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.