A mighty decade

It's really incredible how it's almost 10 years after the millenium happened. Not only is a new year beginning, but a new decade. So a little decade-examining reflection is de rigueur. It has definitely been an important decade for me.

Year 2000 started with a bittersweet taste. After being unemployed for 9 months or so, a few days before the end of 1999 I started to work at a small French telecoms company's office in Buenos Aires. A week before that, my beloved great-aunt died of cancer and left a big hole in my heart. I still miss her and will do so til the end of my life.

Later in 2000 I moved for the first time on my own and I travelled a lot for work. I went to Rio, NY, Miami and Marseille, enjoying the sweet times of the telecom industry. I also reconnected with lost friends from high school.

In December 2001, a big economic and financial crisis hit Argentina and all hell broke loose. People's bank accounts were frozen and most people lost a lot of their savings. I didn't have much to lose, so my finances didn't suffer much. But I did lost the will to live in a country that would allow such things. A country that would smash your efforts and suffocate your dreams. I decided it was time to do something about it and my long-baked dream of living abroad started to become more tangible.

The ensuing crisis that hit the telecom industry speeded things along and, after desisting to move to Mexico to keep my job, in April 2002 I got my severance package and used the money to make my exit to Europe, where I landed in August 2002. I chose Antwerp, Belgium, as a starting point, because my good friend C. lived there and offered to live with her while I looked for a job. I met Mr M on the same day I landed in Belgium (although we only started dating a few months later) A few weeks later I landed a part-time job at a banking institution. On my free time I followed French and Nederlands courses and walked through Antwerp a lot. My friend C. moved out to live with her then-boyfriend (now husband) and I took over the lease of her appartment, a lovely attic in the heart of Antwerp.

I moved in with Mr M in Brussels in 2003, just in time to start a new job near the Zaventem airport. In 2004 we bought our lovely appartment and started working on home renovations, which we realised over the years: first the garden and a deck terrace, then de kitchen, then an extension, lately a brand new bathroom....

In 2005 we started trying for a baby and in May 2008 Bibu finally showed up, feeling our lives with a lot of new adventures. In June 2007 we got married in Brussels and in May last year we started our latest adventure: a couple of years living the expat life in Tokyo.

So, it's ten years from the 'millenium bug' thing and I've come a long way, baby.

Wonder what this new decade will bring. Adventure beckons!

Around the world in 80 blogs: TOKYO

Lovely everydaystranger has challenged her readers to write about the cities we all live in on the same day, thus provoking a sort of virtual mega travel bonanza. Today is the D day and, being a loyal reader to her blog for about three years now, here I am, reporting from the land of the rising sun which got lost in translation.



I have been living in Tokyo for just over five months. Hubby (Mr M), Bibu (my 18 month son) and myself moved here last June courtesy of Mr M's job, on a two-year international assignment. Home is Brussels, Belgium, where Mr M is from. I am from far-far away in the ass of the world, also known as Buenos Aires, Argentina, but have been living in Belgium for the last seven years.



Anyway, in these five months I've come to love this completely mesmerising city. When I first arrived I was expecting it all to look very futuristic and crazy and noisy with lots of neon and people posing for photos doing the "v" of victory. Well, Tokyo is that but so much more. Sure, you have the super crowded areas and Shinjuku station at 6pm will never be a favourite place. But it is also the cleanest city in the world, where you can buy your groceries 24hs/7 at the "conbini" (convenience stores), get hot coffee or tea from vending machines in the street and get a taxi with a white-globed chauffeur just for you.




Tokyo can also be a suprisingly quiet city. Strolling around Daikanyama or Shirokanedai on a lazy Saturday afternoon, you wonder where all the people is gone (to Shinjuku, probably) It's also a very easy city to cycle around. OK, easy in terms of traffic, but not so easy in the sense that Tokyo is a very hilly place. Great workout for the legs, though!



The language is an issue, of course. My first trips to the supermarket where a sort of lottery where I would shop by deduction and by imaginative label drawing interpretation. I can only say 'good morning/ afternoon" and "thank you" so instead I do a lot of idiot smiling, but well, in January I'll start following lessons, so at least I can expand a bit my repertoire.



In short, Tokyo has definitely surpassed my expectations. In these few months I've become used to living here. Quality of life is very good and the weather is really nice. Only major drawback are indeed the earthquakes, which are very much a part of everyday life. So far we've experienced a couple of minor ones, the ones you feel like you live over a busy train station. They lasted for about 20 seconds, but they left quite an impression on me. People dont' seem to be much bothered by them, but for me, they are definitely NOT on my list of "Tokyo's Favourite Things".




Anyway, must go now, got a trillion things to do this week, as on Friday we're heading to Brussels for three weeks, for the Xmas holidays. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing our friends and the Belgian family. Hope you enjoyed this little tour around Tokyo.

Hitting the five month mark

So we've been officially in Tokyo for five months now. I know, it's not so much, just over half a pregnancy, almost the trial period for a new job, but longer than most holidays. It seems both a long time and only a quarter of our scheduled time here.

Most expats would tell you that "the first six months are the hardest" and I will not be original on this and will completely agree. It's not just the getting settled, finding your way around the neighbourhood, meeting some new people, finding a school for your kids, figuring out the public transport system, dealing with a language you have absolutely no clue about.... It's that and much more. Namely a change of lifestyle so big that it gets a long time to get used to.

For me, besides all these things, it was mainly the switch between being a working person and being a full time stay at home mum and housewife. It's hard work, harder than I thought. Bibu goes three mornings a week to daycare and that's when I get to choose how I spend my time. The rest, is really not for me to decide. I know that running after a one-and-a-half dynamic kid is supposed to be like this. But it's tough. Add to that the wish to keep the apartment at least superficially clean and tidy and have food available to eat at the right times and that is a whole lot of work.

I am naturally very undisciplined and my attention span is very short. I am doing one thing and leave it unfinished to start doing something else that caught my eye and which I feel must be done NOW. Put Bibu in the picture and it's not surprise at the end of the day I feel like a mad chicken with its head half chopped off.

Eeuww.... what a metaphore ....

Anyway, in five months we have achieved a lot also, namely:

- Bibu (and us) love his daycare. It was recommended to me by our neighbours who have a kid about Bibu's age. I'm really-really happy with it.

- Finally managed to apply for Japanese lessons. I start in January right after we're back from BXLs.

- We've done quite a lot of sightseeing in and around Tokyo. I feel I know my way around the city and I definitely like it.

- I'm biking everywhere. I am not a sports person, so committing to weekly swimming sessions was a short lived gig. Biking, however is something I would happily do every day. I live the feeling and the fact you arrive fast everywhere.

- Finally dared to leave Bibu with a babysitter for a couple of hours while Mr M and I went to have a lovely dinner. It all went well and the lady is super sweet. Should do that again, it was worth every Yen.

- Went once to Argentina with Bibu (all 32 hours worth of trip) and we both survived. Seeing my family so happy to see Bibu (and myself) made all the sleep deprivation worth.

- Made a few acquaintances, which is no mean feat. I still miss my friends from my 'normal life' in Belgium, but I will see them in a few days. In any case, it's nice to meet new people.

- Bibu's best friends are a Japanese little boy and a Brazilian-Dutch little boy from daycare. Their mums are also very cool. We've been to an aquarium together with the kids and it was a very fun day. Bibu loves to hold onto a framed photo of the three we took there.

And on that note, and seeing that it is time for Bibu to wake up from his morning nap, I leave you for now. I promise I'll be writing a bit more often in the future (Bibu allowing) See ya!

My love of magazines

Now, on a totally unrelated post (I am queen of the tangent, you have been warned), last weekend I started what I would call a 'magazine purge' -that is, getting rid of a number of old issues of my beloved titles-, and I realised I might have a problem.

Hello, my name is Detoured and I am addicted to magazines.

In the meagre 5 months that I have been living here, I've amassed the grand quantity of 25 magazines. All the 'Reds', 'Livingetc' and 'EasyLiving' from August onwards, a couple of 'Real Homes', 'Delicious' and 'inStyle' plus 10 copies of a variety of Japanese glossies which of course I cannot read, but really, who cares? They're so beautiful.

And here I think this is where the problem lies. Besides actually reading said magazines, although 'flicking' is more appropriate in most cases, I put my hand in my heart and admit that in the end, I buy them just because they are beautiful. The main culprit is photography, I think. Gorgeous shoots populate these magazines. Lovely colours, stylish styling, if that doesn't sound too bad. They feature beautiful clothes and make up and furniture and dishes, but what I like the most is the way they are photographed. Yes, I do read some of the articles but they are not the reason I buy the magazines, at least not the main reason.

I've studied communications in university and have always worked in communication-related things, so the notion that an image attracts our attention faster is not new to me. In my case, I have to say that it is not just any image. It has to inspire (and transpire) beauty. Well, my concept of beauty at least.

I often say to Mr M, as he humours me whenever he sees yet another pile of glossies that have somehow made their way into our home, that magazines are my therapy. Some people go to shrinks, I buy glossies. They give me a high and take me to pretty-land. There are few things that are more appealing to me than sitting down with some coffee or tea and a pile of mags to flick around while wrapped in a duvet with some soft music in the background. Each lovely photo and amorously laid out page is pure happiness. Each shiny page complete and beautiful fantasy.

My love of magazines goes back to prehistoric times, when I used to buy comic strips when I was too young to even be able to read them. But it's only in recent years, that this addiction has really blossomed. So much so that I find it very hard to actually bring myself to throw away some when the time comes to make space for new ones. These 'purges' are painful, I tell you.

This last purge I mentioned earlier ended up with maybe five issues sent to magazine heaven and about 10 used to raise the head of Bibu's cot, so his snotty nose (no metaphor here) can drain better during the night. So a bit of recycling, really.

And on that note....

A bicycle and a girl in Tokyo

Very much in the spirit of starting to do some physical activity to get rid of 'le tummy', this morning I went for a ride. I went up to Meguro station, which is about 15' from our place (I know, but you have to start small, underpromise and overdeliver, yada-yada-yada) So I went into the Atré and did a 'tour de reconaissance' with a stop or two along the way (UNIQLO for socks and a couple of their new high tech t-shirts) and the supermarket for tonight's dinner.

Parking did prove to be a bit tricky. By sheer chance I arrived a few minutues before 10am, which is when the store opens. This meant that the ridiculously small bicycle parking lot - we're talking 10 bikes max- was completely empty. So no problem there. When I left, the story was rather different and although I managed to take out my bike, I also managed to knock down one of the neighbouring ones. They were in one of these bike rack things which are supposed to keep them erect but still. I tried to put this other bike back upright but no chance, if you dont' bother to put it correctly into the slot, then sorry. So I left it like that (bad-bad expat wife! he-he)

In Tokyo most bike-riders ride on the footpath. This is is somewhat tricky as in some places said footpaths are very narrow. This means there is no absent-minded riding in Tokyo. Your eyes need to be on the ball all the time. Riding on the street is not something you see a lot, only the kamikaze couriers do it. Anyway, all this paying attention to the traffic and pedestrians will surely be handy for when I start practising again for my drivin license in BXL.

So, all in all, the first biking outing was a success. More to come.

PS, Read this today. I think the guy is a character and as I dont' live in London cannot really say if he's any good as Mayor. But you gotta love a guy who insists on cycling to work just to prove a point.

And another month almost flew by in total silence

Blog silence, that is. My God, I am really crap at this blogging thing. It's seems I've blincked and a month has gone by and NADA from my side. It's not that I have nothing to write about. In fact, quite the contrary, I have too much to blog about in this wonderful land of far-far away, but I just cannot seem to achieve much of the old "putting it on paper" or, in this case, on the keyboard.

Anyway, September is a big month as in 1) is the bday of Mr M; 2) is the bday of my Dad and my brother; 3) I am going with Bibu to good old Argentina (also known as the 'antipodes' around here) for a couple of weeks. I am very much looking forward to spending some time with my family and my antipodean friends. I am not looking forward too much on the 32 hour (yes, you read correctly, 32 hour) trip to get there. Oh, and did I mention that it will be just me and Bibu travelling? Mr M will stay and save his holidays for our trip back home to BXL at the end of the year (also, the flight ticket? Not very cheap)

So in a week's time, Bibu and I will be travelling to Buenos Aires via London (I have some miles in BA and with this trip they will go 'o-hoooo! Buba-buba-buba!!!') Taking into account that Bibu has inherited Mr M's restlessness (in Argentina, we say people like him 'have an ant in their ass') and my stubbornness (is that a word?) I am foreseeing a veeery pleaseant and quiet trip.......hehehe...........

To palliate the 7 hours we have to spend at Heathrow, I've booked ourselves into the Yotel, which is a sort of pod hotel where you can spend from 4 hours to a whole night. We're arriving into Terminal 5 and the pod is on T4, so hopefully we'll get there without much ado.

So, where was I? Ah, yes, I entitled this post in reference to how I dont' write enough in this blog and now I am going through a tangent again. Aw, well, that's me. Lady Tangent (doesn't sound as cool as Lady Ga-Ga, but hey, give it time)

And on that note....

Earthquakes move you

It's almost been a month since my last post and that makes me think that a) this business of being a full time mum and expat parasite is not all that relaxed and time-freeing as I thought and b) I have been trying to get my voice back -and listen to it- in the midst of a lot of noise.

Plus, I am a lazy ass.

Anyway, sometimes in Japan you don't even have to move your ass as per your own will. An earthquake will do it for you, ha! The occurrence of earthquakes in Japan was not high on the wish list of "those Japan things I know". Almost two months (and three earthquakes later) I've come to see that they are an almost daily feature and part of everyday life here.

A few days ago I felt my third earthquake in the space of two weeks. This one had its epicentre in Chiba, which is sort of a suburb of Tokyo (as in quite close to Tokyo) It was a 4 in the Richter scale, and nothing really 'moved', but the feeling is always the same: it is as if you are living over a very busy subway station. Bibu was napping in his room and didn't feel a thing.

The strongest so far (touching wood as I type this) was the first one, during which I think I was this close to having a panic attack. On that occasion, Mr M, Bibu and I all went under the table, as it is recommended over here and waited for the shock to pass, which could have been between 20 to 30 seconds, but which lasted an eternity for us.

At that moment we realised how ill prepared we were for the event of, you know, ehem, a real big earthquake and the possibility of having to evacuate the building or something. We have in the apartment a box with water and food rations and a strange device to use in the event of having to get out of the apartment via a window (as if) It's like a pole with a steel rope and a thing to attach it to oneself. Mind you, if this pole thing is ever necessary I don't think I would be in the sort of mental state to correctly use this thing, but never mind (touching more wood here)

The strangest thing though, is that nobody here paid much importance to that first earthquake. I mean, the local newspapers barely mentioned it and Mr M told me nobody spoke much about it in the office. For me, I think I aged 20 years in 20 seconds. Since then, every now and then I feel certain tremors and I don't know if I am particularly sensitive or if I am imagining things. Earthquakes are indeed a strange thing.

Anyway, our blatant "earthquake unpreparedness" made me start on my new quest, which is getting some kit ready for an eventual evacuation. Among the recommended stuff are (besides water and food) a flashlight, can opener, plastic sheet, wet wipes, wireless radio, first aid kit and essential documentation. In short, everything you would need to live without a house for a couple of days. I have now placed a backpack next to the apartment door and ready to go and every now and then add a new survival element to the list. Let's hope we never have to use it.

One month on

Exactly one month ago, Mr M's parents drove me and Bibu to Zaventem airport, pushed the trolley carrying our two huge, slightly overweight suitcases, had coffee with us on the airport café, and waved goodbye to us as we made our way past security.

One month on and I now know my way around the neighbourhood, where the supermarkets are, where the metro station is. I know the shortest way to Roppongi Hills and that if you need toiletries you have to buy them in the drugstores. I have found a good replacement formula for Bibu and have gone once to the movies (Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince, cince you ask). We have now two brand new bicycles, a rice cooker, an iron and an iron table, a vacuum cleaner, an electric piano and an expresso machine. Our furniture is all courtesy of IKEA and we rather like it. I am already thinking were we will put it once we come back to Brussels.

We have gone to brunch once with our nice neighbours from the 3rd floor and Bibu and their son have had a "playdate" together. I have visited 4 pre-schools and Bibu has started today with part-time daycare, with much success. Mr M has started his Japanese lessons at the office and he's really enjoying it.

We have gone to Kamakura, Yokohama and walked across the Shinjuku-gyoen and Yoyogi park. WE already have our residence cards and our re-entry passes. I have already collected 4 "pokemons" or charms from vending machines and I have to watch it or it wil become a full blown addiction, hehe.

I have learnt how to make sauce Teriyaki from scratch and am still struggling with the chopsticks. I keep saying "arigato" to anyone and for anything and have no clue what they're saying to me when I pay at the till.

One month on and the weather is still very hot and humid, much like the Argentinean summers.

One month on, I miss the life in Brussels, but I like it here too, specially now that I will have some time for me again. I dont' miss working (i.e. being tied to a schedule) but I miss the buzz and wonder what my colleagues are up to.

One month on, I would say quite a lot has happened to us. And this is just the beggining.

Japanese weird food: green cake

It's green, it's sweet and it comes from my most beloved shop in Japan: MUJI. Introducing: the spinach cake!






Once you get past the green colour, it actually tastes really good. Great to go along your (green) tea. Ñam!

Veredict: approved

Hole in the ground toilet: this is not TOTO!

One of the things that strickes foreigners who first visit Japan, are the TOTO toilets, present in most public restrooms and hotels. The TOTOS are sort of computerised toilets with integrated bidet and bottom "massage" functions. We have three of those at home (TOTOs, not bottoms, but now that I think of it, we are three so we even have three of those, too). Anyway, will talk about the TOTOs at large on some other entry, not today.

Today is about what they call here "Japanese traditional toilets", a.k.a hole in the ground toilet. They are still present in most public parks and other oldish public toilets. In Argentina we used to call these "French toilets" and, I've found out that the French call them "Turkish toilets".

At least the Japanese own up to their holes in the ground with pride, ha!

Baby parafernalia in Tokyo, part 1

When you have kids, you suddenly become all too familiar with the pros and cons of the most unfathomable products. Moving from Brussels to Tokyo, the first things I tried to source was not frites or moules, not even beer. No, Sir, priority number one is to find diapers of the "that will work fine yet not set us back a fortune" kind.

At home (Brussels is and will be what I call "home" in this blog, by the way, just so that you, erm, know it) Bibu dons the P ones (don't make me say the brand, please!) Yes, they are not the cheapest, but they thoroughly pass the "piss at midnight" test, which the cheapos dont'. Daytime is another story, I have been using some private label ones and they work just great.

Anyway, now that we've moved to Tokyo, the quest was on to try to find the Japanese version of the P ones and find a local brand cheapo one for daytime. The first few days, we bought the P ones, which typicaly will set you back some 1,650 Yen (about 12.5 EUR) for a pack of 38 units (our Bibu weights now about 12 kilos) But, dear reader, in one of my frequent excursions around the 'hood, I've hit the jackpot: local brand pack of 40 for (drums please) 880 Yen!!! (about 6.6 EUR) Isn't that a great deal or what! They look something like this:

Yes, I know, the things that make me feel like an accomplished person these days. But anyway, isn't that a great deal or whatttt??? They have survived the daytime "piss and poo" rituals and will be tested on the "piss at midnight" test soon, when the P branded ones run out. Will report on that.

Now, on to formula. No, not talking about the formula for happiness or richness, just baby formula. You know, fake milk for babies. Bibu is now just under 14 months and has two fake milk drinks a day. I brought with me his favoured N brand from Switzerland (again, do not make me say the brand) but that is almost finished. So after running a quick internet research, I bought a Japanese brand which is apparently favoured by Western babies:

Well, I obviously didn't check the price on the shelf, as this cutie is actually 2,635 Yen (almost 20 EUR) bought in the same shop as the great deal diapers.

I can only say that I see Bibu drinking proper normal cow's milk in the very very short term..... That or the good deal with the diapers will compensate the outrageous price tag of the formula.

Bibu the chick magnet (sort of)

You know the famous popular belief that babies and small children attract women in the street? Well, with Bibu it's taking a twist to the bizarre.

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to check out the Roppongi Hills complex, which is relatively close to our place. We left and already I was missing the appartments air conditioning. My God it's boiling hot in here! Anyway, we arrived in said Roppongi Hills place, all vey nice and modern but a tad complicated to get around with a stroller and an increasingly impatient 1 year old. Seeing that things would quickly turn nasty if I didn't release Bibu from the stroller at least for a little while to let him stretch his legs, we made our way through the maze of elevators and semi-mezzanine floors to the "Mori Park" next to the Asahi TV station building.

Bibu was walking around in the park, wearing his hideous "combat sandals" (he apparently threw one of his nice sandals in the street the other day and we only found out the following day) when two women holding small ugly dogs à la Paris Hilton came by walking in the opposite direction. Bibu instantly fixed his stare on the chihuahuas and that's when I heard it: "Ah, such a cute baby"!!! This said with what I can only describe as a man's voice. So, indeed, there it was Mr Transexual walking his chihuahua, aptly named "Paris". We had the typical nice exchange with Bibu hesitating to pet the dog's head or not and Mr T reassuring us that "Paris" wouldn't hurt a bug. Bibu remained scotched to the spot and after a bit more hesitation and nervous smiles (mine) and much use of expressions such as "cute", "nice boy", etc (Mr T's) we all continued our ways through the park.

A few minutes later, now resolutely on the way back home after Bibu entered full blown metldown, I decided to take a quick tour around a book & CD shop in one of the corners, to check the prices of the imported magazines. On the way out, Mr T and friend (who was an actual woman, I presume) were sipping a latte or sililar Starbuckean concoction and of course they spotted us immediately and screamed "How cute, you're following uuuussssss!" to the top of their lungs.

Yep, that Bibu is a chick magnet I say! :-)

Childcare in Tokyo not easy to find

So, yesterday night spent a couple of hours searching the internet for childcare options near our place. Results were almost nil. Managed to book a free trial at Gymboree in Moto Azabu, which is a sort of organised playgroup thing. I have no clue how expensive it is, but I figure I'll find that out on Wednesday when Bibu and I go there.

Otherwise, there is very little in offer and almost nothing for kids younger than 2 years old. I've looked so far into international schools, which are mostly in English and some French schools, but with not a lot of luck.

Ah, I think it will be some time before Bibu can go back to his creche days! Anyway, for the moment it will be lots of visits to the park and walks around the city.

4 days in Tokyo

I've now been living in Tokyo for the grand total of 4 days, hurra!

OK, OK, that's not a lot, but still, Bibu and I have been up to a spot or two of shopping for house items and some more adventurous stuff.

Shopping wise, I've done some food shopping and that is for the moment a bit of an adventure. Sure, you can find pretty much all the typical foodstuffs for Western cooking. Known vegetables and cooking oil, even bought some parmesan. The trick lies in understanding a minimum of Japanese and Chinese characters to decipher the labels of the local stuff. There are easily 30 different kinds of sauces in each supermarket I've found. For example, I want to buy some miso paste for making miso soup, but didn't know where to start.

Another thing I've noticed is the price difference between the shops. The closest supermarket to our house is the well-known National Azabu. It stocks all sorts of imported food, from cereals to camembert "President". Prices are completely over the top, something like 8 EUR for a pack of butter (whatevah). On the other side of the spectrum is the "Lawson 100" which sells most of its goods for 100 Yen (about 1 EUR) The quality is very good but to buy in this one you need to understand a bit the language to read the labels, otherwise shopping turns into a "wheel of fortune" experience: "will this taste as soya sauce or super spicy oyster sauce?"

Somewhere in between is the "Daimaru Peackock" near Roppongi Hills, which has a lot of variety and decent prices. For the moment I've bought standard Western stuff, mostly meat, chicken, vegetables and fruit and I am playing it safe.

Talking about fruits, for some reason peaches are a bit of a luxury here. In some places they charge about 1,000 Yen (about 10 EUR) for 4! They look nice and juicy and all, but it seems a bit excessive. Mr M managed to buy 4 for 500 Yens on the way back home from his office. They were presented in cosy "peach sweaters" in lack of a better word. I dont' think the Japanese worry much about using lots of unnecessary plastic packaging.

Today I'll try to find some baby stuff for Bibu and some bits an pieces for the house, like proper coffee mugs and not the miniature ones we've been drinking from lately. Wish me luck!

The angle is very important

So, I am now in Tokyo since yesterday. The trip was long, difficult and tring, just like I expected it. Bibu had trouble staying calm in the limited space that a plane seat offers, to put it mildly. There were mean looks from other fellow passengers, oh yes. But well, we survived and we're here now to stay.

The first thing I did once in Narita airport was, quite understandably, run for the nearest disabled toilet, which allows to enter the cublicle with a stroller and all. This one was a combo disabled/ baby nappyi change station. It featured the trusty "TOTO" WC. Now, it is difficult to spot places in Tokyo with directions in English. Granted, the English is a bit dodgy, but this is such a gem that I cannot pass it by:

Closing a house

I am now pretty much done with the suitcases. Ok, minus the small fact that one of them still weighs more than the allowed 20kg, which, let's be frank, it's a bit meagre. Those strict Lufthansa Germans!

Anyway, it's so odd thinking that tomorrow morning Bibu and I will leave this house and only be back in 6 months, for Christmas. The sheer reality of our move to Tokyo has finally hit. I'm gonna miss my Belgian life. Not that I am not looking forward to the Japanese chapter, but here I am a local and I have found my life here in good old Brussels. Tokyo is really a big adventure. It's a step towards the unknown and it goes beyond the fact that the language is different, the culture is diferent, they drive in the opposite side, etc. It even goes beyond the fact that for the next two years I'll be a housewife. As in "not working and not earning any money". Mmmm, that one bugs me but I know that I'll figure something out. I know I'll be pretty busy anyway with Bibu and getting to know the city, during the first few months.

But well, let's not put the cart before the horses, so to speak, and let's focus on the immediate next hurdle of this Japanese adventure: the trip. Yes, dear friends, tomorrow Bibu and I will be spending some 15 hours in and around planes. I guess travelling with a 13 month old will be lots of fun and hard-hard work. I am trying not to think too much on all the things that can go wrong, like delays, overflowing diapers, fellow passengers complaining about Bibu's crying/ food throwing/ farting, etc, but it is HARD.

I tend to always think the worst, that's me the pessimistic. I guess the only certain thing is that I'll find out tomorrow.

See you in Japan!

Our appartmet in Tokyo, not so empty anymore

So, got news from the tenacious Mr M this morning. He's moved out of the hotel and is as of today officially living there. The guys from IKEA came to deliver the stuff he purchased last weekend, so the living looked like this:

He then proceeded to put together teh sofa (yes, it's yellow. We decided to go crazy in Japan)

And the bed (rather important if you want to sleep, no?)

So now we're fully functional. The basics are there! Mr M foresees an evening of IKEA fun, putting together the dining table and chairs.

Things I am going to miss from Brussels (part I)

Ok, ok, it's not that we're leaving forever, just a couple of years, but still. In no particular order:

• my friends, also known as the "Brussels Bunch" (I won't name them, but you know who you are)
• the Aperos Urbains in the summer
• the Place de Chatelain on Wednesdays
• the Egmont park
• the Tenbosch park
• the Wolvendael park
• the Fond' Roy park
• HEMA (it's actually very hard to leave empty handed)
• DILLE & KAMILLE (same as before, one of the cutest shops ever)
• WATERSTONES (my monthly dosis of magazines and books)
• DE GRIFFE (shoe heaven)
• DOD (cheap and chic)
• caffe lattes from the "Natural Caffé"
• Saturday lunch at TEA & EAT and MAMY LOUISE
• our "passegiatas" with Mr M through Ixelles while having an ice-cream
• tram 23 (always empty and comfy)

to be continued.....

The countdown is ON!

Just returned from saying goodbye to my parents in Zaventem. Althoug we'll be seeing each other in September for my Dad and brother's birthdays, it is still an uneasy moment, all those "see you later, call when you arrive home, etc". I have been living in Belgium for almost 7 years now, and that amounts to a fair share of airport goodbyes, but it is still hard.

Anyway, with the papas departing, it means that the countdown to the big move to Tokyo is ON. Definitely on. In little more than a week, life will chage big time. It will definitely be a big adventure and I am completely looking forward to it!

In the meantime, this next week will be my week to say goodbye to Brussels. There'll be friends coming over for dinner on Monday, dinner with the parents in law on Wednesday and I am still debating whether to actually go to Werchter on Friday or just sell the tickets. I bought them ages ago when the whole Japan thing was a mere nugget to a shred of a thought and now I don't really feel like it anymore. Oh, well, only to see The Killers! It will be a sin not to go.

And tomorrow, in very un-typical Belgian fashion, most shops will be open because of the sales season. I am definitely going to have a glance, ha!

Suitcases

So, it is happening. Mr M is packing his suitcase. He leaves tomorrow, first to Shangai -where he will stay for 4 days- and then to Tokyo. He will stay in a hotel for one week while he does a trip round to the nearest IKEA and buys all we need to set up our home in the land of the rising sun. Man, that's gonna be one hell of a lot of DIY. As he says, he'll "prepare the nest" for the family. I foresee the nest to be full of empty IKEA boxes, hehe....

Bibu and I will join Mr M in two weeks. I am so not looking forward to travelling for 15 hours with a one year old. It's going to be, erm, "interesting", I guess. Anyway, I'm blacking that thought out of my mind for the moment. One step at the time, ommmm.....

House is full these days, with my parents and my aunt and uncle from Spain visiting, so it's easy to block any thoughts other than what we're going to eat for lunch or whether we need to do yet another round of laundry. In a way, it helps. In a way, it's crazy, but I know the craziness has a deadline and in a couple of weeks it's going to be only the three of us for some time, so it's OK.

What's not so OK is that I am going to miss Mr M very very much these newt two weeks. And will miss him during the "interesting trip" with Bibu. Aw, we shall see.

It's alive!!!

Or sort of. Anyway, The Mighty Detour exists and has seen the light. Not much to it yet, but promise that when life becomes a tinsy bit more chilled (surely not before Bibu and I depart to Tokyo following the tenacious Mr M) posts will flow like lava from Mount Doom.

Howevah, keep your eyes glued to this space. Who knows, you might get a little surprise!