tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60013163138066439872024-03-13T08:25:47.108-07:00The Mighty Detourbrusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-19613944958218679462013-08-12T12:38:00.000-07:002013-08-12T12:38:07.436-07:00An anniversary and a new detour within the detourOn a day like today, 11 years ago, I arrived in Europe for my "Living in Europe" experience. It was supposed to only last a couple of years (or until I would run out of money) Ended up continuing until today; transforming itself along the way. Eleven years ago I did not know, of course, that I would en up meeting (and later marrying) Mr M, or having Bibu and Pingu (yes, dear reader, little after 37 plus weeks I did bring our little baby to the world, but that's another story), finding a job, then another, and making lots of friends on the side. Belgium became my place in the world and it's definitely the place I miss when I want to "go home".<br />
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I started this blog around the time Bibu was 1 year old and Mr M got a job offer in the land of the rising sun, in Tokyo. I had never envisaged moving to exotic Belgium and marrying a local, so you would imagine how crazy and unique it felt when we packed up and went to live, albeit for two years, on the other side of the world, quite literally, from Argentina, where I'm originally from.<br />
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After the Japan experience, we returned to our lives and jobs in Belgium and got on with life, then went through a very difficult pregnancy which thankfully had a happy ending in the shape of Pingu, who is now 13 months. After his birth I went into maternity leave and decided I would make the most of it and enjoy it as much as possible, so I took the maximum legal, which in Belgium is about 7 months.<br />
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And then, after months of speculation, comings and goings, in April this year, when I was about to return to the office, I got the confirmation that I was being made redundant in a collective dismissal process, due to restructuring, blah, blah, blah.<br />
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The fact that I was kind of expecting it and that I was not that happy at work did indeed soften the blow. In fact, it did not feel as a blow at all. Financially, thank God, we are not at a place yet where losing one income would send us into the abyss or anything. Plus, my parents were about to arrive for a 6 week visit and the summer holidays were getting close, so I have to say, bar the one week where I had to negotiate my leaving package, it was a stress-free period.<br />
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Well, I have to report that after the grandparents visit and the summer holidays in Spain came and went, the panic feeling has started to seep in. I have had a few episodes of insomnia where I toss and turn for 2 hours thinking non stop about the job situation and when am I going to get a new job, should I go back to full time or try part-time? Or should I just try becoming an independent?<br />
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Now, I've been in this situation before and I know it's not the end. In fact, it may very well be the beginning of something much, much better. I would probably never have left Argentina and pursued my European dream, were it not for being made redundant all those years ago.<br />
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But now, I don"t know if it's because I am older and have two kids, a husband and debts, or simply because I forgot how I felt in 2002 when I decided to take all my life savings and take a plane (and a train) to Antwerp, Belgium, but I feel very chicken. I'm applying to jobs and have been to a couple of interviews already. Not that I expect to land the first job I apply to, but I cannot help feeling too old and overqualified for some things and not enough for others. I read job descriptions and it seems they're looking for Einstein, Steve Jobs and Wonder Woman rolled into one. Do these people actually exist?<br />
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Anyway, after over a year of not blogging, and this anniversary of sorts coming along, I realised that life does not have one but many detours. You choose some of them, but mostly is what life is about. The key, as usual, is what to do about it.<br />
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And I decided that, yes, I can take another turn in my detour. I'm still scared and chickeny, but I'm a coward who runs forward. So here I go.<br />
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<br />brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-83539998259546601452012-07-03T05:01:00.001-07:002012-07-03T05:01:23.423-07:00Plan? What plan?I had a post lined up talking about ethe uselessness of maternity-wear in the last few weeks of pregnancy, as in "nothing fits anymore unless it's a tent we're talking about". Had it almost ready to post when everything went out the window.<br />
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Just over two weeks ago, Mr M and I went out for a romantic dinner to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Bibu stayed with the Belgian grandparents for the night, so we could have some time for the two of us. Nice restaurant, nice food, followed by a nice breakfast the morning after at our usual Sunday morning cafe. At one point, though, I started to have pain which immediatelly reminded me of the kind of pains I had before leaving to the hospital to have Bibu, so we finished our croissants in a hurry and we went to the hospital, just to be sure it wasn't the real thing coming already.<br />
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Well, it WAS the real thing. I was examined by the nurse and told I was 3cm dilated and the monitoring confirmed I was having regular (and rather painful) contractions. Being not even 35 weeks pregnant was not ideal, so they started treatment to stop the labour process. Luckily it worked, but it meant I had to stay in hospital for 4 days and was ordered bedrest for the following two weeks, until week 37 (when all babies are considered "full term").<br />
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So, I have been resting at home ever since....... Sure, the first few days after coming back from hospital were nice, but I am now well and trully bored and looking forward to the whole thing being over. I know that every day that I manage to keep our little Penguin inside is good, but I feel tired of being tired, have no energy whatsoever, everything hurts, I can barely sleep or barely find a position I can sleep in. Also, I am very irritable (more than usual) and feel sad, nervous, bored........ Did I mention I was bored already?<br />
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I've watched some movies and read a couple of books, but nothing beats the feeling that I have been pregnant for a lifetime, and that my body has been taken away from me....... I know feeling all this is normal, and obviously now we're very close to the date when Penguin will actually come out from hidding, but it is really hard. That, plus starting to think about the whole birth process........It was not an easy affair with Bibu and, although I am hopping for a better performance second time around, I am bracing myself for another long thing.<br />
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Anyway, my parents are here since a few days and that helps. They get on my nerves a bit, but it has always been like that, but they try to do their best and are certainly giving me a big helping hand with Bibu, who deserves a fun summer too and not one where his mum cannot do anything as is scotched to the sofa.<br />
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Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks pregnant, have stopped the medication already, so things should progress soon, I guess. Next post will surely be a post-birth one. I just needed to rant a bit.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-61234474527334622882012-06-01T12:39:00.001-07:002012-06-01T12:39:26.809-07:00Here we go again<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So, last year I posted a blog entitled </span><a href="http://mightydetour.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/2011-starts-on-10th.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2011 starts on the 10</span><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">of January</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. This year, judging by the frequency of my posting, clearly starts on the 31</span><sup style="font-size: 13px;">st</sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> of May.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In fact, now that I think of it, it’s not such a bad idea to black out the autumn/ winter months, like they never existed, and start the year when spring is definitely becoming summer. It’s not that nothing happened in these 7 months since my last post. On the contrary, a lot has happened, but big parts of it I’d rather leave out of this blog.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Since my last post in November 2011, there were happy times, learning that after our second IVF attempt I was pregnant, and with twins. This was quickly followed by extremely sad times, as we lost one of the babies in the process. As I said before, I will not go into the details, but let’s just say that end of the year did not bring me the usual feeling of starting with a blank sheet, a brand new year full of promise round the corner. It was a very bittersweet affair, only made bearable by spending New Year’s Eve surrounded by friends, Mr M and Bibu. They were a saving force, and I feel so grateful for having them in my life.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">January and February were a few tough months. They now seem like a blur, but I think of it sometimes and they were definitely some of the toughest weeks of my life. Little by little, though, the light started to shine at the end of the seemingly endless tunnel and worry and grief started giving space for hope, for the little boy that is growing inside me and who will be here in a few more weeks (I’m now 32 weeks pregnant)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Yes, it’s a another boy! I would have been happy either way, but I always pictured myself more as a mother of boys than girls. Girls are super cute and delicate, but I find them a bit alien. I am quite happy with a house full of boys. Bibu is very happy and proud of becoming the “big brother” and he promises he will help take care of the baby. Let’s see when Penguin (as we call our little bundle) is out of the belly and jealousy kicks in, but so far is all love and kisses in my belly from Bibu.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Taking about Bibu, he has grown so big! He just turned 4 last week and he’s going through a growth spurt, as he looks so tall and definitely not baby-like anymore. He’s a true boy, full of energy and with a special talent for making holes on his trousers’ knees. He has his character too and is super expressive. He reminds me of somebody, hahaha…..<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mr M is a sweetie, as ever. I have probably repeated this a few times in this blog, but I am so happy he’s in my life. We have gone through extremely difficult times together this year and we faced the odds together, as a team. Love is in the big things and in the small things, like offering to move my car at 7 in the morning to a place where I can actually park. That’s love!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Anyway, all this to say, “I’m back”. I recently got to re-read my old posts and thought of giving this blog another chance. Watch this space!</span></div>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-77393385223946126402011-11-13T11:37:00.000-08:002011-11-13T11:41:08.032-08:00It's all on the perspectiveSo, what a lousy week. Last Sunday I managed to catch the cold/ throat and ear infection that Bibu enjoyed during the Toussaint school holidays. So feeling miserable was the order of the week, coupled with the fact that i had a long winded meeting on Monday and Tuesday that I could not NOT attend and the fact that my boss was on holidays for three weeks. She's in the Bahamas now, by the way. Yeah, I could really hate her but she's a very cool boss, so no.<br />
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So have been feeling crap all week. Friday was a public holiday and I spent it at home doing pretty much nothing. Felt much better for it and I am not decidedly on the mend, albeit with a very stuffed nose and cracked lips for breathing through my mouth all the time. The house is tissue central.<br />
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This cold situation is coupled with another health-related item that is going on and all that has really affected me. It's funny how we always notice how good it is to be healthy when you have been feeling miserable for a while. And, it's only a cold, but it does enough to tint everything around you with a dark cloud layer. Or maybe it's just me.<br />
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For the first time since I got back to work just over a couple of months ago, last week I really did not feel like doing anything at all. Not going to work, not cooking, not answering calls from friends, nada. I have also been sleeping very badly for the last few weeks. I am super tired, but then lie in bed for hours thinking about all the things that could go wrong, all the things I am not good at, etc.<br />
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And then I watched a couple of documentaries on TV that got me thinking. the first one was a documentary on Flemish TV on a journalist visiting present-day Somalia and showing how life equals to pretty much nothing there, people roaming the destroyed streets of Mogadishu and living in the rubble, risking their lives with every step. Definitely something that we are not very often confronted with. As people living in the "first world" (whatever that might mean) we have a vague idea that there are people in least fortunate countries living in war, poverty and hunger. But it's all so theoretical, so far removed from us. It doesn't stop us from spending money on things we don't need or in wasting things life food and water, which might mean life or death to others.<br />
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The second one, on the famous French <a href="http://envoye-special.france2.fr/accueil.html" target="_blank">ENVOYE SPECIAL programme, </a>was a report on the food waste generated by supermarkets, how in most cases all things which are deemed not for sale are thrown into the garbage bin. And how increasing numbers of people are living off this "garbage" which is still in quite good condition. I used to think that opening garbage bags to feed yourself was the lowest you could go and that it was something you would only see in underdeveloped countries, but in fact, the reality is more about how we as a society are buying too much, then throwing away perfectly OK food.<br />
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So I been thinking about perspectives. Yes, I was feeling like crap this past week, miserable and anxious about a few things that are going on in my life today, but compared to these things, it's nothing. My life is not perfect by no means, but I realised how privileged I am in the life I lead, how I can have anything I need and lots of things I don't actually need, with astounding ease. Once again I was focusing on the negative and forgeting about the positive: the great things that I have in the shape of a family that I love and that loves me, Bibu, Mr M, my friends, a job, a house.......... the list could go on a on.<br />
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Anyway, now re-reading this post seems like a badly written new age thing, but it's just this small realisation that most of us are really spoilt for choice. We have too much, we don't value what we have and we worry too much about stupid things.<br />
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The writer of <a href="http://gaijinwife.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">one of the blogs I follow</a>, who is going through an unbelievably sad family time, but with awe-inspiring humanity and resilience, had one of the best closing lines on a post today. I am stealing it now with pride:<br />
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<i>"Don't go to bed angry with anyone tonight. Big hugs all around"</i><br />
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I"ll second that!<br />
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Have a great week, whoever you are who's reading this.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-80521273962249385822011-10-03T09:38:00.000-07:002011-10-03T09:38:37.608-07:00D-day + 1 monthHow did this happen?<br />
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Well, yes, D-day came and went, and here I am, one month later and nothing to show for it?<br />
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Yep, I am busy-busy-busy. Work is gathering pace. Immediately I was thrown into a one cool project that was launched a couple of weeks after returning and that has kept me, and continues to keep me, rather busy; Days at the office seem to fly by, which is a good sign, I think. Bored I am not.<br />
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And, I have been DRIVING for over one month already. The first few days I was actually more worried about the driving to and from the office that of going back to work in itself. And although the pararlel parking bit is still not my forte and I can only manage it in about 5 to 6 movements as oposed to the official 3, I can honestly say that I am begining to enjoy it. Sitting in the traffic jams is not nice, but from everything I take a lesson.<br />
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This afternoon, for example, as there was already a long queue in the street next to my office in the direction I usually take, so I decided to try a new way home. It was quite good, albeit a bit nerve-wracking at times, as I was not familiar with the turning areas, etc. At one point I did indeed turn on the wrong street, too early, and had to make a detour and lost a few minutes returning to the avenue where I was supposed to be. But, hey, it's another feather on my bow.<br />
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All practice is good, before I sit for the practical exam sometime in November (aggggg, trying not to think about it too much)<br />
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Other than the working and the driving, another novelty of this past month is how tired I am. It's running from home to work to Bibu's school to pick him up, back to home the whole day. I can tell you, by 10pm I am ready to go to sleep.............and do it all over the next day, starting at 6:30.<br />
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But hey, cannot complain to much, really. The transition has been quite smooth and slowly the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-7378122786798215552011-08-30T11:13:00.000-07:002011-08-30T11:13:45.257-07:00D-day minus 2In two days............ I'm going back to work! Yep, it's been 28 months of a sort of 'sabbatical' during which I moved with Bibu and Mr M to Tokyo and experienced the expat-wife life in all it's Asian glory. There was also that earth-moving thingy that happened back in March this year, but let's not spoil the memories.<br />
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I guess, however, that come Thursday, the one thing I will be asked over and over at the office will be 'how was living through an earthquake'. But well, cannot complain. The hype of me returning to the office will probably wither out after a few days. Will make sure I milk the prodigal daughter thing as much as I can. I am even considering baking some apple and cinnamon muffins, see? They will love me, hahaha.........<br />
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September 1st will also mark the return to school for Bibu. I have been mentioning this event to him a few times over the last few days, along with the fact that from now on I will also work. I wonder how it would be like. Hopefully the change to longer days will not be too tough on him. We'll see.<br />
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In the countdown to the D Day, things are pretty tame at home. Weather is Belgian crapitude at its best, cold as winter and grey, grey, grey............. Not much going on except trips to the supermarket intertwined with stops in the park, at the pet shop, at the toy shop, at the book shop............. and so on. Plus long indulgent afternoon naps. All that will change soon, so might as well enjoy it, right?<br />
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Ta-dah for now !brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-65778725871269152012011-07-17T12:45:00.000-07:002011-07-17T12:58:48.328-07:00Easy Sunday in BrusselsSo, yes, we're back in Brussels. In fact, we've been back for over three months, writing in my blog not being an obvious priority, obviously.<br />
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Anyway, been back, my parents came in late April to visit and stayed for over 5 weeks. Bibu had his first stint at a Belgian pre-school during June. I enrolled and completed a 20-hour driving course at <a href="http://www.permisreussi.com/">a very cool driving school</a>. Visited the Antwerpen Zoo and Planckendael about 4657313644360 times already this summer. Went an incredible three times to the movies (OK, one was to watch Cars 2 with Bibu, so that probably doesn't count) and even managed to meet up regularly with friends.<br />
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Today, in view of the totally impredictable and now frankly crazy weather we are having in good old Brussels, I arranged to meet up for brunch with my boss (who's also a friend). She's not from Brussels, so I decided to show her the bringht lights of the city (ha-ha) and we went to this place in Brugman square. It has a terrace where one a sunny day you almost need to fight with your teeth to get a table. But today, we had a good sense to look for a place inside, which quickly became more crowded than outside. Anyway, had a nice chat on all things work and gossip, dusted with a bit of our personal lives quests and challenges. It was really nice. After brunch, emboldened by the few rays of sunshine coming through, we went for a little walk in the nearby park Tenbosh, which is one of my favourite parks in Brussels.<br />
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After that, I arrived home to a very silent house. Bibu and Mr M were sleeping the siesta very sweetly, so I let them be. I retired to tackle more earthly matters, like the Kilimanjaro of ironing that has been waiting for me for over two weeks.<br />
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And so, that was my Sunday. Nothing too earth-shattering, but a nice girly chat and some plain domesticity. Sometimes, it's all one needs.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-31454048322108131212011-03-12T04:49:00.000-08:002011-07-17T13:00:15.185-07:00Japan's biggest earthquake in Japan............and we were there....So, probably everyone knows about the 8.9 earthquake that shook Japan yesterday afternoon. In the almost two years I live in Tokyo, this has been by far the worst and apparently Japan's worst in 140 years, since they begun recording them.<br />
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I wrote <a href="http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1356551-la-desesperacion-en-primera-persona-el-relato-de-lectores-desde-la-zona-de-la-tragedia#comentar">my experience of the moment of the quake for Argentinian newspaper La Nacion</a>. Here is the transcript (it's on Spanish only, sorry!)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>"El sismo se sintió súper fuerte en Tokio. Yo estaba en casa con mi hijo de 2 años y de repente, a eso de las 14.50 hora local de Japón, se empezó a mover todo. Fue muy fuerte y duró mucho, como dos minutos fuerte y otros cinco un poco más leve. Cuando paró un poquito empecé a preparar la mochila que tenés que tener lista en caso de evacuación, con un poco de agua y comida, una radio a dinamo, etc, y agarré a mi hijo para irnos afuera. No se cayó nada dentro de mi departamento, pero las puertas anti-fuego del edificio se habían accionado todas. El portero estaba muy asustado pero vino a decirnos que según la radio no había que evacuar, pero como yo estaba tan nerviosa preferí irme para el parque cercano a casa donde es el punto de encuentro en caso de catástrofes. En la puerta de calle ya estábamos reunidos casi todos los vecinos del edificio, con nuestros hijos y nos fuimos al parque y ahí se sintió otro temblor fuerte, tanto que un taxista se bajó del taxi que se movía horizontalmente con mucha fuerza. Los cables de electricidad (en Japón son aéreos por los terremotos) se movían un montón, lo mismo que los árboles. En el parque Arisugawa, donde nos reunimos, hay una estatua ecuestre de bronce pesadísima que se movía un montón. Estuvimos en el parque como dos horas y luego fuimos a casa de una amiga que vi en el parque, que vive cerca y en planta baja. Ahí nos quedamos otro par de horas, sintiendo varios temblores leves más. Dicen que hoy hubo más de 40 temblores en Japón. Todo el transporte público se cortó y el tráfico es un caos. Mi esposo tuvo que volverse caminando de la oficina una hora y media a pie y le prestó una de nuestras bicicletas a un colega que vive a 50 kilómetros de Tokio porque no funciona ningún tren. Hace dos años que vivo en Tokio y, en general, los japoneses ni se mosquean cuando hay un temblor. Esta es la primera vez que los veo súper asustados. Pero eso sí, súper bien preparados. Por ejemplo, enseguida la gente se puso el casco anti terremotos y veías muchos nenes con la protección para la cabeza. Y la gente súper ordenada. Vi por la calle mucha gente con bolsitas con comida y botellitas de agua, comprando mucho como para pasar la noche o un par de días, pero ninguna escena de histeria ni pánico. Ahora vamos a intentar dormir un poco, pero hay un temblor leve cada 30 minutos más o menos, así que calculo que va a ser una noche larga."</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Right now, we are closely following the news on the issues at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Apparently the latest news say that the radioactive leak has been small and there is no immediate risk for Tokyo. It's surreal times. There are still tremors as I write this. In all honesty, I just want to be out of Japan as soon as possible. We are living in a month's time to Belgium, anyway. But I cannot wait. We are even looking into available flights out of the country..... I just hope things stabilise and the tremors end. My thoughts go to all the afected people, people in the refuges and the ones who have lost family members or friends. It's a horrible experience and we in Tokyo got it relatively easy.</span>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-74751060621772765102011-03-06T17:05:00.000-08:002011-03-06T17:05:22.265-08:00Eight little boys in kimonoSo, last Friday was the day of the delayed photoshoot with all the boys from Bibu's class at kindergarden. A while ago, all maums had agreed on organising a photo session with the boys dressed in taditional kimono, at a <a href="http://www.studio-alice.co.jp/">small photo studio</a> in the same floor of the <a href="http://www.akachan.jp/">Acachan Honpo</a> shop in Gotanda. I thought it was a great idea, as it will be a wonderful souvenir for Bibu of his friends in Japan, specially since it looks like we'll be heading home for good end of April (iupiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!)<br />
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Anyway, the first date we agreed upon had to be cancelled as Bibu was sick, so last Friday was the re-scheduling. It went fairly well, considering the appointment was right after school, early in the afternoon, which is the nap-time for most of the kids. By the end of it, they were all cranky, tearful and sleepy, but we managed to get a couple of nice photos of the whole bunch. At least some where noe of them was picking their nose/ crying/ trying to escape/ all the above.<br />
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I chose a green jacket kimono for Bibu and he kind of stood out among the more demure blue and grey kimonos of the Japanese kids. Probably a gaijin faux-pas, but well, it's not about blending in the background, uh? Will share the result as soon as it becomes available. Watch this space.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-69637462624484841842011-02-27T17:56:00.000-08:002011-02-27T22:14:13.808-08:00Please, February, end once and for all!Yes, indeed, please. Just go away. You have brought us.....<br />
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1) stomac flu. All three of us had it on your first week back from Argentina. Nothing to feel more at home than a good old gut-spilling bug to begin the Chinese new year in top form. The worst I've felt in years.... Made me realise how great is to have good health and how trully minor things like a stomac bug can ruin your life<br />
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2) more sickness for Bibu, as in 6 days of continuous high fever courtesy of an ear and throat infection. Lovely....<br />
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3) depressing weather... I'm done with the cold, ok?<br />
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4) depressing reading: Sylvia Plath's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Jar">"The Bell Jar"</a> is a great book, but surely not for February, right?<br />
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5) Mr M being away on a business trip for 10 days (also, said business trip was to Belgium, so big envy vibes going on) Add point 5 to all previous points and you get the picture.<br />
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So, I won't me missing you, dear February 2011. Bye.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-43233230673850428092011-02-24T02:17:00.000-08:002011-02-24T02:18:50.539-08:00A first in TokyoBibu is playing next to me on the sofa (yes, the yellow one) and watching his 51651752175626 episode of Thomas the Tank Engine. He (Bibu, not Thomas) has been sick since Monday evening, when a low fever started. When the low fever turned into 40 degrees yesterday evening, I called the doctor and made an appointment for this morning.<br />
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As I suspected, he had an ear infection. It's been his first ear infection since we live in Tokyo. He used to have them very often in Brussels, what with the chilly and damp weather being the ideal weather for them. Oh, well, it's good to know at least what it was. Being the stoic and hyperactive kid he is, it was hard to even tell he was sick, apart from the readings in the thermometer.<br />
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So, with the exception of this morning, when we went out for a grand total of an hour to go to the doctor, we have been confined inside the appartment for the last three days. Mr M being in Belgium until today didn't make things any easier. Thank God he's back.<br />
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So, the casa de Detoured is a bit like a cabin these days. Bibu has the fever and I have the cabin fever.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-85958349360466598572011-02-20T02:25:00.000-08:002011-02-20T02:25:56.197-08:00It was a weekend of....Finally visiting the DAIEI close to Toritsu Daigaku, sharing a sugar-glazed doughnut with Bibu at Stabucks, missing the pony ride in Himonya park for a few minutes, attending a proper for-grown-ups-only housewarming party that our ex next door neighbours threw in their quite lovely new appartment in Roppongi, going for a long lunch in Nakameguro followed by walk to the park and some super delicious cheesecake and pancakes at Daikanyama with one of the mums from Bibu's school and his son.<br />
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In short, I ate a lot of sugary, evil things. But oh, so good....mmmmm!<br />
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Mr M away in the grey country (a.k.a. Belgium) since last Tuesday and back next Thursday. Doing it all on your own for 10 days in a row is hard, hard, hard. Again, my respect to single parents worldwide. It's now 19:30 and I am very tempted to jump under the duvet and call it a day, but it just feels wrong. Will hang on with chopsticks under my eyelids if necessary until.......mmmm, maybe 21:00 or something. Much, much better!<br />
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Ciao, bellos!brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-72566983015404745292011-02-02T22:28:00.000-08:002011-02-27T17:45:13.530-08:00Setsubun and Chinese New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGF6H-RAeEJIb2uyC6QmL3_rbvGNOxI9IS0uH98C-ptCGa-Hhi30-OT5JvLwsZ1rrI-i5eQ-3BNBqhOoQGl9U8jxymb-iKuDbvm-xC5idTeROENEuNoYtDxuACNJEPj9ubyR1CernUNxm/s1600/SANY2558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGF6H-RAeEJIb2uyC6QmL3_rbvGNOxI9IS0uH98C-ptCGa-Hhi30-OT5JvLwsZ1rrI-i5eQ-3BNBqhOoQGl9U8jxymb-iKuDbvm-xC5idTeROENEuNoYtDxuACNJEPj9ubyR1CernUNxm/s320/SANY2558.JPG" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So, today is the Chinese New Year! Happy New Year to all ! (again). Good that I have not yet acted on any of my New Year Resolutions, pfew! :-)<br />
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It's also time for <i>Setsubun </i>here in Japan<i>.</i> For some strange reason, this bizarre chasing-demon-out celebration holds a special place in my heart. Maybe it's because it is all so..... magical and silly in a way. But also optimistic, full of new hope for the upcoming spring and new beginnings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Roasted soya beans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Literaly, Setsubun means "division of the seasons" and it marks the end of the winter according to the lunar calendar. It usually falls either on February 3 or 4 (which is a bit early for ending the winter if you ask me, but well). On the evening of Setsubun, one must throw roasted soybeans inside and outside the house while repeating "Fortune in, devils out"! so as to invite good luck inside the house and chase the bad luck out.Typically, the oldest male of the house has to wear a demon (Oni) mask and the children chase him while throwing roasted soybeans at him.You are also supposed to eat the same number of soybeans as your age. Needless to say, Bibu has already failed at this point, as he has already eaten his roasted soybean bag that he got at school. I ate a few ones, but cannot remember how many....wonder if there is room for liberalism in this point.<br />
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Another practice from recent years it to eat a "Ehoo-maki" or giant sushi-roll filled with shiitake mushroom, cucumber, eel and so on. For good luck, one must eat it facing the "happy direction" while keeping quiet. I asked my Japanese teacher yesterday about this "happy direction" and she mentioned it changes every year and this year it is "south-south-west", as determined by the monks of the main shinto shrine in Japan.<br />
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So today I went for a walk in Jiyugaoka and bought a couple of these Ehoo-makis for Bibu and for me (Mr M has an office get-together tonight so will miss on the Setsubun fun. My maki is a traditional one and for Bibu I got one filled with <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkatsu">tonkatsu</a></i>. not very setsubun-ish but he will definitely eat that one. Mr M has more or less figured out the "happy direction" from our dining room, so we will be facing it at dinner. Not too confident that we will achieve the "eating it while keeping quiet" bit, but hopefully that's not the crucial point, hehe.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-9847105869385421402011-01-19T18:53:00.000-08:002011-01-19T18:55:28.203-08:00Leaving tomorrowBuenos Aires, that is. After a good five weeks living the grand life down in good old Baires, meeting up with friends and family and working my way through far too much <i>carne</i>, it's time to call it a day and go back to Tokyo.<br />
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After taking Mr M's parents to Ezeiza airport this morning, my dad and I came back home and I started work on the suitcase packing. Thank God I bought an extra bag and got the Uniqlo manly baby-bag. In the end I'll be checking in one big suitcase and two bags. Didn't feel like I bought too much stuff, but when is time to pack, all those bottles of shampoo and hair dye and cheese and quince paste make up for a lot of space and weight.<br />
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Packing is more or less done. Couple of things still, but I have tomorrow morning to take care of that. My head now is filled with dread. Dread at the "goodbyes" moment when my parents walk Bibu and I up to the entrance to migrations. I don't want to think about it, it will be HARD. It's always hard and you would have thought by now I should be a pro at saying "see you in four months". But no, it doesn't get better, and with Bibu on the equation, it just gets worse every time.<br />
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En fin........ it's part of the reality I live in, must put a brave face on and get on with it. Anyway, not looking forward to that AT ALL.<br />
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Also not looking forward to 36+ hours travelling with a two-and-7-months boy........... Why oh why must Tokyo be on the other side of the planet? Grrr......<br />
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Bon, I think it's time to go to sleep. I guess this will be my last sleep in a horizontal, comfortable position in the forthcoming 50 hours, so better make the best of it.<br />
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Over and out, back in a few days from the land of the salarymen and the OLs, the TOTO washlet and the green tea kit-kats.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-5067372619273269822011-01-17T13:21:00.000-08:002011-01-17T13:21:37.676-08:00Online happiness is...Still living the summer life in Buenos Aires. Cannot say I miss anything about Tokyo, except Mr M, who had to go back a few days ago as someone has to work and bring home the bacon in the Detoured household. Bibu and I are coming back in a couple of days........not looking forward to the trip back home at all. But well, until teletransportation is developed, will have to brave the gazillion hour flights up to the land of the rising sun.<br />
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In the meantime, these are the blogs that manage to put a smile on my face every time. Pure visual bliss:<br />
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<a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/">http://www.designspongeonline.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/">http://www.desiretoinspire.net/</a><br />
<a href="http://emmas.blogg.se/">http://emmas.blogg.se/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecoolhunter.net/">http://www.thecoolhunter.net/</a><br />
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Alert: these blogs will make you want to redecorate. You have been warned!brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-84229747380502281632011-01-09T17:41:00.000-08:002011-01-09T17:41:44.982-08:002011 starts on the 10thSo, new year, new life, right? Except for me the proverbial 2011 penny only dropped today.<br />
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People, we're in 2011.<br />
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Welcome you all and buckle up. The pages are blank (much like this blog, in a fashion), possibilitties are endless, many forks lay ahead in the road....<br />
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Love it.<br />
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Me, I've been in Buenos Aires for three weeks now. It seems, and actually is, a long time, but it feels like they passed in a blur now. First week: first meetings with friends and family and the cheerful pandemonium that is Christmas. Second week: trip to Chile and Mendoza with Mr M, Bibu, Mr M's parents and mine. Loved it all and had great weather. Towards the end Bibu got a bit "lack-of-any-kind-of-rutine" crazy, but well, it's to be expected with so much going on, so much attention on him and the fact that everything happens later here in Argentina. Third week: more get togethers with friends and family and Mr M going back to Tokyo yesterday (someone has to work in the Detoured household, after all) He should be arriving in a few hours. Missing him already....snifff.<br />
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Anyway, since we're already on the 10thg day of this new year, I thought it's high time I polished up my resolutions for the year. Every year they are a slightly re-incarnation of the previous one, but I just love making them, so here it goes:<br />
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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS v.2011<br />
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<ul><li>Lose those 5 kilos once and for all</li>
<li>Relax a bit more and worry only when it's actually called for (and know the difference)</li>
<li>Get Belgian driving license (deja-vu all around)</li>
<li>Infuse this blog with a breath of life (a.k.a write more often)</li>
<li>Focus, focus, focus (hocus pokus focus)</li>
<li>Family-related resolution (not forpublic consumption)</li>
<li>Work-related resolution (ditto)</li>
</ul><div>Cheerio!</div>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-68722606983569997292010-11-21T19:48:00.000-08:002010-11-21T19:52:00.834-08:00To Sint or not to Sint?We're almost in December, last month of the year, month of Christmas and New Year Eve (and my birthday, yay!) Being the international family that we are, it's also the month for Sinterklaas.<br />
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</div><div>Sinterklaas is celebrated mostly in Flemish and Ducth areas of influence. Which is an elegant way of saying part of northeast France and also Surinam . Anyway, this chap Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicolas, or Sint , is clearly the "inspiration" for the Santa Claus figure, they bear an uncanny resemblance, bar the stuffy fur-trimmed suit that Santa Claus wears courtesy of some people in advertising. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I won't bother you with all the details of the Sint's figure (you have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas">Wikipedia</a> for that) Main difference is that the Belgo/Dutch "Sint" comes either on the eve of the 5th December or the morning on the 6th (for the Dutch is on the 5th, for the Belgians on the 6th). When I first arrive in Belgium and heard about Sinterklaas, my first thought was this coming on the 6th of December and then the coming 'again' of Santa Claus on the 24th was a bit of an overload of presents and downright confusing for kids. Turns out, the two are not equally celebrated, with the Sint amply kicking Santa's red derriere in the popularity polls in Belgium and Nederlands. Children in Belgium tend to get the most important present through the Sint and then something a bit more restrained on Christmas Eve. Also, to my knowledge, the Sinterklaas celebration is a nuclear family only business (mum, dad and children at home) while Christmas is really the getting together of the extended family thing.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway, this whole explanation comes because I am wondering, besides getting Bibu the toy yellow excavator of his dreams as a present from the Sint, if we should do the whole bells and whistles proper celebration and ask him to put his shoes out and leave food for Sint's horse the eve of the 5th, as most kids do in Belgium, or not. I never really believed in Santa Claus, but I did believe in the Three Kings that come in January (oh, I've forgotten about those) and I guess this is all part of his culture, and he has two sets of celebrations to benefit from. It's just that it bothers me quite a lot that Christmas everywhere in the world tends to be only about presents and bearded fat men in ridiculous red suits and zilch about the birth of Jesus and all that. Not that I am the most religious person in the world, far from it, but I wonder what would most kids say if asked what do we actually celebrate in Christmas..........</div>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-9208435880468018932010-11-15T19:35:00.000-08:002010-11-15T19:35:19.529-08:00You know I'm back, I'm back, I'm really, really back! (and baking)And, another month (and a bit) has run by........swoooooosh!<br />
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I will not bother you with the not blogging in ages situation, as I usually do, ha. Instead, look!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUj6pXhfxv-M7Cm5l4yze9K-Bsc9IiSNVMk-sUjRezb7hyphenhyphenXA7y_PW89Pv8ieSGl2JtRvNJ8o18wTVcobvjR-1dlAv2Kt1lJ24lEJTQq7a3TekKV4LX9jKOeLyy-ePQgIkxNIpvAmuX-bR/s1600/SANY2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUj6pXhfxv-M7Cm5l4yze9K-Bsc9IiSNVMk-sUjRezb7hyphenhyphenXA7y_PW89Pv8ieSGl2JtRvNJ8o18wTVcobvjR-1dlAv2Kt1lJ24lEJTQq7a3TekKV4LX9jKOeLyy-ePQgIkxNIpvAmuX-bR/s320/SANY2482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Yes, I've been baking! Not that I have been busy baking this beauty for a month, though. In case you are wondering, it's a ham, cheese and onion (and cherry tomato) tart, done completely from scratch, dough (or should I say pie pastry?) included. Thing is, you cannot get a decent ready made pie crust here in Tokyo, not even at the nearby overpaid expats' supermarket. All I've found in the past is some puff pastry squares that are just too delicate and disintegrate at first glance. The dough recipe comes from an Argentinian cooking book that my brother and sister in law gave me last time I was there. It's full of staple homely and old fashioned recipes, and I love it.<br />
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Besides the baking, I have finally acted upon my desire to say "adios" to <a href="http://mightydetour.blogspot.com/2010/09/kaizen-my-bs.html">Nearby Posh Gym</a>, and have resorted to do some exercise at home with a DVD and use the bicycle as much as I can. The bicycle bit is going great, I have even gotten over my fear of carrying Bibu in the child seat for fear of falling and I am doing the school run in two wheels, iuhoooooo! The DVD part is patchy, to say the least and if I can manage two times a week is an achievement. At this rate, my plans to shed 5 kilos before I arrive in Buenos Aires next month will continue to remain wishful thinking. Oh, well.....<br />
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Talking about the BA trip this year, still need to do lots of organising bits and pieces, such as securing a couple of domestic trips for my parents in law, who will come with us for the first time. We're already made the arrangements for a trip to the wine regions of Chile and Mendoza with them and my parents, so at least we will escape the oven that is BA in the summer for a few days. Also, looking forward to seeing my brother and sister in law and other friends and family over there. It' been long, over a year now, and I miss them.<br />
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Bibu is growing at a demented speed. Not only is he growing very tall, but also his talking skills and overall transition from baby to little boy are incredible. He's very very funny and a sweet boy most of the time. The rest, he is, well, a two-and-a-half little gremlin. Not different from most other children that age, I guess. He's still not entirely into toilet training, but he has promised he will use the toilet at his grandma's house in BA. At least the floors are easy to clean over there.....hehehe. He continues to be fascinated by dinosaurs, monsters, spiders, cars, trains, construction trucks and excavators. And singing, and dancing, and wanting his mamma to dance with him on impromptu dances in the living room. Really looking forward to taking him in BA. Will have a great time.<br />
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Right. TTFN or 'ta-ta for now', as Tigger would say. I am hoping my next post will be before we go to BA. let's cross fingers!<br />
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LAST MINUTE: in case you were wondering, Belgium still has no government. It does have lots of flooding at the momentbrusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-21971492693111061032010-10-07T03:44:00.000-07:002010-10-07T03:44:07.214-07:00So, it's been ages. What has happened, dear reader (in case you exist) that has caused such a hiatus, you wonder? Has Detoured Girl taken significant steps in her world domination strategy? Have I been hidding inside a 100 Yen shop ? Nooo, but the thought is rather alluring, I must say........<br />
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But enough about me. There are more pressing questions, such as:<br />
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Does Belgium have a new government? NO<br />
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Do these creatures, known as "Belgian politicians" made any significant progress towards reaching anything that remotely resembles an agreement, so that a new government can be designated? NO<br />
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Does Bart de Wever resemble a toad? YES<br />
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Does Elio Di Rupo resemble a waiter in a decrepit seaside hotel? YES, very. (he might be a lost relative of Manuel in Fawlty Towers)<br />
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Does this whole business look insane? YES<br />
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Are we tired of it? YES. If there was ever a better example of the lunatic situation of the Belgian political system, this is it. Anyway, enough if it already. I am getting itchy and it's not even my country (albeit my adoptive country and I do love it)<br />
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Anyway, what other stuff has happened since I last posted anything in this undignified blog? Erm............. parents in law are visiting, replacement godfather and godmother (I'll explain that one of these days) visited and left yesterday, we are going to Hiroshima for the long weekend ("Sports Day" on Monday in Japan, gotta love these ridiculous public holidays) and tomorrow, the -purple- highlight of my week: sweet potato digging field trip at Bibu's school.<br />
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Report on the level of purpleness of sweet potatoes to come. Watch this space.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-36556664298727117312010-09-22T00:15:00.000-07:002010-09-22T00:15:41.571-07:00Welcome autumnI love the change of seasons. I love change in general, and a new season, like a new year, are like a crisp white new sheet of paper, full of promise and possibility and ready to be filled with new and exciting things. Among all the seasons, autumn is my favourite one. In Argentina, I couldn't wait until the long soporific summer was over and it was cool in the mornings and evenings again. In Belgium, I suppose I lost a bit the longing for autumn, as, well, Belgian summer IS like autumn and autumn and winter are just one long straight road to chilly and damp days.<br />
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In Japan, though, and specially this year summer has been long and incredibly hot (the hottest 113 years) So I cannot tell you how happy I am with the official end of the summer. Tonight is "Shubun no Hi" or autumnal equinox, there will be a full moon and, according to the weather forecast, as of tomorrow temperatures will drop to 24 degrees. My Japanese teacher has told me that the custom is to decorate your windowsill with pampas grass and "mochi" (sweet rice cakes) as an offering. I don't think there will be much pampas grass in our appartment, but I will certainly be celebrating.<br />
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And, since we're on an inspiring note, here's a little quote from a poster you can buy in the UK (the author is Jerome K Jerome):<br />
<br />
<i>"Let your boat of life be light. Packed with only what you need: a homely home and simple pleasures; someone to love and someone to love you; a cat, a dog and a pipe or two; enough to eat and to wear and a little more than enough to drink, for thirst is a dangerous thing."</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Happy Autumn everybody!brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-59356255187852103502010-09-13T23:19:00.000-07:002010-09-13T23:19:16.716-07:00You've been in Tokyo for too long when you..... (part I)<ol><li>Instinctively keep to the left when walking on the street/ riding an escalator/ riding a bike (and continue doing so in Belgium....)</li>
<li>Forget to lock the bike when doing the shopping and leave it unlocked for hours at a time</li>
<li>Cannot imagine stepping outside during the summer without a parasol or enormous cotton hat</li>
<li>Know the Hibiya line like the palm of your hand.</li>
<li>Know which is the right exit -and can find it- in Shinjuku station.</li>
<li>Own at least one brow-sweat-mopping-towel-thingy (and are not afraid of using it)</li>
<li>TOTO toilets hold no secrets for you.</li>
<li>Manage to eat soba without spraying your clothes with sauce.</li>
<li>Don't worry when the delivery guys have been while you were out, as you know they'll be back tomorrow (and the day after, and the day after that, until they find you)</li>
<li>You feel bad about leaving minuscule crumbs on the floor after you've had a pic-nic</li>
</ol>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-58758032133534788482010-09-07T05:31:00.000-07:002010-09-07T05:39:46.375-07:00Kaizen my b***s!Back when I started to work, ages ago in 1996, I worked for a big automotive company (whose founder said "you can have the car in any colour as long as it's black") There was a lot of hoo-ha about the Japanese efficency maximising methods, I believe it's called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaisen">"kaizen"</a> or such. Anyway, today I am wondering if there is any concept that can be called "the reverse of kaizen" (I couldn't find it in Wikipedia) because today.......<br />
<br />
......was one of those days....<br />
<br />
Yesterday afternoon, I was giving Bibu his bath when I heard my cell phone ring. Thinking it would be Mr M reporting from the battlefield (a.k.a. Shangai) where he is all week on a business trip, I took the trouble of taking Bibu fast out of the water and I run to the kitchen to take the call, but, alas, too late. I checked the number to call Mr M back but saw that it was a local Tokyo number. Funny how the first thought on my mind was: "this cannot be the idiots from Nearby Posh Gym AGAIN".<br />
<br />
Surely enought, IT WAS.<br />
<br />
Lady from Nearby Posh Gym leaving message in barely understandable Engrish (fair enough, I am the one who doesn't speak the native tongue) said that August and September had not been paid yet and could I pay them in cash next time I go to gym? Of course, darling, although wasn't it the idea that after filling my direct debit form FOR THE FOURTH TIME in two months these amounts would debit themselves automatically each month?<br />
<br />
My first reaction upon hearing the message was to find out how could I cancel my membership, go there, pay the pending months and tell them to (EXPLETIVE OF THE THIRD KIND). Upon talking with the ever chilled out Mr M this morning, he said something along the lines of "don't do it, it's conveniently located, you like the ballet classes, etc". Damn, he had a point. Grr........ so I today decided to put my very best "meek and with Gandhi-like patience gaijin" impersonation and pay Nearby Posh Gym a visit.<br />
<br />
After checking in and nobody at the front desk telling me anything, I went to my hippo-ballet class as usual. Afterwards, feeling all saintly and fresh from the nice shower (they do have the nicest bathroom and locker area, these Nearby Posh Gym dorks) I grinned and waited for the best. Surely enough, the problem was the one it always is: bank says signature on the debit form does not match signature registered on the bank. The last time we had to fill in the form, Mr M himself went there to fill it in (our bank account here is on his name) and still there is a problem.<br />
<br />
First girl at front desk who tried to help me did not get a single word from English. Second girl apparently did, but still could not give me a clear explanation of what the problem is and how it can be fixed. When she presented me with the FIFTH direct debit form to be filled in, I had to restrain myself from attacking her with an ax. Luckily, there was a Hungarian lady there who spoke perfect Japanese and offered to do the translation.<br />
<br />
In the end, after more looking into papers and realising that there is a differnce between asking to "write your name" and "sign" (maybe because there is no such difference in Japanese?) girl said they were still waiting for confirmation from the bank that the form we had filled last time was approved. WTF??<br />
<br />
I wonder, people of Nearby Posh Gym, wouldn't it be better, if you know that these particular bank is so anal about checking signatures, that you ask your customers to go DIRECTLY to the bank, sort the form out and then RETURN to the gym? Or maybe that's too revolutionary a thought.........mmmmmmm<br />
<br />
In the end, I paid August and September in cash and left with the promise that from October onwards, each installment will be debited from my account.<br />
<br />
I bet all my life savings that in a few weeks I'll receive another call from nearby Posh Gym asking me please to come fill in the form again. Betting in Japan is illegal, so there you go.<br />
<br />
Kaizen, schmitzen.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-61715651100812380382010-09-02T23:05:00.000-07:002010-09-06T03:52:33.833-07:00Morning detours: ShimokitazawaSo today I went to Shimokitazawa, or "Shimokita",as it is known among le cool Tokyo. It is apparently very popular with students for its second hand clothes shops and variety of little cafes and bars and generally relaxed vibe.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZHa5KRt17ayXEHd8YLuy62PpQmju1OENhPFPvmxjuoejJIdjRbM3EhhbODcD1dnkfLnlLLGAb0ioC5aK4KN7M-COO5uJlDQPHABuSk1KiU1_ATgZXKwxxwBjT-0qudxwHTGytbvi74cH/s1600/SANY2338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZHa5KRt17ayXEHd8YLuy62PpQmju1OENhPFPvmxjuoejJIdjRbM3EhhbODcD1dnkfLnlLLGAb0ioC5aK4KN7M-COO5uJlDQPHABuSk1KiU1_ATgZXKwxxwBjT-0qudxwHTGytbvi74cH/s320/SANY2338.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To get there, I took the <a href="http://www.keio.co.jp/english/railwaymap/index.html">Keio Inokashira line</a> from Shibuya. It's just one stop on the express train, so very easy to get to. I took the North/ South exit which immediately pours into an array of narrow streets crisscrossing the whole neighbourhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most shops open only at 11:00 and some even later. I arrived around 10:30, so I walked around the area for a bit. There are plenty of nice cafes and bars that surely must come to life at night. There is the ubiquitous Starbucks as well, but in general the feeling is of being in a small cute town "à la Japonaise".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT0r-vAxaw0Qb_Wexa7HizrSDNxZc84bMq_3M1A7XuECI0XI3a8i_cCateS8zmia8b1ZjuZ9zacDrfz5A_IYTMraiSVy_Ol55_9Ln0n9Q8dRPRcGjh5mXJ4H5xUlddJ47A3mngQ4uFqXz/s1600/SANY2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT0r-vAxaw0Qb_Wexa7HizrSDNxZc84bMq_3M1A7XuECI0XI3a8i_cCateS8zmia8b1ZjuZ9zacDrfz5A_IYTMraiSVy_Ol55_9Ln0n9Q8dRPRcGjh5mXJ4H5xUlddJ47A3mngQ4uFqXz/s320/SANY2336.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shopping-wise, besides the big Daimaru Peacock supermarket in front of the station, which harbours a UNIQLO and a big bookshop, and the MUJI close to the West exit, the main attraction in Shimokita are the second hand clothes shops and a variety of bazaar like shops, much like the OUTLET but with a country: romantic style. I was looking for a vintage posters shop, which a friend had recommended, but could not find it and at 12:30 I called it a day and decide to head back to pick up Bibu from daycare.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Should definitely be back with Mr M to check it out in the evening. One of these days....</div>brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-36439077359525043152010-08-10T23:05:00.000-07:002010-08-10T23:09:37.112-07:00No sleep till Tokyo!We're back.<br />
<br />
And jet-lagged as hell.<br />
<br />
Arrived yesterday morning in Narita, after a 20-hour-no-sleep-trip-with-bouncy-two-year-old-boy. The trip in itself was OK, as in no delays and all the luggage arrived at the same time as us (which is not usually the case) but flying alone with Bibu is certainly a health hazard. The first leg of the trip, BXL-Helsinki, went very well and he even played in a civilized way with two Japanese little girls. All laughs and smiles and "cute" looks from fellow passengers.<br />
<br />
Once landed in Helsinki, things descended well below standards, with Bibu lying on the floor of the terminal while we were queueing for migrations and refusing to stand up and walk, or any other petition from my side; Bibu asking for one thing then wanting another and finally erupting into theatrical sobs when he didn'y get his way.<br />
<br />
Ommm..............<br />
<br />
The 10-hour flight Helsinki-Tokyo went in the same spirit, with a progressively super-tired Bibu who refused to sleep (or let his poor mother sleep). By now the looks of our fellow passengers were not so cute anymore.... More ommmmm...............<br />
<br />
But well, we survived. And now onto the jet-lag! We finally arrived home around lunchtime, all sweaty so straight into the shower and then to sleep. We managed 4 solid hours but at least on my side the zombie-like feeling is still very palpable. That was probably aided by darling Bibu waking up at 1am last night and refusing to go back to sleep until 4:30am, when we recognised defeat and brought him to sleep in our bed. I think Mr M's initial delight and happiness at seing us again yesterday evening was put to the test during this early morning scream-athon session.<br />
<br />
I cancelled my Japanese lesson of today as I was in no way capable of holding any attention for more than 30 seconds without wanting to lay down. Bibu is currently sleeping his nap, so we'll see how it goes tonight. I am hoping for the best but bracing myself for another horrid night.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, thank God, our cleaning lady comes and around lunchtime Mr M's brother and friend arrive from Brussels. They'll be staying for about a month, so hopefully plenty of opportunities for Mr M and I to go out just the two of us, something that has not happened in ages.<br />
<br />
Post about out two weeks in BXL comming soon.brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001316313806643987.post-6452141207511560062010-07-21T22:51:00.000-07:002010-07-21T22:58:22.619-07:00Brussels, here we come!Tomorrow, we all leave for Brussels, hooray! Cannot being to tell you how excited I am to escape the roasting Tokyo summer for two weeks (seasoned expats confirm my fears that in August it will get even warmer) I'll worry about that in two weeks. For the moment, I am preparing myself to enjoy the Belgian summer in all it's wet and chilly glory. Just checked the weather forecast and it averages a nice 25 degrees for the few days to come. Sweet.<br />
<br />
The social agenda is in full swing. It's already quite full, what with cathcing up with friends, meeting new babies of said friends that happened to pop up of their mum's insides recently and spending time with Mr M's family, who no doubt will be charmed by non-stop-talking Bibu. Some shopping is also on the cards -we're in the middle of the sales season, after all- but mostly it will be about having a nice time and living la dolce vita in Belgio.<br />
<br />
Ah..... like all things one looks forward to, I know it will be over so fast....!<br />
<br />
What will surely feel very long will be the actual trip there. Bibu and I booked our tickets over a month ago and are flying via Helsinki (cheapest we could find, hope the Finnish volcano is also taking summer holidays) Mr M, in true Mr M nature (i.e: why do things with plenty of time if you can do them at the last minute?) Only booked his ticket two days ago, managed to use his miles but will travel on a different airline, departing from a different terminal. His flight leaves two hours earlier than ours, but I've decided that we'll all take the Narita Express together. I really dont' feel like taking a taxi alone with Bibu, dragging our monster suitcase + baby stroller + wriggly two-year-old boy on my own. As usual, I am not expecting much sleep and relaxation during the flight, but I shall have plenty of that once in Belgium (I hope)<br />
<br />
Right, I should start packing now. See you in BXLs!brusselswithkidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489811960488062998noreply@blogger.com1