Mono ga oosugi!
Every day, the Pumpkin Princess takes these things to school.
textbooks (subjects for the day must be checked and appropriate schoolbooks taken)
notebooks (see above)
pencil case (with pencils, red colored pencil, eraser, ruler, and black marker)
homework (something every day)
reading card (must read passages from Japanese textbook, signed off by parent)
chopsticks
napkin/ place mat
lunch bag (drawstring bag containing above chopsticks and napkin)
handkerchief
pocket kleenex
Every Friday, the Pumpkin Princess brings home stuff that needs laundering/ tweaking/ checking. Off the top of my head:
P.E. uniform (T-shirt, shorts and cap)
P.E. uniform bag (drawstring bag)
school shoes (white canvas slip-ons that she wears inside the school building)
school shoe bag (drawstring bag)
toothbrush
drinking cup (for brushing teeth)
lunch duty uniform (white coat and white hair cover cap. The kids have lunch duty every other week for the whole week. They fetch the buckets of school lunch, serve each other, and clean up)
The thing is, the Pumpkin Princess walks to and from school. And she is six. So on Fridays, she's carrying all this stuff home by herself. And all this probably weighs as much as she does. Doesn't this affect their skeletal growth or something?
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
April is the time when school starts. The Pumpkin Princess started school, but before that, she finished day care. The last day she was allowed in day care was March 31st. The first day of school was April 9th. This meant that there was a whole week without day care. So I sent her to gakudo for 2 days, and she spent the other 3 days at the Pumpkin Granny's.
Gakudo is after-school child care. The kids spend the time between the end of school and the time their parents come to pick them up in a supervised environment where they do homework and read books and play outside. On non-public school holidays (like spring vacation), they can spend the whole day there, but unless the gakudo has a special permit to prepare food, they have to bring their own lunch. Some gakudo have a contract with an outside catering service for box lunches, but I was too late to sign the Pumpkin Princes up for it.
So this is what happened.
Characters from the "Tamagocci" anime. The character on the left has ears of rolled salami skewered in place by pieces of fried spaghetti (safer than toothpicks).
Pokemon bento. The cutout of Pikachu was sold in packs in the local supermarket. I put it on a slice of cheese on top of a microwaveable frozen hamburger steak. The Pokemon ball is cutouts of salami, cheese and nori laid on a ball of plain white rice (and held in place with small drops of mayonnaise).
That was just two days in a single week. Come summer vacation, if I don't remember to sign her up for the catering box lunches, I am going to have to do this every day. Which, um, no. This is fun, but quite time consuming. Once every so often (to give me something to blog) is enough.
Gakudo is after-school child care. The kids spend the time between the end of school and the time their parents come to pick them up in a supervised environment where they do homework and read books and play outside. On non-public school holidays (like spring vacation), they can spend the whole day there, but unless the gakudo has a special permit to prepare food, they have to bring their own lunch. Some gakudo have a contract with an outside catering service for box lunches, but I was too late to sign the Pumpkin Princes up for it.
So this is what happened.
Characters from the "Tamagocci" anime. The character on the left has ears of rolled salami skewered in place by pieces of fried spaghetti (safer than toothpicks).
Pokemon bento. The cutout of Pikachu was sold in packs in the local supermarket. I put it on a slice of cheese on top of a microwaveable frozen hamburger steak. The Pokemon ball is cutouts of salami, cheese and nori laid on a ball of plain white rice (and held in place with small drops of mayonnaise).
That was just two days in a single week. Come summer vacation, if I don't remember to sign her up for the catering box lunches, I am going to have to do this every day. Which, um, no. This is fun, but quite time consuming. Once every so often (to give me something to blog) is enough.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Mid-way assessment
Chuukan hyouka
So I made New Year's resolutions. Resolutions are made to be broken, right?
1. My desk is still messy.
2. I have not written anything on it. I did three new presentations this year so far, but that doesn't really count as writing as far as work is concerned. I did a lot of proofreading on a different "public space" desk, though.
3. I have not reassessed my career plan. I do know that I probably can't stay where I am for more than a few years, so this is definitely something I need to do.
4. I am still getting up at 5:30 every morning. The time between when I finish brushing my teeth and the Pumpkin Princess comes downstairs (something like half an hour) is the only time I have to myself at home. It has been put to good use. Things like sewing, decluttering, making the occasional boxed lunch, and prepping presentations (see #2) have been done during this time frame. I should probably post pictures of the lunches I made for the Pumpkin Princess earlier this month.
5. I think I am doing less late night junk food than last year, but not so much because I have made an effort to do so as much as it just kind of working out that way.
So I think I will clean my desk a little tomorrow. If I feel like it. If.
So I made New Year's resolutions. Resolutions are made to be broken, right?
1. My desk is still messy.
2. I have not written anything on it. I did three new presentations this year so far, but that doesn't really count as writing as far as work is concerned. I did a lot of proofreading on a different "public space" desk, though.
3. I have not reassessed my career plan. I do know that I probably can't stay where I am for more than a few years, so this is definitely something I need to do.
4. I am still getting up at 5:30 every morning. The time between when I finish brushing my teeth and the Pumpkin Princess comes downstairs (something like half an hour) is the only time I have to myself at home. It has been put to good use. Things like sewing, decluttering, making the occasional boxed lunch, and prepping presentations (see #2) have been done during this time frame. I should probably post pictures of the lunches I made for the Pumpkin Princess earlier this month.
5. I think I am doing less late night junk food than last year, but not so much because I have made an effort to do so as much as it just kind of working out that way.
So I think I will clean my desk a little tomorrow. If I feel like it. If.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Shourai no yume ha nani?
I have the job I wanted when I was 14. But I kind of have other jobs that I wanted as a kid too. Except for one.
When I was 12, I wanted to be a writer. I blog, so that's writing. I also write and edit stuff for work. I am the person they come to when they need to write a letter in English that says "you are being an @$$" without actually saying "you are being an @$$."
When I was 13, I wanted to be an actress. I present sometimes, for research and also at training seminars. The training seminars in particular involve pretending to be more confident and knowledgable than I actually am. If that's not acting, I don't know what is...The drawback to this one is that I usually have to write my own material.
When I was 15, I wanted to be a diplomat. I am currently the designated international relations person for my department. When a group of Indonesian students wants to do a tour of the department, I am the one who makes sure everyone is ready for them. When a Nepalese woman wants to come work with us as a research fellowship type deal, I figure out which paperwork she needs to send where.
The job I don't have that I used to want? When I was six, I wanted to be a flight attendant. I am so glad I am nowhere near having that job. Those people earn every cent they get.
I have the job I wanted when I was 14. But I kind of have other jobs that I wanted as a kid too. Except for one.
When I was 12, I wanted to be a writer. I blog, so that's writing. I also write and edit stuff for work. I am the person they come to when they need to write a letter in English that says "you are being an @$$" without actually saying "you are being an @$$."
When I was 13, I wanted to be an actress. I present sometimes, for research and also at training seminars. The training seminars in particular involve pretending to be more confident and knowledgable than I actually am. If that's not acting, I don't know what is...The drawback to this one is that I usually have to write my own material.
When I was 15, I wanted to be a diplomat. I am currently the designated international relations person for my department. When a group of Indonesian students wants to do a tour of the department, I am the one who makes sure everyone is ready for them. When a Nepalese woman wants to come work with us as a research fellowship type deal, I figure out which paperwork she needs to send where.
The job I don't have that I used to want? When I was six, I wanted to be a flight attendant. I am so glad I am nowhere near having that job. Those people earn every cent they get.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Well prepared
Junbi ga ii
What do people who celebrate Christmas with a live tree do with the tree? Do they chop it up and leave it out for the trash? Use it for firewood?
In Japan, there is a designated method of disposal for New Year decorations. They are burnt in a traditional bonfire. The ceremony is called "dondoyaki" or "dondonyaki" in Pumpkin Prefecture (other names in other areas include but are not limited to "tondoyaki" "dontoyaki" and "sagicho" but they all involve burning New Year decorations) and it usually takes place on January 15th or thereabouts (adjusted these days so that it falls on a weekend and everyone can take part).
The week before, local kids will come knocking at your door to collect your New Year decorations and two-eyed daruma dolls. Their loot will be placed in a great tower, with straw mats and firewood added for form and flammability.
Our local dondoyaki took place in the park the Pumpkin Prince and Princess frequent. The fire department stands by, just in case.
This is my neighbor. She came prepared with dried squid skewered on twigs. When the bonfire settles, she'll roast the squid to eat. Others came with mochi (rice cakes) on sticks, and sweet potatoes in tin foil.
Here they are, getting ready to light the fire. Not all the darumas have actually earned their second eye. Many (o.k., nearly all) were bought and given two eyes just for today.
Ready, set!
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn....
It only took a minute or so for the blaze to reach full force. To be honest, until this moment, I thought the Fire Department was kind of overkill. Now, I am glad they were there.
After the blaze settled down, everyone who came prepared roasted their squid and mochi. Eating food cooked by the dondoyaki flames is supposed to bless the person with good health throughout the year.
Monday, January 9, 2012
I am glad you are around.
Anata ga ite yokatta
I think I caught a watered down version of the flu. I was achy, I had a fever, I felt like I'd been run over by a car. But it only lasted a day and a half. I think it was the flu, but I'm not sure. I didn't get that test where they stick a piece of paper up a nostril and see if it changes color. I didn't even go to a clinic or hospital. I got vaccinated last fall, so it was probably watered down by that, if it was the flu. Which I think it was. But I am not an internist, nor do I play one on TV.
But that's not the point. The point is that I felt awful for a day and a half, and I was completely useless. And during that day and a half, the Pumpkin Daddy bought me ice cream and udon, and kept the kids fed and played with them and did the laundry and vacuuming. And when I felt better and told him thank you for everything, he totally blew me off. And he's tall. And looks good in random articles from Eddie Bauer.
And he always does the laundry. And the vacuuming.
And I am so lucky to have him. All the time. But more than usual this weekend.
I think I caught a watered down version of the flu. I was achy, I had a fever, I felt like I'd been run over by a car. But it only lasted a day and a half. I think it was the flu, but I'm not sure. I didn't get that test where they stick a piece of paper up a nostril and see if it changes color. I didn't even go to a clinic or hospital. I got vaccinated last fall, so it was probably watered down by that, if it was the flu. Which I think it was. But I am not an internist, nor do I play one on TV.
But that's not the point. The point is that I felt awful for a day and a half, and I was completely useless. And during that day and a half, the Pumpkin Daddy bought me ice cream and udon, and kept the kids fed and played with them and did the laundry and vacuuming. And when I felt better and told him thank you for everything, he totally blew me off. And he's tall. And looks good in random articles from Eddie Bauer.
And he always does the laundry. And the vacuuming.
And I am so lucky to have him. All the time. But more than usual this weekend.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Year decorations
oshougatsu kazari
We had a Christmas tree (since we don't have a fireplace, we needed to make a place for Santa to put the presents) but we put it away. The only holiday decorations in the house right now are these.
Japanese superstitions are based on puns. We're punny like that.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
We had a Christmas tree (since we don't have a fireplace, we needed to make a place for Santa to put the presents) but we put it away. The only holiday decorations in the house right now are these.
The small ones on either side are what the Pumpkin Daddy brought home from his holiday party at work. The large one in the middle is an arrangement my mother made from orchids she got from her neighbor and some things in the garden. The pine (matsu) are symbols of longevity. The clustered red berries are called manryo and which mean "ten thousand ryo," ryo being a large unit of currency in pre-Meiji restoration Japan, and the red berries surrounded by leaves are senryo, or "thousand ryo." The obvious reference to prosperity in their names makes them popular as New Year's decorations.
My mother insisted on bringing them on the 30th of December, as opposed to the 29th or the 31st, because
1) The 29th has a 9, or "ku" in it. "Ku" means suffering, making the 29th unlucky.
2) Bringing them on the 31st would mean they would only be there for a single day before New Year's Day, making them unlucky.
Japanese superstitions are based on puns. We're punny like that.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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