Cherry Blossom Adventures

We are all moved into our new place and everything is unpacked and it is looking pretty good if I do say so myself. LOVE LOVE LOVE having our own place and extra space!! Unfortunately we still do not have internet at home so I am at an internet cafe today checking my email which I haven`t checked in over a week and as for blogs, well, sorry but I haven`t been able to check them yet either.

The internet was supposed to be set up from yesterday but we had a a bit of an issue and now have to start again practically it seems so it could still be a week or more before we get internet at home. I had hoped I would be able to steal some wireless off a neighbour but it seems everyone uses normal internet instead of wireless and I can not log onto anybodies connection which is a damn shame.

One of my closest friends, Sarah, had her baby yesterday. I cried when her husband rang and gave me the news… she is beautiful and I know that Sarah had a hellish time giving birth but she did so brilliantly and deserves more than just a big pat on the back. Then I rang Nay and we got all gushy together. We are both heading to Niigata this weekend to see Sarah, Ryohei and baby Sakura and I can not wait to see them all!!! I can not believe in 20 weeks I will have my own baby…

I reached my 20 week pregnancy anniversary on Sunday- I made the half way point. So far no real issues although goma-chan has started kicking up a storm. People can feel it from the outside and sometimes I can even see my tummy move. Shun was the first to feel it from the outside the day we moved- I guess goma-chan was also excited we had our own place!!! Since then a couple of friends have had a feel so he/she seems to enjoy being the center of attention. I have also had my first ever couple of cases of heartburn. Not fun.

James, Cat & Sumi came for dinner last weekend- it was so nice to have our own place to entertain friends (and our first official guest this weekend will be Nay! Although Cat has already spent the night!). We sat around eating and chatting and playing board games followed by cake. It was great!!!! I also need to say a big thanks to Cat and James, both of who came over within a few days of us moving to help out with some unpacking- especially to James who spent a whole day with me putting together ikea furnature!!! He is a champ and I really could not ask for better friends! (And lucky for Shun it meant he didn`t have to come home from work late and THEN put together furnature!)

Ino no hi was yesterday (yes the day Sakura was born- I received the news at 3:40pm on my way home from suitengu shrine)- I received my blessing from the shrine dude (this is the official term I am sure!) and something for good luck to put in a corset if I choose to wear it. My MIL and Shun`s grandma came with me. We rubbed the dog for good luck too!!! It was interesting- I could not beleive how many pregnant people turned up for it though- WOW! I think suitengu is quite a famous shrine for (It is in Tokyo on the Hanzoman line at suitengumae station) ino no hi. I am hoping that the blessing and little trinket will ensure that I have a safe birth…

Promise to get some photos up of the new place (and baby Sakura once I meet her!) once we have internet at home. I miss having the internet so much, as sad as that sounds. It is my connection to the English speaking world…but I had no idea how much I used it for other stuff as well. I will be glad when it is back!

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I had a doctors appointment today and while I did get a little print out, all I can see is the head so I thought I would share the DVD they gave me instead. If it looks as if they are prodding goma-chan and moving the echo thing around a lot it is because they are- the doctor was trying to find out the sex but goma-chan was not being very cooperative and the doctor left me with a “zannen” (“that is too bad”) comment and gave me a DVD. I think I got a DVD because they thought they would be able to figure out the sex. Oh well, I figured that I wouldn`t find out this time anyway but here is hoping goma-chan is more cooperative in three weeks when I go back.

Oh I am feeling actual kicks now too- weird, but it started today after the echo/scan. I think goma-chan likes train rides (or hates them) as that is when he is most active. You can`t feel them from the outside yet though so Shun will have nothing to feel when he gets home but maybe in a couple of weeks.

Goma-chan was genki and measuring fairly close to  average size (although the head is bigger than 19 weeks- bit scary!). One of the best things about the appointment is that I actually lost weight- I have no idea how this has happened. I spoke to my mum about it and she asked if I was eating more than normal and the truth is I haven`t been- I am not more hungry than usual or anything so I guess that is having something to do with it maybe? I guess I walk a fair bit too (and they heat means that while the walking is not that fast I am still burning calories) and have started doing a bit of maternity yoga (but want to get into it more after I move). Weight wise goma-chan was smack bang in the middle of average and the measure your stomach when you go and that was definitely bigger but I had actually lost 500g (I know, I know it is not much but hey I was thinking a 1.5-2kg weight GAIN). So I guess those magic scales a couple of weeks ago were not so magic afterall, and actually quite close to the truth. So at least the doctor could not have a go at me about being fat! Although I am sure he thinks I already was….but oh well, he still can`t say anything! Blood pressure was normal (116/59 or something like that) and I paid all the money without any issues. Plus because there was no blood test today it only cost me 340yen! Bargain!

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We move to our new place on Saturday. Just another 36 hours of living with the in-laws. To tell you the truth, while I miss my own space, living here has not been THAT bad. I could probably even stay another couple of weeks without killing anyone but I am definitely glad we are moving. We certainly saved a bit of money by living here first as well…in total we will have lived with them for 7 weeks or so.

I have packed everything up except for the last minute items that will need to go into suitcases- yesterday I was pretty busy all day getting things together and closing boxes. A lot of our stuff was already packed in boxes from Australia or previously from when we lived in Japan but at different times when I had been searching for things most had been opened so that is what I was doing yesterday- closing them all!!! Plus packing up my clothes and books and shoes. Today I worked on Shun`s clothes and things and while his suitcase is still open in case there is anything from his old room he wants to put in, I am pretty sure I am done.

Yesterday morning before starting the packing I stopped and did a ten minute yoga warm-up and stretch thinking my arms and back would thank me for it later. I guess it didn`t really work much though because I woke up with back pain and a pulled muscle in my stomach (I hope that is all it is – luckily I am going to the baby doctor tomorrow so they can check me out there) – after finishing all I needed to pack up today as well I had a two hour nap!

Things I am looking forward to in the new place-

- While expensive, shopping for all the stuff we need (luckily most really expensive big stuff we already have!)- trips to Yodobashi, Ikea and the local Itokaido (sp?) planned!

- Cooking my own food and playing around in the kitchen (oh and making own bread)

- Unpacking and putting everything where I want it to go

- Snuggling up on the sofa and watching movies with Shun (now we snuggle on the bed and watch it on my laptop but it is not the same!)

- Space

- Exploring the new neighbourhood- will be the first time I will live in Funabashi so I am sure to make lots of new discoveries!

- Starting a mini herb and veggie garden (thanks to Heather for her tips by email!)

- Setting up my sewing machine and sewing stuff (too hot for knitting right now!)

- Setting up the room for goma-chan- although this won`t happen for a little while yet.

I am sure there is a lot more too!

I might be without internet for a little while- NTT is coming on July 28th (Tues week) but hopefully I will be able to scam some internet off the neighbours- if not they well, you might not hear from me for 10 days or so.

The plan is to stay in the new place for about four years until we can buy our own place- so I need to try to make it as homely as possible! If anybody has any nice hints on how to make it our own (within reason, as we are renting it) then please leave your advice!

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Summer in Japan to me usually means BBQs, camping, festivals, fireworks, the beach (no matter if it has black sand!), Kakigori (snowcones) and unbearable heat.

On the weekend Shun & I went to Sarujima with friends to BBQ and hang out at the beach. Sarujima is a small uninhabited island off the coast (literally only like 1km off the coast) of Yokosuka in Kanagawa-ken. It certainly wasn`t uninhabited on Saturday when we were there though- there was probably close to 1000 people or more on the little beach area that we could BBQ on. I have no idea why it is called sarujima (monkey island?) since there was no monkeys and despite what my friend James said it was not “shaped like a monkey”. (Sadly, I was gullible enough to believe him when I said this- I have known James long enough to know better!)

It was such a fun day. We caught the 11:30am boat to the island and the 4:30pm boat back.

Here are a couple photos from the day…

Alex & I on the beach

I made kebabs for us all…

Shun became the BBQer- Gary & James joined in!

It was a cloudy day but still hot enough to paddle

James & I taking a break! We forgot to bring the picnic sheet but lucky most of us had brought towels we could lay down.

Junni`s beer yakisoba

No summer day would be complete without kakigori

Gary`s scottish pride towel

All of us, after packing up

We went on a bit of a hike around the island

Koki (in grey singlet) is a photographer- he set us up for a timed photo of all of us near the caves. He called it an “album shot”- On my camera we used no flash and I love that this one catches Uchi (Striped shirt) in mid motion.

Near the look-out

View from the top

Edge of the island

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I always loved to sing while growing up- my father would sing to us most nights and as we got older we sang with him. I played the piano and had lessons from age 3 to age 18 (don`t get any funny ideas- I used to be an okay player but literally have not played in years) and I also learnt the violin for about three years in highschool. During highschool, until my senior years, I also did music class at school and the teacher at the time asked me to try out for a choir that was just starting  that would have 22 students from grades 9 -12(I was grade 9) that would meet twice a week for rehersal and would perform for school functions etc.

I tried out and made it in (Still have no idea how?!) – I also took singing lessons at this time privately and jointly with another girl at school in which we were taught to sing properly including proper breathing tecniques which I know longer use at all when I sing around the house!!! I was also in the large school choir that met once a week that had about 50 students…

Don`t get the wrong idea- I really can not sing well but I guess my previous music training helped seeing as I could read music and play two instruments already and so I knew how to hold a tune even though I was a poor singer compared to the other girls in the special choir.

Anyone who know me now in real life will probably laugh at the fact i was a choir girl- I know I do not seem the type at all. While I went to a religious school we sang mainly jazz and pop in the special choir with just some religious songs that we had to sing on special occasions for school. Singing jazz was always the most fun…

I am no longer musical at all unless you count singing along with the radio- I am not even sure I would be able to read music that well anymore especially piano music and it has been almost 7 years since I picked up a violin and played and almost as long since i sat down at a piano. I have been thinking about getting back into it recently though and would love a keyboard to play around on. When I go to karaoke I mainly choose songs that you get to “scream” out so that I dont actually have to try and sing properly!!!

My brother is still quite musical- while he is doing his degree in civil engineering and graduating later this year I know he contemplated studying music at university which is something I even considered when I was younger. My brother hated music lessons growing up and quit piano after two years but quite enjoyed fiddling around on mum`s old guitar. It was a right handed guitar but my brother is a leftie so he taught himself to play upside down before my parents purchased him a proper left handed acoustic guitar. He took lessons for most of highschool but mostly he was self-taught. I think he owns about 3 guitars now including an electric guitar, plus a bass, a keyboard and my old piano is in our garage at home and he often uses that. While he hated piano when he was younger he went back to it later on but again is mainly selt taught. He plays around with friends a lot and has “jam” sessions and I think he might even be a co-owner of a drum set. Not to mention he has some bongo drums and a harmonica among other instruments littering my mother`s garage.

This is a two part post- listening to itunes today got me thinking about singing and in particular singing to goma-chan.

Goma-chan`s hearing skills will kick in over the next few weeks and already I catch myself talking to him/her and I know that I will eventually start singing to him/her more regulary. I sometimes sing “There`s a kind of hush” to goma-chan at night (my father sang it to us when we were little, it is a Herman`s Hermits song an old British pop band that was around in the 60s- I do not think this band wrote it though) but so far that is the extent of my singing to the bub.

Shun will sing Japanese songs to goma-chan but only if I ask. I know goma-chan can`t hear much, if anything yet but it is still fun.

Other songs that I remember my dad singing to me were “On the Wings of a Snow White Dove”, “Blowin in the wind”, “Oh when the saints”, “Imagine”, “Years may come, years may go” (Another Hermans Hermits hit). One other song my father would often sing was an Italian song called “Ti Amor” that he had a extremely old record of and would put it on when we were little – my father`s best friend is an Aussie Italian guy who came to the wedding and I made sure this song was played so firstly dad and I could dance to it but also so that Joe, dad`s friend also had a dance with me.

There is another song my mum would sing, that was more of a traditional children`s song, that her father had sung to her.  which I can not remember now- but I will have to get her to write down the lyrics and re-teach it to me.

I was wondering what songs you sing to your children (or songs that were sung to you when you were a child)- whether it was before they were born or after. Is there a song that you sang that your kids remember and calms them?

I also wonder if goma-chan will turn out musical at all, or have a nice singing voice?

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June was a slow month and I did not cross much off the list- that said I guess that stands to reason seeing as there are not quite as many things to cross of anymore. Coming back to Japan though has made me get off my but and cross off some of the “Japan” related items. Hopefully will get to Hakone when my brother and his gf comes and visits next year as they plan to go. Plus looking to get Sumo tickets for the September session in Tokyo. So slowly, but surely, I will continue to cross things off.

6. Get Japanese drivers license

Done! Was quite simple although a little time consuming. As an Australian I didn`t have to do any practical driving tests but I needed a translation of my license (purchased from JAF) and a lot of other documents including photos when I went to the Chiba driving centre. It took all day as they only take applications between 9am-9:30 and then again from 1pm-1:30pm and we arrived at about 10am meaning we had to waste three hours. Don`t make the same mistake I did!

It is done now! I have not yet driven though- but I know I can if I want to! Oh and you can`t smile on your Japanese license which means in my photo I look kind of dead.

10. Find a decent apartment that Shumpei and I are both happy with (once we return to Japan)

This is done! YAY! We move in on the 18th and it is a great place that we both like. Will be sure to take some before and after photos when I get a chance. We are still organizing moving trucks, internet etc etc.

8 & 9 on my list involve finishing text books for JLPT level 1 study. I am back working on these texts and also going back to do some more basic kanji writing using elementary school texts for writing practice since my kanji knowledge went down hill when I was back in Australia (and it wasn`t that great to  begin with!)

Okay that is all. Wow, I really didn`t do much towards my list last month. By my count  76/101 tasks are now complete with several more in progress.

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Met up with a friend for coffee this afternoon. T from TJKR in Japan. We hadn`t seen each other since just after Christmas when we had okonomiyaki with her, J and K in Australia! (YUM!)- it was so nice to see both T and K again today and K had grown so much. She napped for most of our coffee break (LUCKY T!) and woke up near the end to show me her “baby” and to strap “baby” into the stroller. Apparently her dolls name is “baby”

I also got all the ingredients I need to make lasange since I am cooking tomorrow night and lasange it is!

Last night I used Shun`s mum`s scales to see how much weight I have put on this month- I thought it would be stacks but I think her scales are wrong since it says I have lost weight. I had never used those scales before but I am certain I have not lost 1.5kg! HAHA. She tried to convince me they were right but I was like “As much as I would of liked to have lost weight, see this belly, it is obvious I haven`t!”. I guess I will just have to wait til I go see the doctor next Friday since I will have to weigh myself then anyway…

Goma-chan is moving more and more but still just feels like bubbles- no proper kicks or anything yet but I suppose it is a bit too early for that. I have been thinking more and more about the names we like and there might be some other contendors now- I will just have to get Shun onside! Some of the names we like are very Japanese sounding and others are definitely more western. Middle names are western and pretty much decided on I think (but who knows!)- either way the baby won`t have a name until it is out and living in the outside world as I am a big believer in needing to “see” the baby before naming it officially!

My mum booked her tickets to Japan and she is arriving December 26th for three weeks. Goma-chan should definitely be out by then I hope, and even if I am still in the hospital it is close enough to new years that Shun will take some time off if I am not home from the clinic yet. I am excited to have my mum coming to stay (hi mum!)- and while I know we will disagree on some points of child raising and other things I am sure it will still be fantastic to have her around to help while goma-chan is still so small. With the cheaper jetstart tickets on offer now too I am wondering if I should try and make it back to Australia sometime in the first half of next year….I am still debating it. Can you book a “baby” onto a flight without knowing its name and not having a passport for it? HAHA, must find out.

My brother and his girlfriend also got two for one tickets to come to Japan next March for cherry blossom season (1500 dollars return for BOTH of them!)- the arrive March 26th and stay for just over 2 weeks. They will not spend all of that time with us though and plan on travelling to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji and more.

I know I am behind on my update for June for my 101 things in 1001 days but I will get it up soon I promise- It will be pretty dull though since I think I only did two things! HAHA

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This is my 500th post on Cherry Blossom Adventures. When I started this blog I was 21, living in Kichijoji and Shun hadn`t even officially moved in with me yet but we had been dating for over a year most of which was long distance. We were un-married and I was working for a crazy company that shall not be named as well as part-time at a International School in Azabu Juban. My things have changed!!!

In this year alone (2009) I have gotten married, lived in both Australia and Japan, gotten pregnant and we have found a flat to move into. I also went from working full-time as a government worker in Brisbane to being unemployed and a bit of a lady of leisure although I wish I could find some part-time work (Oh actually I did, I have 9 hours contract work in August which will pay me 30,000yen plus transport- I am doing so relief teaching for a company that does private lessons with kids). It has been 3+ years since I started blogging and I have made SOOOOOOO many online and RL friends from the experience that I would not have swapped it for anything.

Oh and I am 17 weeks pregnant today and during the week my belly sort of “popped”- so I leave you with a picture of my baby belly which to tell you the truth kind of just looks like fat although in real life it looks more like a baby belly, I promise! I also can not believe I am showing off my belly on my blog but I guess pregnancy brain leads you to do strange things huh!!! Shun took this 10 minutes ago so I put on my exercise clothes for the shot!

Goma-chan is moving around (and growing a lot if the muscle pain in my belly is anything to go by) a little but still no real kicks and more just like bubbles in my tummy. I am still thinking boy but most people seem to think girl, including my family and Shun`s family and Shun himself. We will just have to wait and see I think…

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I am feeling a bit under the weather today- not sure if I am coming down with a summer cold, have overslept (highly likely as I slept for 10.5 hours last night) or if morning sickness is making a sneaky comeback. I really hope it is not the latter as that would REALLY suck.

I was supposed to go out today and meet Cat for lunch but she had to do a conference call with an overseas client so I think we will meet up tomorrow or Sunday instead. So instead today I am home all day, except for the half an hour later when I will go the supermarket to buy dinner ingredients as it is my turn to cook. I am actually quite happy to be staying home now- I have been out everyday this week visiting and socializing and it has been super fun but it is nice to have a day at home too. Monday I left fairly early to head to Gyotoku to meet with Zoe and her son and we spent the day in the park which had a bit of a wading area for kids and then we had some pasta for lunch! Hunter (her son) was very good all day and only started to get tired near the end of lunch but he sure enjoyed his pasta. The weather was really hot though and I actually got a little sunburnt on my shoulders!!

Tuesday I was around most of the day at home but went out for Yakiniku dinner to meet with our friend James and his girlfriend Shizuka. They started dating while we were in Australia so we hadn`t met Shizuka yet but she was lovely! I love yakiniku too!!!

Wednesday I made the trip to Fuchu to spend the day with Cassie and Nanami- we stopped off to do a spot of food shopping on the way to Cassie`s house and then headed home to make a yummy salad with whole grain bread for lunch followed up with some yummy fruit for dessert! Nana was a brilliant sharer and I would often end up with her half eaten tomatos in my salad!! It was cute though! Cassie has kindly offered to pass on some of her baby stuff to me as well so Shun &  I will drive out to Fuchu in a couple of months together to pick it up (too much for a train ride home!) and it was so funny to watch Nana try to fit into her bumbo seat and baby rocker chair which she is now to big for! You could tell she loved playing with them though!!!

Wednesday night I headed to Shibuya to meet up with James again for dinner- his parents have been living in Japan for the last 2 years or so and they are heading back to Melbourne over the weekend. James`s parents have always been really good to Shun & I and I knew I wanted to catch up with them before they headed home so we met up at a seafood place in Shibuya which we have all been to before (not together though)- If anybody is near Shibuya or in Tokyo and likes seafood then you MUST go to Kaikaiya by the Sea- it is a 10 minute walk or so from Shibuya station and it is simply the best seafood you will find in Japan (I think anyway!). Shun was a little late due to work but we had saved him a little bit of all the dishes we sampled and we were still ordering when he arrived- the boys enjoyed some beer while I stuck to gingerale! James` mum is Japanese and she usually speaks to Shun in Japanese and James`s dad is half Japanese and speaks a little but understands a lot so the conversation was very mixed!! They are excited about goma-chan and James` mum was giving Shun advice on all sorts of things!!! I am glad we got to see them before they went home.

Yesterday I had a job interview with a company that specializes in doing private lessons for kids. Zoe told me about this company a couple of weeks back and I sent off my information and heard back from them last week. They knew I was pregnant and while that means I might not get much regular work they were interested in having me do some substitute teaching with private students and maybe even some basic translations (not sure how I will pull that off- my kanji sucks). A lot of their regular teachers go on holidays over the summer so hopefully I will get a couple of call ups about doing some lessons.  I figure it is better than nothing. Once we move I will also look for some private students in my area.

After the interview (which was near Chiba station) I met up with another friend Alaina, for coffee. Alaina is getting married back in America later this year and will then be moving back to Japan to live fairly permanently. She lives right out in Chiba, about an hour from me but if we both go about half an hour by train we usually meet up somewhere in the middle!

So as you can see I have had a busy busy week which is why I am kind of enjoying been home doing nothing much today!! This weekend we have very little plans as well- the first weekend since coming home and it will be nice to relax and not have to rush off anywhere.

Oh and we got the apartment!!!!!!! They accepted our application and are drafting up the contract which we can go sign next week. We hope to move the 18th of July if not then the weekend after. We have to start looking for a moving company! And I will need to start writing lists of all the things we will need for the new place. Very exciting! It will be so nice to have our own place again and as boring as it makes me sound I can not wait to unpack!

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