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Tea

We applied for our Alien Card and got medical (provided by the state) and some other grants yesterday.  The experience was overwhelming for me.  It made the differences just so much more evident.  The Japanese run things so efficiently and smoothly.  I am most definitely not saying this is a bad thing.  The experience was overwhelming because of my children.  The place we went to is open plan- everyone sits together.  This shouldn't be a problem, but with Alexander performing like a circus animal (by Japanese standards) my nerves were shot.  And with the noise he made I expected the workforce to come to a standstill but they didn't, they didn't even acknowledge him.  In South Africa my son has caught the attention of everyone in the grocery store.

I am not overwhelmed now, I am missing my family so bad, but I know God has called us here and will comfort me here.  We are excited to be in the Will of God, the sweetest spot to be.

The days are already running into a blurry mess for me (which is exactly how I was back at my other home).  Ok, what's happened lately?  It snowed yesterday!  It wasn't a whole lot of snow but for us South Africans it was amazing.  And we ate at the coolest restaurant yesterday.  A bunch of the restaurants we've gone to give you tea when you sit down (it's cold) and water. Side note:  we didn't eat out a whole lot in South Africa, which means the littlies are not really very aware of how to behave.  Alexander has lain on the floor, spilled his drink twice and played drums with his chopsticks.  Beatrice tries to climb out of the awesome little people chairs. Back to the main feature: You order at a machine, pay and take your ticket to the kitchen.  Your meal, whatever it may be, comes with rice which you can top up.  And, what else, I saw my classroom.  I am going to be teaching kindergarten and Alexander will be in my class.  And we found Rooibos tea!!!!!!!!  And Ceres juice!!!!  Mmm, what else?  Today we walked up through town to Satsukiyama Park and Zoo.  It is incredibly beautiful.  The zoo was free and had really awesome animals.  Ikeda's mascot is a wombat doanted by Launceton (Ikeda's sister city), Tasmania.
















These posts will continue to be a bit jumbled until I settle a bit more.  I am observing so much and I'd really like to share it with you.

Much love to you
Philippa
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