In Japan with Jessica!!

We took a photo under the sign says "Welcome to Japan."

It was kinda exciting to be here in Japan together with Jessica. We have been having a good relationship for a while. We could've made a plan to come to Japan together by now. But, she made a different plan to come to Japan by herself and is going to Hokkaido where she used to teach English. I made my own plan to come back here to she my family. It's just happened for us to be here at the same time. So, I was glad to be here with my very very good friend, Jessica.

Jessica was sewing...sewing...and sewing and made a nice quilt.

I started finding things Japanese as soon as getting off the plane. Guess what it says... "HATE" I hate CAKES. People don't HATE cakes but I hate cakes most than anything else. So I though that it's funny to find such a thing and I took a picture in front of it.

３月３日

March 3rd is always the day of Japanese Girls Festival called "hinamatsuri." My mom sent me a package. Then I found this.

Please don't wonder or ask too much about what the festival is about or what those stuff in the picture. Hinamatsuri is a festival for younger age girls of 3 and 7 years old. These stuff are miniture and kidish version of dalls we put out for the festival. The real ones are beautiful. You know or you saw somewhere in your life the traditional Japanese dalls wearing 'kimono' kinda things. If you are interested more about it, you certainly go on the internet and put a word "HINAMATSURI."

またまたこんなに月日が流れてしまいました。　３ヶ月。　家族の皆様、このブログをたまに見てくださっているお友達お元気ですか？ ちょっと時間が見つかり、はりきって４っつものポストを載せました。

ドラえもんのお菓子が送られてきて、なんとそのお菓子が入っていた箱で雛花壇ができてしまいました。　なんと嬉しい事でしょう。　アメリカで１２年間暮らしたどれだけの日本人が、いくらお菓子のセットとはいえ、お内裏様、お雛様、屏風にボンボリ（って言うんだっけか？）　で２００７年のひな祭りを祝い楽しんだのでしょうか？　ママ、アリガトウネ。

Socks, socks, socks!!!

I received this card from Masaki, Nanami, and Daisuke. Masaki is my cousin.

At the top of this card, it says "Thank you very much," in Japanese.

If I open this card wide open, these panda bears bow. So that these panda bears can express their appreciation.

These are the 3 types of socks they sent for me. It was the first time for me totry on this type of socks. Strange feeling. You never feel your 10 toes are separate things but you do feel each toe.

Thank you guys!

雅紀ちゃん、　ななみちゃん、　大輔くん!! ありがとうございます ななみちゃーん くつしただいじにはいてます ありがとうね

Valentine’s Day

Most of girls knows what this blue box and white ribbon means. Well, I got it!!

I was very happy as you can guess, but I felt very bad finally after a few weeks to tell Chris about one thing. I gotta tell him because he spent quite a lot of money on the present he had got from the place the blue box came from...that the necklace he got for me BUT it was not quite ME like!! I thought about to keep it but I thought it will be hard for me to wear it which...you know...or keep the necklace in that box for a long time without wearing it.

He says he likes the necklace on me, I wanted him to be happy looking at me with it on me knowing that he got it for me on Valentine's Day.

BUT sorry Chris, it will be always me wearing it, feeling happy, looking at it, and being proud by thinking that my guy got this from Tiffany for me on Valentine's day. I needed to get the one makes my heart leap. So I exchanged it. I am happy. He is happy for me. Sorry, but I am happy that he is ok..happy!?

Museum of Science, Boston

We visited Museum of Science, Boston in February. I have never visited any other science museum so I am not sure. In Boston, we always have a section that people from the museum grow and take care of some chicks. They always place eggs first. Most of times I see chicks were trying to break the shell and come out. Amazing moments (but without mothers...) It's always fun and great to watch. Chris took a while to leave the section because he wants his own chick if you know what exactly what I mean.

ICA Boston

This is Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. They moved to a new facility of Boston waterfront and opened in December 2006. I visited ICA almost 10 years ago when I was still in collage but the size was one third of this new building.

This building reminds me Tate in London. I visited there and spent a half day there. My most favorite one there was "Summertime" by Jackson Pollock. Somehow I became to like to visit museums even though I thought I hate ART stuff since most of my family and relatives are related to ART business that is Architects and moreover I hated the fact that they are good at ART and I was not. Well, I guess I cannot get away from the influences from the environment I grew up especially from my mom and dad. Ofcourse, I like it now.

You see from there is Boston harbor. Well, we visited there too late for you to see the view well. Sorry. Also I hope the lady in red or orange not to be there because her figure reflects on the glass window and you can't see the view well. One another thing I disappointed about the fact ICA did not have postcards of the new building on or artworks they have there. The lady told me they would have them in a few months. I want to visit there during the day next time and send my family and friends postcards. Oh, do you see Chris sitting on the seat!?

Mainly I like to see the world wise famous and popular stuff such as the "Sunflower" by Vincent Van Gough, "Water lilies" by Monet, Picasso and Matisse. That's where I started. Jackson Pollock. I believe his painting (summertime) was the one pulled me into the ART more and because of my family influence. Have you ever see the painting looks like someone splash the paints on the canvas? That's him. Olivia tried the same technique on the first book of a children picture book called "Olivia" Please check it out if you like.

There are other stuff I like now like...I am addicted to a magazine ELLE Decoration UK edition (design stuff) for several years. Andy Goldsworthy, his stuff is fun. My next travel destination is Barcelona to see Gaudi (my grandpa's favorite). Now you gotta watch this movie called "Night at the Museum" by Ben Stiller. Me and Chris loved it.

あけましておめでとうございま-す!!!

Happy亥年!!

どうぞ今年もよろしくお願いいたします。

&

Happy New Year to all!!

Happy Hanukkah!! -1st night

Happy Hanukkah

Tonight is the 1st night of Hanukkah. My book says "During the winter, Hanukkah is a light that warms and cheers us." Chris said the blessings on the first night over the Hanukkah candles. On the first night, a candle is placed at the far right end of the menorah (the candle holder). BUT BUT BUT...I see the candle at the far left....OH NO!! The one on the right is called the shammash. The very first light to be used to ignite the far left one (which supposed to be at the right). We do this eight days. On the eighth night, there will be eight candles plus the shammash on the menorah.

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Chris says the blessings tonight (saying from the book..oops.).

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Chris sets up the menorah.

My Jewish books

Package from Japan!!!

福砂屋の手づくり最中

(Monaka from Fukusaya)

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I have been receiving some packages from families and friends. Yes, Japanese stuff. This is MONAKA from FUKUSAYA. Wooooooooo, I love love this Japanese snack. I decided to take a photo of this thing becaues my friend Jessica does take photos of Japanese stuff on her blog. I think it is a little wierd (sorry, Jes. This doesn't mean anything. I guess I feel like I am exposing myself too much..!?).

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I am reading 劇団ひとりの陰日向に咲くnow. This is me reading it.

This book came in the package from my mom.
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I think I am a little homesick. I am experiencing this year's holidays/the same holidays at the different places, with different people, and in the different ways. This experience makes me think about my families and friends in Japan. Japanes food I got in the packages is definitely helping me feel this way. Thank you all who care about me and actually took your time to pack items and sent them for me.

Holiday season!!

Happy Holiday!!

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I do celebrate many holidays now. I just celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. I had discovered how grateful to enjoy Thanksging day meal with my wonderful family. Hanukkah is coming in a week. I will celebrate it because I got married to a jewish guy. I had been receiving a Christmas present from Santa when I was a child. We just bought our very 1st Christmas tree. And of course, I as a Japanese person New Year's day is the biggest holiday of the year. I have to say that New Year's Day is the holiday I truly enjoy and celebrate especially if I am in Japan with my family and our gorgeous traditional Japanese New Year's Day recipe!

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This is how our living room looks like now. We bought this Christmas tree at IKEA today. Chris and I are both very excited about this Christmas tree, our very 1st Christmas tree in our house which we definitely will enjoy many more years to come. Let me say this...within a year or two..you might see this Christmas tree with our lovely baby who not yet seen.