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| When we arrived in Japan on June 13th or 14th. I think, I had 2 days worth of shampoo and conditioner at my home in Japan left. Which was fantastic because that just means, I could pick a whole new bottle of each, to start our summer. I had seen the Pantene Micellar shampoos in America too, since April 2018 when we first moved there. But, I was already using another shampoo. But since I was in Japan for the summer and I was about to run out. I decided what a perfect chance to try these all summer in Japan. So, since June, until the very last day in July that we were there, this is what I used the whole time. : ) |
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| Also another really nice thing about Japan is that they sell limited edition seasonal types of stuff too. We do, this in America too. Such as in Fall, everything in pumpkin flavor is available. So, same type of thing in Japan but different flavors. Summer in Japan means the choco banana Super Cup was sold everywhere. And plus, choco mint cookies and chocolates were available everywhere too. And these things too. Limited Edition Coconut Pie cookies. These were absolutely delicious. And I bought these nearly once a week, when I went grocery shopping in Japan. Because a house with kids inside means I not only... have to have healthy snacks ready...but I also have to have fun snacks at the ready too. |
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| These Limited Edition coconut Country Ma'am cookies were delicious. |
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| This picture was taken right before we left in April. In Japan they sell flavored water. And most of them are so delicious. A few wonkers here and there. But this Melon Soda flavored water was so so good!!!! I picked up 4 of these for us all to try and we all loved this. |
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| Yep, this was an old pic, but I did want to share it. And this summer they sold lychee water and a few others and we tried them all. Also peach tea water was good too. They sold a clear diet Coke. I dislike diet soda. So, I didn't try that... but my kids tried it. They said it was "meh, okay." But we're clearly not big diet soda fans because the "fake" sugars usually taste like pesticide or poison in my opinion. What else... |
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| Branden was really *really* popular at his high school in Japan. He had a ton of friends. Every single teacher adored him and the principal too. So, they all knew he was coming back for the summer. And of course his friends told his main sensei. And then the sensei emailed Branden. And they arranged a day for Branden to come back and spend 1 day at his former high school. It was a Friday morning, I once again dropped B at the train station. And the principal was waiting for B to arrive and they handed B a visitors pass. And since their class changed to another floor, 3 of his classmates greeted him and he went to his class. This time around he came back wearing his high school sweatshirt and t-shirt for his high school in America. And his classmates. Said "you look so different." And he said that he told them..."not to worry, I am the exact same as always" Awww. : ) And he enjoyed math class with them, English class with them. Every class. Chatting with his Canadian English teacher. And he spent the entire day there. And after class. Branden and his bestie went to Mickey D's. Same as they used to *always* do before we moved. |
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| I did get permission to use his pic and he did ask permission to use some he took of us at our house and we said no problem! : ) They were as thick as thieves the whole past year, these 2. They're both hafu. They both prefer speak English. Bran was raised in Japan (with an American mom and Japanese dad) and his bestie was raised somewhere else in Asia and went to an International school. It was as if...no time had elapsed since they saw each other. They truly picked up right where they left off. He did tell Branden how much lonelier it is for him at school without Bran there. : ( Aww. Bran texted me and asked if his bestie could come home to our house after school. I said...absolutely! 100% yes!!! : ) |
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| Hanging out in Branden's room. I offered him some tea, a bottle of water or some soda. He picked the soda. They took some snacks upstairs. And chatted about girls. LOL. Around 10pm, I dropped off his bestie at the train station. Noah's lucky in the fact that all his friends come from the same rural town in Japan where we live, *however* he could only hang out with his friends twice while we were in Japan. Because #1 school was still in session for all his former classmates in Japan. And #2, now that this friends are all in chugakko they are all in bukatsu (clubs) and that takes up a *huge* chunk of their time (massive amounts). And plus undokai practice for them too. So, I was happy that... on 2 Sundays, Noah's friends did come over on their bikes and rang our doorbell and went to hangout at the local MiniStop (conbini) with Noah and have some drinks and snacks there and catch up. So that was nice that Noah got a chance to catch up with them too. Seeing them and after hearing their chugakko stories, it made Noah relieved that he's going to a middle school in the U.S. Gambatte to Noah's former classmates. It's hard, I know, I watched Bran go through it. |
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| I also met up with my 2 besties. We met at Coco's. It was wonderful to see them. And I am so thankful that I have a "100% for real friendship", with them. Meaning they asked me flat out. How's living in America? If they were not very close to me. I would just say..."oh it's great" and leave it at that! And say no more! But, I am appreciative to have these 2 wonderful friends in my life that when they asked me flat out..."how is it going in America?" I could let my guard down and tell them 100% honestly. "It's not going so good! I thought I would not have a hard adjustment at all. I'm actually shocked that I am having such reverse culture shock." My eyes filled with water for about 30 seconds. And I thought. "Gina don't you dare cry at freaking Coco's" lol. We talked and talked and talked. And just being able to let it out. Release it. Put it in the air. And sign my name to it, if you know what I mean. OMG, I felt such a relief. And they told me..."Line message us anytime" If you're lonely. Or you're feeling reverse culture shock again, doesn't matter" We're here for you. And omg. Just hearing that. Phew. Knowing that I have this support system.They gave me the courage and power and strength to go back to America. And try...and try again!!! They believe in me...even if I am *not* believing in myself. And so yeah! To have friends like that in your corner. How unbelievably lucky am I? I hit the friendship lottery with these 2!!! : ) |
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| It was so good for my heart. For my soul. For my mind and whole entire self to go back home... to Japan for the summer. To be surrounded by greenery. A loving husband. The best friendships in the entire world. There was so much love waiting for me in the Japanese countryside. Every single time I went to my local one and only store. Someone came up and said.."howdy! Hi!" The kids friends saw them and talked their ears off. 2 of Bran's classmates work at the town grocery store in the evenings and so they always chatted with B. Fellow country/inaka mom's waving at me as I'm driving my car and me waving back at them. So yeah...going home this past summer. Was just something, I needed. |
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| We went to our town summer festival. Saw the entire town there. So caught up with the whole town basically in 1 fell swoop. |
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| We had backyard BBQ's every single weekend in Japan while we were there. We ate watermelon and sweet canteloups too. Since melons are so cheap in Ibaraki prefecture. And we literally live minutes from the border. We played our favorite American board game Sorry! Once a week all June and all July while there! |
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| We watched so many movies at home. We all shopped and stocked up on food supplies for me to take back to America with me. LOL, am I now doing this in reverse now? Believe you me...it surprises me too. But hey, we want to be comfortable regardless where we live. We also bought some clothing items for Noah while in Japan too. And school supplies for both the kids too. And before you know it. It was just about time to leave. |
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| July 27th. Our final dinner. We went to Jolly Pasta one last time. Kids were happy. I was sad. Sad to be leaving my beautiful Japan. Sad to be leaving the kindest best husband ever! Sad to be leaving a town that I love and who loves me and sad to be leaving such a fantastic set of friendships. But, I also felt, that 30% of me knew that it was time for me to go. The kids would be getting a top notch education. For free at a public school in the United States. Plus flight benefits means we can fly back and forth without worrying about the money for the flight. But to be blunt and frank. Nobody is dying here or being stricken with an irreversible deadly terminal illness. So there's truly *nothing* for us to cry about, over here. And I really *had* to snap out of it. I *hate* whiners and I'm not about to become one. And so, I knew what I had to do...I had to go back with a good attitude. And knowing that... snapped me out of it. July 28th a typhoon was expected to hit. And Noboru told me. Always leave on a typhoon day. Because the day after and a few days after that.. are pure chaos for flights. So fly out the day of. And so, Typhoon or no typhoon. We flew out July 28th. And arrived in America, July 28th too. |
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| We arrived back to our townhouse. It was a long flight. And we were jet lagged for a solid week. My next post will be fun for some of you...the old... what we brought back from Japan haul. Hauls are always super interesting reads. : ) |
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