I have a hangover. I am blaming this on our Ozzy Neighbours who kept us drinking beer until the early hours! It seemed like a good idea at teh time. Also learned that Mark has written a book about their stay in the Middle East, and at some point in the evening he went up and retrieved a copy, which he signed in a drunken drawl. Whilst incapacitated this morning, I started reading the book - what a fab read!
We had a much needed chilled weekend. Saturday was spent doing normal boring things, then we had our Japanese lesson - it's really hard! This would be so much easier if we were learning a language we had learned at school! Then we were made to schlep round Ross's fave store - Bic Camera, which has floors and floors of electronic gadgetry (for example there were 12 different sets of digital weighing scales!) Bought a pink hairdryer which says it has ionising capacity - have not a scooby what this means, but it looks like it makes your hair nice, so I paid teh extra £5 for nice looking hair). After floor 3 were very bored, and found the TV section, so we watched the world cup warm up matches - we're really isolated from it all here, don't even know when it all kicks off - so made note to self to find out!
Felix had his mate, Flynn, over for a sleepover. Then we made the pivotal decision to invite Mark and Suzie round for a 'quick beer', which turned into many beers, and a shared super (poor Flynn - felt a bit bad that we rather ignored him, fed him pizza, cake, then toast and Nutella for breakfast - still they seemed to have fun!)
Ross took the boys to rugby this morning, whilst Neve acted a very good nurse bringing her poor over-indulgent mother buttered toast in bed!
In the afternoon, we ventured off to this 'bohemian' district a couple of stops away from us called Shimo-Kitazawa - a fun place to spend a couple of hours wondering around. Highlight of the trip was seeing this bizarre cat - outside a cafe, sat a man with a rather fat cat lying supine on his back (the cat's back that is!), with a blanket over said cat. The cat was wearing a rucksack and a hat. Everyone was just walking by as if this was quite normal - we rude Westerners gawped! Wished we'd had the camera - another note to self to take it places.
Kids ate their rice and tempura veg for tea - hooray!! Neve also made a 'tarte aux pommes' having seen her French friend's Mum make on - it was most tasty! Feel like the kids might have finally gotten round to the concept that this is the food you get here!
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Monday 5th April
Woke up late! Ross had taken the day off work.
Our apartment is on the third floor right on a park, so our room and Felix's room overlook the trees - the leaves are all coming out, and there are some blossoms so it's really pretty. Out the front is the main room (living, dining room) and Neve's room. We overlook a really South-East Asian looking street - small, but tall building interspersed by Japanese acer, cherry blossom, and other 'Oriental' trees that I can't name! The street is very narrow (about 12 feet wide) with telegraph poles all the way down carrying cables for everything (they don't seem to bury them here!) We've arrived at cherry blossom time, so it's all really beautiful - pinks, whites, dark pinks. We have access to the roof space - just a flat space with a rail, but it'll be great in teh Summer. From here you can see the skycrapers of Shibuya - at night they're all lit up - it's stunning!
There's a play park at the end of the road, with some swings and a small climbing frame, then (and this seems typical) some loos and a water fountain. There's also a baseball park (but I suspect you have to book this!)
Doubling back on yourself, there's a footpath overhung with beautiful cherry trees which leads to another park (more loos and water fountains!). This is perhaps more of a 'formal' park with lots of shade, benches, some BBQ pitches, and a pondy thing. There's also a municipal swimming pool and tennis courts, but God only knows how you're supposed to book these!!
So today, we managed to go to IKEA (pronounced ik (like 'bic' pens / sailboards) ea). Fun to go round a shop and furnish a flat on expenses! That said we were rather frugal!! Ordered beds for us all - the roll mats have done their part!
It's very funny - the IKEA is exactly the same as in the UK (except it's about twice the price!)Also there's the IKEA shop - so we found some cheese and some crispbreads - hooray! Also decided to eat in IKEA - finally the kids have eaten something, which is a relief!
Our apartment is on the third floor right on a park, so our room and Felix's room overlook the trees - the leaves are all coming out, and there are some blossoms so it's really pretty. Out the front is the main room (living, dining room) and Neve's room. We overlook a really South-East Asian looking street - small, but tall building interspersed by Japanese acer, cherry blossom, and other 'Oriental' trees that I can't name! The street is very narrow (about 12 feet wide) with telegraph poles all the way down carrying cables for everything (they don't seem to bury them here!) We've arrived at cherry blossom time, so it's all really beautiful - pinks, whites, dark pinks. We have access to the roof space - just a flat space with a rail, but it'll be great in teh Summer. From here you can see the skycrapers of Shibuya - at night they're all lit up - it's stunning!
There's a play park at the end of the road, with some swings and a small climbing frame, then (and this seems typical) some loos and a water fountain. There's also a baseball park (but I suspect you have to book this!)
Doubling back on yourself, there's a footpath overhung with beautiful cherry trees which leads to another park (more loos and water fountains!). This is perhaps more of a 'formal' park with lots of shade, benches, some BBQ pitches, and a pondy thing. There's also a municipal swimming pool and tennis courts, but God only knows how you're supposed to book these!!
So today, we managed to go to IKEA (pronounced ik (like 'bic' pens / sailboards) ea). Fun to go round a shop and furnish a flat on expenses! That said we were rather frugal!! Ordered beds for us all - the roll mats have done their part!
It's very funny - the IKEA is exactly the same as in the UK (except it's about twice the price!)Also there's the IKEA shop - so we found some cheese and some crispbreads - hooray! Also decided to eat in IKEA - finally the kids have eaten something, which is a relief!
Easter Day - 4th April
So, after days of frantic packing (we really did leave it to the last minute) we've finally arrived!
I've no idea how 4 people managed to carry so much stuff, but amazingly it all fit into the car of Ross's colleague who had kindly come to pick us up. Poor chap nearly had a coronary when he saw all the stuff! A detour to Ross's office to pick up even more stuff really had us crammed in like sardines, but we managed to get to our apartment in one piece.
Our apartment is lovely, 'small and bijou' I think you'd describe it in a brochure! In true Japanese style it was heated to about 25 degrees - we turned this down as soon as the letting agent had gone. Ross and his friend went off to collect the second hand stuff Ross had managed to procure, and the kids and I set off to find a shop to buy some food. After a 20-hour journey, no sleep and a hideous time-delay the 2km treck to the supermarket was an effort (poor Macken kids!!) OMG what is there to eat - shelves upon shelves of unidentifiable things in bags and boxes, and 'vegetables' which we'd never seen before - then there was the bits of sea-creatures, tentacles, eyes, squigy things - YUK YUK YUK!!!
We found some rice, noodles, spinchy looking stuff, fruit juice, and goma (sesame seeds) - surely we could make something with that!
Ross arrived back with some pots, pans, a sofa, and enourmous tele and some cooking utensils. Some food was created - but the kids point blank refused, and went to bed, presumably, very hungry!!
Things could only get better!
I've no idea how 4 people managed to carry so much stuff, but amazingly it all fit into the car of Ross's colleague who had kindly come to pick us up. Poor chap nearly had a coronary when he saw all the stuff! A detour to Ross's office to pick up even more stuff really had us crammed in like sardines, but we managed to get to our apartment in one piece.
Our apartment is lovely, 'small and bijou' I think you'd describe it in a brochure! In true Japanese style it was heated to about 25 degrees - we turned this down as soon as the letting agent had gone. Ross and his friend went off to collect the second hand stuff Ross had managed to procure, and the kids and I set off to find a shop to buy some food. After a 20-hour journey, no sleep and a hideous time-delay the 2km treck to the supermarket was an effort (poor Macken kids!!) OMG what is there to eat - shelves upon shelves of unidentifiable things in bags and boxes, and 'vegetables' which we'd never seen before - then there was the bits of sea-creatures, tentacles, eyes, squigy things - YUK YUK YUK!!!
We found some rice, noodles, spinchy looking stuff, fruit juice, and goma (sesame seeds) - surely we could make something with that!
Ross arrived back with some pots, pans, a sofa, and enourmous tele and some cooking utensils. Some food was created - but the kids point blank refused, and went to bed, presumably, very hungry!!
Things could only get better!
Friday, 28 May 2010
Friday 28th May
Day of ups and downs. Trying to arrange for Neve to have a friend to play, either today or tomorrow (Felix is having a friend for a sleepover). Everyone we called was busy - these kids spend their lives on playdates and sleepovers, and I'm not quite up to speed on this hectic schedule!
Anyway, as a result of all my calling around, I find out that there's a parent's school trip organised today to this beutiful old 'Edo' (old Japanese) village, with a monthly market, and it's a lovely hot sunny day today. I was gutted, becuase there was no way I could not turn up at work today, however, if I'd found out earlier, I could have arranged it as such. It started me thinking again - there's this really strange 'microculture' here - like we're living in an insular social 'bubble', with friendships 'swinging' promiscuously from one to another - not really sure whether I want to be in the bubble or not... but it does really help the kids, and the little town did look fun! - so, on balance, I decided that I really was gutted.
Anyway, the silver living to this cloud was that it highlighted the fact that our emails from the PTA are not working (so I fixed this) and there is a short trip next week, which I am def going on!
So trudged off to work. Now, the culture at work is completely different - they're there for the duration, so there's this very homely cohesive culture. I decided that this is a nice atmosphere for when every other bedrock in your life has earthquaked away!
So the big news at work, for me, is that they want me to go to Korea on Monday for a sales training day (the Product Manager's English is very basic, and the training's all in English) I jumped at the chance! So feeling very up! Then learn that the flight back on Wednesday doesn't get in 'til 9pm, and Ross can't take more time off work, and I wasn't sure if I could organise another day of 'playdates', so changed the flights to an earlier time - now feeling down becuase have missed my sightseeing morning, then the HR lady finds out that I need a visa, so said I couldn't go - very very down. Then we find out that, if I go as a tourist, I don't need a visa. Big Boss, KK, says he wants me to go and pretend to be a tourist, So now up again!! STRESS!!!
The school had organised a 'rock night' where pupils of 7,8,9,and 10 played songs -but rather than hymns or beetles classics, they were actually proper songs! (sorry Paul and John!). We had kind of dismissed it, but becuase we'd had such a socially inadequate day, we decided to go along after school. It was amazing - all the kids performed, and the last 'band' was a 'proper' band with the most amazing guitarist who can only have been 14. Felix was bored, because he found none of his friends there, but Neve had a great time, sitting on the stage waving her arms around with a couple of girls in her class.
Another argument for my theory of this school 'microculture' - the kids all looked really fashionable, and were clearly considered cool by their friends and peers, but I wondered how they would fare walking through town at home; the Japanese fashionistas would most certainly be gawped at!!
Today's sillly slogan: [written across the bum on a pair of sweat pants] 'Strong Current' (surely some clothes designer having a laugh at the poor Japanese's expense!!
Anyway, as a result of all my calling around, I find out that there's a parent's school trip organised today to this beutiful old 'Edo' (old Japanese) village, with a monthly market, and it's a lovely hot sunny day today. I was gutted, becuase there was no way I could not turn up at work today, however, if I'd found out earlier, I could have arranged it as such. It started me thinking again - there's this really strange 'microculture' here - like we're living in an insular social 'bubble', with friendships 'swinging' promiscuously from one to another - not really sure whether I want to be in the bubble or not... but it does really help the kids, and the little town did look fun! - so, on balance, I decided that I really was gutted.
Anyway, the silver living to this cloud was that it highlighted the fact that our emails from the PTA are not working (so I fixed this) and there is a short trip next week, which I am def going on!
So trudged off to work. Now, the culture at work is completely different - they're there for the duration, so there's this very homely cohesive culture. I decided that this is a nice atmosphere for when every other bedrock in your life has earthquaked away!
So the big news at work, for me, is that they want me to go to Korea on Monday for a sales training day (the Product Manager's English is very basic, and the training's all in English) I jumped at the chance! So feeling very up! Then learn that the flight back on Wednesday doesn't get in 'til 9pm, and Ross can't take more time off work, and I wasn't sure if I could organise another day of 'playdates', so changed the flights to an earlier time - now feeling down becuase have missed my sightseeing morning, then the HR lady finds out that I need a visa, so said I couldn't go - very very down. Then we find out that, if I go as a tourist, I don't need a visa. Big Boss, KK, says he wants me to go and pretend to be a tourist, So now up again!! STRESS!!!
The school had organised a 'rock night' where pupils of 7,8,9,and 10 played songs -but rather than hymns or beetles classics, they were actually proper songs! (sorry Paul and John!). We had kind of dismissed it, but becuase we'd had such a socially inadequate day, we decided to go along after school. It was amazing - all the kids performed, and the last 'band' was a 'proper' band with the most amazing guitarist who can only have been 14. Felix was bored, because he found none of his friends there, but Neve had a great time, sitting on the stage waving her arms around with a couple of girls in her class.
Another argument for my theory of this school 'microculture' - the kids all looked really fashionable, and were clearly considered cool by their friends and peers, but I wondered how they would fare walking through town at home; the Japanese fashionistas would most certainly be gawped at!!
Today's sillly slogan: [written across the bum on a pair of sweat pants] 'Strong Current' (surely some clothes designer having a laugh at the poor Japanese's expense!!
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Thursday 27th May
Today, I had a bit of a 'eureka' moment - I came up with a theory about why the Japanese approach to working, and perhaps something deeper, is different to our way. The Japanese have to learn four different ways of writing - romanji (like what we use), Katakana (what they use for writing 'anglicised' works - like 'livingroom' is 'ribingu' - pronounce ri-bing-gu and you'll recognise it!), Hirigana (a phonetic alphabet) and Kangi (from the Chinese). All these are muddled together! There are 26 (plus capitals etc.) romanji characters, 46 katakana, 46 hirigana, and over 6,000 kangi! Most Japanese school children spend the first [several] years of school learning approx 1,200 characters. Most people know about 2,000. To go to university, you need to know about 6,000, and you cannot read a newspaper without knowing 6,000.
You can see how it must work - if you can read a newspaper, you must be well educated. It seems that many people just don't bother to remember all these symbols (I challenge any of you who did any maths / physics / electronics / chemistry / biochemistry etc. at Universty to go back and decipher your notes!) My theory, well, my thought really, is that perhaps this goes someway to explain why education is considered soooo important to the Japanese, and why they study soooo much harder than your average brit! The Brits are supposedly snobby about class, the Americans about wealth, I wonder whether the equivalant heirachy for the Japanese is structured around education??
Anyway, enough pontificating!
Felix had an 'only in Japan' moment today - his school is on the same campus as a rather posh girl's school. Today he watched in amazement as, apparently, a whole school's worth of girls danced to 'we will, we will rock you' by stamping their feet in time - this he found most amusing!
Neve had less of a great day, it seems mainly due to the fact that she put her shirt on inside out, and couldn't undo the button to rectify the situation. Still, her shirt looked lovely and clean! Poor girl - got a bit upset in the hairdressers!
...which was a great success - infact a most enjoyable experience. The hair washing chair was like one they have at the dentist, I think I gave a squeel when it threw me backwards! Then there was this lovely hot towel put on my neck - extracted from a machine which said 'hot towels' on it ahhhh.... Rather nerve racking though, as he didn't ask what colour I wanted, nor how I wanted it cut - so it was really just a 'wait and see'!
You can see how it must work - if you can read a newspaper, you must be well educated. It seems that many people just don't bother to remember all these symbols (I challenge any of you who did any maths / physics / electronics / chemistry / biochemistry etc. at Universty to go back and decipher your notes!) My theory, well, my thought really, is that perhaps this goes someway to explain why education is considered soooo important to the Japanese, and why they study soooo much harder than your average brit! The Brits are supposedly snobby about class, the Americans about wealth, I wonder whether the equivalant heirachy for the Japanese is structured around education??
Anyway, enough pontificating!
Felix had an 'only in Japan' moment today - his school is on the same campus as a rather posh girl's school. Today he watched in amazement as, apparently, a whole school's worth of girls danced to 'we will, we will rock you' by stamping their feet in time - this he found most amusing!
Neve had less of a great day, it seems mainly due to the fact that she put her shirt on inside out, and couldn't undo the button to rectify the situation. Still, her shirt looked lovely and clean! Poor girl - got a bit upset in the hairdressers!
...which was a great success - infact a most enjoyable experience. The hair washing chair was like one they have at the dentist, I think I gave a squeel when it threw me backwards! Then there was this lovely hot towel put on my neck - extracted from a machine which said 'hot towels' on it ahhhh.... Rather nerve racking though, as he didn't ask what colour I wanted, nor how I wanted it cut - so it was really just a 'wait and see'!
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
26th May
Well, several things accomplished in the last couple of days. Firstly, I've managed to find a hairdresser who charges less than my month's wages to highlight and cut my hair - have booked an appointment with him tomorrow... least I think I have. Also, it was very interesting trying to explain that I wanted highlights which were lighter than my rather obvious roots, but darker than my now somewhat-brassy-overbleached-by-the-sun rest-of-hair. He ended up 'phoning a friend' who spoke reasonable 'American' who was able to intermediate. Let's see what colour my hair ends up tomorrow!
The other accomplishment is that I've now done a Karaoke - it was fab and I want to do it again! It was my work 'welcome party' so there were 12 of us from the Sales and Marketing department in a room the size of an average loo, on the 47th floor of the Keio Plaza Hotel (very swish hotel in the centre of Shinjuku) Had no idea what we were doing, or where we were going as cannot understand a word of what they say most of the time! So, the deal is, you all go and sit down on this round table affair facing the screen, and programme in the songs you want into the whizzy box (fortunately there was a 'select English' button!). It was clear that I was expected to sing earlier than the beer had really taken effect - so I chose Dancing Queen, and they all joined in! What a lovely evening - they all sang (even those who really should have known better!) and we all had a real laugh! Then at 8:30 our allocated two hours were up and we all went home!!
So, what have we done - well the kids had half term this week, which was actually just Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, it poured with rain for most of the day, so we did a bit of homework, then got bored and went to the 'poundland' (known here as 100yen-land) on 'tacky-shitty-street' (proabably more about that at a later date). We needed yet more coat hangers, but had lots of fun exploring the 4 floors of 100 yen bargains. Also ended up buying an oil smelly burner thing.
After this we went to one of Felix's school friend's houses. Still yet to find a flat as small as ours!! Both the women at this 'play-date' were Japanese, and I was treated to proper tea, lots and lots of cakes and cherries (haven't seen these for ages!), whilst the kids ran riot in the swish apartment block!
On Tuesday, the weather was hot and muggy again. Ross took the day off, and we travelled 40km out of Tokyo on the local trains to Mt Takao. It was all very very green! (probably looked greener because we're so used to very very concrete), that said, in true Japanese fashion, there was lots of concrete - the stream was contained, the 'wooden' posts were actually just pretending, and there was a road up one side of the mountain! Took about 90 mins to reach the top, where we met up with several school trips who'd taken the gondola! Then, being 11:50am, it was lunchtime. Having tried very hard to work out what the food was, and how much it cost (prices all in Kanji!) we were greeted with an English menu! We all chose soba noodles with various bits on - very tasty, and all cooked by one bloke, who was also the waiter and the cleaner-uper! 
It was a good day - despite Neve's 'this is really boring' tantrum. Highlights - saw a really big snake, these amazing black butterflies the size of bats, beautiful temple and a marble (not concrete this time!) tako (aka octopus!)
The picture are us all on the 'summit' of the 'mountain', and Ross and Felix in the restaurant with the 'unreadable' menus, and Neve getting to terms with Japanese cutlery!
Best Silly Slogan of the day - this time on a bag, "The hills are alive he sound of musi"
Monday, 24 May 2010
Monday 24th May
We have just set this up - so not sure yet whether it's working...
Will be fab if it is, because we've been meaning to do this for weeks - a really big 'tick in the box'!
Will be fab if it is, because we've been meaning to do this for weeks - a really big 'tick in the box'!
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