November 4, 2011
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Bara Bara
This week has been just that...bara bara.
I also mentioned that this week seemed really wonky...which sounds like Willy Wonka...Yes, we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this week, and Willy Wonka is on the brain. But back to my first statement...this week has been bara bara.It is a great Japanese word... bara bara. In fact, I caught myself using it when I was talking to our boarder guys. I told them to not put the dishes in the dish washer bara bara. I have no idea why I used that word except it seemed like just the right word to use at that moment. I am just thankful that these guys have grown up here and knew what I meant. Otherwise, that would have just been really weird.
As for this week, it has been here and there..disconnected, in pieces...in short...bara bara.
Monday started out normally enough. However, on Tuesday Tomo had the day off. Why you ask? Because they school was testing the incoming kids. Yes, testing to see if they will allow the kids in to the school next year. Tomo was tested before he could enroll. The kids will all turn 3 by the time they start next April, so the testing is pretty basic, but it is testing, nonetheless. The rest of the school got the day off. Wednesday was sort of normal. Maya has been coldish, so I kept her home and did not go to Japanese class this week. Then Thursday was a National Holiday. It was Culture Day. Friday was another normal day.
The week as it was through me all off my daily routines. Take for example, I had to make an obento on Monday. Tuesday and Thursdays were days off, so I did not need to make a lunch. Wednesday the school provides a lunch. By the time Friday rolled around I was sure I would forget. I did remember the lunch, but I did NOT remember to pack his fork, spoon, chopstick set. Oops. The sensei loaned Tomo a fork which I will wash and return on Monday. Yep, I guess that shows maybe my brain is a little bara bara lately too.
Had a lovely time at lunch on Culture Day with two of our church ladies. Sweet times with them. I was so happy to hear one lady request that we do lunch again. When I saw her today, it was so nice to be greeted at the door with a wide smile and a comment on what a wonderful time she had at lunch. I am so thankful for my husband for watching not just our children, but one of the other lady's child.
This afternoon I had a nice class time with my kiddos. The girl has been making some amazing strides in English and I am so proud of her! The boy is using English so much more naturally anymore and I can even joke around with him and he understands the joke. Love those kids.
This evening Skyler presented his "puppet show" for a project he needed to turn in for school. The whole family gathered around for the puppet show. The little ones so cute holding their warm drinks watching the show. They laughed, so I guess that means the presenter was entertaining. I was impressed how well Skyler knew the story. His project was to present a Russian folktale in the form of a puppet show. He has been finishing up his unit on Russia. The folktale was a new one for us and it was pretty bizarre, and Skyler definitely had fun telling the story. The last thing to cover Russia will be a viewing of the movie Anastasia (not the Disney but the black and white movie), and then Skyler needs to present a Siskel and Ebert style of critique. That should be entertaining.
And finally for fun, and to appease my undying curiosity, I made laundry detergent. A couple of days ago I ordered a bucket. Not just any bucket, but a bucket that has a 20 liter capacity. My bucket came today! Tonight I made the laundry soap, and as it needs to sit overnight, I will use it in the morning. Right now I am in the experimenting stage. I found a recipe on how to make it with a bar or soap and baking soda. It suggested adding borax but said it was not necessary. I will see how this goes, because at five gallons of detergent made for dirt cheap soap, it may be worth it big time. Because my curiosity will not fully be appeased until I try it with borax, I did find out what it is called in Japanese and will probably order some to try. Even with special ordering borax, it still would make for cheaper than store bought laundry detergent. I can't believe I am saying this but I am looking forward to doing laundry tomorrow so I can try out my science experiment.
And because I am sure that this post in not bara bara enough, I wanted to share a very little story. During the week Corey went to the store for me and he came home and told me about the price for serving on a certain product. As he was telling me this, I was thinking, "He is speaking my language!" Yep, he's a keeper!
