A new face appears

This morning we were taking things slow.  Our plans were being thwarted by the weather.  Instead of heading out for a hike, we found ourselves lounging around in our pajamas.  We had a lovely, yet eclectic breakfast of gluten-free crepes, mochi with sugar and soy sauce, and fruit. 

While drinking our tea, the doorbell rang.  It's always a bit surprising when our doorbell rings and it isn't the Amazon delivery person.  Since we weren't expecting a package, we all looked around at each other in surprise.

I was not dressed and didn't want to go near the door, so I sent my husband to answer it.  We could see from our little video screen that there were two people waiting for an answer.  We sometimes have Jehovah Witnesses or co-op employees come to our door to share their goods or offer their services,  but they don't usually come on Sundays. 

I could hear mumbling at the door, but wasn't really listening because I was occupied with our guest and son.  Suddenly, my husband burst through the door that separates the entryway from the living room.  He said "You have to come right now!"  I vehemently shook my head no because I was not dressed at all.  I was wearing a t-shirt and sweats, as well as a crown of crazy bed head.  He insisted "Come on!  Come on!  You won't regret this!"

He took my hand and led me to the entryway where the two strangers stood.  My husband started the introductions as the woman who was standing just behind the man stepped forward.  "These are our new neighbors!" 

In shock, I raised my hand to shake the extended hand of the woman - something you don't typically do in Japan.  I started to apologize for my attire when she chipped in "Oh, you're dressed by North American standards!"  Our new neighbor is a Canadian!

At that moment, I felt tears in my eyes.  I was so overwhelmed by seeing this woman and knowing that she would be next door.  She is someone I can talk to in English and was raised in a very similar culture to my own.  It was very emotional for me. 

It may seem strange to cry at the sight of a new neighbor, but the truth is, despite having a group of friends I am very lonely.  It is hard to constantly have to explain and restrain yourself in interactions.  I grew up being free to speak my mind, but living in a different culture, I must always think about if the other person will understand my reference, need a long explanation, or even think I am insane.  Interactions that are supposed to be relaxed and fun can be extremely taxing.  Sometimes, I just keep quiet and avoid interacting with people.  But then, I find myself to be extremely lonely.  It is a vicious cycle.

Growing up I did not understand why the immigrant kids in school typically only hung out with other kids from the same country they came from.  They always seemed like such a clique and it annoyed me a bit.  But now, as an immigrant myself, I finally understand their need to have friends that have a certain cultural understanding of one another that goes without explanation.  It doesn't mean that we don't relish our new friendships with the people from our new home.  It is more of a comfort layer that gives us energy and community that is desperately needed when everything in our life is a little extra challenging or different. 

I don't know much about my new neighbor yet, or her Japanese husband - only the basics they were able to share during their introduction and quick Q&A.  Unfortunately, they needed to continue to deliver their move in announcement gifts.  The joy of their arrival has remained with me all day.  I am looking forward to a coffee date with my new neighbor after they get a bit settled.  I really hope we will be fast friends.

A little bit of bitter and sweet

A very traditional activity in Japan is sipping matcha tea and eating delicate confections while gazing at a very beautiful garden.  This tradition is important as it takes Japanese people out of the hustle and bustle of life and forces them to pause and really appreciate something incredibly beautiful and simple. 

Tsuruya Yoshinobu is a famous confection shop, established in Kyoto in 1803.  We didn't go to Kyoto to enjoy this special shop.  There is one in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo.  The Tokyo shop does not have a garden, but it does have a bar where you get to sit and watch them make your confection right in front of your eyes.

This sounded like a memorable activity right up my alley.  We arrived at Tsuruya Yoshinobu as soon as it opened, because we heard it can be a long wait if you go too late.  There was only one group in front of us, so the wait wasn't bad at all.

When we sat at the bar, we were able to get a close-up look at the 4 options of confections, known as Kyo-gashi.  Each confection represents symbols of the season.  We could choose from a hydrangea accented with rain, a rolling leaf dropped by weevils, a rosa chinesesis, or a clematis flower.

Each confection is created to be matched perfectly with the wonderful taste of matcha.  The bright green tea is a famous symbol of Japanese edible delights.  Since the treats are not very sweet, they go very nicely with the slightly bitter tea.

My husband, son, friend, and I watched intently as the masters deftly molded each beautiful piece.  It  was so interesting to see them create each delectable confection.

I chose to eat the clematis.  It was the only one that offered a choice between smooth or chunky anko (red bean paste) in the center.  I selected the smooth, as it just seemed to fit the flower better. 

My friend, who has celiac, could only eat one of the confections.  She was happy to enjoy her matcha while munching on the hydrangea. 

My son decided he wanted to eat the rose.

My husband happily chose the rolled leaf.

I noticed when it was time to eat that we all automatically cut tiny bites and really savored the whole experience. 

We all felt like we were experiencing something so traditional and special.  It is definitely a very Japanese experience.

Playtime in Toyosu

As we walked back to Toyosu Station from the teamLab Planets museum, my son needed to get some energy out before we hopped onto the train for over an hour.  Although the museum was great, it does not exude the same amount of energy as climbing and running around.  At 5 years old, he always has energy to burn.  If he isn't going 100 kilometers a minute, he's asleep!

I had noticed a park while we were walking to the museum, so it was easy to stop by on our walk back to the station.  Toyosu Park is perfect for older kids needing to climb.  The main play structure was a unique combination of poles, ropes, and plastic forms that was great for climbing up, down, and all over.  I have seen the same play structures in the US, but never in Japan. 

My son loved climbing as well as hanging.  He was able to get really creative when he was playing.

There were also some more typical Japanese play structures at the park, like a sandbox and a large cement mound.  The mound is always a huge hit with kids as they run up and slide back down all around the form.  It is so basic, but kids always seem to love it.

Taking time to play at a park is so important for all kids.  One of the things I love about Japan is there always seems to be play structures around whenever we need one.  It might not be the fanciest or newest playground equipment, but it is there!  My son gets some energy out and is able to sit nicely on the train ride.  It is a win-win for everyone.

Wading through it all

I was so over the moon, impressed with teamLab's Borderless exhibit that I had to check out their sister museum as soon as possible.  teamLab's Planet museum is in the Toyosu neighborhood not too far from the new Toyosu fish market.  With my friend in town, it seemed like the perfect time to go.

I decided to let my son stay home from school to go to the museum.  It would be a lot less crowded to go on a weekday and we'd get a bit more quality time with our family friend.  We pre-purchased tickets online, specifying the date and time we wanted to go.  After learning a bit more about the features of the museum, it made perfect sense that the tickets would be sold in time slots and not just willy-nilly.

Unfortunately our friend woke up with a bit of a stomach bug and had to cancel at the last minute.  Since the tickets are non-refundable, my son and I forged ahead (with her insistence). 

We arrived right on time for our 10 am timeslot.  After waiting in the queue for a short bit, we were taken to a room where large television screens outlined the rules of the museum.  Shoes are not to be worn inside the museum, as many of the exhibits were fully immersive.  Several of the rooms have mirrors for flooring and might reveal more than people were wanting, so they offer a shorts rental service.  There were also two exhibits with water.  So, if people's pants were not able to be raised above the knees, these people could also use the shorts rental. 

We were then guided to a large locker room.  We removed our shoes and put everything, except my cell phone, in the locker.  We knew about the water exhibits, so we were already wearing short pants. 

It was time to enter the museum.  We were welcomed into a dark corridor with color lights near the floor.  It made me really feel the soft carpet under my feet as we walked along and really get into the mood of the museum. 

After a bit of a wander, we stepped around a corner and saw a steep incline with water rushing down it.  We smiled and hiked up the hallway.  At the top was a beautiful, yet simple, waterfall.  We exited right before needing to walk into the waterfall and found a woman passing out towels to dry our feet. 

After a quick toweling, we were on our way to discover more.  There was a room with a floor made of beanbags.  It was very hard to traverse, but my son loved it. 

The LED room from the Borderless museum was replicated (or maybe it was the original - I'm not sure!). 

And the balloon room was similar, but different. 

My favorite room was the one that required shorts above the knee.  Patrons waded through warm, milky water that had flowers and fish projected onto it.  It was great fun. 

There was also a (kind of) hidden room that had a bench inside as well as a reflective pool that was slightly raised above the water we were wading in.  At the far end of the room,  was a interesting projection show that displayed the growth of a flowering tree.  My son and I sat on the bench and watched in fascination. 

I'm sad to say that none of my photos give this place justice.  It was incredible from the get go.  There were a couple rooms that I just couldn't capture on film.  They were breathtaking, but not recordable.  I didn't mind, because it gave me a chance to just put my phone away and really be in the moment.

Unlike Borderless, this museum had an actual path that directs attendees from exhibit to exhibit.  There is a clear path to go on from start to end.  I preferred the Borderless exhibit, but I found Planets to be very interesting and fun.  I think Planets is possibly a better choice for families or groups since it has a defined path.  Depending on the person wanting to go, I might have a different recommendation. 

As we were leaving, I saw there was going to be a temporary teamLab exhibit at another museum this summer.  I was super excited, until I looked it up and saw it was over 4 hours away (including a Shinkansen ride).  Hmmm.  Maybe I see a summer trip coming up.

My favorite little town

Whenever we have visitors, I always take them to Kawagoe.  It is such a wonderful little town.  We hop on the train to Kawagoe Station and take the bus to the far end of Kurazukuri Zone (the old storehouse area of town).  This way we wander from the furthest point back to the train station.

Each time I go, I fall in love with the area again.  I see new sights and am entranced by the aesthetics. 

There are so many little details to the neighborhood - especially the statues and other art pieces all over the place. 

From fantastic roof lines to amazing flooring, all you have to do is look around to see something new.

While having a cup of tea with my friend and my son, I was suddenly choked up.  I felt like I was really sharing a piece of Japan that is rarely seen.  Even though we were only shopping and wandering around, Kawagoe is a place that makes people feel like "I really am in JAPAN!"  It is so fun to watch their faces light up with delight.

As we picked out chopsticks for my friend's home, we chatted about how many people list Japan as a place they'd like to visit sometime in their life.  When I take them to such a fun town, I really feel like I am helping them make their dreams come true.  There are so many places in Tokyo that you don't even feel like you're in Japan.  But Kawagoe is a magical world that brings the dream into reality.

Dining without gluten

When a friend with celiac visits, there is a bit of extra pressure to make sure the friend has their dietary needs met.  Giving a person with celiac any form of gluten will make them incredibly sick - thus destroying their time with you. 

When most people think of Japanese food, they don't think of gluten.  They think of sushi and grilled fish with rice.  I once thought this as well.  But Japan's number one ingredient, soy sauce, contains gluten.  Suddenly, a trip to Japan can be a bit worrisome for those with gluten allergies.

I had my husband pick up a bottle of gluten free soy sauce at the store so I didn't have to worry about cooking anything in my kitchen.  I simply cook pure and simple food, like stir fry, grilled fish, and the like.  Since I've been cooking for my friend with celiac for years, I am not worried whatsoever about cooking for her. 

My trepidation comes from dining out.  Would I be able to find good restaurants?  Not just restaurants with gluten free food, but GOOD gluten free food!  So much of visiting someplace new, especially a foreign country, is enjoying the food.  I don't want my friend to walk away not receiving the best culinary delights Tokyo has to offer.

In addition to purchasing gluten free soy sauce (which is easy to find in larger stores or department stores), I joined Facebook groups like "Gluten-Free Expats Japan!" to give me some guidance on where to go.  By the time my friend arrived, I felt ready for the culinary challenge.

While out and about in Roppongi, we saw there was a gluten free restaurant offering a wide selection of Japanese cuisine.  Since it was time for lunch, we were ready to try it out.

Gluten Free T's Kitchen is right across the street from Midtown.  It is up on the second floor with an impressive chalk menu on the wall next to the door.  We entered right when the restaurant opened at noon.  It was a good thing we arrived when we did because the seats quickly filled up.  There are only five two-person tables, plus a bar for seating.

After perusing the menu, we ordered gyoza (potstickers), vegetable tempura, and okonomiyaki.  Not only was everything on the menu gluten free, many of the items were vegan as well.  My friend was so excited because she hadn't eaten tempura since she was diagnosed with celiac and she had never had okonomiyaki. 

The food arrived in courses, which was really nice since we were super hungry and the table was super small.  We started with two orders of the gyoza - the vegan version and the pork variety.  Both were nice, but definitely not the best gyoza I've ever had.  It is really hard to compete with my husband's gyoza.  He has perfected it over the years.

The tempura arrived next.  My friend was in heaven!  There were mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers.  I could not tell that it was gluten free.  It was amazing.  We were so excited (and hungry) we didn't take a photo of the gyoza or the tempura!  It is quite the shame because the tempura was beautiful.

Our lunch ended with okonomiyaki.  My husband is a master of okonomiyaki (I'm not just bragging.  I really believe this.), so I was only trying it to see how the gluten free version would stand up.  I was pretty impressed and I'm a pretty tough judge of okonomiyaki.  While the sauce was a bit sweet, the taste of the cabbage, pork, and batter was fantastic.

I would proudly bring any of my gluten free friends to Gluten Free T's Kitchen.  It is so nice to know that in a city of gluten, there are delicious options out there.

A place of calmness

We headed back to Hie Shrine today.  It really is calming and centering - even on a crazy rainy day.

Arrival of the fittest

My friend has arrived.  It was a very long journey, but she made it.  So, tonight I will focus on spending time with my friend and I will write a bit tomorrow. 

Delayed gratification

I woke up with a start at 5 am.  I could feel that something was wrong.  After checking my phone,  I found out my dear friend's flight was delayed and she would not be able to catch her connection.  My heart sank.  I didn't want to face another day without seeing her beautiful face. 

Recently, I've been feeling so lonely.  When my cousins headed home, they took a piece of my heart with them that I wasn't expecting to give.  We hadn't been in close contact for several years and their visit really brought us together on a whole new level.  I've been so sad since they headed back home.

So, finding out that I would have to wait for an extra 24 hours to see my friend, was crushing to say the least. 

When an ocean divides a person from his or her daily life, rescheduling at the last minute is excruciating!  From a missed FaceTime call to a delayed airplane, it is horrible because you don't necessarily have the ability to make it up. 

To brighten up my day, my son came to the rescue.  We started by having an epic pillow fight, then did some cleaning (always therapeutic for me), and finally cracked open the art supplies. 

Around lunch time, we had finally found our centers and went out for just a bit between some rain showers.  While we were out and about I realized that the park moms were having their monthly potluck.  This would be the perfect way to end a day of trying to put a brave face on when I just wanted to melt down and bawl.

When the time came, we packed up and headed over to dine with the mommas.  It was another successful event that reenergized me and brought me a feeling of joy and belonging.  Although we left the party early (typically my son stays home, but he came with me tonight and we needed to get home for him to go to bed), it was great to go and get a breath of fresh air.

Tomorrow will be a new day, where I will travel to the airport and pick up my ray of sunshine.  I can't wait!

Sunflowers have arrived

Although we woke up to an incredible downpour that was super loud.  It was sudden and quick, but delightful. 

I was thankful for it because it took something off my task list today.  I no longer needed to go water the garden. 

It has been slowly developing and getting more robust. 

We've eaten two eggplants and the sunflowers have started to bloom. 

Several tomatoes have also set, giving me hope for the summer to come.

A slice of pineapple

My son loves Hawaiian pizza - ham and pineapple.  Although it is a really polarizing choice of toppings, he doesn't care one bit.  As I've already mentioned in a previous post, pizza in Japan is quite different than US pies. 

We've dined on Pizza La pizzas (the most popular Japanese pizza chain), Dominos (the number one import that has taken on a Japanese style), and now we've found Pizza Hut.  While perusing the Pizza Hut menu, I spotted the desired toppings.  My son was over the moon to find out he could have pineapple on his pizza.

We got take out because it is significantly cheaper to pick it up yourself.  When a single medium pie is over $30, it is great to get a second pizza for half off or even free.  So at least we can stretch the spendy dinner into a couple meals.

When we arrived home, we tossed our salad and sat down to eat our dinner.  I opened up the box of the Hawaiian pizza to find a surprise.  In addition to ham and pineapple, the pizza had corn on it! 

It's always an adventure!

Let them get muddy

Before I moved to Japan, I read an article about the emergence of mud parks throughout the country.  They were high on my list of things I wanted to do, but soon fell to the wayside as I tried to adjust to living here and not knowing where they were.  Before long, I was caught up in attending Piyo Piyo (a version of a mud park in its own right) and then school. 

When I realized that Hike it Baby enjoyed meeting up at mud parks, I was all in!  The desire to visit one of these parks was immediately relit.  Learning where some of the favorite mud parks were located, I was surprised to hear that Nerima had it's own mud park - Nerima Children's Forest.  I had heard of the forest before, but didn't realize it was defined as a mud park.  I was ready to host a "hike" (well, playdate) at this place of intrigue. 

I chose to schedule the playdate when my son's school had an early release day.  That way we would have plenty of time to play and it wasn't on a weekend (which I assume would be more crowded). 

My son and I headed over by train because I didn't want to be late.  We hadn't been there before and I didn't want to get lost on my bike (which has happened more than I'd like to admit). 

As soon as we walked up to the park, we were hypnotized.  My son immediately ran off, not even greeting the other Hike it Baby families that were there.  He saw a tower he just had to climb to the top.  I stayed focused and introduced myself to the other families.  They had arrived early because they came from Yokohama just to go to this park.  Their kids were already playing in a water fountain manufactured from a hose and a gutter with holes.  Although it sounds pretty ghetto,  it was really creative and the kids loved it.

After chatting for a bit, I started exploring the park a bit more.  There were hills of dirt with kid-sized shovels available for anyone to move some dirt. 

There were hammocks and rope swings hung all over for kids to ride on. 

I loved seeing the "washing station" where kids were cleaning the dirty hammocks by stomping on them in buckets of soapy water. 

There were art project opportunities and construction time, if kids wanted to partake. 

There were kids from age 1 to 10, all having a blast doing various activities.  While talking with a park employee (of which there were several on hand helping the kids get dirty and be very creative in their play), I learned they even have a gardening program for elementary aged children.  The options really were endless. 

My son was all about chasing the wildlife.  One of the park employees gave him a butterfly net, which he ran around with chasing a white moth.  I noticed a couple other kids caught beautiful butterflies and were hauling them around in little plastic insect boxes.  At one point, my son caught a frog.  He brought it over to show us with pride.  It was very fun and interesting until he put it down and expected it to still be there when he got back.  I screamed a bit as it tried to jump away.  I was soon rolling with laughter knowing what I looked like, being both freaked out and entertained all at once. 

Whenever it got too hot, I would duck into the shade of one of the many trees, vine canopies (mostly kiwi), and man-made sunshades to cool off.  Even though it was a kid's playground, it was visually beautiful in many ways.  I liked that it wasn't all dirt or mud.  There was also lots of green and color.  Some of the kids were making a piece of flower art on one of the dirt hills that was just stunning.

Finally, it was time to go.  We had played there for over 3 hours.  I helped my son scrub some of the dirt off in the water facet and gave him clean clothes to wear home.  As we walked away, he said "Mom, that was so much fun.  I want to go there again!"  So do I, little man.  So do I.