I guess the most newsworthy event we have recently encountered was Typhoon Melor..."one of the biggest to hit Japan in ten years". Video clips are on our website www.mccleerysinjapan.smugmug.com. The video isn't anything great, but the audio give a little insight into what our ENTIRE night involved. It was crazy! It started getting bad about 11pm and didn't settle until after 5am. The building was swaying so much...even got motion sickness while using the computer. Lost my balance a few times too. (Truthfully that isn't saying much. I can lose my balance during the nicest weather.)
The noise was more disturbing than the motion. It sounded like the building was going to snap. Freaky, freaky, freaky. The boys (all three) slept very soundly. I was the only one up ALL night. Many mothers I talked to the following day said they were up the entire night as well. Even chatted with a few on facebook during the storm. I could do without experiencing another typhoon. Now I know how Gilligan must have felt. At least we don't live in a hut. To my knowledge there was no real damage anywhere (still can't understand what the news reporters are saying). We had leaves on our balcony. Thought that was funny since there are no trees 16 stories tall.
Caden had his third birthday Sunday, October 4. We had a joint party with one of his friends who is approximately seven hours older than him. It was a blast. We invited all the "playground" friends and parents. Thankfully my friend Gloria, hosted it at their apartment. There were a lot of kids ranging in age from 4 months to nine years (pictures on the website). I would have gone mad.
Nathan started a shodo class once a week. Shodo is Japanese calligraphy. His teacher said he did very well at his first class and that he should continue because he is definitely skilled. (pictures on the website) Guessshodo is not easy to do. I plan to start a shodo class in January. Hopefully it comes as easy to me as it does Nathan.
Discovered a new Pepsi product...Pepsi Shiso, with "refreshing Japanese flavor". (pictures on the website) It is very green, but very tasty. Wonder if it would "Play in Peoria"? Shiso is the Japanese name for perilla, an annual herb from the mint family. According to Wikipedia, "The leaves resemble stinging nettle leaves, being slightly rounder in shape. It is also widely known as the Beefsteak plant. Its essential oils provide for a strong taste whose intensity might be compared to that of mint or fennel. It is considered rich in minerals and vitamins, has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to help preserve and sterilize other foods."
Also on the website are pictures of a RAFE photo shoot. RAFE is the Rokko Island Lifestyle Magazine. Nathan and Caden and my friend, Andrea's two children, John and Abby, were asked to be models for the cover. They specifically wanted foreign children. The photo shoot was a hoot. The four kids were running around like crazed lunatics...through the sprinkler, in opposite directions. I don't know how photographer was even able to get the photo they used. The magazine is distributed around the island. No big break for any of their modeling careers, but a great Japanese memento nonetheless.
I take driving test #2 this week. Not seriously hopeful. People I know who have recently taken it get the response, "Good driver, you fail." Makes absolutely NO sense. We'll see. I will, however, be sure to NOT wear my birkenstocks. Driving drama to be continued...
