For the record, just for Laura July 15, 2008

It’s been our way of remembering everyone here, giving them easy to remember names. I don’t want to forget them:

There’s Austin Powers, he looks JUST like him! There’s Mr. Slick, the one who never closes his mouth, Shady Character who’s really quite nice, Purple Shirt who failed his karimen, the Pretty Lady who wears too much foundation, Noro-san, the Grouchy Sweet Heavyset guy that everyone likes, Happy Eyebrows, the young good looking guy who you didn’t like (neither did I), the Tall Guy who looks like an Uncle, Mr. Heels, the Bad Sex guy who pointed out the swallows, Mrs. Whitney, The Pisces, with the poofy hair and delicate hands, aka Chris , the dark girls, the “old, I mean not old” lady, the young mom with the tattoos, Ms. Posh, Akiko, the Guy with the Cuts, Tall New 18 Year Old who learns quickly (that would not be me, btw), Mr. Smiley who brought us here on the first day, and let’s not forget Mike of Joanie with the pink glasses.

I’m guessing they have names for us, too. Just to take a simple stab at it, I’ll bet you’re the tall gaijin English teacher and I’m the little pregnant one, Mike’s wife. Just a wild guess.

Oh, and Nakamura-san (SO Sweet!) told me today BEFORE I started driving, thank you very much, that here in Japan we drive on the left side which is different from America. Wow. After a week of me taking classes here you’d think he’d have a little more faith in his fellow teachers, eh?

my baby and me July 13, 2008

So we sat on the beach, my baby and me. It kicked and bumped and really liked being by the sea. It was one of those dusks that make the water silvery and the sky meet it like they’re the same thing, one part of a wide, wide horizon with not a single flaw. I fell in love. I sat and gazed as it enveloped us, and I was so happy that my baby was there with me.

It’s one of those moments that happen only when you stop long enough to notice-the sea, the sky, and the baby. The key of contentment which I claimed in struggle this morning helped me to close what turned out to be a perfect day.

who would have ever known July 12, 2008

Well my new job, ladies and gentlemen, came as quite a surprise to me as it will for you. I’m a chauffeur! I drive people around in circles, up hills, through intersections, through fake railroad crossings and through s-cranks– basically wherever they want to go. My customers mostly consist of driving instructors who like Mike and his French and Japanese friends, who think it’s funny that he’s at home watching the kids.

It’s a fun job. They’re very forgiving of my mistakes. I’m mostly just flattered they still ask me to drive them around everyday.  I can’t refuse.

Off the Odessy train July 11, 2008

Ok so I’m one of those people who don’t get things right away…it takes me a few tries usually. By the third day they told me that I had to do some extra classes, discouraging to say the least considering Laura and the 2 other guys we had started with were well on their way to their gold licenses. They  were just zipping along! I kind of had that The Odessy feeling, where you feel like you’re just never gonna get it and you feel like you’re never gonna make it home.

Well. Tada…yesterday and today I did FINE! Amazing, isn’t it? I was soooo happy! Yesterday I did the hillstart and reversing, and today I did the S-crank and I learned how to drive an Automatic. IN ONE DAY! I learned that driving an automatic is probably what I was born for rather than a manual, but we must reach for the stars you know. I think I prefer manuals, though. They’re more fun that’s for sure. And at least ten times harder.

So, with today’s lessons behind us, Laura and I saw one the graduates off (a piece of paper and a bag of rice never looked more beautiful), and then headed for the beach! SO nice. The sand is just a bunch of tiny rocks so you don’t get all sandy, ahhh, heaven. I kept thinking about the kids and Mike..I miss you guys soooo much! The water was so clear and pretty…I was lost in thot and so relaxed I was almost meditational.  Well, until a short fat little guy called to me and started talking funny stuff…I think he had bad eyes because at about 5 meters away, he noticed I might be pregnant. A little shock for a little man. Oh well, time to go home, thought Laura and I. The surprise came when we found out he had heard about Laura, because as soon as he saw her near naked form lying in the sun, he asked if she was an English teacher and if we were going to kakizaki driving school. He was friendly but you know, when you’re in a bikini and your belly’s popping out like this and a short little man is smiling a little too much you just wanna get going.

You know-small town, big tongues, nothing new.

Today we realised that we need to pray for good teachers. It really makes a difference. Of course I can’t excuse all my foibles on bad teaching, but some people just don’t teach well and some really do. I like the older guys better because they are better teachers. You get in a car with one of the young teachers and you feel like they’re kinda showing off. I’m completely unimpressed. But you know they’re young and eager, PTL.

My new thought that’s been running through my head is to ditch the cars and get a motorbike license. It looks incredibly fun.

For the love of Mike July 10, 2008

Since I got here Mike’s been telling me to update. So here goes.

I have no camera with me, no keitai, and Laura brought her camera but she lost the cord and has no card reader…so we are without image with which to speak a thousand words.

Hm. So one thing I figured out is that in general I think I like the older teachers better. One young instructor I had had me thinking everything was fine, and he actually didn’t tell me anything, just that everything was fine.

Maybe he figured I was a hopeless case anyway, ha. Anyway, I get funny reactions about being pregnant. A few of the instructors asked if I was ok with wearing a seatbelt. This is coming from guys who work in a building with posters and ads all over the place about how dangerous it is not to have a seatbelt and how it’s against the law. I’m like, yeah, it’s IHAN not to.

Did you know that when you’re pregnant your depth perception and your peripheral vision and your multitasking skills are not in tip top shape? I had heard it a million times but never really believed it until NOW! Oh I’m a believer now. GOSH. I mean when you’re at home it’s fine, but when you have to learn something new, there is something impaired for sure. I know tons of people have learned to drive when they were pg, but you know, this is me, I’m already not so coordinated. Anyway, regardless of whether it’s true or not about being pg, it’s a good excuse. It works on me. But besides all that, it’s really fun to drive! No one ever told me that is was actually fun, except for Mark and Mike.

Whenever I tell someone here that my husband came here a year ago, they are always super happy. It makes them so happy that I feel like wearing a sign that I’m his wife. Oh and everyone remembers the blonde Frenchman too, and their Japanese friend. So funny.

Last night we went to the beach and shot hanabis. I told Mike I think it’s really a Japanese thing, to spend like 5000yen on hanabis and watch all that money go off in 30 minutes. It was so fun. Mike said he prefers fires and I’m perfectly happy with that because it’s a lot cheaper. I’ve been refering to Mike as “watashi no danna san” that I’ve been calling Mike “my husband” when talking with Laura. It’s gotta stop.

One of the girls said she chose this place because she heard at another place a girl got pg. This place has good security and it’s inconvenient for guys to come in. I don’t think they ever do.

Last night Laura had a super exciting moment…we heard a manly voice outside in the hall…dadadadaaaannn. She quickly checked out in the hall and it was just the guardman checking something. Oh well, better luck next time. If Kakizaki were a soap opera, this place would need to ease up on their security to get some affairs going. Mike says we must be really bored.

Well, going over the course mentally is BORING.

Oh, and you know how everyone talks about how bad stalling is? I’ve learned that there are a lot of worse things than stalling. I think stalling is just embarassing. Oh, and there are a lot more embarassing things too.

I’d tell you about them I think my thousand words is almost up.

I love you and I miss my kids…if you see them please notice how cute they are and hug them for me, will you? Txs. Oh, and pray for me!

count your blessings May 28, 2008

Here’s a reason to count your blessings about being on earth today.  

IT May 26, 2008

It waits till I’m in a meeting, until the point just before break time when I can go pee.

It settles itself on its back on the floor of its little lair–on my bladder, its favorite kicking target.

IT gets the hiccups!

we’re officially inaka folk! May 24, 2008

Keith’s gone local. I know this because after living in our cozy little town of little-noda for one year, the buildings that we thought looks like relics from 100 years ago are beginning to look normal. Buildings with shattered windows from 1883 that never got fixed don’t catch my attention anymore. Mike and I recently went to a store around here and it looked so new and big and shiny. We had visited the same place when we were living in Tokyo and all I remember about it is it looked small, unimpressive, and really like one of those cheap musty discount stores for old ladies. I’m getting easier to impress.

On the way back home from the park today Keith commented that one of the old shops looked nice and new. Nothing had actually changed, but once while visiting before we moved here, it was one that he had said looked OLD!

And I must say this, but there is something SUS going on with Kikkoman! Everything they own that’s not for PR is walled and probably armed. They have an actual castle with an actual moat around it with actual water in it. And it all smells like SHOYU!

IT’S JUST ODD!

Big headline of the day by Reuters! May 22, 2008

Pregnant women not always truthful about alcohol

Thu, Apr 24, 2008 (Reuters Health) — Women may not always tell the truth about their drinking habits during pregnancy, the findings of a new study hint.

I just thot it was funny that they had to find that out through a “new study”, that they even bothered writing an article about it, and come to think of it, why am I even posting about it?

I do drink a little occasionally. I steal sips. I cannot tell a lie. I’ll have you know that what I really miss is the ICE COFFEE!

Good night, all you wonderful friends of mine. After meetings and meetings about kids all day, I am kinda brain dead. I’m craving beer and ice coffee.

Kick kick May 14, 2008

Last night Mike finally felt the baby kick! It always seems to shy away when he puts his hand on my tummy. He said it felt so tiny and his face all lit up…awwww. Well it was a moment for me!

Anyway…this photo or creation, it’s a cute concept. Someone please tell me it’s fake. Or just tell me what happened to the thick uterine wall that all the books tell you about, or tell me how on earth someone got the lighting and the mother all set up (even the baby is in the correct position for the perfect photo: breach) and then told the baby to 1-2-3-push your foot out in a perfectly even way-click! Or maybe it is just the perfect photo? Hmm.

Last night I was doing pilates when Alysha came in and asked suspiciously, “Mommy, are you actually exercising, or just doing funny stuff?”