We are in the middle of an international move - it's stressful people! According to my diary I have 25 days left in Japan after nearly seven years. That's a long time. I was sure we were only going to stay here for a couple of years at the beginning, but one thing led to another and here we are. We've been talking about moving for a very long time, but we've finally got the ball rolling. Plane tickets are booked and furniture is leaving our house everyday. I have mixed feelings about the move, but I'm super excited (and also somewhat scared) about all of these upcoming changes. We are shifting hemispheres from North to South and will be making our new home in Melbourne Australia. So please come and visit once we are all set up!
I'm behind on my Jake updates and I'm sorry for that - mostly because he's changing daily and I love to read all of my old updates and I know that if you don't write these things down you forget....There are so many adorable things that J does now and I don't want to forget... except maybe his new habit of slamming things (including himself) into doors and walls (he slammed his wooden walker into one of our doors yesterday and made a dent - goodbye deposit!!).
So in honour of our move, I'm going to try to post one thing I'll miss about Japan and one more thing that I won't miss about Japan everyday until we leave.
Number ONE thing that I will miss about Japan:
FOOD
...in particular all of our favourite restaurants in Kichijoji including chains such as Ootoya!! My running joke about my next job has been to open Ootoya Melbourne - it would be such a hit, I'm sure!
Number ONE thing I won't miss about Japan:
crowded morning trains
About Time!
Hurry Up!
My Jake bonding time is running out!
Love Mock
Posted by: Mock | March 05, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Good to see a post from you girl! It must be stressful, but hang in there!!! It will be sad not having you in Tokes, but I am sure Melbourne will be a heap of fun! Good luck with the move preparations and take care of yourselves!
Posted by: noohnooh | March 05, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Wishing you good luck with the move... I am very sympathetic because we found it hard enough and we'd only been in Japan for 3 years and we didn't have a baby.
And I love Ootoya too! I used to always eat there in Kichijoji when I went there on Yuzawaya missions.
Posted by: suzy | March 05, 2009 at 07:36 PM
I totally wrote the same list (Things I will/will not miss about Japan) before we left, too! Whenever I'm feeling natsukashii I take a look at the "will not miss" list and immediately feel better. #1 on the list: election campaign trucks with their megaphones blasting at 7am.
Good luck with the move! We will FOR SURE visit you in Oz...someday.
Posted by: Jenny | March 06, 2009 at 01:15 AM
Good luck with the move! Sad that you are going just as I am getting ready to come to Tokyo, but maybe we can catch up in Australia one of these days. :)
Posted by: molly | March 06, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Good luck with the move - having done repeated international moves myself (although without a baby in tow) I can certainly sympathise. Be warned though the Melbourne trains are pretty crazy these days too, and people don't queue nicely like they do in Tokyo!
Posted by: Larissa | March 07, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Hurry up...I've got a nice cuppa tea and a lamington waiting for you.
Posted by: jacqueline | March 08, 2009 at 01:33 PM
oh man, i can't believe the move is so soon!! good luck with everything! i can only imagine how hard that move is going to be :(
Posted by: gleek | March 09, 2009 at 01:58 AM
I definitely miss Otoya as well as all the great izakayas! I've traded crowded trains for crowded freeways now and I have to say I dislike the latter just as much. At least I don't have a daily commute on them, though. Can't believe you only have three more weeks! M & A must be so bummed.
Posted by: kirsten | March 10, 2009 at 05:16 AM
Hey! Don't steal my idea! I'm going to start Ootoya in Perth, when we eventually move back. Whenever that may be.
Well, if you do start one in Melbourne, we'll come and visit. Did you know the Ootoya in Mitaka have re-usable chopsticks and an English menu!? Yeah! I said "WTF!?" under my breath also! It's like heaven, but without all the naked dancing ladies... err...
So anyway, I don't get why the Ootoya in Kichijoji is still using waribashi.
Damn, I'm gunna miss that place, but not for a couple more years.
One thing I won't miss is "smoky *insert public eating/drinking/living space here*"s.
But I heard all JR platforms in Tokyo will be 100% SMOKE FREE starting April 1st, 2009!!!
When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!
Posted by: Marcello | March 13, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Pinku, I am visiting Japan for the first time, & looking for yarn shops here. I live in Melbourne, Australia, maybe we will catch up there?
Posted by: Jill (member of Victorian Handknitters Guild) | April 09, 2009 at 11:26 AM