Olé, Olé, Olé (The Name of the Game)

On July 15-18, Leah and I participated in the MWR* soccer camp at Nimitz Park.  The idea was I would help coach and Leah and Aaron would participate in camp.  There were about 45 kids and one other adult coach plus three teenagers to help (and the MWR Youth Sports Director, Coach Tony,who knows very little about soccer).  The other coach and I split up the kids via age (and sometimes skill level) and I had about 24 kids under the age of 8 on the first day.  Even though the camp was from 9-11am, it was well over 90 degrees.  I was having the kids stretch and warm up when I noticed Aaron wasn't there.  Coach Tony found him on the playground, which is fenced in and within sight of the end of the soccer field where I was.  Aaron told me he didn't want to play soccer, which was a surprise, since he was excited to wear his new orange cleats and he was dribbling the ball around on the field prior to the start of camp.  I don't know if it was the heat, the number of kids, or the sight of the playground (or maybe a combination of the three?) that changed his mind but I let him go play on the playground instead.  The rest of the days he didn't even wear his soccer clothes and he told me he doesn't want to play soccer in the Fall.  [Insert sarcastic voice] I'm just so glad I bought him cleats last month.  Fall soccer sign-ups happen for a few more weeks so I will wait a bit and ask him again.

Leah was eager to play and meet people.  Most of the kids were pretty well behaved; some were a challenge and one, quite frankly, was a pain in the ass.  I think a combination of the heat (I saw the thermometer one day read 99 degrees) and the fact that the activities were planned and the kids couldn't do whatever they wanted weeded out a lot of the troublemakers and by the end of the week I only had about a dozen kids.  Leah did very well in the sense that I couldn't give her a lot of attention, especially the first couple days.  She was just there to run around and have fun, nothing more.

On Tuesday, July 16, a group of Japanese schoolchildren, around Aaron's age, came and joined us for the last third of camp.  There was about 55 of them along with their teachers, a photographer and a camera man.  I have no idea what school or where they were from but there were a lot of them.  Too many to do soccer stuff so we split them up and I had my group do fun little relay races.  They seemed to enjoy themselves.  At the end of camp, the American kids gave the Japanese kids omiyage (pronounced o-me-yah-gee, best described as a socially-obligated souvenir):  baseball caps.  Both the Americans and the Japanese lined up to take a group photograph and that was our day.  I asked Leah if she liked interacting with the Japanese kids and her reply was a guarded yes because she was disappointed that the Japanese kids didn't reciprocate an omiyage gift.  Overall it was a fun but exhausting week.  That heat really takes a lot out of you.  Air conditioning and a shower never felt so good.

*MWR stands for Morale, Welfare and Recreation.  Just as the name implies, it is fun part of the Navy.  MWR provides for things like youth and adult sports but it also arranges entertainment to the base, runs the movie theaters and a couple restaurants and provides access to discounted admission tickets to attractions.

You Spin Me Right 'Round, Baby

I don't know why, but one of the things Sasebo is known for is spinning tops.  They are also called "fighting tops," as it is a popular activity for Japanese kids to have top "battles."  These tops are heavy, wooden tops that are elaborately painted and "thrown" by a string.  About a 10-minute walk from the Main Base is a tiny family-owned shop called (appropriately enough) Sasebo Tops.  (Although I'm not sure, I'd be willing to bet the upstairs is actually the family apartment as there was laundry hanging from the balcony.  This is very typical here.)

I thought it was cool that the top shop was
shaped and painted to resemble a top.

On July 8, the FRG* arranged an "Out and About" trip to paint tops at Sasebo Tops so Leah, Aaron and I went along with six other family members of the BHR.  While it was a short walk, it was extremely hot and the tables with all the materials were outside in the driveway.  Luckily, it was shady where the tops were but it was still hot. 

The shop owner was a lady who spoke about as much English as I speak Japanese (which is not much), and I'm not sure if her daughter speaks even that much English as she never said a word.  There were long tables set up with multiple brushes and paint and at each seat was a cylinder that spun.  You set the unpainted top on the small cylinder and paint it while it spins.  Luckily there was only one other child on this "field trip," and since she was nine, she was able to paint the top herself.  That left the shop owner and her daughter free to help Leah and Aaron.  If they weren't able to help and I had to help them, I don't think I would have been able to paint my own top.

The wooden tops were available in three sizes:  large (easiest to paint), medium (easiest to throw) and small (makes good Christmas ornaments).  Aaron chose a large, Leah chose a medium and I chose a small and made it into a Christmas ornament.  (The daughter even wrote "Merry Christmas" in Katakana for me with a paint pen on my top.)  Similar to a paint your own pottery-type place, you pay according to what size top you choose and you have to come back another day to pick up the finished top.  (A shiny lacquer is applied as well as the metal tip to the top.  And in the case of my ornament, they even added a ribbon to the top so I can hang it on the tree.)

After everyone had painted their tops, the lady gave everyone a top to learn how to throw it.  If you've ever thrown a yo-yo where the yo-yo sits and spins at the bottom of the string rather than climbing back up, then you can throw a top.  It requires that same flick of the wrist.  The string gets wound either clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on whether you are going to be throwing it with your right or left hand.  It's actually thrown on it's side via the string and then it rights itself onto the tip and spins.  After a few practice throws I got the hang of it and then we had our own "battle" where the person whose top spins the longest wins and gets their name written in Kanji on a board on the wall.  (I did not win.)

Overall it was an interesting and fun endeavor, but when it was done, we were all glad as it was very hot that day.  I asked Leah and Aaron if they would like to do it again and they said no, once was enough and I have to agree.  When we came back the next day to pick up our finished tops, we got to see the showroom, and the tops the lady makes are very elaborate and beautiful.  From what I could interpret, as it gets closer to Christmas she creates top ornaments too.  Now I just have to wait until Christmas to hang my top.

*FRG stands for Family Readiness Group.  Most ships have their own FRG.  Before the social media explosion, the FRG was a good source of information on the ship during deployments for families.  Now it has mostly a social agenda and is a good way to meet people and stay occupied while your sailor is underway.  They have things like back-to-school parties, Valentine's Day parties, these "Out and About" field trips, etc. 

Leah Lost Her First Tooth!

Leah has been waiting and waiting to lose a tooth.  For two years now, she has seen classmates lose their teeth and wondered when it would be her turn.  Finally, to her relief, she finally lost a tooth!

For the last week or two, Leah has been telling me/showing me her loose teeth.  (Both of her top front teeth are slightly loose.)  When she told me about her bottom loose tooth, I expected the same mild wiggle.  However, when I wiggled the bottom tooth it was really loose.  I told her to keep working on it.  She kept hoping it would come out while eating, but knowing that her diet consists of mostly softer foods, I knew that would never happen.  On Sunday, July 14, Leah decided she was ready for me to pull her tooth.  In theory, it seemed easy, but I really didn't know what to do.  My sister, Vickie, always pulled my teeth.  I had no experience.  I actually Googled "how do you pull baby teeth" and one of the suggestions was to take a washcloth for a better grip.  I tried this but it was difficult.  That tooth was tiny!  It was really loose but my pulling was causing her pain and making it bleed a little.  I told her I thought we should give it a few more days, that the tooth wasn't ready to come out yet.  She cried because she said she was really looking forward to a visit from the Tooth Fairy.  For the next few days I offered to pull her tooth but she was scared. 

On Wednesday, July 17, our friend Sarah Stevens came over.  Sarah is our wonderful 13-yr-old babysitter.  She is a super-responsible, nice girl who was my assistant coach for my soccer team.  Her younger brother, Will, was not only on our soccer team with Leah but also on Leah's t-ball team.  Unfortunately, Sarah's family was moving (they actually left July 21) so Sarah stopped by our apartment to say goodbye to Leah and Aaron.

Leah and Aaron with Sarah.

Sarah also brought a friend, at my request, that she thought might take over her babysitting duties.  When Leah told Sarah about her loose tooth, Sarah got very excited.  She asked Leah if she could pull her tooth.  I told her, "Yes, please."  Sarah explained that she had pulled all her own loose teeth along with some friends' loose teeth.  (I asked Sarah if she wanted to become a dentist when she grew up.  She said no.  She wants to be an archaeologist.)  She had Leah get her a piece of toilet paper and she pulled it in what seemed like two seconds.  It was almost immediate and Leah never felt a thing.  Leah was soooooo excited!

Leah and her lost tooth, courtesy of Sarah Stevens.

 After Leah rinsed out her mouth, we put her tooth in her Tooth Fairy box.  She and Aaron each have their own Tooth Fairy box that Nanny gave them a couple years ago as a souvenir from a trip to Italy.

First, the tooth goes in the Tooth Fairy box...

 

...then place it under your pillow.

Leah was so excited at the prospect of a visit from the Tooth Fairy I was afraid she wouldn't be able to go to sleep.  I kept telling her the Tooth Fairy wouldn't come unless she was asleep and she seemed to understand. 

In the morning, Leah was delighted to see that the Tooth Fairy had visited her.  The tooth was gone and in its place was money.  Because this was Leah's very first tooth, the Tooth Fairy left her a very nice note and few trinkets of the dollar-store variety.  Leah was thrilled.  She can't wait to lose another tooth.  Tonight she told me her other bottom tooth is loose.  Not sure when Leah will lose another tooth but my guess would be this summer.

The Tooth Fairy left both $1.00
and 100Yen.

 

The Tooth Fairy also left a tiny dinosaur puzzle, a
glow stick necklace and a science experiment book.

Independence Day

Happy Birthday, America, from Japan.

Today is the 4th of July and we celebrated by participating in the First Annual CFAS 4th of July Parade on Main Base (MB).  There was really no prerequisite.  The parade was announced a few weeks ago and if you wanted to participate, you just e-mailed the base commander's administrative assistant.  The suggested parade participants were either groups or kids wearing patriotic dress and having decorated bikes, wagons, etc.  Leah and Aaron loved the idea and wanted to ride their scooters.  I decorated the scooters with red, white and blue crepe paper and silver star garland.  I also added a pinwheel and a giant flag bow to each.  I have to admit, they looked pretty good.  (I didn't think to take a picture of only the scooters.)

As is typical for July in Japan (rainy season), it rained today.  It rained almost all morning.  I wasn't sure if the parade was still going to be held but it wasn't just a parade at stake.  The base had a pool party, "American" buffet, a pie-baking contest and fireworks.  I think the thought of rescheduling a large event when the weather forecast for the next ten days is 60-80% chance of rain lead the base commander, Captain Chip Rock (and I did not even make up that name--reminds me of The Flintstones or something) gave the green light to keep the plans for today.  His exact words were, "Did George Washington quit when crossing the Delaware River in a snow storm?"  So we packed our umbrellas and drove to MB. 

I parked the Blueberry near the end of the parade route and we had to walk/scoot to the beginning and of course, it was raining.  Luckily, the rain wasn't too heavy but it was windy.  The base is shaped like a "U" and we basically had to get from one end of the "U" to the other.  The Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (think towers of dorm rooms for young, unmarried sailors) are near the parade end and because you need to be at least 25 years old to get a drivers license here through the base, there is usually a random taxi cab or two around.  We got lucky and was able to catch a cab to the parade's starting point. 

The parade participants were a motley crew, to say the least.  There were a handful of other families but most were groups from different commands on base.  In front of us was a big group from Medical.  They all had matching tie-dye shirts and there was an ambulance that would periodically sound its siren.  The medical people handed out small American flags and popsicles to the tens of people that were watching the parade.  Directly in front of us was a small group from I don't know where but for being less than ten people, they were very vocal with organized cheers and songs.  Directly behind us was Security with guys in Kevlar and blue plastic automatic weapons and a Humvee.  (Initially I had to keep reminding Aaron to look in the direction he was scooting and not behind him at the Humvee.) 


Waiting for the parade to start.

Leah loved her light-up tiara.

The Subway Subman gave the kids a Frisbee and
a yo-yo and posed for pictures before the
parade started.

Luckily, the rain stopped before the parade began and it didn't rain for the entire parade or the Captain's speech/awards presentation afterwards.  We saw Leah's teacher, Mrs. Jarrard, and a few other families we knew along the parade route.  It wasn't that hard--there weren't that many although the biggest concentration were at the bottom of the "U" (where the Exchange and the food court are located) and near the end of the parade.  The kids had fun but about two-thirds of the way they were getting very tired.  I practically had to pull Aaron by the handlebars.  The parade ended in front of the Headquarters building and that's where the fun ended for us.  Leah was tired and wanted to go home and of course we were all damp from basically being in what would compare to being in a closed bathroom while the shower is running, which is what being in Sasebo in July feels like.  I'm assuming that Aaron was tired too, maybe even hungry.  At least I hope so as he had which can only be described as an epic meltdown which unfortunately began during the singing of the National Anthem.  I won't go through the details but in addition to the on-location naughty-spot time-out, Aaron spent the rest of the afternoon in his room and was sent to bed immediately after dinner.  Luckily Leah was tired and had asked to go home prior to the meltdown.  I was afraid she would be upset at having to miss the rest of the festivities but she had had enough, which was fine with me as by this time I had a headache starting. 

So no fireworks or party--not the most exciting July 4th on record, but compared to last year when we spent the holiday, during our first week in Japan, in the ER after Leah fell and hit her mouth on the coffee table, it was exciting enough.  Sometimes not exciting is better.  I thought we could watch A Capitol Fourth and see fireworks (a Rich family tradition) while we eat breakfast tomorrow, but it is being shown tape-delayed tomorrow night.  I hope everyone has a happy, dry and safe Independence Day and that your celebration is exciting enough (but not too exciting).