Homeward Bound

Well it couldn't be more true that the days are long but the years are short. It has been three very short years that went by in a flash and now as many of you might already know, we are moving back to the U.S. We will be leaving and arriving on Tuesday, July 1st.


So many things to think about, all the memories and places visited, the people and friends that we now have scattered all over the globe, looking forward to life in the U.S., what to do with this blog?, etc. When Robyn first started looking into a new position with Northwest back in the Twin Cities, we both said that either way it turned out we'd be disappointed. Sad but true, so it is a bittersweet ending for us. Makes me think the title of this post would more aptly be named "Leaving home to go home"


It will likely take the benefit of time and adjustment to life back in the U.S. to really provide perspective on our adventure here and what it has meant to us. A list of things I'll miss could go on forever and I would still leave out a few things that will likely pop into my mind at odd times during everyday life. First and foremost would have to be the people, my mom's siblings and their kids and my running club, Namban Rengo. It's always about the people.


As for this blog, well what will become of it? It was originally started as a way to keep everybody updated on our progress without having to send the same email to 12 different people. Life in Japan isn't something everybody readily knows about so this blog served as a small window to learn about it through my eyes. But I dare say all of my readers know about life in the U.S. Will the interest level still be there if it is just our family adventures and my writing? At that point it becomes just another blog on an already overcrowded internet. Please feel free to vote at left and give me your opinions and comments.


So another chapter in our life ends and a fresh, new one begins. What will it hold for us?

Washing Machine

Well, I guess I did tell Cole that the washing machine would be done when it stopped. I didn't count on the soak cycle though. So while Cole was anxiously awaiting his favorite shirt to be done washing the machine did indeed stop and so in his mind, it was done. A few minutes later I entered the laundry and Cole says to me "These clothes sure are wet." There he was with Kaori, taking clothes out of a full basin of water and putting them in the dryer. Yes indeed, those clothes sure were wet. I admire his attitude though and willingness to work through the wet, dripping, soaking, sopping conditions. Kaori's willingness ended when I instructed them that the clothes were going to have to be put back in the washer but Cole kept right at it. He really wanted that favorite shirt. And he got it.

Our creative kids

School is out so we are spending a little time filing some of the kids' work from the year. In doing so I came across some poems that Cole wrote during his poetry session last year, first grade. Here are his poems.

blue
blue skie wae up hie.
a blue buloon for a blue sterring.
a blue clip borde for blue paper.

black!!!
black clipbords.
black papor.
black craons.
black dogs.
black baskits.
black Pencells.

my Dogs
one of my dogs died at a vet
my hart almost broke.
My othor dog I had to give away
so we could come to Japan.
My hart was bleeding

Kaori doesn't have any poetry but a little while ago Robyn sent an email back to me that I had sent to her 3 or 4 years ago. These were some of Kaori's words at that time.
1. Oh-ee = Horsey
2. Blah-lah = Mikata
3. Lah-thu = Love you
4. Blah = Banana
5. Di-di = Blankie
6. Deese = Cheese
7. Roni = Macaroni and Cheese
8. Doosh = Shoes
9. Da-da = Cracker
10. Mow = Cat

Congratulations Kaori!

Yesterday Kaori graduated from Willowbrook international school. Beforehand she said she was a little scared but she performed admirably. She did a great job singing, receiving her diploma and posing for the camera. We are so proud of her. On to kindergarten!



This is my Father's Day present, a bike for me to use for triathlons. It's name is Ao, pronounced like the "ou" sound in ouch. Ao in Japanese means blue. Ow in English is what I say after I crash. Nice double entendre don't you think?

Oshima!

For pictures click here. They are of all my teammates who did the race so you won't recognize people in a lot of the pictures.

We had great weather on Saturday. Warm enough for the spectators but not too warm for the competitors. It didn't seem to help the ocean though because that water was cold! First of all, I'll get to the question that you are all wondering. Yes, I did hurl after the swim. I don't know why. I felt fine running up the beach. Then we had to head up a long concrete ramp and it just hit me. I stopped once and dry heaved a little and then again a little later to empty my stomach. Not pleasant. But really, the swim went very well. I could see the fish and rocks and scuba divers at the bottom of the ocean.

Next I'd have to say the bike went well because I beat my goal time but after I think about it a bit I'm wondering if it really did. We did four laps of a 10k route but halfway through the first lap I went in the ditch and flew over the handlebars and then the bike flew back over me. I smacked my head hard; good thing helmets are mandatory. I was left bruised and bloody but able to continue. The handlebars on the bike were bent down and to the right, good thing we were going in clockwise loops. After that I dropped some gels I was going to take and lost my water bottle. Maybe it wasn't so good.

Finally to the run, which is supposed to be my best part. Unfortunately it was the only one that I didn't beat my goal time. I think after emptying my stomach and misplacing an energy gel (it was hiding in my bag) I just ran out of gas. Still I beat my goal of 2:45 by 90 seconds. I guess that means I'll be back. I mean, fix a few of those little things and just think how much faster I could go.

In the end we all had a great time. Cole and Kaori say they are excited to do some kids triathlons with me and I think Robyn just might have a new job (unpaid) as team photographer. We even enjoyed the traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Well, maybe not the kids so much.

Ready, set, Go!

Robyn has finally returned home after a week of working in Minnesota and she brought her friend Kathleen with her who stayed with us for a couple nights which was a nice change of pace and we were able to take her to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant but what she neglected to bring with her was some nice weather because I'm definitely getting sick of all this rain we've been having. How's that for an opening sentence? Pretty much sums up all that has been happening.

I must add that my first triathlon is this Saturday. I think the worst part will be the swim which is in the ocean. A couple weeks ago I did an ocean swim with some friends just to see what it was all about and to try out my new wetsuit. Most of it seemed to go pretty well except that as soon as I got done swimming I had to hurl. That is not a good sign. Seasick? Maybe but it wasn't so wavy. Drinking too much saltwater? Wetsuit compressing my stomach? (I tell you what, those things are tight!) Probably all of it played a part. I just hope it doesn't happen during the triathlon because, and I'm just guessing here, I'm pretty sure that would slow me down. Maybe all these typhoons we've been having give us a reprieve for the weekend too.