Stranger in a not-so-strange land
Just wanted to say a belated Merry Christmas. Since number 2 is being stubborn and not wanting to come out on schedule, I’ve found some extra time on my hands. So I’ve posted some pictures from our holiday season here in Japan.
Dec. 24 – Tamie cooks up a storm in Ebina for Christmas Eve dinner.
Dec. 26 – Boxing Day in Japan has no sales… so we went to a park instead.
This weekend we decided since we can’t head to Ottawa for Christmas due to number 2′s impending arrival, we would try to bring Christmas here. We picked up a small (tiny, really) tree and set it up on Saturday…
Layla actually was ecstatic to have a tree of her own in the house – she decorated it and everything! Now whenever she sees Christmas lights, decorations or trees she points out that they are the same as she’s got at home. I’m really happy that she’s enjoying herself and getting into the spirit of Christmas – she’s already started asking for presents!
Sunday, we made the annual trek down to work the mikan fields to pick oranges, and oranges we did pick. Lots of oranges! It was cold when we got there but after a hard day’s work, and the sun coming out, we were fine by mid-day. Sorry, Mom – if we aren’t making the flight to Ottawa then the oranges aren’t either. =)
Luckily, this time there were no hospital visits, no appointments to miss or schedules to fall behind on, so this day went much smoother than the previous photographer outing. We got to the shrine in the early afternoon, signed up for our blessing, paid our blessing fee, and waited for our turn.
While we waited, we were shown to a waiting room where there were markers to write on the wishing wood they gave us. Tamie wrote something deep and meaningful in Japanese and Layla signed her name in every colour of the rainbow. Then Tamie realized she wrote on the wrong block of wood and they did it all over again on the correct one.
After some time, a shrine lady collected us and led us to the main prayer room. We sat quietly, bowing our heads when told to, as a couple of monks prayed, sang and blessed the whole occasion. I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to take any pictures, so left my camera in my bag, but the constant flashes from the tourist crowd behind us made me wonder if it’d been okay. At the very least, the tourists could have asked us if we wanted a copy of the pictures they took.
All the while the prayers and things were going on, Layla was sitting on my lap. She bowed when instructed, and listened when told. Not a tear was shed or peep peeped as she went through the whole process of celebrating her turning three. Even when she needed to go up to the front with me and place the ceremonial tree branch on the ceremonial table and ring the ceremonial bell after doing the ceremonial bow, bow, clap, clap, bow post-prayer procedures. The only time she balked at something during the day was when they offered her a bit of sake at the end. Smart kid.
Once everything was said and done, we took the opportunity to shoot a few pictures in front of the shrine before heading back home. On the way back, Layla wanted to change into her running shoes that I happened to have in my backpack. By the time she got to the car, she wanted out of the dress and into some jeans, again in the backpack.
Back at the Grandparents’ house, Layla wanted to go to her favourite park on her favourite red bicycle. Jiji was more than happy to go and I ended up tagging along, taking pictures along the way. Layla had a blast, but I wouldn’t doubt if her Jiji had more. Biking, sliding, running, playing, swinging! No wonder she likes going to the park with him!
When Layla was done with the park, we headed back home to go for dinner with everyone. There’s a great teppanyaki place that opened up in Hon-Atsugi that Tamie was interested in trying. I convinced her parents to come with us, which amounted to nothing more than asking them. I think it was unanimous that the food was great.
We had another busy weekend, not that that is a bad thing…
Saturday was the annual Undoukai, the daycare gymnastics day where Layla and her classmates get to dance in front of a bunch of parents and enough recording equipment to blanket a small town with video surveillance. I, myself, only had two cameras… luckily, because the first one’s batteries died. (Good planning on my part).
We got to the school where the whole event was taking place and there were already a bunch of people there and things were already set up. Layla, unfortunately, cried when she realized she needed to go with her class instead of her parents… but once she was alone, she was fine.
The classes of kids, ranging from 1 to 6 years old, all marched out and lined up for the introductions. They put on a song and then a dance for us… one video is posted on youtube and embedded below. I might post others later…
Layla did a really great job, not only at this dance but all her events. It wasn’t all just singing and dancing – there was even a foot race! Her class is big enough that they ran two races, Layla was in the second. However, when the first race started Layla got up from where she was perched only to be called back by the teacher. When it was her actual turn, she won her race by a mile and had they not strung a pink line at the finish line, she’d have actually come in first. Instead, she stopped and waited for everyone else. Everyone else weren’t so courteous, running through the finish line without stopping.
Then the “parent-participation” events took place. Tamie, being six months pregnant, wasn’t in much condition to participate leaving only one other parent. Dammit. I raced with Layla and helped her collect up beanbags in another game. She started getting tired by the last game, so climbed up on me to sleep without letting go. Luckily, that was her last event for a while and she could take a rest while she waited. Tamie gave her a juice box but got warned by a daycare staff that only tea was acceptable. What the f**k is up with the b*llsh*t rules against juice in this country? Hospitals and daycare events. I don’t get it.
One other thing I don’t get. The parents-only tug-of-war. In the middle of the kids’ daycare event, there’s a scheduled parents-only tug-of-war. The day where the kids are supposed to be the centre of attention, there’s a PARENTS-ONLY tug-of-war. On a day with already too many events that people weren’t interested in, there’s a PARENTS-ONLY TUG-OF-WAR! (no offense to any of the other kids or parents, but if Layla’s not in it, I wasn’t watching). I wasn’t too happy with that one. And it really annoyed me when they took 10 minutes to figure out the teams… make two lines — oops, one has three more people in it, so they asked for more volunteers from the crowd. One guy volunteers. Two more people are needed? What can we do – ask for more volunteers! Switching one person to the other team is NOT an option… until they figure the teams are unbalanced and swap around some of the people. When we finally tugged-of-warred, my team lost. Twice! (yes, because once wasn’t nearly enough of a waste of time) For me, the whole thing was a black mark on an otherwise great day. (the event, not the outcome) Next time, Tamie’s doing it.
The final parent-kid event was a folk dance that Layla, thankfully, wanted to do with Tamie. She was quite happy to dance with Layla and I was quite happy to let them. All the kids stood around in the main area with a parent while the folk music started playing… I watched and recognized the tune almost immediately. THE CHICKEN DANCE! Good thing Tamie spent all those hours learning it in Canada! 
The highlight of the day, at least for me outside of Layla’s fantastic performance(s), had to be the folk dance. Layla looked so happy dancing with her Mom and Tamie looked even happier dancing with her daughter – it was a special moment. But that’s not what got me. In the middle of the dance, a bunch of kids stopped dancing and crowded around one spot. A praying mantis had someone got their attention and curiousity got the better of them. A lot of them. Until one poor little guy got the big bug on his hand and ran away crying, it still stuck to him! Mean to laugh at? Maybe. But hilarious none the less.
Once all the events were over, everyone got gifts for participating. Parents got a box of tissues and a bottle of water, kids got toys and books. The box of tissues is especially handy because in a few weeks time we need to make a donation to the daycare of, you guessed it, a box of tissues. Timing really is everything!
After we left, we went for lunch with Tamies’ parents. They parked in a lot near a Chinese restaurant that validated parking so we had a Chinese lunch. Turned out to be a decent place in Ebina that we never tried before, so win-win!
We joined the grandparents for the rest of the day because in Isehara there was the annual doukan festival, a big festival where they shut down the streets, set up hundreds of booths for games and food and have parades of dancing and singing. We took it all in, tasting many a street meat and a many-er a treat (Layla was spoiled this day, moreso than others). There was even a hurricane potato here, though a bit different from Hokkaido as there were four dipping flavours to choose from. Note for next time: stay away from the garlic! The night wrapped up with a stage show from a local dance studio which was interesting — interesting because we discovered Layla really gets into Lady Gaga…
As the festival closed, we headed back home to get some well-earned sleep.
For pictures, check out the gallery! Sorry for the ordering… I had to use two cameras which screws things up. I’ll fix it, eventually…
Happy Birthday, Tamie!
Saturday was Tamie’s birthday and we celebrated in class… at least that was the plan…
The girls stayed in Isehara on Friday, as Tamie had to work late and the grandparents were picking up Layla. Tamie also booked a haircut on Saturday morning so it was more convenient to just stay there. It gave me the opportunity to clean up the apartment for her birthday. How’s that for a good present, eh? The place was spotless… at least until Layla was back for more than five minutes.
For her birthday dinner, I booked a cruise on the Royal Wing in Yokohama. We headed out early to visit Motomachi for the tail end of their “Charming Sale” to let Tamie do what she does best… spend money!
After visiting a number of jewerly and clothing stores, we stopped at a cafe for fries before heading out to the docks to catch our ship. That’s when the rain started – not a huge downpour, but enough to get cold and wet.
At the dock, we noticed there were two weddings going on that night – at least, there were two girls in big, poofy white dresses at big parties… in this country, you never know if it’s a wedding dress or a fashion statement.
I picked up the tickets I reserved from the counter and the lady gave me the tickets and charged me for the meal. I was a bit surprised, as it was a lot cheaper than I was expecting, until I found out that we were booked for the buffet instead of the course dinner. No one asked when I called to make the reservation, and it was too late when I picked up the tickets – I don’t know if they just assumed I wanted the buffet because I had a kid or what, but it wasn’t exactly what I (or Tamie) had in mind. It did make things easier with Layla, though.
On board, we were shown to our table along with everyone else waiting in line. The usually polite, orderly people of Japan who line up for everything from trains to bread shops raced for the buffet. We went to grab some food, fighting young and old people alike. The chaos that ensued was ridiculous – there wasn’t even an attempt at order as people circled the buffet table in both directions, cutting into lines and reaching over each other to get egg rolls and meat buns.
During dinner, a lady entertainer came to the table and made a balloon animal for Layla. Layla watched in abject wonder and amazement mixed with a bit of fear and nervousness. She finally regained the ability to move once the show was over and the animal was Layla’s. She’s too funny sometimes.
After the meal was over (or the food was done), we headed to the “Sun Deck” to take a look around. The wind was blowing, the deck was wet and slippery, but luckily the rain didn’t pour too heavily… so it was fun, if cold. I played around with my camera while Tamie and Layla eventually went inside. I would say I took pictures, but none of them really turned out… so I “played with my camera” instead.
When all was said and done, we went and grabbed a late train home. The girls fell asleep on the train while I stood stoically after giving up my seat for an old lady. The ungrateful old bat didn’t even say thank you, as if she was expecting someone to just jump up and give her a seat… you’d think she’d have been around this country long enough to know better. No, I’m not bitter – not even after a once pregnant Tamie would complain daily about how people here would ignore her while she stood in front of the “priority” seats.
Today, we woke up late after everyone slept in… I love Sundays. We stuck around home for most of the afternoon, watching Sesame Street and playing with Layla. We headed out to the grandparents’ house for birthday celebrations with the whole family.
On the way to the house, we stopped by the local cake shop to pick up some cakes for everyone. As everyone picked out which cake they wanted, Layla pointed to the biggest one in the display. Her grandma, always anxious to spoil the kid, bought it without hesitation. Who’s birthday was it, anyways? Cake in hand, we headed back to the house where Tamie helped her mom prepare an always delicious sukiyaki meal. Beef and cake! It should be Tamie’s birthday every weekend! 
So here’s hoping Tamie had as good a weekend as I did. The buffet was a tad less classy than expected and the weather could have co-operated better than it did, but overall I’d say it was a successful birthday weekend.
Photos here:
 Saturday |
 Sunday |
