Today was a beautiful day. I packed up our bikes (Aila rides attached behind me) and we went to Golden Gate Park. We rode and explored with Tesla as the lead. Stopped at Stow Lake to paddle boat around while we ate ice cream. Aila just got cheapo roller skates that she brought, so we stopped at the skating area in GG Park. Tesla patiently waited, and when I joined Tesla on the bench because Aila wanted to skate on her own w/o mama's help, a super pro skater later approached Aila and gave some lessons! Golden Gate rejuvenates. When... Continue reading

I started taking lessons on how to put on a kimono with the goal of being able to put it on properly by myself. There are various levels I can try to achieve, but I'm focusing on the simplest obi tie that will take months to learn, and I'm not even planning on delving into the dos and don'ts for each season (color, cloth make, obi match etc). First lesson was going over all the stuff we need, and how to properly fold kimono back for storage. My amazing mom handed off a lot of things to me this past... Continue reading

Kids asleep, I'm watching a TV show. Tonight I learned that Tokyo station Shinkansen/bullet train area manages crowd control by ekiben - those lovely gourmet bentos that are meant to be consumed on the train as you watch the scenery go by. Normally, one would never eat/drink on a train so these ekiben are coveted. Just like everyone else, I look forward to riding the Shinkansen for the opportunity to eat these beautiful meals. Crowd control happens because people getting off the shinkansen from outside of Tokyo need time to figure where they need to go so stop to look... Continue reading

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We left SF at 1:35am, arrived in Tokyo 4:45am next day JST, a flight schedule I've never taken so I wasn't sure how to work through the jet-lag. Back when I came for work, I used a different flight and knew when to push through or allow a nap to quickly get over jet lag, but this time it took a few days. One afternoon, Tesla and I napped at 3pm, skipped dinner, and ended up sleeping all night while Aila played dress up with my mom, and finally crashed around 7. In between, we managed to start doing stuff.... Continue reading

Once Aila went to bed last night, I introduced an old game to Tesla that would be too complicated for Aila. Mille Bornes. I grew up with that game. And my opponent? My dear brother Ian. When I texted him, I was not disappointed: Ian and I yelled "Coup-forre" to each other many a times. Love my brother. Continue reading

Aila said she wanted bangs because her teacher at preschool has bangs, and she didn't want to wear pins to keep her hair away from her face. She is delighted! Such a new look for her. Continue reading

Every Wed. for almost a year, we've been at Pacifica for Tesla's horse riding lessons. Tesla loves horses. And when I look back, she was always crazy for horses. I didn't piece it together until horse-loving folks told me, "either you have it or you don't." Apparently, Tesla has it. I mean Chocolate, Tesla's fav horse stuffy (that I tried to get rid of since it was so big), made it into a family portrait years back. Chocolate still sits on her bed. Now, Tesla cleans stalls (poop), cleans horse shoes (make horse pick their hoof up to get picked... Continue reading

One reason Dav and I get along is both of us are rather ok about not doing much on holidays or bdays so that there is no pressure if we forget (altho anything that involves kids, I'm on it!). In exchange we do random things when it feels natural. But sometimes, it is nice when things align, and holidays are celebrated with ease. I love oysters and today we got to go to Hog Island Oyster Co. in Marshall thanks to Dav's colleague who made a reservation. Morning started out with kids. Tesla had been so secret about hers it... Continue reading

I was mesmerized by the new space. Love the new addition with winding spaces, grand windows to the new SF skyline, outdoor patios, and overall, a museum that would take multiple afternoons to enjoy. It's huge with so much to see. Yesterday, we spent a few hours at SF MOMA. With membership, I look forward to mini-lunch dates with Dav (since he works a block away) where we'll take in 1 floor at a time, then sit and enjoy the space. Continue reading

We met up with friends who are walking around the perimeter of S.F. today (takes over 12 hours). We had our bikes (Dav's tall one), and tagged along for a tiny stretch just to say hi. Fun part was an old friend from Tokyo blogging days, Justin Hall, was there too! Small city where like-minded friends from different circles meet up : ) Continue reading

A last minute decision, but we stopped by India Basin near our home for a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt. Beautiful views and goats too! At first Tesla was a bit, "I'm too old for this," but got into the fun of finding egg surprises. There were so many! I think we have like 40 eggs! Continue reading

Another year quickly gone by as the girls grow. Aila will finish preschool this summer, and next year, we look into Middle Schools for Tesla! Crazy. Here is Aila's handmade Hinasama decoration from preschool. Rather scary eyelashes on the prince and princess! Aila has been into hiragana lately, and you can see her pretty good attempts : ) Continue reading

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Stumbled across this lovely story. If you have time, it'll warm your heart. This video particularly touched me as I too once found a tiny white kitten. She was meowing on a Tokyo street hidden in bushes on a rainy night. I couldn't walk away knowing how young that meow sounded, so I searched for her. Luckily I didn't have to deal with dire circumstances as the video story, but I found her 6 days before moving to S.F. to be with Dav. Tickets bought, I was packing, and I already had my 2 cats Wakame and Katsuo. I found... Continue reading

It's been so long since it rained, and really, since Aila was born it's been a drought, so to her rain is AMAZING. She wants to drink it, stomp in it, finally wear her raincoat, and use her dinosaur umbrella. As usual, she's a blur in all pics. Continue reading

Our annual Sports Day Undokai at Rosa Parks was on Friday. I do enjoy this whole day of fun competition where the Rosa Parks community comes together to volunteer and hang. Kids compete earnestly, and it's a memorable moment each year. I can't believe it's already a year since my parents were here, and cheered Tesla on. This year was Tesla's 5th year counting from kinder. Next year will be her last. Acknowledging this year's 5th graders as their last made me emotional (I was the MC) as I totally know these kids...some from preschool! And this year, Aila joined... Continue reading

Today, at dusk, is our 10th wedding anniversary. "Today" is not a date. We go by Wed. at Burning Man, and that date shifts. This makes it easier for us to remember, which is great, as both Dav and I are not into remembering dates. In fact, the 10th only dawned on us as a fellow couple who also married at Burning Man that week posted on FB that they were celebrating their 10th. Holy cow, 10! I knew we'd be here tho. I remember that first year I met Dav at Burning Man, then flew back to Tokyo where... Continue reading

At Aila's kindergarten in Yokohama, they had a "lunch observation day" where parents could come see how their kids ate lunch. Since I was on Tesla's field trip, my mom went and took pics for me. She has been thrilled to finally have obento for lunch since I always make for Tesla, but it's not needed for Aila in S.F. When she came home with an empty bento box, I couldn't believe it since she's such a picky small eater, but my mom confirmed she ate most of it. Yay! Such a wonderful little school <3 Continue reading

Tesla's class had a field trip while Tesla was attending her Yokohama school, and I joined because Tesla was a bit anxious. True to Yokohama, it was a tour of the old port city, starting in Chinatown, walking to Yamashita Park, Marine Tower, Hikawamaru old ocean liner, brick warehouse, then to Minato Mirai train station. Boy, did we walk (and instead of using escalators at train stations, we used only stairs!) As we approached the tall Yokohama Marine Tower, Tesla already hungry and tired from just getting there (and hot from the muggy weather) asked if there was an elevator... Continue reading

I was lucky enough to get to visit my friend and former colleague who now lives in Yokohama. She has... Continue reading

Kids started a new school near my parents house. The transition has been bumpy for the kids. After having settled in Akita, I packed them up to restart the whole process in Yokohama, and culturally, the kids here are more reserved and shy, so the first 3 days, Tesla didn't really have much interaction with anyone. She kept a good attitude and didn't complain (so proud!). Aila on the other hand is at a super cute preschool with a lovely teacher who enthusiastically welcomes her everyday, but so far, everyday, Aila really doesn't want me to leave her there. Once... Continue reading

Some everyday pics from the beautiful town. KC's neighborhood, and a coffeeshop that didn't open until 11:30 (!!) so I sadly went for canned coffee from the machine. Park that requires adult supervision only if kids are under 6. The whole town had older kids running around playing on their own. Aila inspecting a bug. Our walk to preschool after we dropped off T. Part of the time we stayed at this hotel, the other part at KC's. The hotel had Japanese breakfast which the kids enjoyed too. The kids running off to school. A local shrine. Eating omurice (rice... Continue reading

Catching up a bit here... I love these scenes from Tesla's last day at school in Akita. The kids and community were so open and welcoming, immediately reaching out to Tesla. (In comparison, now that we are in the Yokohama region, the kids seem more reserved and shy, making it slower to break the ice.) Tesla received many cards/notes from her short-term classmates, and her teacher made her a lovely picture of the whole class together. Thank you, Goshono Elementary School! Continue reading

There was a lot of prep to get kids settled into school and a daily rhythm, but by Wednesday, once I dropped kids off, I had alone time to dust off my running shoes and go for a run. Note...I don't run, and haven't run for years, but this month is about the kids in school so I figured if there was ever a time to get back running, it's now. Akita is flat, beautiful, and the rice paddies are just perfect. Continue reading