Branden's Birthday...

We always go out to dinner when it's someone in our family's birthday. Branden's birthday is October 26th and it fell on a Thursday this year. Noboru had to work that day. So we decided it would be best for us to go out for an early birthday dinner celebration on Monday October 23rd instead. We asked Branden what he'd like to eat, which restaurant he'd like to go to... since it's his birthday. Would he like to go to a Steakhouse? Yakiniku? Cappricciosa? The Outback Steakhouse? His choice 100%. He picked Jolly Pasta. It was a fantastic choice. The quality of food there is quite high. It's no Saizeriya. Granted Saizeriya is perfect for a quick meal on the cheap on a regular day, and we go there for regular times (not birthdays) But Jolly Pasta's quality is perfect for a birthday and the fact you can get an all you can drink... drink bar too, if you order that. It's awesome. Also another super cool thing is. Our nearest Jolly Pasta is in Chiba City. Chiba City is quite far from where we live in rural Chiba nearly 1 second away from Ibaraki. It takes us a full hour to drive there. And 1 full hour to drive back to the countryside. But...lucky for us...Ibaraki has finally got it's 2nd Jolly Pasta in Ibaraki prefecture and it's actually a quick drive for us...with all rural country roads with no/zero stop lights. So it's a fast 30 minute drive there for us, from our house. So half closer for us. It's brand new, just opened at the end of September. September 27th or something. So we now have a closer to us Jolly Pasta. As a family who lives way out in the middle of nowhere...it's amazing that we finally have a closer to us Jolly Pasta in Ibaraki. So that's where we were Monday October 23rd. It was a day of no school/canceled school because of the typhoon. And so we zipped there around 4pm. Arrived near 4:30pm.

They have delicious pasta and pizza combos. We each picked a pasta and pizza combo each. 

Our family loves that chili oil they have at Jolly Pasta. Branden was using it in this pic. On our way out, we bought one of the chili oils. Yum. We have been using it at home ever since. Dinner was fantastic. We had such a good time there. Dinner was delicious. 

Noboru had a hot coffee at the restaurant before we left and the kids and I each had a hot cocoa to drink before we left and drove home. 

We had cake and ice-cream to celebrate on Monday after we got back from dinner. And cake all week long even on Branden's actual birthday. 

A bit blurry, but Bran blowing out his birthday candles. We all enjoyed some cake and ice-cream. 

Birthday money for the birthday teen. 20,000 yen from us. $200 from the best greatest grandpa in the universe. 5,000 yen from grandma Mitsuko. 

Just some of what grandpa had to say. How lovely. Branden saves all of grandpa's birthday cards and so does Noah too. So do I. : )

We also bought Branden a brand new Ultra Light down winter coat from Uniqlo. It's not a school coat. It's for weekends. It's in navy blue. And as for his birthday money...Branden is saving his money until he figures out what he should buy. Branden has a laptop, just got it this year. He also has a super nice tablet and a nice cellphone too. He has clothes. Honestly...he really doesn't need or want for anything really. But we still wanted to celebrate him. And so...whenever he decides what he wants to use with his birthday money...he'll let us know. But for now. He's saving it. Smart kid...smart kid. : )

Also now that Bran is in high school. And his birthday fell on a Thursday/school day. Some of his closest friends bought him these things on his birthday, while at school. Just small little acts of kindness which I thought were so cool! High school in Japan is so fun! They sang him Happy Birthday. The class announced it. He basically felt special all day long. He was truly beaming and smiling ear to ear, by the time he came home from school that day. And for his actual birthday dinner. I made a great big pot of pork green chili and a pot of beans. And we had bowls of pork green chili and beans and tortillas for his simple but homemade from scratch birthday dinner. It was so delicious. And we had birthday cake and ice-cream for dessert. And that's about it. : ) Happy Birthday Branden. I can barely believe you're 16 years old kiddo! We love you!!!

Town Undokai...

Sunday, October 8th was our town's sports day/undokai. Yes that means the kids in our town have 2 sports days a year. 1 for all elementary school students PLUS town undokai. And same for the local one and only JHS they have their regular JHS undokai and also have to attend town undokai too. If you don't show up, you will be marked absent. The bright side is you get off school on Tuesday. So that's sort of nice. JHS kids have to stay from like 7am to 5pm-ish. I remember this when Bran was in JHS. But elementary kids need to be there only from 9am to 11:30am. And elementary kids only have 1 event. Noah's grade did a basketball race and as soon as that was over and done with, we were allowed to leave and go home. So 9am to 11:30am is not too terribly bad at all. Because this is town undokai. You *must* sit according to neighborhood. Where you live dictates where you can sit. We live in a newer housing community and so our "housing community" has their own 2 tents (1 for JHS kids and 1 for elementary kids) and we all sit behind our housing community's tent. The other housing communities have their own tents and they do the same. The older parts of town also have their own communities too and they sit behind their own tents too. Meals/lunches are bought courtesy from where you live. We live in our housing community and we pay month's HOA fees (homeowners association fees) so because we do that...we can order up to 4 obento if we decide and it will be paid for totally 100%. They pass around the monthly kairanban/information booklet a month in a advance and you can order however many lunches you want, but they know how many family members are in each house. I packed my kids sandwiches. And I made myself a salad. An easy town undokai meal. And my husband absolutely looks forward to the seafood/fish obento. So he always orders two meals. And so he feasts on fish on town undokai day. Hahaha. : ) Here is a pic of Noah and his 6th grade friend and classmate sitting in the same area and that's because he lives in our same housing community too. The older JHS boys sitting near Noah but on the older kids JHS leisure sheet also live in the same housing community as us too. 

All kids regardless of which grade do warm up exercises. You can see Noah in his bright colored New Balance sneakers warming up in this particular picture.

Noah and 3 of his classmates ran this race together. You have to run and then at a certain point you have to pick up a basketball and start bouncing it down your running lane.

Branden and I were standing on the sidelines next to eachother cheering on Noah. Go Noah go!!!!! And Noboru was meanwhile video taping Noah run his race on the other side of the field.

Noah came in first place! Branden was so proud. We all were! Good job Noah. We love you!

After Noah's race, we stayed for lunch and after lunch we packed up and went home. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying our Sunday at home. For dinner we decided to go to Narita City to our nearest pizza place and bring home some Domino's. 4 large pizzas. We had a pizza party here at the house. And because Monday was a national holiday in Japan, Branden and Noah did not have school that Monday. And Tuesday Noah didn't have school either, because he had town undokai. So all in all, Sunday was really nice. We did have sports day, but it was really low key. We didn't have to wake up super early either. An excellent Sunday October 8th and super low key town undokai. : ) 

Throwback Thursday. Noah and his swimming trophy...

I put my weekly TBT's on hold during the summer break. But with the kids back in school, I'm back at them once again. : ) Today's TBT takes place from September 2013! Noah has been swimming since the age of 3 years old. Kids can't start swimming school... near our area... unless they're age 3. Sure you can join a baby swim class. But we weren't interested in that. So we waited and in June we signed him up, but he couldn't begin until July 7th. The second he was officially age 3 is when Noah started. Getting to watch his older brother swim for years before... Noah could. He could barely wait to start himself. So, since age 3, Noah had been taking swimming lessons. Twice a week. And our swim school will *only* pass you if you complete and show you know the moves and take a test and pass the test. He passed many flower levels and then worked his way down the number levels. From 15 or so all the way down to level 1. He had countless tests since age 3. And finally finally finally. In 2013, Noah took and passed the level 1 test!!! What success! He was awarded a trophy for basically finishing his swimming school. His picture hung at the swim school for a full month. And after that, he swam competitively for the same swim school against other swimming schools in our prefecture. Yep, age 8 is when Noah finished every single level. How did Noah feel receiving his trophy? Totally excited!!! : )

Congratulations my sweet boy, you clearly have the skills! 

Yes, you are a kid! Get silly if you want! You earned every bit of that trophy!

You silly nerd!!! I love you Noah! : )

Branden's High School Taiikusai...

Tuesday, May 2nd was Branden's first ever high school Taiikusai, which basically just means Sports Day. It's basically an undokai, but you apparently can't call it that in high school. @_@ But, in Japan we called it undokai in yochien and we called it undokai in elementary school. At our local JHS we called it an undokai. But at the high school level, it's called something completely different. But it's the same thing really. Which is just Sports Day. To even confuse you further, I have a friend who lives in Tsukuba and her daughter's JHS they call it taiikusai. So to be safe, just check and see how your child's JHS calls it. It could go either way. But high school it should all be switched to taiikusai. This is why in America it's easier Field Day can be any grade and so can Sports Day. But here...apparently not the case, lol. : )  Anyway this was 1 day before Golden Week would begin for us. And after this 1 Sports Day, we were off for the next 6 days. So Sports Day was going to be awesome and just something for us to sit and enjoy and watch. And then 6 days off in a row. I asked B, a week before...what he would like for me to prepare for lunch for his first ever Sports Day in high school. I usually always make karaage obento, rice balls, fruit, a garden salad. I pack some lemonade. Anyway...this time he requested sandwiches. It caught me a little off guard. Since I usually make karaage obento for Sports Day. But with **so** many foreigners at his school now. So many hafu at his school now. There are 2 sisters with red hair, now you know in Japan you can't dye/color your hair so this is 100% natural as in...naturally red hair as in Nicole Kidman red as in Anne Of Green Gables red. 1 is a 12th grader and her little sis in a 10th grader, new student same grade as B. It's so multicultural. Kids from all sorts of countries. Many from so many different western countries. Like there are families from seriously... everywhere. It's like..."It's a Small World After All" this school. You walk and you hear English as you walk down the hall. And with living in rural Japan and sending my kids to regular Japanese school before now. It's sorta an adjustment for us all. In rural Japan... when I go to observation day for example... I was always that 1 western face in the crowd. That 1 western/American mama at observation day. That 1 mama whose native language was English and not Japanese. Here....so many foreigners. So many westerners. So many hafu. So many different religions. And I love it! I love not sticking out. My kids love not sticking out. It's a welcome change. It's just such a new different thing for us. And so...5 days after school started for Branden. He asked me to just make him American lunch for his school lunch from then on. I used to make him sandwich twice a week in JHS and Japanese 3 times a week. Western-ized Japanese...like chicken teriyaki obento. Not traditional Japanese obento. But since high school started. He asked for just 100% American lunches now. And I do "get it" ....because now he's with others like himself. And he wants to have American lunch. The 2 Chinese students bring traditional lunches from their country. The hafu Thai boy brings Thai lunches. The westerners bring western lunch. Here everyone can be what they want and bring what they want. There is no huge pressure to conform to Japanese traditional ways at this school. Individuality is really respected here. And other cultures are also respected. One of Bran's best friends is Muslim and that's so totally cool and fantastic. The diversity here is so good. And so yeah...if Branden feels for "right now" he wants to bring American lunches or more western style lunches okay. Not a problem. Besides sandwiches are way easier anyways. So that's fine. But yeah...he asked for sammy's for Sports Day. And I didn't mind. Because #1...do you know how time consuming it is to make a karaage obento from scratch? So a sandwich obento is 10 times easier. And since that's what he asked for. No problem. Oh also there's an 11th grade girl who looks like Noah so much, it's funny! She's hafu but she's really western looking... just like Noah is and she has soft medium brown colored hair just like Noah does and she has long girly hair but yeah she looks exactly like Noah. And every time she sees Noah she just stares at him, lol. @_@ So anyways...I bought 3 fresh loaves of baguette from the bakery in the small city nearest us the day before. 

I made a huge baguette sandwich for Branden, Noah and Noboru. I had a salad instead. 

The kids like their ham skillet fried a bit in a pan. Noboru likes his ham cold right out of the package. That's okay I can make both ways. : )

We were in a huge gymnasium with stadium seating. Branden had a pounding headache around 10am. But I did give him 2 Advil and he took them and he was back to normal by lunch. He enjoyed his lunch. And we enjoyed ours. This was my salad. It had lettuce, cucumbers, mini tomatoes avocado, cheese and a few pieces of chicken on it. This is the chicken you can buy at Mini Stop it's called "crunky chicken" not crunchy chicken. lol. It's a very filling salad. It's a whole meal. I thought the sandwich would be a bit too carb heavy for me. And the sandwich was so delicious and filling like I said, I didn't feel deprived or anything. I enjoyed my lunch very much. 

Macaroni salad and potato salad. Branden had his very own little mini container of it and it looked just like this only smaller. This one, Noboru, Noah and I enjoyed. Branden ate with his male classmates. 

I also baked a nice American dessert. I baked brownies with walnuts. I gave Branden a nice big brownie. And we were seated right next to the English course kids. All in all it was a really nice Sports Day. Branden came home with us as soon as Sports Day ended. We went out to dinner after Sports Day was finished. We went to the Ohsho (a delicious Chinese restaurant that's a chain throughout Japan) for dinner along the way from the school to home.

What did I learn about high school sports day? And again I only speak about our *particular specific* high school. So just keep that in mind.

The seating for us parents and families sucked. Everyone sat on the hardest metal seats on the planet. I was fine. But Noboru complained so much about the seats. "They're so uncomfortable" he said. He said that about 20 times during the day. Noah said it like 2 times. And at that point, I snapped at the both of them and said..."look we are here for SUPPORT of a family member, not for plush comfy seats. Yes, the seats are uncomfortable, but whining won't fix it. It just aggravates me to no end" I rarely get snappy. So, after I said my peace. I heard not a peep about the seats again. So seating...eh not fantastic. But to me...acceptable. And besides how picky can a person be, really?

Lack of parents or families. You have to sign in to enter the facility. They don't want just a random person with no affiliation to this school to enter. So they have a sign in. We signed in. And Noboru and Noah have teeny tiny bladders so they went to pee often. Super often. I am meanwhile a camel bladder and I didn't pee the entire day. Not something to be proud about...just saying tho! So around 2pm-ish they went to pee again and this Sports thing was set to end at 3:30pm. Noboru apparently went to see the sign up sheet for the English course with Noah. The girl who looks like Noah was standing there. Anyways Noboru said only 5 parents in the English course grade 1/the 10th grade showed up and signed in. @_@ Only 5. That number is incredibly low. Granted to be fair... it was a weekday maybe folks were working? But yeah...out of 37  tenth grade English kids, only 5 families showed. Ours being 1 of the 5. And no..we're not saints or angels. It's just...you know how I feel about family. Family to me is my *everything*. And if you have something an event or whatnot and you're my family...rest assured, I will be there to support you...to show up for you...and to cheer you on. That's just how I roll. We sat in the 10th grade parents section. And out of 216... 10th grade kids, there was maybe 20 parents and I am being fair and generous by saying 20. I did look across the stadium and could see about...50 parents on the other side...for 11th and 12th grade. So no...not huge amounts of parents show up to these? I am still learning, still trying to learn the ropes.

Another observation. Don't expect to talk to your high school kid often during high school Sports Day. The kids are quite busy. And when they're not doing something they're on the sidelines cheering for their classmates. At undokai in rural Japan, for example at elementary school and at JHS, the kids come to their parents picnic spot. And the student enjoys lunch with their family. And the kids come by and visit or wave a few times during the day. Branden and the other boys had a specific boy place to eat their lunch at during the taiikusai.  Girls could eat anywhere. But since there are so few boys they made a special room aside just for the boys to eat their lunch in private. Spoiled boys!!! Hahaha. And though we were sitting right smack dab right next to the English course kids. I could see Branden was really enjoying hanging with his friends. And I don't want to overdose "mom" him...ykwim... so I waited until he came to talk to us. I didn't want to baby him or anything. I let him have his space and if he needed something or wanted to talk, I was right there.  Yes he did come and talk to us about 5 times during the day. And he smiled and stuff and his friends were so polite and greeted us and spoke with us in English of course, lol. And one of his classmates told Branden.."your brother looks *really* good" LOL. And yes Noah was beyond weird-ed out hearing that. The non-stop gaggle of girls who passed Noah all throughout the day saying how kawaii or kakkoii Noah was..was fine...he gets that often anyways... but the whole..."you're brother looks *so* good" comment completely weird-ed out my 11 year old. Noah was like. "What a weirdo, whoever said that!!!" LOL. So while everyone was really nice and respectful. I would say...the entire day...we spoke to Branden maybe a grand total of 7 minutes all the times we saw him that day combined. It did give me pause and wonder..."do I need to show up for this next year?" Hmm. Maybe...maybe not though. Oh and fwiw, 2 mom's absolutely loved my picnic basket and said what a fantastic picnic basket it was. Fwiw...I bought it at Cainz Home for 800 yen like 10 years ago or something like that. I remember it was at Cainz Home and I know I was in Ibaraki and it is fully lined.

Another observation. There are no parent races and no parent participation required like at elementary school and JHS. So parents at high school sports day...you are totally off the hook.

My last thing I learned and probably the best thing I learned is. High School Sports day is actually fun for the kids! The kids are not mindless robots. If your kid has ever experienced elementary in Japan or JHS then you'll know exactly what I am talking about. In elementary school and JHS for example. By the time you parents actually go to undokai day and watch it. Your child has already had practice for the undokai for about 45 school days straight. They have sat out in the sun. I know of 2 girls who have literally fainted flat on the floor during undokai practice because they were kept outside for hours under harsh Japanese summer heat in our town. Coupled with lots of activity and few and far between times to get a drink of a thermos and you're just asking for kids to be fainting away. Also...the races have all been run...the kids already know after running against one another 45 days in a row who will be coming in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. They have practiced the songs on their recorders or pianica for the umpteenth time. Branden has told me in elementary school and JHS..."I hate the undokai it's so fake." "We are not having fun. And we already know who will win the races." And Noah agrees. However...Branden's high school Sports Day. It's not practiced at all. They tell you. Boys you will play basketball against each other. On that day good luck. The girls were told they will be playing volleyball. They did not practice it not even 1 time. Kids wore crazy funky zany hats, some wore wigs or costumes. 1 girl was Mario, another girl was Luigi. There was a Studio Ghibli ghost. Nobody had any idea who would win. Nobody cared about winning at all either. The entire point of this high school sports day was for the kids to have fun. @_@ I snapped over 300 pics of the kids all smiling. Genuine laughter. There's no strict robot style, like how it is in elementary school and JHS where you must be in neat straight little rows and lines. Kids were laughing. Kids brought their cell phones and were taking selfies. Half of the kids brought packed lunches from home, but half brought conbini obento or bought bakery breads. The kids were just kickin' it. And having a ton of fun. This *greatly* reminded me of my sports day experience in America. I mean..it's no big deal. There's no pressure. This is so funny but...they had a "race" where they pitted club against club. Branden did join a high school club. He's in the English club because it's only 1 day a week and is only 1 hour long. And they watch American movies, play American board games, they sang karaoke last week, all of their songs had to be in English, and Branden said everyone had so much fun. LOL. And no English club over Summer break,  no English club over Christmas break,  and not over Spring break. Because their club teacher is Canadian and he actually has a good life outside of school and would actually like to enjoy it. And believe me...I get it! And it's so refreshing. So anyways...It was an "osoji race" where everyone had a cleaning rag and it was a relay race. The girl who looks like Noah is also in the English club. So J ran with the rag and he pushed it across the floor and then passed it to Branden. And Branden rubbed that rag against the floor as fast as he could. And then passed it to the girl who looks exactly like Noah. And then to another western girl and it went right down the row. Club versus club. This looked so fun... kids were going crazy laughing and the whole gym was screaming and shouting and cheering. Noah was laughing so hard! It was *not* a Sports Day that they practiced 45 times beforehand. It was just a real Sports Day. Where the focus was on...are the kids enjoying themselves? Are the kids having fun? Again...having lived in Japan for 14 years and having observed regular "Japan style" Sports Day. This is very surprising for us.

Noboru said during Bran's Sports Day. I am so glad we found this school for Branden. He looks *so* completely happy going here.  And I agree. This school does give me a slight case of reverse culture shock! LOL! But, I'm sure I'll get used to it soon. But other then that. It's a high school dream and he's so happy going here! Anyway, that's the long and short of Bran's Sports Day.

Throwback Thursday...

Happy TBT everyone!!! Today's Throwback Thursday is going to be *so* super cool and amazing! Because it just is and you will love it! And it's so...coming full circle, if you know what I mean! You'll see. Last week, when I was making last weeks TBT. Which also happened to be, 1 day before Branden was about to go on his excursion/class trip to Tokyo Disney Sea with his high school. I... by sheer coincidence while looking through April pics. Found these. And I was awed! And I thought...how truly marvelous to find such fitting photos 1 day before Branden took his school trip as a high school student there. How truly amazing it was to find these pics. What good luck!!! Here is Noboru and Branden, in 2008 in April at Tokyo Disney Sea. She had to check to see if Branden was tall enough to ride the ride. And Noah was obviously way too little, so he and I sat this one out. But we looked out and watched and I meanwhile took pics. Meanwhile also pictured is a high school boy on his high school class trip wearing his high school uniform and high school bag. Little did we know... someday in the distant future Branden would be taking *his* high school trip at the same exact amusement park! 

More high school students on their class trip back in 2008. Once again. This year, 2017 it was *my* son who became the high schooler and he was taking his class trip to Tokyo Disney Sea. And perhaps there was a child there at the park in 2017 and his mom snapped a pic of her child with Bran in her background. How cool, just thinking about it. Oh and fwiw, I was having my camera pointed at the exit for this ride and this was my practice shot. : )And yep, boy and girl high school students on class trip in this picture in 2008.

High school students on their high school trip on the right and a wee little Branden in his bright yellow rain coat happily running towards Noah and I. Noah meanwhile... saw Branden and ran towards him and Noboru. 

Aha there is my little blondie!!! Noah had the lightest shade of hair when he was little. And the blondest eyebrows. Even at age 11, he still has lightest hair than anyone in his class and school.  

The only thing I can think of is. Enjoy every stage of your kids! Enjoy the heck out of their toddler age! Enjoy their elementary years too. Spend time with them. Listen to them. Laugh with them. Just love them and be there. Be present. We took our kids to Tokyo Disneyland or Sea twice a year. Not every week or every month. But we did it as a special treat. We also did small stuff like having movie nights at home. Or taking them hunting for crawdads/crayfish in rural Japan where we live. Backyard BBQs. Or just sitting on the couch watching TV together or playing a round of Sorry or Monopoly on the kitchen table. We took cheesy pictures ALWAYS. We did goofy and silly things weekly. We cook and bake together even now. And believe me...they'll remember all this stuff when they get older. And they'll love you for it! They truly will! : ) Like this pic...Branden was pointing at this silly Spring dessert. And I could tell he wanted it...so I said..."you like it...make sure you order it!!!" : ) And he did. And well... he still has this cup! : ) He also had a sandwich and fries and regular lunch stuff too. But yep. Kids will remember the quality time and the quantity too. : )

My sweet Noah : ) 

And a family sharing a coconut soft serve. And me meanwhile trying really hard not to notice that this lady in the background of my pic was basically PHOTOBOMBING every pic I tried to take. All I wanted to do was take a pic of both my kids. And instead of her just acting like a normal human and turning around and let me take pics of my children. She faced my camera directly and stared straight into my lens. Has this ever happened to any of you? I mean...I snapped about 30 pics and she just stood there staring and never looked away. Did she want to be in my picture THAT badly? I mean...OMG...who does that? That lady was a real freak-o! Total weirdo! Oh well...I do love the pic though... because it shows how much Noah adores his big brother. His eyes were always on his brother. : ) Such big wide innocent eyes. 

Of course we had to take pics of this. Branden was tall enough, but Noah was sadly not tall enough. It's okay though... there were a lot of rides Noah could ride. Right cutie patootie? Right! : )

My little blondie holding onto his daddy's lap... just in case the ride got too scary. So he was holding onto Noboru's leg for safety. Hahaha. : )

Yay, we 4 just got out of that ride and it was fun. 

So today's TBT is just a gentle reminder to enjoy your child at every age and every stage... because if you blink...next thing you know... they'll be on another stage and you'll miss it. So just enjoy it all. Enjoy every stage. I'm so glad I enjoyed it all. And in fact I still am. Lucky for me...my kids are still kids. They're just 11 and 15 and I have *many* fun filled years left with them. And I'm not taking any of our days or years for granted! Gosh I love you Branden! You are such a sweetheart. 

Branden asked me to take this pic because he wanted me to share that he was tall enough to ride the big kid rides!!! Awww! And I am so glad I took this pic! : )

And their lovely, silly cheesy amazing and corny Ultraman poses! Which I lovelovelove! And I am *so* glad that they were carefree enough to take these. Being just 2 silly brothers at Tokyo Disney Sea back in 2008!!!

I hope you had as much fun at Tokyo Disney Sea last week, as you did in 2008! I love you Branden! : )

Train training...

I think... if you live in big city bright lights type Japan, your train "know how" is superly high. You're probably a pro taking the train by the first grade. However, for rural Japan peeps like us, you need a car to get anywhere. We live in a *real* rural town of 5,000 people. And our town does not have a public bus like you imagine folks in big cities. Big city folks have for example a bus #28 and a bus #32 because well... they're big city folks with populations that need that many buses. But for us in this tiny town of 5000 people. Our town has 1 bus. But it's honestly, a minivan! I am kidding you not. It's a flat out minivan and probably seats 8 at most. So when folks mention that they took the #20 bus to get somewhere, I know for a fact they live in a big population place. Because folks who live in true rural towns of like legit 5000 people... we have a minivan as our town bus! LOL! So having said all that. My kids... I think have ridden the train once in their lives. So...considering Bran will now be taking the train to and from school 5 days a week. We knew that a practice run would be in order... for our country kid! So, on Sunday April 9th. Noboru and Branden caught the train to B's new school. Sunday was supposed to be a gray rainy day and as you can tell by this pic, it sure was. Noah and I dropped them off at the train station. And they went from rice fields and rural Japan views, to a big bustling city view! Noboru said...he taught Bran how to use his new Suica card/train pass and also how to get there. Bran only has to take 1 train, no transfers at all... so he's lucky! Noboru later told me...Branden was so surprised to see all the things that the big city has to offer. He saw all the food stalls at the bottom of department stores. He saw so many things that Noboru laughed and said..."it's like Branden is an Amish person going to the big city for the first time in his life!" Hearing that cracked me up! 

His school is a short walk from the train station... they reached the school and then turned right back around. They had lunch before catching the train back to our rural town. I'm glad Noboru taught Bran how to take the train to and from. And he also showed him around. And we could have got Bran just a plain train pass. But we decided to get him the Suica card so he can use it at convenience stores to make a purchase. Some vending machines take Suica cards too. McD's also takes them too. Lots of places let's you just pay via your Suica card now days. And that is a relief because if Bran needs anything or gets thirsty... he can just get it that way. And we also give him cash too, in case. Anyways, so Noboru and Bran went for lunch at an udon shop in the big city. They both said they really enjoyed their lunch, then they took the train home, where Noah and I went and picked them up at the train station.

Monday April 10th. Was Branden's first day of high school. And first time riding the train alone. He did it! His dad also had him bookmark on his cellphone... the train website to see the time table of the train in case he gets out late or gets out early. He had absolutely no problems taking the train to and from. He said when he got out of the train at the station near the school. He started seeing lots of his high school uniforms. Mostly girls. But he saw his new classmate S (he's a boy too) and they both waved and said...lets' walk to school together!!! So they both did! Today is Wednesday here and Bran has been taking the train for a few days. And so far so good.

How does Branden like his new school? Honestly you guys he *loves* it!!! I will give you a few short stories. But remember these are stories from a 15 year old's perspective!!!

He said..."mom high school is way better than JHS! It's so fun! They have vending machines at school. You can drink a lemon tea or a soda or a Calpis!!!" : ) And he also said.."you can also suck on candy too mom, in class!!!" This just made me smile hearing this! He was so excited about this, you guys! : )

And yesterday he came home with another little nugget... that just made me smile again!!! "He said..."mom, did you know my school has a small store?!!!" He was too excited you guys! I said...REALLY? He said..."yeah it's like a mini version of a Mini Stop." His exact words! I said really, what do they sell? He said, "Yakisoba. Cup Noodles. Bentos. Sweet breads. Pencils mom...they sell pencils *and* erasers!!!" And..."and they sell Calligraphy paper AND ink!!!" Oh heavens...I said. What a cool store. He told me..."it REALY is mom!!!" Oh honey...I believe you. Next time I go visit your school... please show me this wonderful store! Last fun Bran fact about the store...."oh and many kids buy the sweet breads and J bought a Snickers bar!!!" I said... J has good taste, I like Snickers too! "Yeah me too...I didn't buy one though." I told Bran...you should buy one sometime. He said. "OKAY!" Goodness. Bran's school has a store. Much like I am sure most high schools in Japan have stores. In fact my high school in America, also had a school store. But it just made me smile. How happy he was about it. : ) Kids...including teens do have such innocence still. They're so for real. And show excitement in such a pure way. I hope he never loses that!

Monday, the English kids ate in their English class and had lunch there. But yesterday. The principal had invited *all* boys in the school to have lunch in his office. Oh and...sorry I did get the correct number of boys total for the school right this time. 14 boys all grades. So...all 14 boys went inside. And the principal told all 14. "There are so few of you, you better all be super close" Because there's just not that many of you. Remember boys are not allowed in the regular courses. So these are just English (speaking) boys and Genius (course) kids. So they're all good kids. And they all get along. He had the 4 new boys introduce themselves to the older boys first. The principal said just say your name, which JHS you came from and your interests/hobby's. Bran said, his name, the JHS he came from and he said, he loves swimming and has been swimming since age 4. The principal chimed in apparently and said...I love swimming too and I also swam competitively in my elementary school days too. So they talked about swimming for a minute or two. Oh and J is a returnee you guys, which is super exciting and great. He lived in Thailand for 13 years of his life. 10th graders are 15 in April. He moved to Japan only 2 years ago. So he went to a Japanese JHS for only 2 years. So that too is exciting and a fun fact. The older boys also introduced themselves. Branden said. There is 1 boy in the English course who is 100% Filipino and he says "mom he is so funny and nice." He told Bran... if you need any help at school or need to know where something is...please do not hesitate. We will all help you. Again...they are all LINE friends. Bran said there is a 100% Korean boy who moved to Japan from Korea a few years ago and he fluently speaks English and Korean and Japanese. He said...mom the boys are so nice here. So welcoming. And he said mom so many foreigners go here. Branden is just having the best time.

There is also 1 half African American and Japanese girl. And she's a new friend for Bran too already. Just so many hafus. So many 100% foreigners. And the 100% Japanese kids who picked this school are really special and open minded. And...he just loves this school, you guys. He keeps mentioning....high school is so much better than JHS.

Also the clubs at high school. Are not mandatory. You chose if you want to join or not. And they're not 365 days a year like at JHS either. One club is twice a week. English club is only once a week. So...their clubs here at this high school are light and no huge pressure like how JHS was. Branden is still deciding if he wants to join or not. We didn't let Bran join a club at JHS because his dad doesn't agree with the system of how JHS clubs run. But it's a totally different thing at high school...or at least at the high school Branden is going to. 

Branden's high school entrance ceremony...

For those of you that have watched my kids grow up from being babies then to toddler aged. And watched them go from yochien, to shogakko to Chugakko. THANK YOU! This is for you. Can you believe Bran is officially in high school? OMG! I logically know he is. But somehow there is some part of my brain that just marvels and goes..."wow!!!" It's true...kids seriously do grow in the blink of an eye!!! What is that old saying. The days are long but the years are short! So true. Too true. : ) Anyways. As soon as Bran was accepted into high school in mid January. A note was sent with lots of info. One being...where to buy your child's high school uniform. And they suggested us 2 things. *Don't* buy it over a weekend!!! Because they are slammed with customers/high schoolers from about 20 or so different high schools plus JHS. Etc to infinity. *And* if you do go on a weekend you will be in line for ages and not get the best service or undivided attention. Suggestion #2 on the paper from the high school was...go and order it ASAP. They said if you order it immediately your outfit will come to your house faster. And if anything is wrong, meaning the size is off or anything you still have time to make corrections. The earliest delivery date was March 25th. So...the second we got that note. We went a few shorts days afterwards. We went on a Tuesday morning or Wednesday morning. They were dead. We were the only customers in the high school boys uniform section. The girls uniform section is across the hall. LOL. We (Noboru, Bran and I) had 2 very nice women helping us. We spent a good 75 minutes there. Being properly measured. We didn't feel rushed. They took their time with us. It was such a good suggestion to buy our uniform on a weekday. Again...us coming from a tiny rural town, we buy our local elementary school gym uniforms or local JHS uniforms locally and you can go any day of the week and never have a problem with it being too busy. So this info helped us since we were buying in a bustling big city. : ) Also...Kuroneko (the delivery truck people in Japan) sorta like UPS... they had about 3 other boxes that looked just like Bran's uniform box in the back of the truck the day they delivered Branden's uniform (nobody in our town entering high school this year is going to Bran's high school it's just Mitsukoshi sells a bunch of uniforms from the bigger city). The Kuroneko lady said to Bran in Japanese..."I see someone here got into high school!!! Congratulations!!!"  Noboru and Bran are who answered the door...they were both happily telling her. Thank you!!!! So...receiving the uniform was nice. And the picture on the box that has a graphic of high school uniforms on it, which is pictured right here.... lets everyone know. Your uniform arrived. : ) Super exciting. 

The lady said, the fastest day to arrive is March 25th, when we ordered B's uniform. Would you like it to arrive March 25th? We remembered the schools note, about getting it quicker means we can make sure it's all correct and fitting properly. And we said...okay. Plus it still gave them 30 days to make the uniforms, the boys pants and jackets are handmade/made to order, the dress shirts are not though). : ) It arrived and there was nothing wrong with the uniforms sizing at all. It was perfect! So, Branden's high school uniform had been hanging in his bedroom closet since March 25th. : ) 

Everything for his outside uniform is from the Italian brand United Colors of Benetton. His dress (winter) dress shirts are Benetton. His summer shirts are Benetton. His slacks are Benetton. His jacket is Benetton. His sweater is also Benetton.  His gym uniform is FILA. And they stitched Bran's last name on it very fancy like. Very shiny fancy stitching on his gym shorts, gym pants. His gym shirt has the schools name on it and it's really big cool wording and all in English. Plus he also has a sweatshirt too all in English with his name on it. And it looks really cool. Even his school bag is Benetton. He has superly nice uniforms at this school. Noboru told me today...he has never been a fan of Japanese high school boys uniforms in Japan, because he used to wear one too his first year of high school before he moved to the US. But he said...Bran's uniform is *very* cool. And he's right. It's truly so cool. I wish I could show you guys. But...I really want to keep... which school Bran is attending private. So, that's why I'm not sharing pics of his uniform. I'm sorry. : )

Thank gawd, we can just buy normal socks. LOL. The note said, black socks needed. However in JHS, the note was extremely specific about required height of said socks. However at high school the note doesn't mention sock height at all. Hmm. 

Told ya. 3 pair of shoes. The Asics are Bran's gym shoes. The box that says...school shoes are his ballet shoes/inside shoes (they look just like elementary or yochien inside shoes, LOL.) Except they are colored by grade. And the orange box are a black pair of loafers. Nope..you can not just go and buy a cheap pair of loafers at ABC Mart for 3000 yen/US$30 bucks. You have to buy the pair that the school allows....they're black loafers that cost 12,000 yen. They are indeed pricey, however they are...extremely good quality and also made in Japan. @_@ So yep...3 pair of shoes. 

I took a ton of pictures during the entrance ceremony. I took pics of Bran near the entrance ceremony sign. Bran in his uniform. Bran and many of his classmates as they were walking into the gym. I'm glad I took so many. This is the only pic, I can share. I am really sorry about this you guys. But anyways...what I can share with you is a few stories. : ) The gymnasium was split into regular kids (the genius course is lumped with them) and the English course kids. So it is split into 2. So us English parents sat in our thin row for English parents. And the regular class kids parents sat in sections different than ours. 180 regular kids total. And 38 English kids (Bran is one of them) Oh and Noboru corrected me...he told me there is less than 10 boys total in the entire school that includes ALL grades. And for this year there are 3 English boys and 1 genius boy. So anyways...you know how in Japan entrance ceremonies are longer than life? They're so super long? Well this school had the fastest entrance ceremony, I have ever experienced. More like an American ceremony, since it is a unique school. #1 it was raining outside last Friday April 7th and all the other grade kids all held umbrellas...made a sorta makeshift umbrella roof for the new students to walk under as they entered the gym, we all saw this from our seats. I thought that was adorable. And so we were sitting in our seats. And Noboru is reading all the list of names of the kids. I'm meanwhile staring at the American flag and flowers at the front of all of us. They played happy music. And the kids came in. The teachers walked in with their class. Even in the regular kids course they have a western teacher who is fluent in Japanese but they have a western teacher as their main teacher. So this school is so incredible. So modern, this school rocks. And then in comes the last bunch of kids, the English kids. And everyone is clapping as the kids enter. And again...boys are so rare. And I spot Bran right away. And I clicked and clicked and took so many pics. Thank goodness my camera is silent. And they all sat in their seats. There was *very* little super long speeches like I was used to. The principal got up and said...as soon as I do roll call. You officially go here. So he took roll call for the 180 kids first. Oh and fwiw so many foreigners in the regular courses too. Which is so exciting and wonderful, growing up in America I loved that our country has so many different races and cultures and religions to respect. Oh some of the names listed during the ceremony. There was about 2 Lisa's. About 3 Alyssa's/Arissa's. There was 1 Angie. 1 Megan ( and yes a legit Megan not Megumi or anything else... her name is truly...Megan)...Plus 1 Branden awww. : ) There was also 2 girls of middle eastern decent. One wearing something covering her hair. She was simply gorgeous by the way, light brown hair, a dimple and had the warmest smile as she walked into the gym. And the other had her hair showing and she's tall and gorgeous. The one covering her hair... the super beautiful one, told Branden "hi" in English (he told me later) And Branden said he told her "hi" too. These 2 gals are in the regular course. But this school is super cool. People from all over the world. Plus returnees. 100% foreigners are going here too. And the coolest thing about the English course was....I was sitting in my seat and the couple behind us...were speaking a mile a minute...in Chinese! I loved that! Because....at this school. You can just be YOU. And be loved. Be accepted. This school is amaze-balls! Love love love this school. The entrance ceremony lasted about 30 minutes. There was a meeting afterwards. And then us English parents went upstairs again. But the entrance ceremony was the best most perfect length ever!!!

The English kids have their own wing/part/area of the school... that they stay in and the other regular kids are in the other part of the school. And this is on the handbook for English kids. See what it says for rule A. The English kids must use which language to speak with their friends with? To communicate with? As you walk down the halls, which language should you speak? English! The English course kids, have to take 3 English classes each day (writing, vocabulary and something else). They also have a Gtec or something English test to take in June. They are also expected to take the Eiken in July (what will Bran do, I don't know maybe start from scratch then?). They are also expected to take the TOEIC. They have English camp this summer. They have a California trip next year, where they are going to stay in a home-stay program (with Americans). Plus the English kids are going to Tokyo Disney this coming month too. And they better not be caught speaking Japanese at Disney either, hahaha. But they need to be speaking English. LOL. Which is no trouble for Branden at all. But fear not...these are kids who truly love English. Which is why they chose this school to begin with. So Bran is basically in school all day long with like minded people.

Also the kid formerly know as S O boy...he will now be referred to as J (his first name starts with a J). And the 3rd boy in the English course...his name starts with an S, so he will now be S. The 3 English boys are B (for Bran) J  and S. J came to me after entrance ceremony and greeted me. And...well...I'm a push-over. I was like...awww what an adorably polite boy. Plus Bran and him are like besties. So....his name starts with a J, so he's J now.  Oh and I also saw his mom and I like her!!! We didn't get a chance to speak. But I can definitely tell she wanted to talk to me. And I wanted to too. But...we will be seeing each other at undokai in May. We hear this school has the funnest sports day. And apparently the parents sit by class/course. So us English parents will get to know each other more that day too. I'm hoping J's mom attends. : )