Fuchu Daichi

Nathan reading the closing statement. Another student translated it into Japanese


Nathan and his Buddy

The 4th graders at ASIJ recently had the opportunity to "host" a neighboring Japanese school. Each student got a "buddy" from the other school. Nate was a little nervous because of his inability to speak Japanese. I told him just make hand motions. haha I went in to watch the special program that they put on for the school. All of the ASIJ kids did a program about Thanksgiving. Then they made crafts in the classroom with their buddy and ate lunch together. All in all I think it was a fun day. Nathan's class will get to visit Fuchu Daichi in February.

Challah Bread

My new friend Daphna taught a group of us how to make Challah bread. She is from Israel. It was a lot of fun and interesting to hear about her life at "home." She also made us homemade soup and a salad. The bread was delicious. Daphna had in mind for all of us to take home a half loaf. We all laughed as it came out of the oven because it smelled so good. Needless to say each of us took about a roll size piece home!!

Feeling Lucky!

I'm just a sucker for blog giveaways! I am sure that one day I will win. I can't really remember how I ever came across Camille Roskelley's blog but she designs the most darling quilts. I have seen them displayed at the Quilt Shop at Gardner Village. Anyway, she is having a give-a-way over at her blog so I am now entered to win. Heather you should go check it out! It would be almost as fun if you win!! wink wink

Dirty Dish Store

I have been looking forward to this day since the first week we arrived. I heard about the Dirty Dish store and knew it was my kind of store. It is a big warehouse full of odds and ends. I was filthy by the time we left. Everything in the store is already pretty cheap but you get to subtract 40% of the total. I got some new plain every day dishes and then some odds and ends to serve with.



Don't look too closely there could be gifts in these photos! hmmm
The square ones above were less than $2 each. The small blue sushi plates were less than $1. The only bargains to be found in Tokyo.

I LOVE these dishes with the sakura (cherry blossoms.) I got some "dessert" plates and a couple of serving dishes.

The happy shoppers at Sizzler. Yes, that is me leaning back so my face isn't in the picture. What a great day!!

More funny things around town...

My friends and I really had a hard time obeying this sign!!

A special place for dogs to wait while you do your shopping. There was also a small drinking fountain for dogs only.

Nathan's Halloween Party at School

Nathan's Teacher, Mrs. Takeuchi and her son. The little giraffe. He was so cute!

A really "brave" boy or should I say Michael Phelps

Nathan, the non-costume loving boy!

Halloween -- Yoyogi style. . .

We went to a friend's house to celebrate Halloween. We heard that their street was the place to be. There were crowds like this for a good two and half hours. It was amazing. We saw dogs in costumes, thousands of kids and gave out tons of candy. Nathan and his friend tried to go trick-or-treating but the crowds were so dense that they gave up and handed out candy for the rest of the night.




Little girls like Princess costumes wherever you go. So cute.

There was a good old fashioned Halloween party at the school too. Not a Fall Festival or a Autumnal Equinox Gathering but an actual Halloween Party. All of the teachers dressed up. Most of them with themes through the grades. Games throughout the school that the kids could run wild through. Not a lot of structure and tons of candy. They had the traditional parade to start out the events. I don't think that Nathan had nearly as much fun as I did.

On a side note -- there is now another scratch on the rental van. Not of my doing!!