One day a couple of weeks ago, I went with 2 ladies to the Vietnam Consulate in Osaka. We all needed visas for our families for upcoming trips to Vietnam. One lady had gone in the spring and paid 5000 yen per visa. When she called a couple of weeks before we went, she was told 7000 per visa. Well, actually, once we filled out applications, we were told it was now 8000 yen per visa. Ummmm.... what can we do? We have flights and hotels... gotta pay it.
Another day, I went on the train by myself to a different part of Osaka (Shinsaibashi) to take our laptop to the Apple Store. I only had to ask 1 person along the way to ensure I was on the right trains. However, once I arrived at destination, there were numerous exits out of the subway. I took the wrong one and wandered around a bit. I asked 3 different people who gave me 3 different answers. I finally found 2 young women who worked at a clothes shop. They directed me correctly. I laughed out loud when I found the HUGE apple on the side of the HUGE building. :) I again laughed out loud when I saw my name up on the screen at the genius bar - the only one in English.
I ate at a Mexican restaurant by myself (pointing at the picture of food that I wanted) and walked around while I waited for the computer to be fixed ... only to find that it needed a new hard drive which would take 1 week. The trip back was uneventful. Then, that Saturday, I missed a call on my cell phone. The message was completely in Japanese. I understood "Tina Maloney" and "computer". So, I went down to reception for translation. Alas, the computer was ready in 3 days! I took the train back solo again, arriving in Osaka at around 5:30pm. Think about it as arriving in Chicago at that time of day. Trains were packed. Streets were packed. Most people were dressed up, especially the ladies. I saw all kinds of super high heels, fish net, fur, skirts, big hair, and lots of make up. Wow. I quickly walked in my shorts and sneakers to the Apple store, got my computer, and went back to Rokko Island for a quiet dinner at home with my family! :)
Sunday morning brought a ton of excitement and action as we gathered around the TV (connected to US life via computer) to watch Alabama beat Florida!! Roll TIDE!
Last Monday, Phillip left for Cincinnati. This made for a tough week. All 4 of us shed tears at some point, missing our friends. I think it has been harder just knowing that Phillip is there and we are not. One morning, though, I woke up singing a song in my head. Don't call me crazy yet. I do have a 6 year old daughter, ok? I was singing Miley Cyrus "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock!" Miley is so very wise. :) Well, maybe not, but it was a good little reminder!
I ate at a Mexican restaurant by myself (pointing at the picture of food that I wanted) and walked around while I waited for the computer to be fixed ... only to find that it needed a new hard drive which would take 1 week. The trip back was uneventful. Then, that Saturday, I missed a call on my cell phone. The message was completely in Japanese. I understood "Tina Maloney" and "computer". So, I went down to reception for translation. Alas, the computer was ready in 3 days! I took the train back solo again, arriving in Osaka at around 5:30pm. Think about it as arriving in Chicago at that time of day. Trains were packed. Streets were packed. Most people were dressed up, especially the ladies. I saw all kinds of super high heels, fish net, fur, skirts, big hair, and lots of make up. Wow. I quickly walked in my shorts and sneakers to the Apple store, got my computer, and went back to Rokko Island for a quiet dinner at home with my family! :)
Sunday morning brought a ton of excitement and action as we gathered around the TV (connected to US life via computer) to watch Alabama beat Florida!! Roll TIDE!
Last Monday, Phillip left for Cincinnati. This made for a tough week. All 4 of us shed tears at some point, missing our friends. I think it has been harder just knowing that Phillip is there and we are not. One morning, though, I woke up singing a song in my head. Don't call me crazy yet. I do have a 6 year old daughter, ok? I was singing Miley Cyrus "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock!" Miley is so very wise. :) Well, maybe not, but it was a good little reminder!
This past weekend, Jacob's baseball team had their end of season tournament. He pitched a complete game (the first game). In the final inning, he hit a double off the back fence. He stole 3rd base. Then, the next player hit a ball in the infield that took a high bounce, so Jacob slid into home to score the winning run! He was mobbed by his Canadian Academy teammates from Japan, China, Korea, India, ... It was very cool, and much needed after a bit of a rough week for all of us. The team won the 2nd game, as well as the 3rd game (on Saturday) in pouring down rain (turf field). Jacob pitched another complete game. As I said on my Facebook status, I am not too sure that any kid is supposed to pitch two days in a row. I suppose it is ok as long as he doesn't keep doing it? I was caught off guard on that one. The championship game was rained out, but our team was the only undefeated one!!
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| Jacob scored the winning run! |
Jacob, Matthew, and I got up at 4:30am to watch our Tide lose. The streak had to end at some point, I guess. They have played 2 top 10 teams and 2 additional top 20 teams in 6 weeks. We still have 2 top ten teams left to play. Tough schedule. I saw a quote last night on a friend's Facebook status. It was from Coach Paul Bear Bryant. "Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder." Now that is inspiration.
Monday was Sports Day (a national holiday in Japan). It is a bit like field day. The kids were divided into Red or Grey team pending their birthdays. The younger children were partnered with older kids. Jessica got Jacob! Watching them together made me smile (on the inside and on the outside). Matthew got a senior girl. She was great with him.
On Tuesday morning, we made our first trip to a doctor here. No, not for Matthew ... it was Jacob! He actually hurt his knee during the first inning of the first game last Friday, but he kept playing. We iced it, and he took ibuprofen through the weekend. (There was no place to take him on Sunday or Monday.) He was still in some pain on Tuesday morning, so we went to the orthopedic doctor who was only a 5 minute walk away. We got there at 8:40am for 9:00am opening. Clinics here are only "walk in". Dr. Abe studied in Canada, was very thorough, and spoke very good English. Jacob has a sprained patellar ligament and has to sit out of sports for a week, but he should make a full recovery! I wonder if this will affect his dancing at the middle school dance on Friday night? :)
Peace and Love,
Tina
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