Back to School

"I don't want to go to school"
"I don't like school"
"I don't like my friends"
"I don't like morning - I like the dark"
"I want to bring this book and this book and this book and this book and my DVD's"
"I don't like apple"

These are the sounds that fill my mornings - what joy!!!! Mind you, she goes to school - is relatively happy when she gets there and seems to enjoy the day. I suppose it's just the idea of it that disturbs her.

When I dropped her off on Monday, there were forms for the new school lunch program - all natural, all organic, packed in ecologically sound containers, allergy free ingredients - all for 1800 yen a day - that is about $18. Are they kidding?????? Forget about the fact that my daughter would eat, well, let's see, NOTHING!!!! of the lovely all natural all organic lunch packed in the ecologically sound container - I don't spend $18 on my lunch!!

This is life in ex-pat land, where so called nutritionists think that 1) everyone has $18 to spend on their child's lunch and 2) they will be convinced that unless they spend the $!8 on said lunch, they will be condemning their children to an unhealthy life and an early grave.

I, for one, think that what is left over from last night's dinner or a little sandwich makes a fine lunch and since the lunchbox comes back empty, it seems Ariana thinks so too. I also think that the plastic Mickey Mouse or Puri fresh boxes I pack it in serve her just fine (for those interested, the possible danger from plastic is only when heating).

So, the sign up form has gone into the garbage (yes, I did put it in the "paper" garbage so that it can be recycled properly) and Ariana went to school today with leftover spaghetti.

There Should Be A Law...

......against any school vacation being more than two weeks long. Ariana has not been in school for about one month. Take away the ten days we were in Bali and that leaves over two weeks trying to keep a four year occupied and interested. We were sick for about a week (all TV all the time - I know, I'm bad, but I was feeling so lousy I didn't care) and the rest of the time I was emailing friends for ideas.

Her friend Yuto came over one day - his mom and I sat around chatting while they compared somersaulting techniques.

One day we went to a New Year's fair in Meguro, where Ariana spent a lot of time racing cars and sliding down the big inflatable slide. She won a bank, which she exchanged for a blow up sword, a plastic Mickey Mouse ball she lost on the way home and a water balloon, which is still around here somewhere, miraculously still filled with water.

We spent one day at the Toy Museum, a former elementary school turned into a place filled with wooden toys.


We both had a lot of fun, and if she hadn't been so tired (ok, I was the one who was tired) we would have gone to the Fire Museum down the street. We are planning on going there another day with Baba san, as I know he will enjoy it.

The Tama zoo was our destination a few days ago, where we saw more lions and even heard them roar as a few males faced off, while the females looked on nonchalantly as if to say "oh, here they go again". This one was either too old or too tired to join us, preferring to hang around with his mate.


We also saw a few Koala bears in the new Australian exhibit and many, many butterflies.


For the past few days, we have been spending a lot of time over Violette and Ulysses's house, where Ariana has been improving her french, learning how to kiss on both cheeks and riding Ulysses's scooter around the playroom, chasing him around shouting "roar, I am going to eat you!!!" Perhaps we are spending too much time around lions.

She goes back to school on Tuesday and I get to get back to my life - with a huge New Year's to-do list. Somehow I don't think it will be as much fun as as listening to Ariana sing the theme song to "Madagascar" though.

Lions and Tigers and Teeth

At the Bali Safari and Marine Park, we got to see two white tigers up close and personal - they are really gorgeous animals - with really big teeth - big, fierce, strong teeth that would make a tasty little snack out of my lovely little daughter. Which is why I was a bit hesitant (ok, totally freaked out) when we were invited to pet a tiger. A big tiger. Not one of those little tiger cubs that are held firmly in a trainer's hand, but a big one that could turn around and devour a little girl in a second. Not wanting to appear the totally paranoid mother that I was at the time, and after watching entire families go up with no one disappearing, Ariana and I made our way up and sat while baba-san, much too slowly for my taste, took pictures of the experience.

If you think I am smiling, I'm really not. I call it more of a grimace, in the "take the damn picture before we get eaten!!!! " kind of grimace. If that wasn't bad enough, a little later on there was a lion and we had to repeat the process. Even Ariana is starting to catch on here - big animal, big teeth - let's move along please!!!


She did have a fine time taking the Safari ride, where we saw all kinds of animals. Safely behind the windows of our Safari van. The rest of the day was spent visiting Temples:


This is the entrance to the Pura Gunung Kawi. Wherever you drive, temples are in view. In tradition Balinese homes, there are the family temples. For those not living in a traditional home, there are small shrines in a corner of a room. There are town temples and finally, the most important, the seaside temples. Religion is very important in Bali and there are always celebrations. We passed several town celebrations in our travels around Bali - the participants dressed in colorful sarongs, with the women carrying food and offerings on their heads:

And yes, always the motorcycles - Edy referred to them as mosquitoes - always buzzing about.



I leave you again with another beautiful sunset...........

Bali, Part 2

After an early morning stroll along the beach, we ventured out to Seminyak, a town full of shops and very uneven sidewalks. Our stroll didn't last too long, given we had too many near misses with the offerings on the sidewalks and Little Miss Grouch (Ariana's alter ego "Didi") was a little to heavy to be carried in the sunny heat.

these little "plates" otherwise known as offerings, placed outside of almost every establishment in Bali - watch where you walk!!!!

We grabbed a cab and headed to "Ku de ta", a trendy hot spot by night but very relaxing ocean side restaurant by day. Again passing security guards with poles sweeping the bottom of the cab, we entered what was to be our oasis for the afternoon. Great food in the shade and a wading poo for Ariana. A security guard watched from the steps to beach, protecting the patrons from the very aggressive peddlers seen everywhere in Bali, selling necklaces, kites, postcards, etc. We sat through a leisurely lunch and then had to pry our then naked child (Bali seems to make everybody shed more than their inhibitions) out of the pool.


The ride back to the hotel was the bumpiest I have ever experienced. The driver thought it would be faster to go on the side of the road (think crater filled moon surface) rather than wait in the traffic. I think the only rule of the road here is that there is none. We saw motorcycles all around us, some with babies - no helmets:

see all four heads on this one? one little one is in front, the other sandwiched between his parents - children's services, where are you??

It was truly frightening (the babies with no helmets being held in their mom's arms) and nauseating (the bump-bump-bump of the road).

We tried Cafe Butang on the beach for dinner, which had the freshest fish cooked in coconut leaves and amazing spicy shrimp. "Didi" had continued to make an appearance thanks to a stuffy nose and cough. The waitress came over, picked her up and started walking and singing to her, quieting her immediately and allowing us to enjoy the food. But half (ok, most) of me was nervous about some stranger in a strange land holding my child. As grateful as I was for the break, I was also remembering the little girl who disappeared while her family was eating dinner in Portugal and so we kept our eye keenly on her the whole time.

Tuesday we met Edy, our driver, who took us to the Elephant Park in Ubud. Through the single lanes of Bali, we passed row after row of stone carving stores, then the shacks where stone carvers worked out in the open with their entire families there and finally, just green. We climbed aboard our rides for the afternoon - Ariana and I were on Nimby; Arny had Rama all to himself, and proceeded around the park. Swaying back and forth, who knew riding an elephant would be good for your stomach muscles - mine were sore for a day or two after. Ariana was alternatively enjoying it - "look, elephant poop. They stepping in poop. Why they stepping in poop?" (for those of you who remember the book "Everybody Poops", the elephant's is depicted quite accurately) - and wanting to go home. She perked up when we got to the water and got to go swimming with the elephants. I was glad we were not actually in the water, as there were several workers fishing elephant poop out of the water.


After a quick lunch, we went to see the elephant show, where they did tricks, painted a picture and Arny's favorite (not!!) - squirting the audience with water.......

More on Bali later, for now..............Happy New Year to All!!!!

Bali , part 1

Sitting in my cold and drafty Tokyo apartment with a box of tissues close by, I stare at the pictures of the glorious sunsets we saw every night as we sipped our cocktails by the ocean. What a wonderful vacation it was. Beautiful place, great food and people and the perfect combination of beach and culture.

We arrived about 10:30 pm and after going through immigration (not the nightmare as had been reported), we met the driver from the hotel and were quickly whisked into an air conditioned van, with cold towels and water instantly provided. The fifteen minute drive to the hotel gave us our first glimpse of Bali - not at all the pretty sunsets and rolling rice fields. Bumpy roads crowded with motorcycles, some with 2 and 3 passengers; child beggars on streets approaching the stopped cars; small worn down buildings lining the roads -a bit sobering at 11pm. Arriving at our hotel, the car was stopped and searched for bombs; an event that would become a daily occurrence.


At the hotel, while our luggage was loaded on to a cart, we were escorted through the open air lobby to a comfortable seating area to check in - none of this stand-behind-a-counter business here in Bali. After wiping off with a cold cloth (this too would become routine) and sipping at some cool tea, we were taken to our room. And what a room it was! On the second floor of the 4 story building looking out over one of the pools, the luscious gardens and yes, the ocean, this was one of the most comfortable rooms I'd ever been in. It was very quiet, but not so much that you couldn't hear the rolling surf or the birds and with the comfy black chairs, the balcony would prove to be the perfect place to listen.


Sunday was a day to relax and explore the hotel. After breakfast in the lounge, we headed out to the pool; actually a series of pools - some wading, some with fountains and finally the main one with the requisite bars stools in the water. Ariana found one with fountains she liked, so we plunked ourselves down:


and jumped in:

Another family joined us. The mother was covered from head to toe as is the traditional Muslim way, while the kids had on regular bathing suits. Certainly that mom didn't get her shoulders sun burnt like I did, being swathed like she was in colorful fabric.

After we had enough of the pool, we headed for the beach. It was quiet with only a few others walking along. In fact, most of the people we passed were local children or enterprising Balinese who offered us massages right on the beach. We passed a group of restaurants, really just shacks with tables in front of them, which we later discovered had the freshest, most delicious fish. We also discovered that was the location of one of the Bali bombings, the reason for all of the security and car searches.


Lunch, a mani and pedi followed. Yes, I know, it's a tough life. But, after the year I had, it was certainly well deserved. We stopped at the beach side bar for a cocktail, something that would become a nightly routine. Besides the amazing sunsets, the clean air and being able to watch the surf from a stress sapping Balinese beach chair, how can you resist a place that even makes milk look good???

under the weather

The cold season has come to the DiLaura house as both Ariana and I are sick. Baba san has been doing an excellent job of taking care of us, making food and basically keeping Ariana occupied so I can sleep.

We have also been making use of one of the more brilliant Japanese drug store items. Ariana is wearing it on her forehead - it's a gel strip that cools (for fevers) and also has menthol to ease breathing. Ariana loves them and actually knew she had a fever before I took her temperature. She went into the medicine cabinet and got one (I can do this myself, thank you very much!!) and then said to me "I have a fever". I took her temperature and sure enough she was right.

As you can see, Simba has not left her side for a minute since Christmas. She has taken it to her friends house and to the movies and slept with it every night. In fact, one night she woke up asking for it (silly me, forgot to put in into bed with her). She knows Santa brought it and fully understands the "ask Santa, get from Santa" concept. What she is having a hard time understanding though, is that Santa only comes once a year. She will say "I think I want to ask Santa for....", and I explain that she has to wait until next year.

Needless to say, she is not happy.

Christmas As Planned

Simba showed up just in time and so, early Christmas morning, I watched as Ariana slowly opened.....
the well wrapped doll with a sense of wonder......

and then...................................................... a big smile!!!
She carried it with her the entire day, as we went for Chinese food and then to a movie. The movie had to be postponed though, because it was sold out. Who would have thought on a Wednesday here in Tokyo there would be a problem seeing a movie, as Christmas is not a holiday here (proven by the symphony of hammer and drill that greeting us at 9am!!) . But, sold out it was, so we made our way to friends Clare and Jason's for a bit of champers.

On the way there, Ariana got a lesson in saying "please don't touch" and "you can look, but please don't touch" as she was adamant that Rhianna and Tom could not touch Simba. I explained that it was always good to share, but she wasn't' having any of it. She wasted no time playing with all of their new toys, forgetting about Simba as he sat on the couch, feeling ignored I'm sure.

Simba was reclaimed as we left and she carried him all the way home. She spent the evening putting him to bed, wrapping him in the new Mickey Mouse blanket that Santa brought. It was all very sweet....

....and happy holidays to all!!!!!

Moving Christmas

Finding a Simba doll here in Japan has proved impossible. After a trip to the Disney store where the shelves were full of everything but, I discovered the reason for the absence of anything "lion king like".

Apparently, the original story was written by a Japanese person years and years ago. Disney made the movie and was promptly sued and the resulting settlement prevents any merchandising from being sold here.

So I ordered one from the United States and here is where it gets sticky. If it doesn't arrive by Christmas, what do we do? I don't want to ruin Christmas and Santa for Ariana especially after she bravely sat on Santa's lap and asked for it. Imagine her getting up in the morning and looking high and low for Simba only to find nothing. Too sad.

Baba san and I have decided that our Christmas will be celebrated exactly the day after Simba arrives. We will be celebrating Hanukkah too and it is very late this year, starting just a few days before Christmas, so she will be preoccupied with candles and little gifts.

Now, off to finish packing.......Bali here we come!!!

Hello Santa!!!

After a sugar laden lunch at TGI Friday's (yes, we do still live in Tokyo and yes, there is a Friday's here) we headed over to the Tokyo American Club for a meeting with Santa. All week long we had been preparing for the big event, with me explaining to Ariana that she had to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. Since she is normally very quiet around strangers, we were practicing in the hopes that she would feel less overwhelmed by the big guy in the big red suit.

It worked!! She walked up to the big guy a little tentatively, sat down a little more so, but was able to answer when he asked her what she wanted. We all heard a soft little "I want Simba". And then a big smile when she realized she did it!!!

Now, she did get a little put out when she realized that she couldn't get the Simba doll right there and then. I had to explain that Santa (me) has to go back to the North Pole (Shibuya) and make the Simba for her (has to fight my way through the crowds in the Disney store and pray there is a Simba doll - or Simba something). Then if she is a good girl (and I find the time to do this before Christmas sometime before we leave for vacation next week) when she wakes up on Christmas day, Simba will be there waiting for her.

Ahhhh, the joys of Christmas!!!!!

Have Turkey Will Travel

It pays to have a resourceful husband sometimes........................and a very large stroller.

On Sunday, my friend Darla and I decided to have a belated Thanksgiving. Since I had the larger oven, one that could actually fit a turkey, it was decided to have it at my house, so early Sunday morning, I put the turkey in the oven and started on the rest of my dishes. Darla would bring her stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie over around 1pm and we would eat.

Everyone was dressed, the table was set and stomachs were beginning to growl when the phone rang about 12:45:

Ryder was running a fever.

Now for all of you who have children, you know what that means. The balancing of two thoughts: "I must take care of my child" with "can we still make it?"

Having been in this situation many times myself (and with the turkey just about ready to come out of the oven) I said we would just wheel the turkey over there. Luckily Darla lives close - about a 5 minute walk.

So, as I was starting on the gravy, baba san rigged up the "turkey delivery devise" and wheeled it over. I followed once I had finished the gravy and a wonderful dinner followed, with a revived Ryder partaking just a little bit.


Sometimes it really does pay to roll with the flow, or should I say turkey..................