The new first grade teacher for this year will be... Branden’s former first grade teacher

So yesterday was a half day for the new 2nd graders to new 6th graders. Like I said yesterday school let out yesterday at 11am.

Here’s an update.

Branden new sensei is a man. Branden’s first male teacher. Last year, when Branden was a 4th grader, his teacher was the older lady with glasses. However the 4th grade teacher for the 2nd class was a young, late 20-ish maybe early 30’s. Newly newly married. He gave all the 4th grade class both classes a book mark with a picture of his and his new bride. So he’s sentimental and loves his wife. He was the guy who made the “half adult day” video for both 4th grade classes 1-2 months ago. He actually accidentally walked in front of my video this male teacher during my video. He seems superly nice. And he’s in the “father’s club” Noboru is in. Because all male teachers need to be in there. So Noboru and he talk a bit during that time.

Anyway, as luck would have it. The former 4th grade #2 teacher is now Branden’s 5th grade teacher. Branden’s happy about this. Because he says he goes out and plays soccer with the kids and stuff.

So, I asked Branden, since yesterday was the day they were announcing which teacher is teaching what class. Keep an ear out for info on Noah’s sensei. Like who is it. So, they were all sitting in the big gymnasium and they all announced who is what teacher. And every teacher went to stand near their new class. So the former 4th grade #2 went and stood next to Branden and his class. And so on. And then there was 1 teacher left standing with no class! @_@ LOL. Who was this sensei? Branden’s 1st and 2nd grade teacher. The Yuka sensei!

Then they announced, the ichinensei, only class sensei would be the Yuka sensei and she stood in front and bowed her head. Had no class of kids to stand next to. Of course since they won’t be there until Monday. And that was that. So everyone left the gym and the ichinensei class and ninensei class is on the 1st floor, and you pass it as you leave the gym. Branden said, he turned his head and along the wall outside the only 1st grade class, all the new ichinensei’s names were all hanging outside the class. It said, our last name....and then Noah! When Branden came home he said...I saw Noah’s name hanging in front of the ichinensei classroom already. With his other classmates names.

So basically in a nutshell. Branden’s former ichinensei and ninensei teacher is going to be Noah’s ichinensei and ninensei teacher. Since they have the same teacher for 2 years in a row at elementary school here, well at least, that's how it's done at our school. : ) And we couldn't be happier! She knows us, and we know her!

The Yuka sensei, she has 2 son’s. If you recall, she has a son exactly same age as Branden. She was an elementary school teacher in the city Noah used to go to yochien in. But the year her son started ichinensei, the first grade she was transferred to our town’s school and that’s how she became Branden's sensei. She also has a son 1 year younger then Noah. And her kids attend the same swim school as us.

So she was Branden’s 1st and 2nd grade teacher and now she’ll be Noah’s 1st and 2nd grade teacher. She’s knows our family quite a bit. So no worries. She was also Kouki’s teacher and will now also be teaching Kouiki’s little brother Kaito-kun. Noah’s future classmate. So, out of all of us next week, Kouki’s mom and us will be relaxed and calm, because we know her already. : ) So no worries for next Monday. : )

Spring cleaning

Have you started? A lot of my friends have started theirs. And I have also. It's just the time of year I guess. All of us doing the same thing.

I’m not going 100% full throttle, but I have been doing pretty well.

My house in general is pretty clean, meaning I do stay on top of the daily things and I do declutter a few times a year anyway. So, I don’t have huge amounts to do, but I still have quite a bit of work ahead of me. : (

I give myself 1 month to get all my Spring cleaning done. Because I want a thorough job, not a rush job.

My kitchen got it first last week. I mopped my floors. Did my stove and hood/venting fan area. Then I went through the food pantry. Threw anything out old, went through the fridge, did the same. And then I went through the cup cabinet. Threw out about 10 cups we didn't need. Kept the good condition ones just trashed the old ones. Washed my table cloth. Wiped all the counters and cabinets. Took the crumbs out of the toaster.

I also gutted Branden’s room. Went in there, flipped the mattress, vacuumed under there. Dusted every blind. Had Branden wipe all his baseboards down. Went through his clothes packed away all the too small clothes for Noah’s future use. Had Branden throw out all of his 4th grade notebooks and books. His room is 100% right now.

And I also gave a through cleaning to my laundry room and sink room. Wiped down the dryer and everything. Walls, baseboards.

The regular house cleaning is still going on daily. Still swooshing the toilets etc.

Noah’s bedroom is 90% done, got it done when he got his new bedroom set and desk but his closet needs a huge declutter and it’s going to be a massive job, I know it, so I am saving that for next week.

Meanwhile I am half way done with my closet right now. We have a big walk in closet in our master bedroom. And my side was starting to look all cluttery again. I just decluttered my side in December. @_@ Obviously it needed it again. So, I went through every single drawer. Everything too small, too big went away. Or unworn for 12 month went away also. No use in keeping it...if I hadn’t worn it for a full year. The drawers took me a full day. It was exhaustion city after all that. And that’s where I am at right now. The hanging part of my closet (everything on hangers)...those clothes need to be gone through also, see what's a save and what's not a save. But...I took myself a break from my closet yesterday. Since again I don’t want to go full throttle, just go at my own speed but still actually get it done and accomplished. So, I took a break from my closet yesterday. But today...I will get back onto my closet. I started this last week. And after this week finishes up, I still have 2 weeks to get the house all done. And in order. I think I’m moving along at good speeds. And I am also taking time to actually enjoy Spring break also.

I also want to say, I decluttered my hall closet. Upstairs a month ago, so it shouldn’t take too long to get that done this time around also. I'll redo the upstairs closet next week after tackling Noah's closet.

I’m seeing a light at the end of this tunnel. : )

What's for dinner tonight? Homemade pizza. The dough has been rising all day.

Branden started school today. It ended at 11am. Noah starts April 9th. It's a Spring like day outside. And in an hour I'll be driving the boys to Kumon for English and Japanese.

My big health check up

Noboru had to take a huge health check up for work. It’s called a human dock? I’m iffy on the phrasing, I’m sure some of you know what this is and some of you have even had this before, so if I’m off with the spelling of this, sorry. They have a half day course, whole day course and an over night course apparently. His work pays for these tests. He was sort of nervous about getting one done. Meanwhile they also would pay 100% for me to go and get everything Noboru got except minus 2 of his tests, but everything else I would get. So, I got 95-98% of a human dock basically if that makes sense at all, a super thorough exam but 1 step below the human dock. Next year his work will pay for my human dock. But for this year, they’ll pay for this extremely good thorough testing. And since again like I said, he was nervous about going alone, I agreed and went with.

We had this appointment set a month in advance. They sent us each a pack and asked for a stool sample x2 from each of us. Hmm, have done this for the boys in yochien days and urine also. But was a first getting a stool sample for myself. @_@

March 29th, was our appointment day. It would be a 3 hour bunch of tests. When we got there and walked inside the very modern building, everyone was all wearing the exact same thing. All men, all women in capri type pants and baggy top, sort of like a gym uniform for adults sort of. At entering we gave them our names, cards and samples. She in turn gave us our matching outfits and told us where the changing room’s were. I think I could have been the first foreigner ever in this particular place because the look of shock when I entered. The fact everyone would go to Noboru, the first 30 minutes after our arrival and say....would you like to go in with her to test, what if she has trouble since this is in Japanese? @_@ Don’t get me wrong they were lovely and nice, just very nervous. Which then made me nervous. @_@ Noboru told them....should be no problem. “Okay.....well if you are sure”, they said. So, I go in and change clothes, put my normal clothes into the locker, slip on the slippers, same exact slippers as everyone else also. And go and sit down until my name is called.

It was a huge modern waiting room with 2 flat screen TV’s (one facing each side of seats) and about 15- 20 different doors, they called you from room to room. The waiting area was extremely quiet. Here’s what I got tested for. And a couple husband and wife couples testing together same time as Noboru and I.

First I had a chest x-ray and then....I went to a different door and had a mammogram. I have only ever had the ultra sound type breast checks, my first mammogram ever. And what I heard from my Japanese friends is they hurt! I took the mammogram and it could be just me...but it didn’t hurt at all. Nope nothing for me. They lady in here was so freaking nervous when she called my name. When I walked into the room, she was still really nervous. She spoke very slowly and I spoke back polite and just normal speed....Phew! Relief, she felt absolute relief. I even told her...you know I heard these hurt, but today it doesn’t hurt for me at all. You must be a good tester, she laughed and laughed. See, she had no reason to be so nervous. And neither did I. Then, I left that room, walked out that particular door and went back to the waiting room and then they measured my height and weight. Then I went and sat down for a second. I saw Noboru getting his blood pressure taken, while I sat, then the lady next to Noboru called my name. And I went and sat down. She tested my blood pressure and took blood to test for diabetes and test for cholesterol levels and something else she took 3 vials of blood. By now, I think the folks were relaxed with me being there and it was actually okay I was there and they wouldn’t have any long pauses with me or have any reason to be afraid when I entered their testing rooms. : ) : )

Then they tested my eyes in one room, then my heart in another room. Then I went upstairs and had a test for cervical cancer. And then I came down stairs for the last test. The dreaded test. The stomach test and where we had to drink barium. I did not like this last test. Let me give you the story below real quick. It might give you a laugh.

So before I was tested they gave me a shot in my upper arm bicep area. The shot sort of hurt. Which the blood test earlier didn’t hurt in the least. Hmm. Noboru was also about to take the stomach test. Noboru said the shot was to slow the acid in your stomach. So 2 rooms for the stomach cancer and check test. And we were both set to go. I had heard so many horrible stories about this test. I was really nervous now.
So, they called our last name...which one of us, which one of us? And then they said Gina. So, I went first. I entered and there was one young guy 20 something and very short and petite. And then an older grandpa aged guy, balding with a bad comb over. So I entered the room. There was a machine that would later flip me upside down, sideways and front ways and all sorts of weird ways. Also, this is the warning I got from the start of the day about this test.

#1 you will have to drink a powder type thing first and DO NOT burp or you’ll have to take it again. Then you will take the barium. Okay so that was the information I had in my mind.
So, I am now standing in front of the machine, my feet and back are against this machine to start. And the younger quiet guy hands me this small bottle, of powdery round balls. A bottle sort of like Alice in Wonderland drank. My last thought before I drank, don't burp. So, I drink it and the first instinct I had when I put this stuff in my mouth was to cough. But, I didn’t cough (didn’t want to retake this) I forced myself not to cough. So, my cheeks were huge and frog ribbit ribbit sized because I am stopping this cough. And all I hear is keep drinking this, so I keep swallowing this. I had no urge to burp, but it did make me want to cough for whatever reason. So then he passes me this teeny tiny little cup, think a cup the size of cough med cup sized for kids, of a clear liquid. This tasted like an extremely sour cider soda type of drink it wasn’t cold, but not bad. This is so small I thought. This is barium? No problem, I think I can handle this! So, I swallowed the entire thing in 2 gulps!
I was worried for nothing, I thought. Just like the mammogram earlier. Remember the note and paper that morning said they’d give me 2 things to drink (not 3). So, I thought I’m done, I made it, I survived..... test away! And then, not but a second later, the man turns around and hands me this big cup, typical big normal standard size Styrofoam cup. About as big a cup as I drink out of at home for my dinner meals, so not small, let’s put it that way. So a fair amount. Ahem,I was wrong.... *this* was the barium. Not the other. @_@ This looked like liquid chalk. And tasted worse then liquid chalk. And was thick and disgusting looking. So, I take a sip. OMG! Worse then I imagined. Horrible. To be honest, I wanted to gag, I wanted to vomit, but the thought of starting from scratch all over again didn’t appeal to me either, so I would not be vomiting if I could help it. So there I am drinking this crud as fast as I humanly can without vomiting all over the both of us. I don’t know how I managed to drink that, but I did. So, now my stomach is full of crud, I feel queasy and I am now being flipped around left and right and I was literally and I’m not exaggerating with this, I was upside down toes facing the ceiling for like 2 minutes. I felt very unwell with that barium (to me it was like, liquid chalk) in my stomach. Then the older man came out and said, keep going round and round. So, I am rolling like 3 times on this plank/board, then to the side, and then my toes facing the ceiling. Might be a piece of cake for some. For me this was horrendous. However, I’m glad I did it. But I’d have to say for me personally....this was my least favorite part of the entire day.
So, I’m done now and I went and got myself dressed. Anyway I sat down. And Noboru walks out of the room with white all around his mouth. He said...”wow worst test ever!” I said, @_@ Yeah for me too. I then said...your mouth...it’s all white and yucky. He got dressed cleaned off his mouth. The lady said to us, if we don’t take a white poop by 5pm, take these laxatives. Neither of us needed the laxatives.
And now we will wait for the results to be mailed to our home, should take 2 weeks. I don’t think I would mind taking this test again next year at all. All the tests are fine and not bad at all. Except the barium one, I’m not so crazy about, but when thinking about what they’re actually testing for, I can see the good of this test. Didn’t taste good at the time, granted. But they are looking and checking to make sure I’m healthy, so I understand the reason for it. At least now I have an idea how the barium test is. And I feel good having had such a good thorough exam like that.

Anyway that’s just my own personal experience with taking a very complete and extensive exam here in Japan.

PS, my town tests for cervical cancer and breast cancer every Summer as you know, I usually blog my experience with that, I usually get that done there for free every year. Now I’m wondering if I should skip that this Summer, since I just had mine done now. I have a few months to decide still. In a way I think better be safe then sorry, so test twice. I have until June or July to decide.

Our Osaka trip

March 20th, around 7 pm-ish at night. We landed at KIX, Kansai International airport from Honolulu, Hawaii. We quickly went through customs, immigration and whatnots, grabbed our luggage and headed to the Hilton Hotel, in Umeda. It was about a 1 hour drive by limousine bus to get to our stop. Here's a quick pic of Branden and Noah at KIX.
Near those cherry blossoms on the sign it says....Welcome to Kansai.
We really liked our room a lot. And will be staying here the next time we come to Osaka. It's as you can probably guess, it's the Delta crew hotel, our flight crew from Hawaii was with us at check in, lol. Seriously. And Noboru gets an insanely good cheap deal. So for us, yeah it works!
Noah sitting on the couch. Aha those 2 bags on the table sure came along ways, right. : ) The Abercrombie bag and Coach bag. And my actual Coach bag was in front of the Coach paper bag. In this pic.
Awesome TV, loved it. And we had Japanese cable/satellite. : )
The bathroom.
We were in our room for about 5-10 minutes tops. We dropped off our luggage. And everyone went to the bathroom and then we left. We went to Saizeriya. Quite possibly the most crowded Saizeriya we've ever been in. : ) And then after that we went to Krispy Kreme to get a donut. Here's a pic of the boys in front of the map area of Osaka Station.
Krispy Kreme. Noboru and I made sure to research what was near by our hotel weeks in advance. Within walking distance of our hotel, we had everything just a quick walk away. So it was extremely convenient for us.
We all only picked up 1 donut each. However the lady gave us 4 free coupons for donuts. So we used them the next day. But we picked up some drinks at a nearby conbini and these donuts Noboru also grabbed a pack of chips and we headed back to the Hilton Hotel in Umeda.
After the boys showered, Branden fell asleep immediately. Noah stood awake, a bit, he's usually first to fall asleep but I think the time change from Honolulu to Osaka messed with his timing a bit, he did fall asleep about 20 minutes though after this picture. I showered after. And munched my donut.
We had an amazing view, we were so high up. Also watching some interesting TV show.
A beautiful view. Wouldn't want this view all the time. Granted, but it was a nice view for a day or two.

The next morning, we never even had to leave the hotel. We took the elevator down to the lobby and then took the escalator to the basement where we could walk underground, a Mc D's was literally right down there, there was even huge M signs with arrows and then Hilton Hotel signs with arrows pointing us straight back to our hotel. They must do this for the American crew that stays here, we thought. : ) We all got breakfast and headed back to our room to eat.
Hanshin!
Love this pic of Noah! Right before we went to grandma's house.
We took the bus to see and visit my in-laws and my sister in law and my niece. It was a wonderful visit. My mil enjoyed seeing Branden and Noah. My sil, loved seeing the boys too. I enjoyed seeing my niece. My mil went and picked up some take out lunch for us all. She picked up, the Ohsho. So, we had heaping amounts of fried rice, karaage, sweet and sour pork, lo mein, all sorts of things she picked a great selection. And brought it back. We ate and enjoyed every one's company. My father in law, still isn't doing so good these days unfortunately. : ( I wish he was healthier. So does everyone. But everyone else was healthy and amazing. My fil, got to spend some time with the boys though and THAT"S what's important. He got to talk with Branden. And Noah, he just stared and stared at and then he said in English...."very handsome boy" and my heart just melted. He is a great guy my father in law. And I wish his health was better. It's his memory what's going bad. When my mother in law was gone getting lunch. My father in law would ask us every 2 minutes or so. "Where's mom?" Noboru would say gently back, "dad she's picking up lunch for us all" "oh yes that's right", he'd say. And then not more then 2 minutes later he'd say..."where's mom?" or he'd say...""is it almost lunch time" and Noboru would kindly say..."dad, mom went to go and get us lunch, remember" : ) I know it may sound comical but it's not. It's very sad and not very funny at all. My father in law knew about 30 English words and also phrases in his good/younger days. Before his health went down. I thought for surely he'd had forgotten those words and that's why when he said that phrase about Noah. It melted my heart,. Not because of the message but because he remembered those words and phrases still. Especially when a person has fading memories, the fact he still remembered those phrases was remarkable to me. And so it "got me". I have nothing but respect for my sister in law and my mother in law for taking care of him with love and understanding every single day. I know it's tough and hard on them. Believe me, I hear the stories, that I wouldn't ever share on here out of respect for my father in law and his privacy. But I'll just say, it's not all roses taking care of someone like that. And we know that. My father in law went to sleep in his room after he ate and so it was just us during lunch. Noboru loves his dad so much and it's really hard for him to see his dad like that. It's hard for someone who used to think their dad, growing up was like the smartest and best man in the entire universe and now this..... anyway, I understand. Anyway, a pic of Noah and grandma Mitsuko.
And a pic of Branden and grandma Mitsuko.
Three cousins! : ) All half Japanese and all half American. My niece is such a good jump roper, she's got skills!!! She's in the 3rd grade, but this April will be starting the 4th grade. She's 1 grade younger then Branden. And her big brother is 1 grade older then Branden, but he's living with his dad now in Las Vegas. : ) After we left my mil's house, she drove us to great grandma's house. And so we visited with great grandma. She's so cute! : ) Branden's now officially taller then great grandma! Branden likes great grandma a lot! Me too! : ) After our visit, my mil dropped us at the bus station. We waved my mil and my niece good bye. And because of the frequent buses, in less then 1 minute a bus appeared and took us straight to Umeda. Living in the countryside at the Chiba and Ibaraki border, like we do, we drive everywhere. So us taking the bus was like the funnest thing for the boys! @_@ Go figure. It cracked Noboru and I up. We made a pit stop at The Hilton and everyone took a bathroom break before heading out for the rest of the day. It was only about 2pm so we had a whole evening in Osaka to ourselves since we were staying in Osaka 2 nights.
We went and used those 4 free donut coupons and also bought a dozen on top of that.

The lady at Krispy Kreme gave the boys free hats. : )
Again our hotel was just so close to everything it was like a 5 minute walk undergound to our hotel from Krispy Kreme. So we dropped the donuts off and left again.
Still daylight. Hmm, not as pretty as it looks as night though.
Noboru looked out and said....."I could never live in a city like this again. Too many people, too many buildings." I just listened. : )
Noboru pointed the buildings out to me though, he said the round building in front of us, is well known.
He then pointed and said right here's the Hankyu.
Chanel is in the Hilton so we passed this while going to take the escalator to get to all the different areas underground.

Taking the escalator down.
Walking outside among a ton of people.
And to the Loft we went. haven't been in here forever!
Hi boys! Time to check out Loft.
And by the time we left Loft, it was pitch black outside. It was March 21st evening and because my birthday was the next day, the day we were to fly back home. We decided to have my quiet little birthday dinner in Osaka.
And a quick walk to the restaurant.

And to the Outback Steakhouse we went, it was about a 3-4 minute walk from the Hilton Hotel so again so convenient. This is probably one of our family's top 5 favorite American sit down restaurants for sure, we love this place! Our appetizer. Some fried mushrooms. So good!
Noboru had the ribs. Both the boys had a chicken strips meal and drink. And I had the Alice Springs chicken with baked potato. Yumm! It was an excellent way to end our last and final night in Osaka.
We went back to the room, everyone took showers and turns with that. I took a pic of the donuts we'd take back to Narita with us. The 4 free glaze on the left. Then we had, sprinkly ones, chocolate on top but filled with bavarian type cream inside, also lemon cheesecake filled ones, OMG! caramel with walnuts. Cinnamon sugar and then some donut called, Banana pure, this was fantastic too.
Our flight would leave at 8am. So we had to wake up at 4:30am! That was so early, too early. : ) Since we showered the night before, we quickly dressed, I put some Mac concealer on and some Mac studio fix (powder foundation) and that was about it, it was way too early for me that morning. Noboru in the way back checking out. And Branden sitting in the lobby with stuff.
The Hilton lobby. The folks who work here are so nice.
We could only bring the 2 empty luggage with us to Hawaii (one inside the other of course) because we knew we'd be flying domestic back to Narita. Krispy Kreme donuts on the right. And both Branden and Noah in the Hilton Hotel lobby Osaka.
Itami airport, the boys shared a 500ml apple juice bought at the airport. And, I had a caramel machiatto from Starbucks. And I opened the donuts and let the boys pick a donut. So we all had 1 donut each while waiting.
And then we went near the gate. We flew ANA, they give Delta 90% off all ANA flights. Delta we fly completely free. But when we can't fly our own airline, we can jump on most any carrier for super cheap anyway.
We brought back the grandma next door, the gift on the right. And the gift on the left was for Branden's class.