. With all the different ways there are to stay in touch with other people, Pinterest helps me stay in touch with myself. If you are interested in what I’m interested in, you can look me up as Kathryn Kim. I pin a lot of recipes, handy ideas, and random pictures.

WORDS WITH FRIENDS

I’m also an avid WWF player. If you feel like creating a game with me just look me up: Kathrinjapan11

Until next time…

Touring Seoul Korea 2012 Part 2

November 2, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Kathryn, Korea, Tours, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Haechi: Symbol of Seoul

Conversation at the hotel after Day 1

  • Me: I just want to apologize for being such a flake.
  • Chase: It’s alright mom, we know you miss Halmi.
  • Me: I know, I’m trying my best to keep it together.
  • Chase: Don’t worry, I talked to Julie already.
  • Me: What do you mean? What did you say to her?
  • Chase: I told her my mom sometimes has breakdowns.
  • Me: Did you explain why? Did you tell her about Halmi dying?
  • Chase: No.
  • Me: What? You know, just saying that makes me sound like I’m crazy!
  • Chase: [shrugs shoulders]

Chase standing at the base of N Tower

N SEOUL TOWER

The N signifies “New” not North. It also happens to be located on Namsan Mountain, but N still means New. This is an important distinction because it provides a bit of insight to the Korean mindset of today. Compared to the Japanese, Koreans are eager to change and evolve and “N”-ovate. It was obvious from Day 1. Seoul today reminds me of Tokyo 20 years ago. Money flying all over the place, people from all over the world coming together, everyone is working at the crack of dawn and the air just feels electric. It saddens me to see how stagnant Japan has become in the face of an ever-changing, ever-growing global economy. While the rest of the world looks to expand and grow beyond their borders, the Japanese grow more and more insular. The views from N Tower are incredible and it is easy to see why there are so many visitors. The trek uphill ain’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it. N Tower is also popular for lovers and wedding proposals. Many couples will come with their own padlock promises:

Locks of Love? or Locks for Love? You decide.

KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE

I miss the good old days of child labor

One of the joys of going to a folk village is seeing your children doing “back-breaking” work. It’s also fun to see the different tools they used to do everyday activities.  BTW, the broom has not evolved so much. This village did a very nice job of showcasing the differences between the way the rich and poor lived. Instead of wearing designer labels or driving imported cars, you knew this was a wealthy household when you saw tile on their roof and color in their clothes. Everyone else had rice straw roofs and could only wear colors when they married. Otherwise it was beige. This folk village is a popular set for historical  Korean dramas. It is definitely hard to be in Korea and not appreciate the influence Korean dramas have had here and everywhere else. Trust me. People watch!

Drama about Korean Yentl

Back in the day, only boys were deemed worthy enough to get educated. Sungkyunkwan Scandal was about the first girl who pretended to be a boy in order to attend school.

Dae Jang Geum

Again, back in the day, women were not allowed to be doctors. Dae Jang Geum started out as a cook’s apprentice and went on to become the king’s first female physician. Looks like someone has “yellow fever!”

Menage a trois w/ the tour guide

This guy was hard as cardboard! Is this a compliment? I don’t know.

After we finished taking a bunch of goofy pictures, and molesting some more cutouts, we strolled through the rest of the village. It was easy to see why October is such a popular month to travel.

Gorgeous Day in the Folk Village

HWASEONG FORTRESS

Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong Fortress: Great Wall of Korea? It is actually a tomb so it is more likely a cross between The Great Wall and the Taj Mahal. The body buried here is an unjustly condemned and murdered king. This structure differs from similar ones in China and Japan because it managed to combine military, commercial, and political functions. The Fortress has had immeasureable influence on Korean architecture, engineering, and history. The only thing I regret is not seeing the archery area. There is a huge field with targets and for 200 Won you can rent arrows and shoot targets. Do this first because they rotate in 30 minute intervals and it’s easier to knock this out first and then walk around the fort. Most likely you’ll see a bunch of business men on a tour lined up proving how good they are.

MYEONG DONG

Myeong Dong literally means “Bright City” but it should mean “Shop til you Drop”. After 2 full days of sight-seeing, my droppability probability was pretty high. I wandered around and bought a few things for our new “baby” but I really didn’t buy anything for myself. I kept seeing fantastic things to buy, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger.  Of course, the next morning I was kicking myself. I did get my chestnuts. You know Korean roasted chestnuts are the best in the world.

Stay tuned -next blog, Korean Food!

End of long day

Until next time…

Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine aka Shrine Island

October 21, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Family, Getting there, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Miyajima at Sunset

Whenever I mentioned I was going to Hiroshima, EVERYONE would ask, “Are you going to Miyajima too? You MUST go!” The more I looked into it, the more I realized they were right. Miyajima is considered one of the top 3 most beautiful places in Japan.

Schedule:

  • Sunday 9:30am Leave hotel for Miyajima after breakfast
  • Hiroshima Stn to Miyajimaguchi (400 yen/person) 25 min by JR Train
  • Miyajima Port (170 yen/person) 10 min by Ferry
  • Sightsee & Lunch
  • Last Ferry from Miyajima is 22:14 we left at 18:00

Once upon a time, when Cliff and I were still dating, we used to have fun on trips. Somewhere along the trip of our lives, traveling with Cliff has just about become unbearable to me. He never walks with us, he always acts like he’s on some business trip by himself, he complains constantly and he is picky as to where and what he eats. I go into “vacation mode” and ergo his otherwise “normal” behaviour becomes even more intolerable to me because I feel like our time together as a family is so precious. So, the net result is I turn into one snarky bitch which in turn turns Cliff into even more of a party and poor Chase has to witness his parents acting like imbeciles. So on Sunday morning, before we even had breakfast, I declared I would be on my best behaviour.

On the ferry

GETTING TO MIYAJIMA

At Hiroshima Station, get to the JR side (remember you need to use the underground tunnel through the station). Purchase tickets (400 yen/person) to use the train to get to Miyajimaguchi (literally means the mouth of Miyaguchi). From the Miyaguchi Station, walk straight out and follow the herd to the port. There are plenty of signs and it is a short straight shot (you may have to walk underground to avoid traffic).

Don’t forget your ferry tickets!

Amazing landscapes, autumn colors, floating shrine, oysters, rice paddles and wild deer are just a few of the many things you can look forward to in Miyajima:

My deer!

ARRIVING:

I was immediately charmed by this little island which in and of itself is a community/town. I don’t know why I was so surprised. I just thought it would be like another seasonal fair but it’s a real town with residents. You can rent bikes to get around, but we opted to walk. The tide was still high enough at that point, so we were able to take a boat ride to the floating torii:

We were boat people

Even though the guide was talking completely in Japanese, we had a great time just watching everyone in these hats and who could be in a bad mood in a boat on a lovely day?

Miyajima Ropeway:

Just getting there

FYI: Getting anywhere on Myajima feels like a hike. The great news is it’s absolutely beautiful. There are trails and bridges and ponds and wildlife all around you. I was excited to take the ropeway which is actually a gondola (think ski lift/gondola) up to the highest peak on the island. It takes you to the shrine of a famous monk who supposedly showed the good people of Miyajima “The Way”. When we got to the top, it was around lunchtime, but there is only 1 cafe and you can only order a couple of dishes from a vending machine. We didn’t want to waste our appetites on that mess, so we ended up placating Chase and ourselves with a few popsicles until we could get back to the main area and get some “real” food. Despite the long-ass-practically-vertical climb to the top, we did have a good photo-op:

Fake it to Make it!

FOOD:

Once we returned to the village, I couldn’t wait to get my bag of chestnuts and rice-cake-on-a-stick! They also had a bunch of other options:

Street Food

Chase and I would have been completely happy eating some more street food, but Cliff won’t do it. So I had to stop so we could go and eat in a restaurant. Still good food. Miyajima is surrounded by oysters, so that’s also something you need to try. The oysters are meaty & delicious!

Roasted oyster on bed of crispy rice. Yummy!

SOUVENIRS:

With our bellies full, Chase somehow found a gaming area where you could either shoot targets or toss rings for cheap prizes. He LOVES these opportunities. I made Cliff be his audience while I shopped for rice paddles:

Size matters

My shopping was interrupted by a small crowd oohing & ahhhing outside my shop. I looked outside only to find my son and husband in the middle of this crowd, guns poised and a pile of cheap toys in front of them. I felt like “The Mom” as I stood akimbo and interrupted this carnival party with, “What is going on here?!?”

We beat the system!

Evidently, Cliff realized early on that the displays were rigged and he schemed with Chase to shoot siultaneously at 1 target to take it down. They would wait for the game manager to turn around so she couldn’t see what they were doing. Seeing the pure glee mixed with crazy in their eyes and the fact that they were actually bonding and having fun enabled me to just shake my head and walk back to my paddles smiling. Good for them, I thought.

Chase would not be outdone by our cartoon antics on the mountain so when he had his opportunity, he took it:

Don’t mess with me and my paddle!

AT THE END OF THE DAY:

By the time we got ready to head back on the ferry it was about 6:00pm. Despite spending all day on the island, as we walked back I realized we hadn’t even seen half of the island. There was a whole other section we forgot about at the dockside! It was an amazing day for our family. Everyone behaved. All the way back to the hotel, Chase kept going back and forth between Cliff and me hugging us and telling us, “Thank you” and what a great time he had. Even though we were tired physically, I feel like our souls were rejuvenated.

Top of the World literally & figuratively

Until next time…

October 24th We go to Korea!

Hiroshima: City of Peace

October 18, 2012 By in Bullet train/Shinkansen, Chase, Cliff, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Radiation, Transportation, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Mural of Hiroshima at the Museum

We have survived Hiroshima. I’m dedicating this blog to my friend Angela, to whom I am eternally grateful for impressing upon me the importance of making this pilgrimage with Chase and Cliff. There is a lot to show and tell, so between trying to provide useful information along with my own impressions, I’m just going to ramble until my fingers get tired.

Hiroshima Station on the Shinkansen Side

Step 1: Go to JTB and make reservation

The people at JTB are very polite and helpful. At JTB, I was able to

  • Book room at the Sheraton Hiroshima (w/ Breakfast)
  • Shinkansen tickets
  • Miyajima Ferry tickets (round trip)
  • Miyajima Ropeway tickets

It can be a little overwhelming leaving the office with all these tickets and vouchers in Japanese, but I wrote a little note on each ticket reminding me what they were all for in English. They will also give you a medium, red envelope to keep everything organized. Note: Keep the envelope! Take it with you everywhere. Trust me on this. I’m sure there are other nice places to stay in Hiroshima, but this Sheraton is the nicest Sheraton I’ve ever seen and it’s only a year and half old! We had breakfast included in our package and the breakfast was more than adequate. If you are thinking you want to eat dinner in the restaurant, definitely make reservations. Our first night, as we were walking in, Chase was mesmerized by their chocolate fountain and begged us to eat dinner there. To bad so sad, restaurant was booked solid. The other reason that makes Sheraton the best place to stay is you exit the Hiroshima station on the Shinkansen side and walk out and turn right and there it is! No muss no fuss. 3 minute walk max.

Schedule:

  • Saturday 8:21am Leave Shinagawa Station
  • 12:14pm Arrive Hiroshima Station
  • Drop off bags at Sheraton
  • Eat lunch at a station restaurant
  • Get on Tram to Hiroshima Park/Museum
  • Back to hotel around 7pm

Step 2: Eat the Famous Food

I love food. Living in Japan has inspired an appreciation for establishments and regions which are “famous for” this dish or that. So especially when I travel, I always research what the area is known for food-wise. In Hiroshima, they like their OKONOMIYAKI:

Here’s something no mother should ever witness:

2 GIANT bottles of mayo on each table

Alas, when in Rome…

I swear I never saw the 5th ingredient listed when I first looked at this diagram! Oh well. Vacation rules, right?

Step 3: Sightseeing

Note: In Japan, many of the hotels won’t let you check into your room until after 3pm, but standard procedure is to arrive early and just leave your bags at the front desk. They’ll tag them and put them into your room once the room is ready.

Hiroshima station was very confusing to me. I’m one of those people who doesn’t like a lot of options. I’m better picking 1 out of 3. Chase also has a good case of “analysis paralysis”.  From Hiroshima Station, you can take the shinkansen, subway train, JR train, the local tram, bus and taxi anywhere. Taxis are easiest but the priciest. We opted for the Tram (150 yen/person) which is a local trolley-type transport through the city. From the hotel side, go into the station and head for the JR side. This requires going underground and through a tunnel. Look for signs saying Mazda Stadium. Keep your eyes open for directions to the JR train area. Look anywhere you see escalators. Once you are in that area, go outside of the station and you should see a bunch of tracks built into the street for the trams. Make sure you get onto the right one. We boarded and discovered we were on the wrong one. The Japanese are very helpful so don’t hesitate to ask directions. Hiroshima is a small city, so everything is pretty close. We were able to explore Hiroshima museum and visit several memorials before we headed back.

Remnants from victims

I would highly recommend renting the audio guides. Walking through the museum and listening to all the history and testimonials was incredibly emotional and thought-provoking. I found myself holding back tears many times. There were so many bits and pieces left behind. There just aren’t enough words.

Wax recreation

This scene depicting moments after the bomb was especially gruesome. It’s so surreal seeing what it might have been like.

Centograph for Victims & Eternal Flame

By the time we were finished at the museum, we were definitely ready for some park time. The park was a refreshing contrast to the depressing feelings inside the museum. Behind us is the eternal flame of Hiroshima which will not be extinguished until all nuclear weapons are destroyed. Hope they have a lot of gas reserved.

Memorial for Korean Victims

Almost 30% of the deaths in Hiroshima from the bomb were Korean “Forced Laborers”. This memorial is established for those Koreans who also suffered and died. I’m so glad we were able to come see it and pay our respects.

Chidlren’s Peace Monument

This memorial was inspired by a young girl named Sadako Sasaki who died a terrible death from leukemia as a result of radiation exposure. People line up to ring the bell inside and say a short prayer. Chase was excited to do this because he had studied Sadako’s story last year at school.

Atomic Bomb Dome

The Genbaku Dome (A Bomb Dome) is probably one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks of Hiroshima. It is truly a symbol of all the destruction brought about by the dropping of the bomb. About a week before we came to Hiroshima, I watched a 3 hour documentary with Chase and Cliff. It was so emotional and really added to our awareness before we were able to go and visit the site and see actual materials from the devastation. It’s not my place to say whether or not it was the right thing to do. All I know, is war is horrible and should be avoided at all costs. As we walked through the town of Hiroshima, I kept flashing back to scenes and testimonials from the documentary and the museum and it was all so meaningful. It’s truly incredible how this city managed to come back after being completely destroyed not that long ago. I’m so happy I went.

Until next time…

Age of Exploration

October 12, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Daily Living, Getting there, Relocating, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria

GREAT EXPLORERS

Chase is studying the great explorers in school. You remember, Columbus? De Gama? Marco Polo? Anyhow, the teacher has divided the boys into 4-5 small groups in the class and asked that they think of themselves as shipmates. The other night, Chase asked us to help him with part of his homework: Come up with a list of possible names for his ship. The next day, the shipmates would get together and decide which one they all liked the best.

Here were our suggestions (who contributed):

  • Sea Quest (Dad)
  • Horizon (Dad)
  • North Star (Me)
  • Bloody Vessel (Me)
  • Dinghy Dongs (Me)
  • Mama’s Buoys (Me)
  • Poop Patrol (Me)
  • Booty Chasers (Me)

It’s amazing how this assignment really got my creative juices flowing. I didn’t list any of Chase’s suggestions because, frankly, they weren’t as good as mine. I did emphasize to him that there would be no shame in really fighting for Mama’s Buoys as the name for the ship.

The final verdict: Devil Cannons… whatever :(

Am I so old that historians have discovered new information about the old information I learned in school? Chase had to read a journal from one of Christopher Columbus’s shipmates and in order to help him with his assignments I found I needed to read it too. Did you know Christopher Columbus was an asshole? How the hell did he get a national holiday? As a student, history was not one of my strongest subjects, because, well, I was young and I didn’t want to read about old people. Now I find them fascinating. Karma.

GREAT TIES

By the time Chase hit 2nd Grade, Cliff decided he couldn’t help with homework anymore. WTH?!?! All I know, is those checks better keep getting deposited. Cliff used to try to “help with homework” when Chase and I were in the kitchen by yelling from the family room, “Listen to your mother!!!” and then going back to whatever was on TV. I have since asked Cliff to refrain from talking while we are focused on homework. I did find a use for Cliff  when I decided Chase was too big to wear the school-issued pre-knotted tie. The pre-knotted tie is meant for boys from 3 years old to 6th Grade! Needless to say, that tie on Chase looked ridiculous. He looked like The Colonel from KFC. I informed Cliff that he needed to teach his son how to tie a proper tie. I said I could do it, but then it would be a “girl’s tie” and be all loose and fashionable. He practically burned a path in the carpet getting to Chase. Wouldn’t you know, anything having to do with men’s haberdashery would inspire Cliff to get off the chair.

Good Dad

Now Cliff has proof he participated in Chase’s upbringing. According to Chase, he is currently working on creating the perfect dimple in his knot.

GREAT MOVERS

Appraiser from Crown Movers

Today we started the first step of our great journey back to the Motherland: the Moving Company appraisals. According to our concierge, the two best moving companies he’s seen are Nippon Express & Crown Moving Service. Having moved a few times in my life, I have come to the conclusion I hate moving companies because they are completely two-faced. In the beginning, they all want your business  and everything you own must be very expensive and insured to the maximum. Then,  when your table gets chipped or your mirror is cracked they tell you that type of damage isn’t covered or to go find the replacement at IKEA. Maybe the Japanese moving industry will prove me wrong. There is always some collateral damage coming and going. At least moving today doesn’t involve scurvy and lice.

Until next time…

Crack in the Universe

October 9, 2012 By in Aesthetics, cell phones, Daily Living, useful Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Minecraft Nether Region

Yesterday was “Sports Celebration” Holiday, so my Me Monday had to be shifted to Tuesday. I received a disturbing email from a dear friend who just purchased her microderm kit and evidently got too close to the eyes. Remember, this is nothing to mess around with. There is real power in that wand! Granted, new owners will be tempted to over-exfoliate but please, be careful. As I get older, I have grown to understand the purpose for pubic hair. For all you girls thinking “going bald-eagle” might be a good idea, trust me when I tell you, 20 years later plus a baby or 2, you don’t want to see what happens to your Nether Regions (That’s my homage to Minecraft). FYI, don’t try to microderm “down there” either. Just trust me on this. A friend told me…

So over the weekend, Chase had a friend over named Aaron. Very sweet boy from Germany who is in Chase’s class this year. They are so cute together.

Aaron & Chase at St Mary’s Sports Day

I don’t know why, but when Chase has a friend over, he turns into a different person. He turns into someone I want to medicate or bitch slap. I understand that he gets excited and desperately wants people to like him and be accepted, but what he doesn’t seem to realize is that no where in the definition for “Cool” is the word Spaz. I don’t like to humiliate Chase by chastising him in front of people, so before Aaron came over, we agreed on a safeword which when uttered would signify: Spaz Alert! You are acting mentally challenged! I am about to embarrass you! Our word was Narwhal. Why Narwhal? Because it isn’t a common word, and it’s something Chase just started saying a lot since camp. So now we are walking through Azabu Juban to have dinner at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants (Aaron is vegetarian! Yay!). Well, just as I was saying Nar— Chase’s wildly gesticulating hand hits my hand and my iPhone hits the cobblestone. It’s one of those moments where it feels like even the birds have stopped chirping. Either I was in total shock, or my self-hypnosis is REALLY good, but I swear, I didn’t even raise my voice. I did shoot Chase some fiery eyes and he did cower and beg forgiveness.

Moment of silence please.

At first, I thought about just toughing it out and using it until we left (yes, it was still working). Then I heard about people cutting their faces while talking on their cracked phones and me without my epidermis already, I decided I must fix my screen.

Opt 1: APPLE STORE/SHIBUYA

You can go to the Apple Store in Shibuya which is supposedly less crowded than in Omotesando/Ginza. First you must go online and make an appointment for the Genius Bar or walk-in and expect to wait around for hours. I always hate going into ANY Apple Store because I feel so weirded out by all the techies and white polo shirts. At Apple Store, to replace a screen on iPhone 4 you should expect to pay 12,000 yen ($154.00).

Opt 2: DO IT YOURSELF

For $49.97 I found a website that provides a kit so you could technically replace a screen yourself. Before I went ahead and ordered it, I researched on YouTube the how-to instructions:

http://youtu.be/wp8wv8TYBfI

At some point, I heard the instructor say, “So 26 micro-screws later… you’re done!” I am a pretty confident girl, but that video just said to me, “You’re screwed.”

Opt 3: QUICK/SHIBUYA

The option I decided to take was the 3rd option to go to a “shop” called Quick Shibuya. A very pleasant lady at Tokyo American Club recommended I go there. Most of the recommendations from the Club tend to be very high-end establishments and I always assume it’s going to be expensive. The “shop” is very close to the Shibuya station and you start walking towards LABI Shibuya & Yamada Denki. It was a little confusing finding the “store” because it is in fact a night club. During the day hours, there is some Japanese guy (who luckily happened to be very cute) waiting in the lounge area with a bunch of tiny repair tools and a box of unbroken iPhone screens. I’m a sucker for good-looking people, so I signed a bunch of papers and handed over my phone (by the way, don’t forget to back up your phone before you go!).

ONE HOUR LATER…

Plus New case!

Even though the “store” was actually the inside of a nightclub, I got over it. Especially given there was no wait, and it only took 1 hour.

Total: 7800 yen = $100 priceless

Until next time…

Upcoming events:

  • October 10th Potluck lunch at Nghi’s
  • October 13th-15th Trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
  • October 17th Book Club for Shogun (only 1/2 through)
  • October 24th-28th Trip to Korea!

Dermabrasion & Abrasions

September 26, 2012 By in Aesthetics, Chase, Girlfriends, useful Tags: , 5 Comments

I have a new toy…. This one you use on your face! I finally got around to trying my Personal Microdermabrasion Kit! Now that Cliff is reading my blog regularly, he assumes every oblong tool with an electrical cord is a “Personal Kit” of mine. Doesn’t he know they come battery operated now?!?

Size Matters

Microdermabrasion at Home

Anyhow, I have started “Me Mondays”. Monday is the day I reserve to do things for myself that I no longer feel I can afford to pay a Japanese person to do for me. This includes:

  • Manicures / Pedicures
  • Personal Training myself
  • Tweeze & Trim whatever wherever
  • Facial Treatment
  • Reading a chapter or two
  • Practicing piano
  • Blog
  • Deep moisturizing my hair
  • Buffing the rough spots on my feet
  • and now… Microdermabrasion!

Today, I broke open the box and tried out the kit. There are different size heads that come with the kit, so size does matter! You use the larger diameter tips for larger areas of course. I primed the tip on my palm to prepare it for my face. I have to say I was VERY pleasantly surprised. There was just enough pain/discomfort to make it pleasurable. This led me to believe, I hadn’t just wasted my money on some watered-down version of the real thing. I mimicked the motions of aestheticians who have done this to me before. They always pass on the eyelids, for “medical reasons” but whatever. I’ve got spots there too. I totally think I could have done a couple passes over my face and neck and chest and…. but I refrained and only did one pass on my face, neck and chest. It really felt good to do it. It’s also nice because you can do those areas you are too embarrassed to ask a stranger to hit. I’m probably going overboard microderming old scars and my clavicles, but hey you only live once.  I may start doing this with Chase as his skin goes through puberty. Another huge plus, is no grit! The one thing that always bothered me was all that grit that would fly everywhere and I would feel it in my ears and hair afterwards. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but all I experienced was the mild tingling where I had applied the tip. I swear, I could just cut and paste a lot of this for another type of toy!

Net-Net: I love it. I am going to keep using it on Me Mondays or until I see fascia.

Abrasions

At the beginning of school, Chase ended up scraping up his leg pretty badly. I was pretty grossed out. It was one of those wounds that wouldn’t dry out either. I kept thinking about his duvet sticking to his leg at night and I just couldn’t take it. Being the Medical MacGyver I am, I found a solution. I used some panty liners and medical tape. It’s all good. We made sure we “removed his dressings” in the morning. He asked if he should keep it covered at school, and I said to just go to the nurse and ask for fresh bandages. Please, give me a little credit.

Another unlabeled use

Until next time…

Meditation Mikoshi Meanies

September 24, 2012 By in Chase, Holidays & Festivals, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo, useful Tags: , , , , , 2 Comments

Meditation

Fifth Grade means having to say you’re sorry… a lot. Like, “Sorry I threw your workbook at you” or “Sorry I yelled so much correcting your homework” or “Sorry my head started spinning after I saw yet another sentence without a period!” Over the past week however, I have discovered the wonderful world of podcasts. Now, I start my day by waking Chase up with Think Like A… Great Student Meditation podcast. Furthermore, I end each night listening to Steve G Jones -Hypnosis to Change Your Life sessions. I’m not saying this is the answer to your evening battles with your children, but I have to say after a week of this, I’m drinking less sake. Books are staying on the table. I’m breathing more and yelling less, and by the way, did you read my last blog? It was like I was on Ecstasy or something. Here’s my advise, if you’re at your wit’s end or just curious. Give it a shot. You really don’t have much to lose.

Minato-ku Fall Festival

Mikoshi

It’s Fall in Tokyo so that means Autumn Festivals abound! A Mikoshi is a sacred palanquin or litter placed on poles and carried on shoulders. The god or deity of the shrine is placed on the palanquin and then carried out to visit the community and bestow blessings. My good friend Angela, who is my global authority on everything, happened to mention an opportunity for Chase to carry the kid mikoshi through our area for Autumn Festival. I’m always happy to sign Chase up for hard labor. His life is just too damn good.

“Put your back into it!” -mom

He was a real trooper. The route was certainly not flat and took over an hour, but they gave the kids plenty of breaks. Chase never ceases to impress me how he jumps right into situations where he has no clue what he’s doing, surrounded by strangers, doesn’t speak the language and just rolls with it! I have so much admiration for him (and a secret bank account set aside for adult psychotherapy sessions). The people in the town thought it was terrific we were there. They let him clack the boards to start the procession and lead the chanting. It was also amazing to see how the people in their apartments would hear us coming and wave or step out onto their balconies. One really old guy walked right out in his underwear and I just looked at another mom and asked her in Japanese, “Is that old grandfather standing there in his underwear?” and smiling, she said, “Hai.” That dude gave me hope that maybe old age will be interesting.

Meanies

You can’t have school-age children and not be touched by bullying at some point. I recently had a revelation that what Chase needed was some comebacks. A lot of times, I feel like he’s blind-sided by these little assholes and doesn’t know what to say or do. We have encouraged him to punch faces or push, but that’s just not him. God bless him. So I thought, he needs a script. I need to give him some lines to deliver when he is being verbally bullied. For instance:

Bully says “Fuck You!”

Our suggestions:

  • You know what? You are a jerk, and I’m sorry your life sucks (spoken with genuine concern).
  • Dude… I’m not gay. (spoken seriously)
  • Wow! That’s amazing how you make crap come out of your butt and your mouth! (With genuine awe)

Now I know for a fact I have some very witty readers, so PLEASE feel free to reply back with some of your own.

Until next time…

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 62 other followers

%d bloggers like this: