First days at TIS
Last week was the first day of school. We had been taking the necessary precautions:
We have supplied the girls with some fine bicycles, made in Japan (Bridgestone, the founder of Bridgestone’s name (Ishibashi) when translated into English is Stonebridge, but as he thought that in English the names are usually turned around, he called his company Bridgestone (he apparently was unaware that in English we put the first name first and the last name last; it is actually rather uncommon to split one’s surname into two meaningful parts and then reverse them)). They are blue and have a little basket in the front and they are very happy with them. The same amount of money would have bought them some fine bicycles with gears, which could come in handy with the hills here, but the lightblue color was irresistable. For Lukas we were able (miraculously) to locate a second hand bicycle, which has the kind of fenders that make it look like an off-road motorcycle, so despite it being second hand he was quite happy with it (and so it was for the vendor, trust me). However, as our street is on a rather steep hill, and we need to descend to get to school, put a child seat on the back of Roberta’s ‘shopping bike’. When Lukas learned that he would not be allowed to bike to school but instead had to sit in a seat behind his mother’s back he said ‘Do I have to be a baby?’ but fortunately he did not complain any further.
We also practised the route to school; with mixed success. Roberta took the children to school the Friday before school started for the orientation and although she found the school with ease, she got hopelessly lost on the way back (and this is walking as we only bought the bicycles on Sunday). It was extra unpleasant as it was hot and they wandered a long time with the children getting increasingly impatient. When she finally asked somebody a woman the way home the woman—apparently understanding the desperate situation—walked with them for well over two blocks to make sure that they found their way back. I had better luck on Saturday (I am not saying that I am a better navigator of course) walking with the kids (it only takes 25 minutes) and on Sunday we tried it with the newly purchased bicycles and that went smooth as well (15 minutes, I ran and led the way).
Roberta bought little bento lunch boxes for the children. Pascale who is resistant to all things Japanese, has refused to take one and insists on getting peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but Saskia has embraced the new culture fully (she has learned many hiragana characters and is enjoying reading some of the signs, quite useful for us, as she can point out where the sushi and soba noodles restaurants are). She will now get triangles of sticky rice for lunch (with soy sauce, which is where her taste diverges strongly from Japanese customs, who consider putting soy sauce on rice a vile sin). Roberta is putting all her artistic skill in the creation of these lunche boxes. Saskia has never had such an attractive (and tasty lunch).
The nice thing about an international school, it is international. Not that the Morgan Hill school was completely lacking in diversity, but it is not quite the same. The classes at TIS look more like the United Nations. Except that there are 4 Dutch children in Lukas’ class! Last year there was only one family, now there are six; the Dutch are returning to Japan at last. Pascale made good friends with a Pakistani girl on her first day (Sarah is her name, her father flies airplanes and works for the embassy).
Saskia’s teacher is called Mike, and she thinks he is very cool, except that he has already announced that they will be doing a lot of math. On the first day, at the first assembly of the school year Saskia volunteered (she was the only one) to speak to the whole assembly about the fifth grade project (they are going to recycle the plastic bottles at school, I believe). She now has decided that she will become a Broadway actress, so it is good practice.
After the first day Saskia asserted that she wants to stay in Tokyo for more than just the one year. After the second she wanted to do 5th grade, 6th grade and middleschool at TIS.
Seen dn a T-shirt:
"I must suck to be you"
Also on a t-shirt with a girl in school uniform, next to her mouth in a balloon: 'Sale'
Below the cartoon: "She is frigid"
4:34:47 PM 
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