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messy face to make it bigger.Emails from Kirsten and Naoto
June 2005
Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:21:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: the good news and the bad news
Dear Friends and Family:
We have officially entered "the rainy season" here in Japan. Mold now grows at the rate of centimeters a day. Futons smell musty and clothes never seem quite dry.
Mia's school has been sending home little pieces of paper for the past month describing little things we have to get ready for them. I had to sew a special bag for her "emergency cover" in event of an earthquake. I had to buy a new backpack, groundsheet, and thermos for a school outing (they wrote in the note that the school backpack is too small to use). I had to sew loops onto two towels in preparation for the pool opening. I also had to resew an apron (no tie strings) so they can make cookies....and the list never seems to end. Not to mention the summer socks and hat that need to have mia's name, heart mark and classname....
(and all these items get compared by mommies waiting at the gate before and after school, so god forbid yours isn't cute enough or whatnot)
The good news and the bad news
Well, which do you want first? Actually they are the same news:
We are moving to Porland, Oregon at the end of July!
(and there was much rejoicing.)
It is a complicated kaleidoscope of emotions for our family. On one side, big yippee for going back to the states. On the other side, leaving Japan with the only two grandchildren on Naoto's side is difficult. I fear reverse culture shock. I fear having to make friends again, learn streets again, etc. etc.
I look forward to bagels, more than 4 choices of cereal, my mom possibly moving up to Portland, too, people I can casually make jokes with, good education for my children, access to an Asian community, a job that doesn't make Naoto crazy and stressed....
So I am guessing that there may not be many Kirsten emails for a while, and I will have to decide if I have enought to talk about living in Portland in order to continue or not.
But that's a decision for another day.
Meanwhile there's like a million details I need to take care of in the actual transpacific move looming before me.
yikes.
(kirsten goes and buries her head under a pillow)
love and light,
kirsten
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