We're into our fourth year here in northern Japan, and we think we're turning Japanese (just a little).OK, we only wish we were. Only one of us even understands the language very well (guess who?!?!) We hope to be returning to the states next spring, but in the meantime decided to go for what seems to be the requisite Japanese-dressed family portrait....Ta-dah!! It was kind of a joke at first but turned out to be very fun and educational. This is the only time I've worn traditional kimo in Japan, and probably the last! It was fascinating to watch the studio people go to work on Rick and Hannah Jane (who had a blast by the way -- she got a fan and a "sparkly purse"!) but when it was my turn, I became exhausted! And someone dressed me! A Japanese spouse in our squadron came to a Christmas party in Kimono and she told me then that they (Japanese women) may go to school to learn tie obi -- that's just the "belt" that goes around the kimono. While mine was being tied I was standing as still as I could, arms stretched out straight, for a good 10 minutes or so. When done I felt like I was wearing fifty pounds of fabric! At least I didn't have to sit in "mother's pose" for the whole photo shoot (which took maybe 10 minutes of the whole hour-long session). That's coming up on Saturday when we'll attend Hannah Jane's "winter play" at her school, a Japanese school traditional that involves the children performing random dances and plays and the parents sitting extremely close to one another--on the floor--for 4-5 hours, starting at (in true Japanese tradition) EIGHT IN THE MORNING (yes, on SATURDAY). Hannah Jane educated us tonight on the three "poses" we were allowed to sit in while watching the play -- needless to say, none of them involved a lazyboy (or even stretched legs!). Stay tuned....maybe I'll even get it together enough to post some photos!
Thanks for "watching" and stay tuned for news on when and where we'll live next...coming up soon!
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