他人の子

I sometimes hear Japanese say “他人の子は成長が早い.” Although there isn’t an equivalent phrase in English, you could translate it as “Other people's children grow up so fast.” and keep the same nuance and meaning.

It is true, isn’t it? Whenever I come across an old friend of my boys for the first time in years, I am always surprised by how much they have changed. Living with my own boys and seeing them day after day, however, it’s hard to notice the changes that are happening little by little. It’s only when I come across a photo from ten or more years ago that it hits me how big my sons have become. It’s almost as if an earthquake has happened. My older boy, for instance, is now taller and heavier than me. Only 14 years old but almost 178cm tall. Hard to believe that a little over a decade ago, he could comfortably fit in our bucket. (Hard to believe I still have that bucket, too.)

自分の子も成長が早いものです。

Boys of Summer

This was a fun surprise.

Spent most of the day indoors, but in the afternoon my older son wanted to go out and shoot hoops and play catch, so we went to “Yakuin Park”. About an hour later, a large group of tanned kids in sandals showed up. Judging by the buzz cuts most of them had, I figured they were baseball players, but not from these parts.

After chatting and playing with them for about an hour, I learned that they were from Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa, a small town in the middle of the main island, close to Ginowan and the massive Kadena Air Force Base. As I suspected, most of them had distinctly Okinawan family names—Kinjo, Miyagi, and so on. They also had more brothers and sisters than the typical Japanese family. Okinawans are famous for having larger than average families and none of the kids I talked to were only children; all but one had more than two siblings.

They came to take part in a baseball tournament, something they try to do every year and use the Campfire crowdsourcing to fund the trip. (I will be happily donating to the cause in the future.)

When they left, one of the younger boys hugged me. Another, who had been playing basketball with my younger son, told him to come down to Nakagusuku and play with him there. They were all so sweet.

I guess because they were from Okinawa and used to seeing the mixed-race kids of the US military personnel, they had no qualms about approaching us and talking. So very different from kids here in Fukuoka who can be more standoffish towards outsiders.

Later, I googled their school, Nakagusuku Minami. It’s a new school with over 700 students. Liam’s own school has about 600, but Akasaka Elementary which is in the next district has much fewer. Unlike schools here in Fukuoka which are being merged to maintain enrollment, their school was created due to overcrowding at another school.

Our little park hardly has any kids in it most times—the heaviest users are my own two boys—so it was nice to see it packed with kids, spontaneously playing different games and filling the air with their laughter.

Palm Springs Life

パームスプリングスは広い一軒家が多い地域になります。

広いリビング

寒い日は暖炉で暖まります。

広いキッチン。鬼ごっこができそうです。

nap time

細長ーーーいプール

温水にする機能がついているので、外が少々寒くても入れます。

携帯電話から温める操作ができるそうです。ハイテクですね。

とうっ！！！

splash!!!

夜は外の暖炉を囲んで、おしゃべりに花を咲かせます。

５日間のパームスプリングを家族と堪能することができました。

次はサンディエゴへ車で移動です。

Nena

Our first order of business on this trip was visiting my mother, “Nena” to her many grandchildren, whom we had not seen since 2018. In the almost five years since we had last met her health had deteriorated considerably. So much so that I didn’t think she would last much longer. To everyone’s surprise, however, she did and has. Though physically weak, she is still mentally sharp as a nail, as they say.

With Friends Like These

As I’m knocking back some imo jochu (sweet potato shochu) during the Obon holiday, my wife tells me she needs me to go take some photos in front of our local train station.

“What for?”

Our son’s jiyu kenkyu (independent research project), she tells me.

Continue reading here.

Happy New Year 2020

2019 was another busy year, so busy I can’t quite remember what I actually did. One of the highlights, though, was my younger son starting elementary school, a bittersweet moment, as the kindergarten years were very happy ones for us.

As for the best memory of 2019, that would have to be our trip to Miyazaki for a karate tournament. There, after five years of practicing, our elder son would win his first title—a huge confidence builder that would lead to another title a few months later.

The few days we had in Kagoshima were nostalgic ones for my wife as she used to spend her summers there when she was a child.

Next summer, we will once again be traveling to the US, a trip we are all looking forward to.

Christmas Tree

天神のソラリアプラザのクリスマスツリーです。

天神はハロウィンが終わるとすぐに、クリスマスの飾り付けがスタートします。

アメリカでは１１月の第４週目の木曜日に行われる感謝祭の後から

クリスマスの飾り付けがスタートします。

こちらは、天神イムズのクリスマスツリーです。

我が家もクリスマスツリーを飾って、準備万端です！

一年のうちで一番忙しく、一番楽しいイベントがやってきます！

Kaho Parts Center

子どもの夏休みの自由研究を手伝っています。

科学館で購入した手作り掃除機（1000円）をパワーアップさせた

手作り掃除機２号を作成することにしました。

モーター、電池ボックス、プロペラなど

今泉にある「カホパーツセンター」ならほとんどの部品が揃います。

色々あるのだな、と見ているだけでもかなり楽しいお店です。

夏休みの自由研究に迷っていらっしゃる方はぜひ行かれてください。

アイデアがたくさん浮かぶと思います！

カホパーツセンター　→ http://www.kahoparts.co.jp