English? Japanese?

My kids had a play date with Japanese kids today for the first time in ages. They usually play with American kids in English, so I was kinda worried if they can express well in Japanese.

For my pleasant surprise, there was no need to worry eventually.

Until the friends left they had spoken Japanese, but just right after I shut the door, their verbal switch turned to English mode from Japanese ones!

Their first and the most comfortable languages are English now. Almost every time I have to remind them to speak Japanese in our house otherwise their conversation are 100% English.

Ok, this is I wanted them to be in the first place when we came here 3 years ago. Even though their parents are both native Japanese, the influence of school, friends, books and TVs overcome it easily.

My biggest fear is that if time passes by like this they could forget or reluctant to speak Japanese. I want them to be Japanese who can speak English, not Americans who can speak Japanese. It would be a nationality crisis!! So I won't stop saying "Speak Japanese!!

kids movie

Every week we borrow DVDs from our loco library. I prefer classic movie like those for kids. No complication. Good people defeat bad people, reliable smart animals, friendship, no violence, no bad words, some funny characters but not extreme.

Only the problem for me is the British accent in the Black Beauty. It's hard to pick up words, they sounds so different. However, my older girl had British teacher last year, so she imitates very well their English. Bi-yuu-tii, Bi-yuu-tii!!

yogo joy

I took my girls to this place "yogo joy" which is new to my neighborhood. The system in this parlor really suits us. It's all self-service so that you can serve frozen yogurt as much/little as you like, and put varieties of toppings. yummy...

The Namesake/ movie

A young Indian man who believed in the words "Books are for to travel without moving an inch" was told " Pack a pillow and see as much of the world as you can" just before a train crush happened in India.

He came to New York with his young bride in early 70'. They had two kids, a suburban house and nice Indian friends. One success story in the USA.

However, their son, Gogol, started to hate his strange name which obviously was named after Russian eminent novelist, also what he struggled most was the balance between his Indian roots and his already Americanized modern life.

He managed to find his balance and the deep meaning of his name, as the title showed.

I rather sympathized his mother, Ashim, than Gogol. She wasn't able to adjust American culture like other family members, wearing sari all the time. When her children flew away from her, she said that she lost all her family when she came to the USA, and secondly she was losing them now. After her husband passed away, she was back to India.

This movie made me think that it is hard to understand somebody even if you were his or her parent or son or daughter or friend or else. Especially when you had different backgrounds. Thus we need to keep trying to understand each other.

Being a foreigner in different country is tough. I know the feeling. I sometimes feel strange when my kids act and speak like American kids. I know if you'd like to raise your children bilingual and international-minded, you must teach them your language first.

In the last scene, Ashim was singing Indian song in beautiful sari. she looked so relaxed and tranquil. I wonder that ending symbolized the value of tradition and ethnicity.

decluttering, Day 3

4 garbage bags were taken away from my driveway this morning. My place is being cleared up. Not perfect though. Anyhow, I don't see any clutter or piles now. This doesn't mean i can stay like this forever, i have to keep swimming towerd upstream. Just like about your happiness. You can never be lax about your satisfaction, otherwise that would slip away from your hands very easily. keep tryin'!!

decluttering, Day 2

Yes, I'm still working on it. I did my work space, dining area and the pantry. I've frequently faced this dilemma, mo-ttai-nai. Mottainai is a Japanese saying means don't-waste-you-can-still-use-it spirit. My generation must have been grown up with this word by our parents. As a matter of fact, my mom never throws away used wrapping paper or ribbons, and she recycles them. Yes, she is a kind of pack rat, but so am I. Leo says most of your accumulations are useless. OK, I trust him. Be practical. to be continued...

decluttering, Day 1

The concept of our living room is "simple modern". What an irony it is! Because my living room is a mess! I've been subscribing kindle blog called Zen Habit, and I found this guy Leo who posted how to live simple, I'm really really impressed by him. From now on, I'm a simplifier and declutterer or I'll try. OK, today is Day 1. I'll clear my work place after shut the PC off.

hot and humid again...

It has been extremely hot these days. We don't have A/C upstairs which means we can't sleep on my own bed warmed up by daytime heat. We've been sleeping in living room since last week. What a shame!! I miss my bed!! However, it comes with bonus, it's kind of fun living in living room. We watch TV and play cards or UNO and then say "Good Night" each other and sleep there. It's like having a family camp inside the house!!

eat, pray, love/ book

I finished "eat, pray, love" today at the pool side.

This book was definitely ranked in my favorites book list.

Look at the cover! Some cute pasta forms "eat", a string of prayer's beads forms "pray" and cheerful flower petals form "love". This is a really witty introduction.

The author was candid, brave, insightful and funny. At the middle of Italy part, I found myself traveling with her although I didn't know I can keep up her appetite. Then I was scrubbing a floor of the Indian ashram with her, and next, I learned about Balinese four brothers from the medicine man with her. I'm so glad she shared her stories.

I must read next chapter of her life in "Committed". Oh, before that I'll watch the movie, so looking forward to it!!

My daughter's Birthday

Today is my older daughter's 11th Birthday. Time flies. I can't believe 11 years has passed since that day she was born!?


It was perfectly sunny day in Little Rock. I went to St.Vincent hospital on 5am for induced labor. Eventually, she came out 9pm though. After that, she was transferred to Children's Hospital to examine her special heart. Everything was proceeded orderly as we expected.


At 7 months check-up, the doctor informed us about her heart condition. Literally that news scared me to death, since then I had been so upset as much as you can imagine up until a week before I had her.


On that day, the doctor told me that the baby was ready to come out and also she said she touched her on tip of her head when she examined. The doctor touched my baby! That fact gave me reality indeed. She is coming to me! She only has me! In that instance I became a mother, not a coward pessimist anymore.


She survived three major heart operations by 3 years old. Thank God! I don't know how I can thank all of people who support us and thank to her strong heart!


Now she is beautiful, curious, active, strong, thoughtful, tall, suntanned, playful, love reading, love horseback riding, bilingual, smart and sweet girl. I'll never know what kind of life is waiting for her, but I know she knows I'll never stop loving her from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Birthday my baby!!

N.Y.Philharmonic 2010 Concerts in the Park

I went to the Concert in the Park last night with my family. This is one of my favorite events in NY.

It had been raining and even severe weather alert was reported on the afternoon, but fortunately all those gray clouds were blown away by the time the concert began.

We brought a comfy blanket, some food and a bottle of wine, and had a spot on east side of the park. Lucky us! we got the perfect view of stage and midtown skyline although the place was packed.

I always like listening to the music outdoor, especially classical music, because I think it goes very well to nature sound. Moreover I don't have to sit straight and stare at the stage, but I can lay down sipping a plastic cup of wine! I have to admit I'm not a musical person at all but outdoor concert gives me a chance to enjoy music. It was so beautiful!!

Fireworks after the concert! It was the first fireworks for us in this summer. Tooo baad, we missed 4th of July one's. But I'm so glad we had a chance. It was one perfect night landscape.

Opening Today!

Isn't this a perfect day for me to open the blog page of my own? It is pouring outside. Usually, I go to the municipal pool in my neighborhood with my daughters. I adore the swimming and reading routine these days, however , it is always nice to have my own time while girls eyes are glued on TV screen. I'll try to write this blog as much as I can!!