A few quick updates:
1. We are on the road to regular sleep (almost). Kids are going to bed exhausted at 7:30. Today, Jack got up at 4:30 (but stayed resting in bed til 5:30, when the girls woke up). It's not a perfect, full night's sleep yet, and we have very cranky kids at various points in the day (Katie has her melt downs in the morning, Livie at night, and Jack is just SO tired all day and sits down on the sidewalk while walking various places), but it's an improvement and we'll take it.
2. We have gone to the grocery store each of the last three days to buy a variety of items. Each time it has cost 14,000 yen (~$140). This makes us wonder if that's just what it costs to go to a grocery store? Or is it some magical formula that what we can fit in our baskets (and eventually on our backs and in the stroller) is always $140 worth of food and household items? Curious...
2a. On a related note -- I found (expensive) pancake mix yesterday which will be welcome by everyone as I still have been unable to find flour (much less baking powder or soda). I also found a small container of Jack's favorite, Philadelphia cream cheese. I bought them with a twinge of guilt as they were expensive and very much not Japanese... but it seems like there is so much that is new and challenging for all of us, and for the kids in particular, that I am buying them anyway. There is time for sushi, I think.
2b. Also related to the grocery store -- I went yesterday with the girls while John and Jack stayed at home (Jack's many sitdown breaks on the way to the store made us realize he might not be up to the outing at that particular time). I had been relying greatly on John's Japanese (which milk is skim? which is whole? he can tell these important things) and yesterday had been searching for vinegar. I couldn't find it (or what for sure was vinegar) and so pulled out my phrase book/dictionary and asked a shopper for help. She (mostly) understood me and took me to the vinegar. And we had a delicious salad last night as a result.
3. It has been MUCH easier to meet people here on the playground than it was that first lonely year in Lethbridge. We have gone to a local park each of the last two mornings and ended up talking with two very nice people, a man with a four year old girl named Lisa, and a VERY pregnant woman with a three year old boy whose name I don't know how to spell. It's amazing to see how the kids all play together, blowing bubbles, getting on and off the seesaw, racing down the slide, even though they don't share any language. John has been along this weekend and makes talk with the adults easier, but even on my own, with my dictionary and their much better knowledge of English, I was able to "talk" a bit. These kind of conversations never happened during that first lonely year in Lethbridge... and it's nice they are happening here.
Kids are getting squirrelly so we will head out to the park. There is much more to write about -- I'll try to get back soon.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Need cooking suggestions
This will be just a short post to ask for any ideas you might have about what to cook for the kids in between experimental Japanese food. I didn't realize how much I had come to rely on bread (in the form of toast, tortillas, sandwiches, French toast, as well as related pasta, cereal, etc.) and cheese in my cooking lately. Come home late? Grilled cheese sandwich will tide anyone over. Kids melting down? A chicken cheese tortilla will help. But we haven't found a good sandwich type bread here and the cheese looks, well, weird (not judging, just making an observation). I am also limited by spices -- so far, I have salt, pepper, soy, and olive oil, and fresh garlic and ginger. While that will make a nice marinade, it doesn't solve the "we're starving and need food right now" problem. So any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have started slathering peanut butter on thinly sliced apples... and we are eating a lot of chicken and rice, eggs and ham, and yogurt and nuts... but I might need to expand my offerings. Thanks, and more soon!
Friday, September 19, 2008
More jetleg -- and one box of macaroni down
Well, we got one end of the jet leg sorted out -- the kids went to bed at 7:30 or so last night after a LONG day -- but still need to work on the other -- they all woke up at 3:30 a.m. (lunchtime in Lethbridge) STARVING. Sigh. We also managed to get them to nap a little earlier (noon for K&O and 1 p.m. for J, after being up since 4 a.m.) but had the hardest time waking them. In the end, I propped them up on the couch and gave them ice cream treats, which they sleepily ate, and gave them a bath. Later, though, Jack said he had no memory of having had any ice cream -- and I don't think it was a ploy for more, either!
Aside from that, though, all is going well. I successfully did a load of laundry (at least it looks mostly clean) in the tiny-tiny washer-dryer (I think I will be hang-drying most things, as it took about 2 hours to dry the small load) and the kids and I had a huge walk in search of a park yesterday while John was at the office. We didn't find a park, but just walking down a busy city street in a place that is so far away from southern Alberta was an adventure on its own. We went a little farther than I intended, though, and the kids were starting to melt down on the way home. And they were hungry. And didn't want any of the things I suggested. In an attempt to avert a full-blown, three-child tantrum on the street (and knowing they were truly tired and hungry), I lured them home with macaroni. That was all they needed to hear. One down, only 23 more bribes to go.
We're hoping to do a bit of exploring of Sapporo today and get more groceries. We are going through food like crazy -- almost all "whole foods" like fruits, veggies, meat, and rice since I have no idea what the labels say (a healthier side effect of my illiteracy)... and hopefully we'll find that park.
Aside from that, though, all is going well. I successfully did a load of laundry (at least it looks mostly clean) in the tiny-tiny washer-dryer (I think I will be hang-drying most things, as it took about 2 hours to dry the small load) and the kids and I had a huge walk in search of a park yesterday while John was at the office. We didn't find a park, but just walking down a busy city street in a place that is so far away from southern Alberta was an adventure on its own. We went a little farther than I intended, though, and the kids were starting to melt down on the way home. And they were hungry. And didn't want any of the things I suggested. In an attempt to avert a full-blown, three-child tantrum on the street (and knowing they were truly tired and hungry), I lured them home with macaroni. That was all they needed to hear. One down, only 23 more bribes to go.
We're hoping to do a bit of exploring of Sapporo today and get more groceries. We are going through food like crazy -- almost all "whole foods" like fruits, veggies, meat, and rice since I have no idea what the labels say (a healthier side effect of my illiteracy)... and hopefully we'll find that park.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Argh -- jetlag and the small child
I. am. so. tired.
The kids woke at 4:30 yesterday and didn't nap until 2 p.m. And then slept until 6 (only because John and I fell asleep at 3 and didn't set an alarm. Doh). And they didn't fall asleep again until midnight despite taking a subway for the first time, having dinner out, walking to the big grocery store, thoroughly enjoying the small, very fast carts in the grocery store, and bringing many groceries home. And then they only slept until 4 a.m. This is not good. At all.
They are loving it aside from being cranky and overtired. Well, Livie hates the food. She actually used the word hate to describe how she feels about formerly fine foods (rice, bananas, orange juice, chicken, yogurt). Jack is disappointed there were no mini bagels although he likes the raisin nut buns from the store. Katie loves it all.
As for me and John. We just need sleep.
The kids woke at 4:30 yesterday and didn't nap until 2 p.m. And then slept until 6 (only because John and I fell asleep at 3 and didn't set an alarm. Doh). And they didn't fall asleep again until midnight despite taking a subway for the first time, having dinner out, walking to the big grocery store, thoroughly enjoying the small, very fast carts in the grocery store, and bringing many groceries home. And then they only slept until 4 a.m. This is not good. At all.
They are loving it aside from being cranky and overtired. Well, Livie hates the food. She actually used the word hate to describe how she feels about formerly fine foods (rice, bananas, orange juice, chicken, yogurt). Jack is disappointed there were no mini bagels although he likes the raisin nut buns from the store. Katie loves it all.
As for me and John. We just need sleep.
New home
Well, we are in Sapporo! And it seems great. The kids got through the last flight with only one puking incident from Jack (this time I folded and opened the airsick bag in the nick of time... why would ANYONE create an airsick bag that needs several steps to use? Definitely a design flaw...) and a bit of fussing from tired girls who wanted to be held and not strapped into seatbelts. But they made it and we arrived in Sapporo at 9 p.m. local time (6 a.m. in Lethbridge) having been awake for more than 26 hours. Two very nice people met us at the airport, helped us manage the luggage, shepherded us into a sort of mini-bus (where said luggage actually fit!) and drove us an hour to our new home, known as the Guest House. It's at the edge of HGU campus and wonderful. I'll give a better description later (and hopefully photos) but Jack's comments this morning sum up some of the fun: "What the... the toilet has a place to wash your hands on it on top" (and that's not all buddy, from what I've heard). And last night Liv was running around shouting "it's so cool, it's so cool!" It's far more spacious than we expected with lots of good and clever storage space. There seems to be a green space out back and someone from HGU stocked it with food for the morning. I am SO glad I brought my coffee and coffee pots... I don't think coffee has tasted this good in a long time as it did when the kids woke up at 4:30 a.m. local time (after John and I had had about 5 hours of sleep) and coffee seems to be the one thing the university person didn't provide (lots of tea, of course, with this being Japan and all). We have been unpacking and the kids are so excited and we are tired but excited too. Hopefully I'll be able to add something less rambly and more interesting if we catch a nap this afternoon. Thanks for all the good wishes that got us through yesterday!
In Japan! And so is our luggage!
NARITA AIRPORT, Tokyo
Just a quick note to let anyone who is checking here know that we AND our luggage made it to Japan. We are in Tokyo waiting for the flight to Sapporo. The kids were stars on the 10 hour flight (although I can fill you in on Jack's puking in the bathroom (didn't get him the Gravol soon enough) and on how I completely took advantage of my adorable identical twins so that people would be nice to us... it worked although I feel a little dirty for having done it) and they hardly fussed at all. Such the world travellers. They loved the letters and stickers and notes from friends, and the individual TVs and music, and napping. They are completely exhausted now (it's 1 a.m. their time, 4 p.m. in Tokyo) and tripping over themselves -- but we are almost there. Will post more once we are settled in the new place.
Just a quick note to let anyone who is checking here know that we AND our luggage made it to Japan. We are in Tokyo waiting for the flight to Sapporo. The kids were stars on the 10 hour flight (although I can fill you in on Jack's puking in the bathroom (didn't get him the Gravol soon enough) and on how I completely took advantage of my adorable identical twins so that people would be nice to us... it worked although I feel a little dirty for having done it) and they hardly fussed at all. Such the world travellers. They loved the letters and stickers and notes from friends, and the individual TVs and music, and napping. They are completely exhausted now (it's 1 a.m. their time, 4 p.m. in Tokyo) and tripping over themselves -- but we are almost there. Will post more once we are settled in the new place.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A close call
VANCOUVER, B.C. airport
The day and trip began with near disaster. Our travel agent had told us to check in at the airport at 5:20 a.m. for our 5:50 flight and said no one is even at the airport until 5:30. If you've seen the Lethbridge airport, you could believe this -- it is VERY small. Well, we showed up at 5:18 and find out we should have been there at 4:30! And then the VERY cranky Air Canada ticket agent proceeded to tell us neither our group nor our luggage would likely make the flight. Many scenarios flashed through my head (none of them good). So we just apologized profusely and pleaded and hustled through security and we (just) made the plane. The Air Canada ticket agent came on just as the door was about to close to say our luggage made it too (we'll see... I hope so).
The other surprise was an expensive one... three of our eight bags came in at 53 pounds, and one at 70 (which is the limit for international flights). The Air Canada agent said they were overweight and would be charged a surplus fee. So we had to shell out $400 (!) for the overweight bags... although the Japan Airlines ticket agent said we could probably contest that as they are within international weight limits (and John is at an Air Canada gate trying to do that now). Thank goodness for credit cards -- and I wasn't about to debate with her at that point (although now that we have a four hour layover, there is time to... ).
Anyway.
We made the plane, and the thrill of travel is with us. The kids did great on the short trip to Calgary, but had a harder time on the Calgary-Vancouver leg (Livie and her ears in particular were unhappy). They are exhausted, too -- up at 4:30 and no nap yet (although if they last until we board the Vancouver-Tokyo flight, there is a chance they might get some decent sleep... or else be complete wrecks. One or the other...). We have filled them with food, water, new toys (change purses with yen for their backpacks, little puzzles) and they are now fairly content.
I am so glad we are on the way. All of the build-up and emotional goodbyes would have been hard to have to do all over again (much less trying to make arrangements for pickup, etc., in Sapporo) tomorrow. And despite her crankiness, I am giving great thanks to the grumpy but VERY fast ticket agent in Lethbridge who helped us make our plane, and start our trip.
The day and trip began with near disaster. Our travel agent had told us to check in at the airport at 5:20 a.m. for our 5:50 flight and said no one is even at the airport until 5:30. If you've seen the Lethbridge airport, you could believe this -- it is VERY small. Well, we showed up at 5:18 and find out we should have been there at 4:30! And then the VERY cranky Air Canada ticket agent proceeded to tell us neither our group nor our luggage would likely make the flight. Many scenarios flashed through my head (none of them good). So we just apologized profusely and pleaded and hustled through security and we (just) made the plane. The Air Canada ticket agent came on just as the door was about to close to say our luggage made it too (we'll see... I hope so).
The other surprise was an expensive one... three of our eight bags came in at 53 pounds, and one at 70 (which is the limit for international flights). The Air Canada agent said they were overweight and would be charged a surplus fee. So we had to shell out $400 (!) for the overweight bags... although the Japan Airlines ticket agent said we could probably contest that as they are within international weight limits (and John is at an Air Canada gate trying to do that now). Thank goodness for credit cards -- and I wasn't about to debate with her at that point (although now that we have a four hour layover, there is time to... ).
Anyway.
We made the plane, and the thrill of travel is with us. The kids did great on the short trip to Calgary, but had a harder time on the Calgary-Vancouver leg (Livie and her ears in particular were unhappy). They are exhausted, too -- up at 4:30 and no nap yet (although if they last until we board the Vancouver-Tokyo flight, there is a chance they might get some decent sleep... or else be complete wrecks. One or the other...). We have filled them with food, water, new toys (change purses with yen for their backpacks, little puzzles) and they are now fairly content.
I am so glad we are on the way. All of the build-up and emotional goodbyes would have been hard to have to do all over again (much less trying to make arrangements for pickup, etc., in Sapporo) tomorrow. And despite her crankiness, I am giving great thanks to the grumpy but VERY fast ticket agent in Lethbridge who helped us make our plane, and start our trip.
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