Jun - Jun's 1st grade teacher is off having her baby...by C-section...OUCH! So there is a substitute. (A wonderful teacher, I MUST add, from my experience with her in the class.) Jun has been giving the sub advice. She isn't as strict as the other teacher! The kids aren't minding as well as Jun thinks she should, so she reprimands them too! Only child? Bossy? Leader? Wonderful Kid? YEP!
Ryu - I've been keeping up with Ryu's professional life on his Facebook page. R.I. Leather. You can see his company's blog in the sidebar...I hope! He makes custom ordered leather products. Many wallets, bags, belts, book/Bible covers. Recently he finished a notebook, and is now working on a two-toned bag made of Minelli leather. This is SO soft. Blue and dark brown! Can't wait to see it! He seems to learn/discover/invent new techniques with each product he "builds." I can see him growing and growing in his chosen profession!!! And sometimes I get to help!
Me - Well, let's start with 1/2 a century first, shall we? Ryu and I turned 50 last year! I really feel older, finally! Like an adult. Like I finally understand my 20 and 30 year old self. And, better understand other people who are in their 20's and 30's. The 40's are still a little fuzzy! I finally understand people who were in their 50's when I was in my 20's and 30's. It's a good place to be at in life.
And 3 years! We celebrated our "3 Years in America" on Easter Sunday this year. I made Ginger Pork! But, more than that, Ryu and I reflected on all we've learned in the past 3 years.
- I re-remembered how to pump gas and taught Ryu how to do it. (Oregon is NOT self-pumping.)
- I can use my debit card anywhere without INTENSE feelings of foreignness/ cluelessness/ embarrassment and without thinking! This is a HUGE change for me!
- We bought a house. Still can't believe that our brains were working well enough to even think of buying a house when we hadn't been in the US even a year yet. In reflection, we truly see God's hand in THAT!
- I no longer cringe at huge chunks of meat at the grocery store. I have a few ideas/plans/options on how to cook them! Unfortunately, then we eat them. We are consuming much more meat than we did in Japan, I'm sure! We even BOUGHT 1/2 of 1/2 a COW! Seriously! Buying meat by the cow! I was happy that the meat was grown by our ranching friends. Organic or organicish is becoming more important since living in the US.
- I can shop at Winco now without running screaming to the car. I do have to take someone with me, but that someone can be Jun! And that is always fun. She is a huge help to her Mama.
- I can shop at Walmart...most of the time. AND.........Sometimes I do the Self-Checkout!!!!!!
- I am more familiar with all the different coffee options. And know to get myself something else when Ryu orders a plain double shot of espresso. YUCK! Jun and I even know what Italian sodas are now!
- I can shop for a very limited time for CLOTHING for ME! Kohls seems to be the store I can handle. If Ryu is with me, I come home with something too! I wish I could shop for shoes! UGH! Still making do with shoes I bought YEARS ago or that were given to me. Jun, on the other hand LOVES shopping. We rarely take her!
- Speaking of shopping, Ryu and Jun enjoy shopping at "recycle shops." Who knew you could actually get brand named items at a decent price at thrift shops? I, on the other hand, would rather wear cheap and new.
- We walked through the process of getting our home loan refinanced and getting a new credit card. Not a scary process at all, unless you consider the fact that our credit card application was approved in, literally, the 5-10 minutes we chatted with the bank woman on the phone. That is Scary! No wonder America is in debt up to its ears!
- I am working in an office part time now. With Americans. That speak English. My English level has improved a lot. Though the other day I was asking my boss if he wanted the form to be "up and down" or "cross-ways." They forgive my momentary (I hope) lapses in English. I blame these lapses on living in Japan. I fear they are also related to being 50!
- Schools. Having Jun in public school has been a big surprise to me. I thought I'd homeschool her, but..for a myriad of reasons, she 's at the public school. Public schools are not the same now as they were in the mid-60's. On one hand, I understand better why many parents choose to homeschool. On the other hand, I wish those homeschooled kids and their awesome parents were part of the public school system for all the kids and teachers and community to benefit from their time and talents. I enjoy volunteering once a week. It isn't much, I know, but I give lots of hugs, ask lots of questions, and help a few bright boys with Math.
- Would benefit from some REGULAR exercise!
- Would benefit from some GOOD sleep!
- Need to continue to learn about lawns. I BELIEVE there is a reason God gave us a house with 1/4 acre - much of it to be turned into lawn. Once I'm out working on the lawn, I begin to enjoy it. Looking at its sad state from inside the house is quite stressful!
- Would benefit from a more SANE schedule. See Sleep and Exercise above.
