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laurainlimbo at 11:44am on 06/03/2006
laurainlimbo at 11:44am on 06/03/2006Well, the bad news is that the weather today sucks! its cold, and rainy, and reinforces my sadness that I can't watch the academy awards, which are happening right now as I speak (or write, to be more accurate)... and I found out that George Clooney beat Jake Gyllenhaal for best supporting actor... ACK! I hate George Clooney!
those of you who were able to watch the awards, please give me the details as soon as possible...
The good news, though, is that Masahiko and I had the most wonderful day yesterday! it was the kind of day that makes you feel happy to be alive, and that gives you enough positive reinforcement that you have fuel for a long long time... We left the house at 7:50, and it was already a glorious sunny day. We really lucked out that we chose to go yesterday because the nice weather was sandwiched between two cloudy days! Anyway, after about 30 minutes, we arrived at the house of Masahiko's friend, Toshi-san, and his family. They have a really huge house that looks very modern, but I think its actually quite old, maybe 20 years or so. Its a very non-Japanese house, with wood paneling and really cool arched doorways - and its so homey and comfy inside, with two leather couches, Jimi Hendrix posters, tons of CDs and records... I'm so envious! If Masahiko and I could live in a house like that, I would stay in Japan forever! But his parents' house is just ugly - there's no other words for it. Anyway, while we were waiting for Toshi and his wife (stupid me, I never did ask what her name is), to prepare everything, we entertained ourselves by playing with little Mai-chan, who is just 2 and is absolutely gorgeous! When they were all ready, we piled into their huge van (this thing, I am telling you, is large enough to be a small apartment, and even has two beds in the back), and we went to pick up Toshi's son, Kaisei, who is 7, from his grandparent's house - and then, by about 10:00 or so, we were on our way to the Izu Peninsula!
The ride from Numazu to Shimoda, at the northern-most tip of the peninsula, took about 4 hours (it usually would take about 2-3) because the day was glorious, and this is the prime time to see some of the earliest cherry blossoms in the western part of the Izu. So we were on the road with nearly all of Shizuoka prefecture! It was bumper to bumper on very narrow winding roads, but the company in the van, and the music, was great (we listened to Phish, Grateful Dead, Jimmy Cliff and lots of other very cool positive music), so it was not a tedious drive. Plus we were able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and I even snapped a photo (but you have to wait to see it, since I took it with my regular camera and I have to get the film developed)...
I have to take a few moments to talk about this family that we went with yesterday. They are the nicest family, and the kids are two of the most well-behaved, positive, sweet kids I've ever met. (and I've met a lot of Japanese kids from my teaching experiences, very few of whom are positive, cheerful, or well-behaved)... Mai-chan is so adorable (again, pictures will come later), with a head full of curls (unusual for Japanese kids), big eyes, and a sweet personality. And such a good little girl - the whole day she cried maybe only twice! and the little boy, Kaisei, is so positive, and loves to sing (he was singing "Take Me Home Country Roads" in English, on the drive over, and again on the drive back. He loves singing, and loves to talk about his obsession, which is tornadoes! Such a sweet kid! I had so much fun with them, and enjoyed hanging out with Kaisei on the beach while we waited for Masahiko and Toshi to finish surfing. I realized after hanging out the whole day with this family that environment is really so important in shaping kids, and in determining their personalities. Masahiko's nephew, for instance, lives with just his mother, who has been divorced twice, who smokes, and is always sick and depressed. He spends a lot of time with Masahiko's parents, who are extremely busy with their business, and who love him, but are not loving people. I don't see them hugging or kissing Daiki, and they certainly didn't do it with Masahiko when he was little. This family, on the other hand, are so loving - I saw Toshi-san always kissing and hugging his kids - and he is so positive and happy, and the marriage seems good. So the kids are happy, and they don't complain, and they love people! It made me feel so good!
But back to the day... we finally arrived in Shimoda around 1 p.m., and the ocean was glorious! the water there reminds me of Hawaii, greenish-blue and clear - and with the hills around it really makes one feel like you might just be in Hawaii rather than Japan! (again, I took a few photos, but it will be about a week before I can post them)... We stopped at a place with a view and we cooked some yakisoba (this family was so prepared with their portable stove, portable table and chairs, and all the makings for yakisoba!) - we ate delicious food, (we were all extremely hungry since we hadn't eaten all day.), and enjoyed the view!
Then, after eating, we drove to our final destination: Shirahama beach, where the boys would go surfing, and where I would follow Toshi's wife and the two kids while they picked up "nori" and "wakame" (two different kinds of seaweed) from the reefs. I'd been to Shirahama beach before, about 4 years ago after Masahiko and I got married and returned to Japan to apply for his greencard. Its a beautiful white-sand beach, with a shrine, and lots of reefs: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6304.html.
We (Toshi's wife and the two kids), walked quite aways from where the boys were surfing, along some treacherous cliffs overhanging the ocean, and we finally reached an open stretch of the beach where we saw this old lady digging for clams. Kaisei (who is not shy) very boldly approached her and asked her where we could find the "nori" and she guided us there. We all spent about 20 minutes digging nori off of the rocks (which I guess they are going to eat, though I'm not sure if it is so delicious) - and it was very fun for the kids, especially Kaisei. I just enjoyed being on the beach where it was so quiet and peaceful, and I could regain some of my sanity again (which is lost most of the time)... By this time we got back to where the boys were surfing, it was around 3:30 p.m. and little Mai went with her mother to the car for a nap. I stayed on the beach with Kaisei and watched him play in the sand while we waited for the guys to finish surfing. They finished, changed into their clothes again, and we got on the road home by about 4:30 or so. This time the roads were much clearer, and we saw the most beautiful sunset (didn't get photos, though) over the ocean. I got a little carsick from the windy roads, and got very hungry, but we finally stopped for dinner at around 8 p.m. in Numazu. Then we ate, and got home by 10 p.m. What a day!
I have to add one final note: This was the most happy and positive that I've seen Masahiko in a long long time! Just being around this nice family, and getting out of the house and to a beautiful location was enough to make us both happy. But the surfing was so good for his body and his mind, and he was a changed person after we got home... I just hope that it lasts!! I too, had a great great time and wish that every day could be like this.
those of you who were able to watch the awards, please give me the details as soon as possible...
The good news, though, is that Masahiko and I had the most wonderful day yesterday! it was the kind of day that makes you feel happy to be alive, and that gives you enough positive reinforcement that you have fuel for a long long time... We left the house at 7:50, and it was already a glorious sunny day. We really lucked out that we chose to go yesterday because the nice weather was sandwiched between two cloudy days! Anyway, after about 30 minutes, we arrived at the house of Masahiko's friend, Toshi-san, and his family. They have a really huge house that looks very modern, but I think its actually quite old, maybe 20 years or so. Its a very non-Japanese house, with wood paneling and really cool arched doorways - and its so homey and comfy inside, with two leather couches, Jimi Hendrix posters, tons of CDs and records... I'm so envious! If Masahiko and I could live in a house like that, I would stay in Japan forever! But his parents' house is just ugly - there's no other words for it. Anyway, while we were waiting for Toshi and his wife (stupid me, I never did ask what her name is), to prepare everything, we entertained ourselves by playing with little Mai-chan, who is just 2 and is absolutely gorgeous! When they were all ready, we piled into their huge van (this thing, I am telling you, is large enough to be a small apartment, and even has two beds in the back), and we went to pick up Toshi's son, Kaisei, who is 7, from his grandparent's house - and then, by about 10:00 or so, we were on our way to the Izu Peninsula!
The ride from Numazu to Shimoda, at the northern-most tip of the peninsula, took about 4 hours (it usually would take about 2-3) because the day was glorious, and this is the prime time to see some of the earliest cherry blossoms in the western part of the Izu. So we were on the road with nearly all of Shizuoka prefecture! It was bumper to bumper on very narrow winding roads, but the company in the van, and the music, was great (we listened to Phish, Grateful Dead, Jimmy Cliff and lots of other very cool positive music), so it was not a tedious drive. Plus we were able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and I even snapped a photo (but you have to wait to see it, since I took it with my regular camera and I have to get the film developed)...
I have to take a few moments to talk about this family that we went with yesterday. They are the nicest family, and the kids are two of the most well-behaved, positive, sweet kids I've ever met. (and I've met a lot of Japanese kids from my teaching experiences, very few of whom are positive, cheerful, or well-behaved)... Mai-chan is so adorable (again, pictures will come later), with a head full of curls (unusual for Japanese kids), big eyes, and a sweet personality. And such a good little girl - the whole day she cried maybe only twice! and the little boy, Kaisei, is so positive, and loves to sing (he was singing "Take Me Home Country Roads" in English, on the drive over, and again on the drive back. He loves singing, and loves to talk about his obsession, which is tornadoes! Such a sweet kid! I had so much fun with them, and enjoyed hanging out with Kaisei on the beach while we waited for Masahiko and Toshi to finish surfing. I realized after hanging out the whole day with this family that environment is really so important in shaping kids, and in determining their personalities. Masahiko's nephew, for instance, lives with just his mother, who has been divorced twice, who smokes, and is always sick and depressed. He spends a lot of time with Masahiko's parents, who are extremely busy with their business, and who love him, but are not loving people. I don't see them hugging or kissing Daiki, and they certainly didn't do it with Masahiko when he was little. This family, on the other hand, are so loving - I saw Toshi-san always kissing and hugging his kids - and he is so positive and happy, and the marriage seems good. So the kids are happy, and they don't complain, and they love people! It made me feel so good!
But back to the day... we finally arrived in Shimoda around 1 p.m., and the ocean was glorious! the water there reminds me of Hawaii, greenish-blue and clear - and with the hills around it really makes one feel like you might just be in Hawaii rather than Japan! (again, I took a few photos, but it will be about a week before I can post them)... We stopped at a place with a view and we cooked some yakisoba (this family was so prepared with their portable stove, portable table and chairs, and all the makings for yakisoba!) - we ate delicious food, (we were all extremely hungry since we hadn't eaten all day.), and enjoyed the view!
Then, after eating, we drove to our final destination: Shirahama beach, where the boys would go surfing, and where I would follow Toshi's wife and the two kids while they picked up "nori" and "wakame" (two different kinds of seaweed) from the reefs. I'd been to Shirahama beach before, about 4 years ago after Masahiko and I got married and returned to Japan to apply for his greencard. Its a beautiful white-sand beach, with a shrine, and lots of reefs: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6304.html.
We (Toshi's wife and the two kids), walked quite aways from where the boys were surfing, along some treacherous cliffs overhanging the ocean, and we finally reached an open stretch of the beach where we saw this old lady digging for clams. Kaisei (who is not shy) very boldly approached her and asked her where we could find the "nori" and she guided us there. We all spent about 20 minutes digging nori off of the rocks (which I guess they are going to eat, though I'm not sure if it is so delicious) - and it was very fun for the kids, especially Kaisei. I just enjoyed being on the beach where it was so quiet and peaceful, and I could regain some of my sanity again (which is lost most of the time)... By this time we got back to where the boys were surfing, it was around 3:30 p.m. and little Mai went with her mother to the car for a nap. I stayed on the beach with Kaisei and watched him play in the sand while we waited for the guys to finish surfing. They finished, changed into their clothes again, and we got on the road home by about 4:30 or so. This time the roads were much clearer, and we saw the most beautiful sunset (didn't get photos, though) over the ocean. I got a little carsick from the windy roads, and got very hungry, but we finally stopped for dinner at around 8 p.m. in Numazu. Then we ate, and got home by 10 p.m. What a day!
I have to add one final note: This was the most happy and positive that I've seen Masahiko in a long long time! Just being around this nice family, and getting out of the house and to a beautiful location was enough to make us both happy. But the surfing was so good for his body and his mind, and he was a changed person after we got home... I just hope that it lasts!! I too, had a great great time and wish that every day could be like this.
rejuvenated
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