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The kids went back to yochien last week and I just finished getting all of their "gear" ready. In my defence, there is a bit of work involved. You don`t just buy the stuff and send it with them in their backpack. Oh no! You must sew (or get someone else to sew) bags, scrub indoor shoes, and label everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING:
Today was the "welcome picnic" which our yochien has every year at a huge public park in the south of part of our little city. I thought I was supposed to make a family-type bento just like last year but as usual I thought wrong. Somehow I misunderstood (story of my life) the information sheet about the picnic and made the big bento when I was supposed to make individual bentos. I knew something was amiss the moment we got to the park and saw all the other students carrying their backpacks. Tigergirl and Tigerboy did not have a backpack. Dun dun dun (music of doom). Well, what can you do?! I knew I`d just have to wait and see what I messed up this time and sure enough, I had made the wrong kind of bento:
Since Tigerpapa is away in Tokyo for the next 2 months, I know this is the first of MANY mistakes to come. Thankfully, our yochien is pretty relaxed and they do their best to help me out. I also have a lovely neighbor whose son goes to the same school who tries to keep me informed.
We had to evacuate the picnic just as we were digging into lunch anyway due to a sudden downpour of rain. Again, the cultural differences were noticeable. My kids were laughing and running into the rain whilst all the other kids were running for cover. Ha! :)
Today was the "welcome picnic" which our yochien has every year at a huge public park in the south of part of our little city. I thought I was supposed to make a family-type bento just like last year but as usual I thought wrong. Somehow I misunderstood (story of my life) the information sheet about the picnic and made the big bento when I was supposed to make individual bentos. I knew something was amiss the moment we got to the park and saw all the other students carrying their backpacks. Tigergirl and Tigerboy did not have a backpack. Dun dun dun (music of doom). Well, what can you do?! I knew I`d just have to wait and see what I messed up this time and sure enough, I had made the wrong kind of bento:
Since Tigerpapa is away in Tokyo for the next 2 months, I know this is the first of MANY mistakes to come. Thankfully, our yochien is pretty relaxed and they do their best to help me out. I also have a lovely neighbor whose son goes to the same school who tries to keep me informed.
We had to evacuate the picnic just as we were digging into lunch anyway due to a sudden downpour of rain. Again, the cultural differences were noticeable. My kids were laughing and running into the rain whilst all the other kids were running for cover. Ha! :)
posted by Tigermama @ 2:56 PM
9 Comments:
At 9:18 PM,
Anonymous said…
what is wrapped up in that aluminum foil???
At 10:47 PM,
Lily said…
Okay- perhaps I am just clueless but where in the the world did you get such huge bento boxes from? How fun for a picnic!
At 11:36 PM,
Sarah@mommyinjapan said…
This happens to me all the time. It's nice to know that it's not just me! I have a really helpful neighbor, too. Sometimes she helps too much, but for the most part I really appreciate it.
I get teased all the time for not having an umbrella when it's "raining" (sprinkling). It's honestly not worth the effort since my hands are usually full. My girls have picked up on this and love to stay outside when it starts to rain a bit. I'm glad they feel free to do so!
At 10:52 AM,
Gina said…
Oh Tigermama, reading this just makes me want to either give you a great big ol' friend hug. Or go and have a Starbuck's with you and chat away and laugh away about how many flubs, we have both made with regards to yochein and Japan in general.
My gosh if I had a dollar for every mistake I have made in Japan, I'd be a mighty rich woman by now! Ha ha ha.I'm sure many of us would be, eh? Ha ha ha!
If it makes you feel any better. Hear this. Last year after our Christmas recital, I knew we would be having lunch at the auditorium place. I asked the hubby a couple hundred times. If we need to bring a lunch from home, with us. That must mean I should make a homemade obento type deal. Hubby said, no no no, no one else will be bringing obentos from home. People will just bring light snacks, like a small store bought onigiri. Maybe a sack of chips. He stressed, it was more a snack versus a full blown lunch. Insert hubby wasn't going to be there. And insert my MIL was going to be there with me. The Christmas recital was lovely. And then time for our "snack". I had bought some 7-eleven ham and cheese sandwiches. 1 sack of chips and some juice for the boys and an iced tea for me. And then it happened. Please insert theme to Jaws right now! Everyone whipped out their lovely lovely gorgeous 5 course homemade obento's. One boys obento that he and his family were eating near us, he said as he opened his obento. he said....Yakitori, oh boy! In Japanese of course! Everyone was eating feasts and we were eating cruddy store bought ham sandwiches and potato chips out of the bag. I was so mad at myself and mad at my hubby! Why didn't I listen to myself and make a proper lunch? Everyone must think I can't flippin' cook. What is my MIL thinking (gulp)? Lunch seemed to be lasting forever, like in slow motion and meanwhile all I wanted was for it to be over!
BTW, you are a very brave woman, to be going it alone for the next 2 month's without Tigerpapa. I know how much you and Tigerpapa love eachother. It must be tough! If you get bored over there, you could always email your friend Gina if you wanted, wink wink! : )
At 11:57 AM,
Tigermama said…
Jan, those are yakionigiri.
Lily, that bento box isn`t nearly as large as the picture makes it seem. It`s about as big as a shoebox only more squared rather than rectangular. They have them for sale everywhere, grocery stores, department stores etc.
Sarah, I totally agree about the umbrella...it`s more effort than it`s worth!
At 6:52 PM,
Gina said…
Tigermama, I responded this morning to your post. Did you get it? Or did it get sucked up by the blogosphere? Ha ha ha Let me write it again just in case. But please check your "comments to be moderated section", hopefully it's there : ) Now what did I say? (thinking)
What I wanted to say is, I wish you and I could get together and chat over some Starbucks about all the mistakes both of us have made. What a fun time we'd have! : )
Also I said, I am sure you will be missing Tigerpapa immensely, because I know how much you and Tigerpapa love one another very much. So 2 month's will be tough.
I also wanted to say, I have made mistakes like that with our yochien and all I can say is...OMG! (I told you the story in the comment, I wrote to you earlier but now I have no energy to write it again, lol lazy butt that I am) But I understand about making flubs and mistakes at the school. Tough tough tough!
And finally I believe I said....if you should happen to get really bored during these 2 month's. Email your good friend Gina. Ha ha ha. We can chew the fat with one another, through emails! : )
Have a wonderful weekend,
Gina
At 7:58 PM,
Trisha said…
I love the idea of a picnic for the whole school and don't worry too much about messing up at least you all had something to eat, right? Hope everything goes well while Hubs is away!
At 9:42 AM,
Tigermama said…
Gina! Thank you for the lovely comment and for sharing your personal experience. I`m sure I have a few more mishaps repressed deep down in my brain that are much worse than your tiny mistake. Although you get extra points for having to go through that with your MIL present! I had to laugh however when I read that it was actually your husband who misread (or misinterpreted) the information sheet. That is my husband to a tee (sorry Tigerpapa, but you know it`s true!). He often gives me information that is not accurate or thorough! So, sheesh to the dh`s! And I`d totally LOVE to go to Starbucks with you...ANY TIME!
Trisha, Yes, it really is a nice idea to have all the parents come and meet each other and the new students. There were lots of dads present this year too which was encouraging to see.
At 3:15 PM,
Gina said…
Me again, your friend Mrs. Blabbermouth here.
(I just got home and got to start dinner so I have just a sec to reply)...our note said "just bring a lunch. My hubby assumed it meant light snack? Where on earth did he get that from? He has made so many flubs like that. And with me, not being able to read anything or very little. Ha ha ha. Perfect combo for 1 thousands mistakes and counting.
Errr this is making us all stronger and better people in the long run right? Isn't it? Oh man......that's what I keep telling myself. Anyway, I loved your post!!! BTW, your lunch looked great...big obento or small, I bet you guys still enjoyed it! : ) Okay bye for sure this time! Have a good night! : )
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