I thought I would update everyone on how we have been doing since we made the decision to stay in Michigan to finish out the school year. First off, the kids, for the most part, are enjoying their school and their friends. This was my main concern- it is the second year in a row that my girls have started school in one place, and finished it in another. Maya is in Ms. Crouch's 2nd grade class, and has slipped right back into her group of friends and her life at Haverhill. She enjoys her class here, but really misses her class in Tokyo. She is, for the first time, experiencing some very conflicting feelings about life- how can she like being in both places and living in both places? She feels uncomfortable talking about liking Japan, as most kids have no concept about moving, or living anywhere else. She cries weekly on how badly she wants to go back to Japan- having nothing to do with her like for being here, but everything to do with our family being together and being "normal" like it was before. She can't wait to go back. Hanna has adjusted to Kindergarten nicely. She really enjoys being in Mrs. Hessen's class and has made quite a few friends. Her favorite part is recess- where there is a bell and she gets to run to get in line...sounds silly, but in her school in Japan, they had a rooftop playground, and rarely got to run during the school day. She misses her school and friends in Japan, and is also looking forward to going back. The one thing she does not enjoy here is the 1/2 day school- she has been going full days for the past year and a half, and loves it. She learns so much more and has so much more time with her friends/classmates. She doesn't seem to understand why she isn't going full days and has to hang out with me every afternoon (which some days is no picnic for me either!!)
We have all adjusted about as well as we can being back- I am playing tennis and working out (ran recently in a 5K), the girls are taking swim lessons (which they are really enjoying and costs me 1/3 of what it would in Tokyo!), and we are trying to fill our days with things to do to make the time pass by quicker.
School here ends on June 3rd. That night, the girls and I will fly up to the U.P. for my sister Jenni's wedding (yah- one good thing about this is that we would have missed it if we were in Japan, and now, we don't have to!). We will stay until early morning on the 5th, fly back to Detroit, and then fly from Detroit to Tokyo that afternoon. It is going to be a crazy busy week that week, getting ready to go, and packing in so much, but it will be worth it. The girls will then finish out the last week of school at their schools in Tokyo- they will get a chance to get their yearbooks, perform in the end of the year program (Hanna), say hello and goodbye to their friends and teachers and wrap things up on the home front as well- saying goodbye to neighbors and friends until we return in August.
We are planning on staying in Tokyo for 2 weeks, then flying out as a family to Hawaii for a week- a week that is very much needed- some relaxing, together time- I can not wait. Scott will then join us in MI for 2 weeks (so we will have 5 weeks together as a family- YAHOO!!!), and we will continue our summer as we had planned, returning back to Tokyo on August 19th to get the kids ready to start school.
These days are challenging being alone with my girls (I know I should complain- it is only temporary!), and I miss Scott something awful..but it will make the time we do get to be together that much better- absence makes the heart grow fonder...right?? Some days, I think that saying was made up by someone who never spent time away from the person(s) they loved!! :)
