So, I am not sure how I forgot to put this in a previous blog, but Scott and I enjoyed our first concert in Tokyo this month! We went to see Wilco, an American band, and one of Scott's favorites. They were playing at Zepp Tokyo, which is a really nice, newer, intimate setting in ODaiba (no idea if that is the way it is spelled or not, but darn it, that is what it sounds like!!). Being our first concert in Tokyo, we didn't know what to expect- several friends had told us that concerts here just aren't the same- they follow the "typical" Japanese culture- polite clapping after songs- no craziness (our friend Karen told a story of how she and her husband Bill went to an AC/DC concert when they first moved here, and when they announced the band as they were coming on stage, Karen and Bill started going nuts- screaming, clapping....and NOT ONE other person did!! The quickly put their hands down, stopped making noise and just watched..BORING!). However, our experience was a bit different- people were excited to see this band, clapping, whistling...I am not sure if it was that there were so many foreigners there, or because the Japanese crowd was younger, but it was a really fun concert. Things I found quite funny though- even though I couldn't speak to most of the people there, they knew ALL the English words to ALL the Wilco songs!! I think if I learned to speak Wilco, I could get something done around here! Second, the lead singer kept picking on all the Americans there- it was funny, but the Japanese thought it was REALLY funny! Overall it was a really good night!
Last Saturday we met some friends, Ken and Kim Graham, and their kids Marley (who is in Maya's class as ASIJ) and Will (who will be in Hanna's preschool class next year at Yoyogi International Preschool)at Yoyogi Park for the Reggae Festival. The weather was fantastic, and everyone had a great day...mostly! Marley and Maya went down to the pond to "play" and Maya FELL IN! It was a typical pond- dirty and gross...she was wet and completely covered in dirt..and, you would have thought someone had hurt her, the way she was screaming her little head off. In case I haven't mentioned this before, people here are pretty reserved and do not make a lot of noise...so I think she scared the pants off of half the people around her. It took quite awhile to calm her down, and convince her that we should stay at the park, but she did manage to get over it and be able to enjoy the rest of the day. On our way to check out the fare at the Reggae festival, Hanna and Will ended up making friends with a Japanese guy who was playing a Diggery Do (again, no idea on the spelling!)- it is an Australian instrument that makes a very deep sound. The fella LOVED the kids, and soon, all four were playing his Diggery Do (that does not sound good, does it??), and beating on his drums (again..what?)! They had a blast, and it was equally nice, as Scott and I really got along well with both Kim and Ken!
Mother's day was also a very good day. Scott and I had gone down to IKEA during the Golden Week Holiday to get some things for our apartment (SO HAPPY!! Our place finally looks organized and homey). We went to the Hard Rock Cafe (again, more about going somewhere the girls will eat)for lunch, and then home to put together all of our furniture. Scott and the girls also came home with some FANTASTICALLY beautiful Lily's, and a little bunch of miniature roses and purchased a gift card to Amazon.com for me as well (I have a great Husband!). For Christmas, I got a Kindle as a gift (for those of you who don't know me well, I read almost as much as I exercise, and have joined a book group here in Tokyo)- however, it is difficult to get English books here for a decent price, so now, I have $$ to just download them onto my Kindle- yahoo!
Tonight, Karen, our college aged babysitter from Portage, is flying in to stay with us for 12 days. We are really excited, as she is our first visitor from home to come here and see us (Maya says this morning- I can't believe Karen is coming to see us before any of our family!! Hint, hint...!) :). We have 12 days of fun and excitement planned- we are going to Tokyo Disneyland on Tuesday (pulling the girls out of school for the day- we are told NOT to go on the weekends or any Japanese school days off, or you will not get on any rides), as well as Kamakura (home of the big Buddha!) Asakusa (Senso-ji temple), Tsukiji (largest fish market in the world- they do a daily turnover of $3 million USD in fish sales for over 5 million lbs of fish! Crazy!), as well as a few things school related for the girls- both girls are REALLY excited for Karen to see their respective schools.
I will update next week with a tale of our adventures!
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