Graduation day

It's graduation day today. These kids, my Wednesday class, graduated
from kindergarten today. It was a beautiful ceremony, can't hold my
tears watching them.

After the ceremony was finished, on my way out of the Yochien, all of
them, in a very loud voice said: "miss Shierly, thank you! Good bye
and see you again!"

Ah... Those kids! One of them said that she wanted me to teach him
English until high school LOL.

The money for this week's English lesson was donated to the earthquake
and tsunami victim through the Japanese Red Cross (^_^).
http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Leaving Tokyo

We are in haneda airport now, will fly to Surabaya via Singapore in
few hours. No, we are not running away from japan like many other
foreigners do. My brother is getting married tomorrow night, so this
is a planned trip.

I know that japan is not stable now after the big earthquake and
tsunami last week, but actually it's all good in Tokyo. Yes, there's
radiation leak from the nuclear plantation, but it's not harmful (yet)
in Tokyo. It's what the government said and I, and apparently the
people I know trust them. Because indeed, they can be trusted.

The food and basic need are limited, but people are not starving.
Basic food and needs are sent north to help the victims and people do
understand. Few days ago they bought a lot of food but now they start
to control not to overstock. So that more food could be sent north.
Isn't it touching?

Rice, miso, seaweed are the main food so these few days we ate pasta,
cereal or pancake; meanwhile veggies and fruit are sold in normal
amount.

To save energy people also voluntarily reduce the electric, gas and
water usage. We wore down jacket at home so that we don't need to turn
on the heater and save the bath water for the next day. Even kids
understand and are trained to turn off the light if they don't really
need it. Usually Tokyo was bright at night because of the lights but
now all are dimmed. Also voluntarily.

It's cold today. Can't imagine how cold the north is. I keep thinking
of those (mostly) old people. I feel cold here, it must be freezing
there. How sad it is to see the ruined houses covered with snow...I am
lucky that I live far away...

If you would like to donate, I did mine through the Japanese Red Cross:
http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

What stressed me out is actually the aftershocks earthquake. Our apt
building Also has earthquake absorbent so it sways like jelly. Hiro,
grown up in Tokyo, is just so used to it. I couldn't sleep from last
Friday, and he couldn't understand how would those 'small' earthquakes
make me stress (･_･;

But again, I married a Japanese and might have to spent my old time in
this country. I don't want to be a frustrated old lady here later so I
think I need to learn to change my point of view.

We also try not to make the kids stress with the situation. They go to
school like usual and play. Iki even started to go to his fave
swimming club already from yesterday. Those kids....they were not
scared of earthquake but they know exactly what to do when it comes.

Today was the last day of school. We will spend spring break in
Indonesia. Hopefully it will be warmer then, and things will be much
better

Sent from my iPhone

8.9M earthquake......

I was riding my bike with Iki on the back. We were on the way to Iki's swimming school when I felt really dizzy. I park my bike then realized that everything was shaking. Earthquake!!!! Trembling, I tried to take Iki out of his seatbelt. I didn't know what to do, just hugging that shocked boy. People came out of the building and ducked down. Iki told me to do the same thing too. He said that he learnt it at school.

It was a strong and long earthquake. It was the first in my life to see the whole buildings, bicycles, and cars shaking that hard. After it stopped, we went up the the swimming school. The pool's water was like tsunami, that the pool was half empty. The swimming teacher told us that the class is cancelled today so we went down, to find out that the bottom of the pool cracked and the water started to spill down to the receptionist room. We rushed back home right away. I was so trembling I couldn't ride the bike.

As I arrived at our apartment building, everyone was ducking down outside the building. Then another big earthquake hit again. I didn't get the chance to park my bike, I just threw it to the parking area and joined other people ducking down while hugging Iki. Our apartment building is using earthquake safety technology. There's thick rubbery yellow line around the base of the building so that the building will move following it when earthquake happens. It was my first time to see that building moving within the yellow line and it was really amazing!

I was surprised that people were calm and knew what to do. Iki was the one who told me to duck down and cover our head with the bag and keep away from the building. My friend then told me that they have earthquake tsunami safety training since they were in Kindergarten so eventhough scared, they knew exactly what to do to avoid the worst effect.

We stayed outside for 2 hours and went back home because it was getting way too cold. I am scared. Really scared, so my friend also stayed with us at home. Earthquake still happens every 5-10 minutes so the gas was stopped for safety. We could only eat onigiri (rice ball) for dinner and followed the news from TV!! It was really sad to see how the earthquake and tsunami broke everything. All the phone line didn't work, couldn't contact anyone here in Japan, but internet was fine! So I was connected with Hiro and other worried friends by FACEBOOK!

But then her husband came back after walking 3 hours from the office, while papa-chan chose to wait until the train moves again- which I think is impossible tonight. Ah....the earth shake again just now, and we are alone....and cold...and scared... (_ _o)

March Flower Arrangement

The theme was White Day. I used papa-chan beer mug as the vase ;)

Kanji

Suddenly Iki showed great interest in learning Kanji -argh...something that is out of my plate! Hiro was home earlier last night so Iki got the chance to ask papa to teach him :)

Hmm maybe it's the chance for me to learn too - together with him! :p

Motsunabe

Motsunabe is kind of nabemono (hot pot) with offal and vegetables (usually cabbage and chives) inside. It is originally from Kyushu, and last week I got a frozen one in package a friend from Kyushu. This one is the sweet one, so that Iki can eat it too.

But we ate it when Iki slept over at Obaachan's house!! So to meet Hiro's taste, I added 3 Indonesian fresh red chillies I just got from Hiro's colleague. It is basically a very simple meal to prepare. Cut the whole cabbage and chives, put them around the offal, add the soup, turn on the fire, and wait. The cabbage formed a little mountain so I was actually tempted to mix it with a spoon, but my friend said that I really don't have to touch it. Just wait patiently until all the vegetables shrink!

After about 10 minutes:

It was too spicy!! I didn't expect the chillies would be that spicy! Poor Hiro....!!

But I really love the taste! The sweet and spicy taste reminded me of Mie ayam soup taste from Sorowako. At the end we put champon (Fat ramen) inside the hot pot and boiled it a bit until it got all the good soup

Hmmmmm..................I L.O.V.E it!!!!!!

Night ski and Ice Lake Fishing

We had lunch at McDonald's last Saturday when Hiro suddenly said, "let's go ski and ice fishing after this!"

Well, actually planned a day trip on Sunday, but still I was very surprised and not prepared!

Anyway in less than an hour we were in our way up north to Urabandai area in Fukushima perfecture. After having a quick lunch then we did our first night ski together. Boy, it was a beautiful night!! We went up and saw the beautiful lights from the villages down the mountain.

I (of course) fell off when I tried to turn on my snowboard and accidentally realized that there were millions of stars up there. I love spending few minutes laying on the snow, watching them twinkling.

Then we stayed in a Minshuku, a budget version of Japanese Ryokan by the end of narrow and slippery Urabandai road. It was very cheap. A good accommodation choice for our unplanned trip. Eventhough spoilt Iki asked once he saw the building: "What? we're staying here? is this really hotel?!" LOL

We spent the next day fishing wakasagi (Japanese smelt) on the frozen lake. What an experience!!!

At first Iki was very excited but then after 5 minutes he got bored and started to complain :p

We waited for 3.5 hours but got nothing!!!! not even one tiny wakasagi! (>.<). It was very cold and Iki looked very miserable so we gave up

We went back without any wakasagi but we brought back home an unforgettable experience

Hinamatsuri-kai

March 3 is Hinamatsuri in Japan. Iki's school entrance was beautifully decorated by hinamatsuri decoration made by the children

Then on the following Friday my friend invited me for a hinamatsuri lunch

We ordered the gorgeous lunch box. I don't have a daughter but I feel lucky to be able to celebrate this beautiful tradition with them

Especially when surprisingly the dessert baked was a late celebration for my birthday!

Thank you, girls! I enjoy my life in Japan so much because of all of you too!!

Wednesday Bento: Elmo and Cookie Monster

Another quick and easy one!!!

Elmo: Rice ball with tomato ketchup, sliced cheese, nori, carrot

Cookie monster: Rice ball with green furikake, sliced cheese, nori

Croquette

Cucumber,

Mini tomatoes

Iyoukan (Japanese big orange)

February Flower Arrangement

I had my flower arrangement class again yesterday. This time I had to work with L style arrangement. Hina Matsuri is coming, so momo no hana (peach blossom) was the highlight. I really enjoyed the session and am happy with the result.

I also tried to rearrange the bouquet I got from Hiro on my birthday :p

Our tiny living room smells really good now. Love it!!

How I miss my flower garden in Sorowako!!!

A year older!

And I am a year older yesterday. Am still small, with more and more wrinkles around my eyes, dropping boobs and bums, and a lot more fat here and there. Around waist, arms, thigh, and neck. Ah yeahh...I'm a tante tante now LOL

But I am blessed and happy with my life (^____^)

I had mie bancir for my Indonesian tradition birthday noodle, as a wish for a long life. Oh no....I used udon noodle!! Could I be as fat as udon too....?! (@_@)

Hiro brought home this beautiful bouquet.

And a supper yummy birthday cake. He decorated it with Iki :p

We had this very easy but delicious pork belly and chinese cabbage nabe (hot pot) with camembert cheese. It was surprisingly a good pairing to red wine!

Birthday present? I requested a diamond necklace, so Iki made me necklace with diamond shape cut papers as decoration LOL

And again the birthday wishes from family and friends really made my big day!!! Thank you!

Valentine's day

Valentine's day is a bit different in Japan. Here only women give presents (generally chocolates) to express their feeling. And the men are supposed to return the gift (= the feeling) on the White Day (March 14).

I invited my girlfriends to have chocolate fondue at home at that day. I ate too much chocolate that I swore myself not to eat it for at least 2 weeks :p

This year for the first time Iki got a chocolate gift from a girl. Yes, she was the girl he kissed last time hahaha

And this is my heart to my two men :)

I love you two (^___^)

One day ski/snowboarding trip

We went to Mt. Jeans in Nasu, Tochigi area, Japan yesterday. Oh well, Iki actually still had pretty bad cough but he (and Hiro) really wanted to ski that the season almost comes to the end.

Iki is getting better skiing. He really loves it and started to say irritating things while waiting for me (like:"you're so slow, mom!"), or even tried to teach me how to snowboard! Ha! Let's wait until you try snowboarding, young man!!

I wished I could learn as fast as a kid could. I am still working hard on my snowboarding skill. Have to practice a lot to turn. I fell down for so many times that my whole body is aching now -don't ask about my rib. Yes, it's still painful (>.<)- I'm running out of time (and money haha!) this year, but I hope I could make it by the end of winter!

Mt. Takao

We went to Ukai Toriyama Restaurant in Mt. Takao last Friday to congratulate Iki's cousin who successfully passed the examination to enter private junior high school. It was a very hard work for her to be able to enter her dream school and we are really proud that she could make it!

It is a beautiful restaurant with large Japanese style garden. This was the view from our room:

The food was good too. We chose chicken menu that day and everybody were happily stuffed. I fell in love with the Japanese sake too that day :p. It's pretty pricey though. It costed us 800 usd for 8 people's lunch (+alcohol)

I am interested to see the view in spring, though! ;-)

Mie Bancir

I spent my childhood at a small town in Borneo island: Banjarmasin and this food is one of my favorite childhood memory. Bancir literary means transsexual, and I think this meal is named because of its appearance. It only has a little bit soup, so can't really said as noodle soup or stir fry noodle. The ingredients were stir fried a bit and then boiled in a little bit soup.

I got this recipe from my grandmother. But instead of using chinese noodle, I used udon (because it was the only noodle I could find in my fridge). It surprisingly tasted very good. Very very good! hmmmmm

Wednesday Bento: Nyasu (pokemon character)

Iki had fever yesterday and didn't go to school so I thought today he would take another day off and have a rest at home - means I didn't have to make the Wednesday Bento. But he was fine in the morning and really wanted to go to school! (>.<)

He requested this Pokemon Character obento and I started making it pretty late. But well....at least it looks like a cat LOL (sorry, Iki :p)

Inside:

Nyasu: Plum rice ball, omelette, sliced cheese, ham, nori

Potato croquettes

Boiled Broccoli

Strawberry

Rib pain

I got severe right rib pain after falling down on a hard snow during
snowboarding last Sunday. I thought it's just bruised but this morning
the pain is getting worse....

Want to have it checked by X-ray but can't go to doctor today. Iki got
high fever so he is on his bed the whole day, can't possibly leave him
alone.

I'm trying anti inflammatory cream and let's see if it could help.
Arghh....hope I didn't break my rib!!! I'm in snowboarding mode now
and plan to take snowboard lesson this weekend....... (_ _o)

Sent from my iPhone

To the top!!

We did it!

I still had hangover from drinking with my girlfriends the night before, but we went to the top of the mountain together, the three of us. It was incredible!

Japan is surely getting warmer now. It's only february but the snow is wet already. It's even melted on my snowboard. This makes Hiro wants to go ski every weekend.....

Girls night out

Boy it was fun! We went out last Saturday night and the fathers took care of the kids. We had a lot of parties in the afternoon, but drinking outside at night is definitely different.

We ate Kushiage at Nezu. One of my friend is moving to Jakarta and she really wanted to eat it. In that specific restaurant. It was my first time to eat it, and it was really good!!

Then we went back to our station, and drank at the bar in front of it until 1.30 am. Nearby our house so that we could crawl back home if we were too drunk haha!

It was a good fun.....Hope we could do it again :p

Setsubun

February 3 is Setsubun here in Japan. This year Iki knew a lot more about it from school so he was pretty excited.

We tried Kansai area's setsubun tradition to eat ehomaki, an uncut sushi roll, eaten in silence facing the yearly lucky compass direction. It was very hard for talkative Iki to eat without talking, and God it was the quietest dinner ever!! This year's lucky direction is South South East, but stupid me, wrongly read the compass. We ate our lucky roll facing the opposite direction: north north west!!!! I hope luck won't go away from us this year!!

Then we did the Mamemaki tradition, this time Iki was the Oni (devil)

And we threw beans in every room in this house to bring in good luck.

By the end of the day, there were beans all over the floor!!

And this was last wednesday's Bento. To celebrate setsubun!

Oni (devil): rice with tomato ketchup, cheese, carrot, spinach

Japanese croquettes

Quail eggs

Strawberries

Roasted beans