Shake, Rattle and Roll

Thurday afternoon about 5:15p Tokyo time - our first earthquake:

Me: Jed, get in the doorway!

Jed: Wow, this is cool!!

It was over quickly and all is well.

Can You Hear Me????

For those of you wondering why we haven't replied to emails or phonecalls, it is because we are experiencing "internetis interruptus".

Since we are waiting for our internet to be hooked up, we have been logging on to whatever system we can get connected to (the apartment is wired for wireless). This is great, except when you can't get connected to anything, which has been happening at regular intervals. Not only is it inconvenient for emailing, but for talking on Skype and watching television on Slingbox.

We have been reduced to actually talking to each other - which has been quite illuminating. In a good way.

So, if you don't hear from us, don't be concerned. Everything should be back to normal next week.

Phantom Toilet

Just when I thought I had seen it all, here comes the next generation of bizarre toilets – right in my own home.

I was trying to organize our bathroom. Now this in itself is a humungous task given I am one to collect little bottles from here and there. I think of them as souvenirs to remember the various places I’ve been. I must have traveled a lot because I kept pulling out bag after bag of “products” wondering where they would all go. There were the little bottles of L’Occitane from our honeymoon at the Four Seasons in San Francisco, Heavenly Bath products from South Beach, Institute Swiss products from the Omni (when was I at an Omni?) and leftover Keihl’s from my trip to Cannes – part of the extra gift bag Auntie M got at the AMFAR benefit and I grabbed practically as soon as she walked in the door. Well, she had two. My point is I have a lot of little products and I had to put them somewhere. I would crouch down between the toilet and the under-sink cabinet for awhile and then I would get up to get another bag. And the toilet would flush. Just like that. I would be in bedroom and I would hear the flush. I would be no where near the actual seat, certainly not sitting on it and all of a sudden I would hear the “whoosh” and then the “flush”.

Apparently I was close enough because sure enough, our toilet flushes itself. This is very dangerous. I could get used to it and start leaving the scene of normal toilets impolitely unflushed, yet again shaming myself and my family.

This isn’t all. Here is the control panel for the Phantom Toilet. Not on the seat mind you, but mounted on the wall. And in English.





You would think the people who invented this would use their powers for good.

Pug hair arrives safely in Tokyo.

Crib does not - Good thing I didn’t get the referral this month, because half of it is missing. They are trying to find it in the warehouse now.

Husband-san, Jed-san and the moving crew astounded everyone by getting the queen size boxspring up 9 flights of a near spiral staircase, all the while several of the parties taking place at Happoen, a reception hall with a clear view of the staircase and the boxspring leaning dangerously over the side, watched in amusement. Sad to say, the couch didn’t make it. When they told us the only way to get in up to the apartment was to rent a crane; the cost of which would be basically the same as getting a new one, we opted for the new couch. We kept the pillows and cushions from the old one, so now, in a flashback to our college apartments, we are grovin out to a lovely view of Tokyo on a makeshift sofa. Well, perhaps not grovin out to the view, as Jed's computer withdrawal has officially ended and he is looking nowhere but his computer screen and husband-san just sits and wonders "perhaps a 12 step program is in order?".

I am now in a mad rush to wash all of the sheets and towels so we can sleep and wash in comfort tonight. It turns out we have one washer/dryer unit just like we had in the other one and a separate additional dryer stacked on top of each other. It will come in handy when I am on my way out and can leave and come back to a fully dry, but horribly wrinkled load of laundry.

Tomorrow, while Jed is off to his first day of school and Arny to work, I will be busy reading manuals for everything from the dishwasher to the air conditioner.

Not A Good Day

Woke up to the worst news!!!! Referrals are coming in and it seems they are only going until the 22nd (We are the 27th). While with every other month in the past, there is a warning: certain agencies, usually the larger ones or ones overseas get the news about the cut off date; there was no warning this time. People talked about hearing something early next week and get the referrals the beginning of September. No one was expecting them today - they took everyone by surprise.

And I am so sad.

I desperately want to stop waiting; wondering; imagining. I want it to be real. The idea of the movers coming tomorrow, bringing the crib and all of the other baby things and me still not having a face to put in the crib, or to dress in the clothes, or bathe with the Johnson & Johnson's lavender baby wash; it is too much...

All the comforting and reassuring thoughts that I have heard and said myself to others - "It wasn't meant to be", "all in good time", "When you get her, the wait will feel like nothing", "all in good time", "she is not ready yet" and the worst one of all "you are not in control" mean nothing - they are no comfort right now.

I. Just. Want. My. Baby.

And to top it all off - how cruel is a world where you can have wrinkles, cellulite, hot flashes and pimples all at the same time? now really, how much more am I supposed to take???!!!!????

Moving Day

We have a move date!!!! We were informed yesterday by Katoh-san at the moving company that our things will be released from customs on Friday. Everything is arranged and on Saturday at 9am, I will begin to see all the stuff that has been slowly making its way from New York to Tokyo. I never realized one could miss a salad spinner before. I can't wait to see my bed. I can't wait to sleep in my bed!!!

I'll get the keys tomorrow and find out how to work all of the appliances, air conditioning, security system and anything else having a switch. I will drag Jed with me because I know that once being told how everything works, I will promptly forget - hence the need for someone that still has memory cells left to be present.

And, to top everything off - we just found out we can have a barbecue grill on the balcony!!!

Food, Glorious Food

Sunday, leaving husband-san and Jed-san in the comfort of the air-conditioned apartment, I ventured out to the Azabu-Juban festival with Jan, Jon and their friend Kane. It is a yearly event where most of the streets are closed off and thousands crowd into space enough for hundreds while eating the most bazaar things; mostly served on sticks:



and drinking to excess, all while rubbing sweaty shoulders with their countrymen and women. Some do this in traditional garb, with the paper fan added for comfort in the heat.

There was dancing,

fishing for goldfish,

and music,
oh, and random scary men.....

Home

Today is the day our things are supposed to arrive in Tokyo after six long weeks at sea. We will be one step closer to moving to our permanent apartment and finally having more than four forks. Living in a serviced apartment has been nice; the maid service twice a week in particular; but it requires an ability to do the dishes at an alarming rate since we only have four of everything. Since Jed has been here, we have started rationing plates and utensils in order to be able to get through the day. We could go out and by stuff, but that would just mean shlepping it to the new place and we have enough shlepping to do already. Once our shipment gets through customs, which should take four or five days, we will be able to schedule the move and finally, finally be "home".

I have been obsessed with the move as a way not to be obsessed with the impending arrival of news about our daughter – it could be the end of this week!!!! Every time I think about getting the phone call from the agency telling me I am finally going to be a mother, my eyes fill up with tears, to the point of overflowing. This is fine – right now - in the comfort of my apartment, but not so fine walking down the street or sitting in the subway. People already stare at me: the gaijin (foreigner), as they do every other gaijin; they don’t need the extra excitement of “overly emotional gaijin sitting on train bringing disharmony to her family by making a public show of emotion”. But I can’t help it – the well of motherly instinct and intense love I have stored inside for so long, which has been slowly increasing as the months of wait have passed, is now so full it cannot be contained. Any thought of referral phonecall, phonecall to grandparents, sister, uncles and aunties, and especially holding her for the first time make the tears flow – I warn you now I will be a basket case. As I call to tell you of the news, please ignore the tears and cries, get past the blubbering sobs and hysterical laughter – please just laugh along with me. Because I will truly be most happy.

A New York Moment

In an attempt to lure Jed away from his computer and actually step outside, I asked whether he wanted to go to the Ghibli Museum, where the focus is on Hayao Miyazaki, the brilliant animation director of such classics as "Spirited Away"Castle in the Sky" and "My Neighbor Totoro", and a particular favorite of the entire Murray-Mutch family. He made a sound that kind of sounded like yes, so off I went to the Lawson convenience store to buy tickets. Yes, in order to go to this particular museum you must get tickets in advance, for a particular day and time. And, even more bizarre, you must buy the tickets at this convenience store. There are two in my neighborhood and in the first one I experienced my first "not so nice" encounter with Japanese counterpeople. I entered the store, did a quick search for Ginger Ale and sunflower seeds (he does need sustenance lest he pass out at his computer) and then made my way up to the counter with my notebook, with the name and address of the museum written down, asking if I could buy tickets. The young man said something really fast and looked away from me towards the next customer. I stood there, shocked to be on the receiving end of decidedly New York style behavior. I looked towards the other check out person, an older woman, who waved her hand towards a machine and also looked away towards the next customer. I went over to the machine, looked at the Japanese writing and decided that after a day in the heat, sun and humidity I did not have the energy to even try to figure out what I was supposed to do at the machine. I walked out, weighing my sincere thought that I need to learn Japanese with my equally sincere but arrogant, self serving all-about-me thought of "why can't they just have an "English" button. Walking through the building I usually use to avoid more heat and humidity in order to get home, I see another Lawson store and think I will try this again. I walk in, again taking out the notebook with the name and address of the museum and again ask if I can buy tickets. The very nice young woman comes out from behind the counter and actually starts pushing the buttons for me, first getting the museum and then trying to purchase the tickets - seven or eight times we tried, by the last few I was pushing all the buttons all by myself - but every day and time we tried was sold out!!! Apparently, this is a very popular museum.

So we will have to go to the Ramen museum instead, another place Jed is willing to leave the house for. Yes, you read correctly - an entire museum dedicated to noodles.

Yum.

Welcome to the Expat Connection

As each family rose to introduce themselves, it became obvious that we were one of the only "virgin" families living outside their home country for the first time. Most of them were old hands at moving from country to country, this being their third, fourth or fifth move. The new headmaster of the school held the record though, this was his 26th move.

We were at the "new family" orientation at Jed's school. While the kids were off in another room hanging out and getting to know each other, the parents were standing, in turn, and relaying the important stuff - who, where from, how long here, etc. It was quite a diverse group - people from English, Australia, Ireland, Finland, Nigeria, France, Belgium, India, the US and a number of locals from Japan. Despite the differences in years of expat experience, we had a few things in common- several of us were still waiting for our shipments to arrive and were staying in temporary housing, we were all excited about our new lives here and most interested in making connections with others.

For new families, people here by themselves or spouses of people here on assignment (that's me!!), it can be an isolating experience being in a country where you can't speak the language and know no one. In order to assist newcomers, the school has a great support system - even providing us with a family "buddy" to answer any questions we had. They also organize various activities, volunteer opportunites, etc.

Outside the school, there are groups that cater to the expat world - all with the express purpose of bringing people together. I have been brave (very brave) and have gone to a few of the get-togethers. The first is a group called Stitch n'Bitch, a group for people who knit and crochet. We met in a restaurant, had some food, and then pulled out our projects and just sat around talking (no bitching that night). There was someone from Australia, Japan and several of us from the US. It was a nice way to spend an evening. The old timers were quick to give pointers to us newbies and a good time was had by all. Here is my finished project:



Last week I went to dinner with four other woman, one of whom had started a dining club for once a month dinners. We met at an Italian restaurant, had great pizza and talked and talked. All of the other women had been here for several years and it was interesting to hear their perspective after all this time.

This is not to say that I don't think of my friends back home all the time. And miss you all terribly. But the good news is when you ALL come and visit (and you better), I will be able to show you a really good time given the education I am getting from all of these fabulous ex-pats!!!