The Latest and a Whine

 

Today was “College and Career Day” at the school. I got to represent fields in computer sciences. Having worked at Intel when I first arrived in America was definitely a good thing since I still have friends that have survived the downsizing flurry a few years ago. They were an excellent source of information about the current state of employment in the computer manufacturing industry.

I was surprised at how popular my table seemed to be. There was a steady stream of students seriously inquiring about the field with very pointed questions that indicated they were not simply using the time they had to be there. Well...not HAD to be. They had the option of being in study hall. In all, I would say the day was very productive and informative for the students.

They say, “Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.” I love being a teacher. Teaching has been such a fulfilling job for me. I have dozens of young adults that trust me to do more than just educate them. I am often privileged to be welcomed into a small portion of their lives when they seek advice or just company during a difficult teenager moment. I love seeing smiles on their faces as we begin our days and when I see them around the base. Someday, I may have to get a “real” job. Today is not that day.

I am pleased to say that Chao lei was the top producer in his troop's fund raising drive. As a result, he will join other scouts from around the bases in Europe for a trip to the Berlin Zoo in the spring. Making sales was not as easy as he at first thought it would be since it was chocolate but he was competing with 25 other scouts. I suppose his Spanish talents served him well since that is where the bulk of his sales originated. He converted the Dollar sales price to Euros, including the adjustment for the currency exchange rate each day. His total sales were $1200.00. That is a lot of chocolate! It is about 800 candy bars. Only ten were sold to my house, I swear!

Jun is still in her dance class. Missing it is not an option. She has a recital Friday. Hopefully I can get some good pictures. The venue they are hosted at usually has large space between the seats and the stage. I do not understand why they do not have seats on the floor closer to the stage since it is just open space. There must be a reason but I have not discovered it yet.

Have you ever wanted to vent but was not permitted to? It is one of the hazards of this military life. Given the tensions in the world today, it is best to remain silent about most things military related. I am baffled by the lack of caution exercised so often by spouses that should know better. You never know who is listening. It is common here to have someone giving uncomfortable amount of attention to your conversation. How often is it beyond mere curiosity of hearing English?

Yes. I realize I sound paranoid but I have a vested interest in this. It is almost as if I am only stealing from a spy novel. For me though, this is real. I sit here tonight with no husband about and sailing where only the Navy knows wondering if he is OK. Praying he is OK. When something does happen and we find out through the local news (which is how we heard of the last event) and ask our command, we are told “We cannot tell you anything.” You can become accustomed to it but you can never get used to it.

When they are underway, if the ombudsman's number shows up on your phone screen, you experience a moment of terror, dreading the reason for the call. Even when you expect the call, there is that briefest surge of dread.

Once, while underway, Jared had left something in his desk at home and asked a co-worker to pick it up and send him a copy. He did not inform me of this request beforehand. Imagine my reaction to seeing two men in whites standing at my door. It did not get better when I opened the door and they asked if they were at Jared's house. I had to hold the door post as my knees were about to give out until they told me their purpose for being there. After they had accomplished there objective, assured me that Jared was OK, and departed, I collapsed to my couch and wept. I do not wish to repeat such an event, even if it is another false alarm. Our phone call after that event, I am sure, there will be no repeat. I think he knew he had made a mistake when he was scolded for 30 minutes... in Mandarin... which he does not speak.

No. Military life is not normal.

Conferences are Here

 Ah... Parent/teacher conferences. What fun event to have.

Do not misunderstand me. I am all for reviewing students' performance on a regular basis other than at grading time. I really do prefer to see to issues as they occur rather than reacting to issues after they have happened.

My reluctance is not with the students. It is with some of the parents. It always seems as though there are a few parents that are not interested in helping their student to learn but to blame someone or something for why they are not. I find this most prevalent in advanced student families.

High achievers are usually performance driven. The driver can be the student themselves or an outside source like a parent. Both sources can be problematic. A student's drive is usually good unless they have unreasonably high or unforgiving standards for themselves. A parent is a different matter.

Parents tend to drive their student without realizing the undo pressure they are applying to them. They are not usually doing so maliciously though. They believe they are simply encouraging them to perform at their best. I get it. I do. Sometimes though, a student is only a “C” student where “A's” and “B's” are a rarity with no regard to how hard they work or how much they study. Some parents are not willing to accept that their student is “average.” That does not mean they are not at their best. Getting some parents to accept that is the challenge.

PT Conferences are not for showing what is wrong but to give a status report. They are for encouraging the student to work steadily and honestly while enlisting the parents in the education process by identifying the students strong and weak points and recognizing their student's performance levels. After all, stressing to a student they must achieve above average grades when their best is average only serves to discourage them and lower their performance, All parties must help them achieve their best whatever level that may be.

It is not all bad. ;-) Placing parents with their students helps me to understand the students better.

Well That Was Electrifying

I have had an interesting week. I have been in the hospital experiencing Atrial Flutter. What is that you ask? It is much like A Fib with the exception of it being on the top of the heart rather than the bottom. What causes it? In my case, it was medication, or more accurately more medication than was required.

I woke up three days ago feeling normal enough. My smart watch disagreed as it flashed three health alarms for a high heart rate. I do not trust a watch completely so I tried to find my pulse in my neck but could not. I set myself up with our BP cuff which confirmed a heart rate of 158bpm. Not good I thought yet I did not feel anything was wrong so I continued my morning, getting the children ready for school but had decided I would go to Urgent Care to have it checked.

After leaving Su at day care, I proceeded to Urgent Care. Did you know it is unnerving to have a nurse ask if I drive myself then saying never mind, she was going to call an ambulance? It seems A Flutter is more serious than I believed it to be.

I had time for one phone call before the ambulance arrived so I called Jared to let him know and to call the school right away to allow them time to get a sub to cover my classes. After laying there all day, the decision was made to do electrical cardioversion, otherwise known as stopping my heart and restarting it to return it normal rhythm. Can you say sore chest? I had less grogginess after they removed my thyroid.

The investigation into what caused this episode is too much thyroid medicine. It seem I ran out of my proper dose (132 mcg) and began taking a higher dose (175 mcg) without realizing it. In my defense, the pills are the same shape and color. Usually they change at least the color. Since I tend to be a creature of habit, I saw only color and shape. I will be paying closer attention for here on.

I can think of better ways to get a week off from work that do not involve getting stuck with a needle fifty times. All my inattention gained me was three more prescriptions and a thousand questions from co-workers and students that will be asked next week when I return to school.

It did get Jared a couple of extra days off of work though I am not sure it can be considered days off when one must care for children.

Week 3

I have finished the third week of a brand new school year. There have been some growing pains, but I will talk about those another day. I want to talk about one of our back-to-school in-service meetings. Our principals shared about the book "Soup" by Jon Gordon. At one point, they would describe a characteristic of a good teacher, and ask our groups of four to name one of our colleagues who most represents that quality.

One characteristic that was mentioned was "visionary". We were asked to name a colleague who is always evolving and learning new things, striving to get better. My name was submitted by a couple of teachers. This is the kind of teacher that I want to be and that I try to be, but I haven't felt particularly visionary so far. This year is off to a rough and chaotic start.

In all fairness, I have had a lot of life happen outside of the classroom. Our family has grown by one. Su is an easy baby as babies go but she is still a baby.Jun is a good girl but is very adventurous so I cannot ignore her ever. Chao lei is my helper. He is eager to help but I must remember that he is my son not my co-parent. Being a parent of three (particularly the two littles) is exhausting. Some days are all about survival.

I've been thinking about how this blog is the place where my vision began . . . The blogosphere is where I began to be more adventurous as a person and a teacher . . . trying new things . . . writing about them . . . learning from others. I have learned much. I am no longer the fearful Chinese girl just arriving in America. Neither am I what I wish to finally be. I will cut myself some slack on my expectations of me, but still . . .

So here I am . . . inspired by my colleagues' perspective of me, inspired by a gentle nudge from a friend a few months ago. I could spend a few hours re-reading and editing this post, but instead I'll just push send and let it exist as it is.

Saturday Soup

Since we are approaching fall weather, I thought it a good time to have a hearty soup to help keep warm on the cool fall nights. If the recipe makes too much for you, that is ok since this one freezes well.

This is a one pot dinner with chuck roast slow cooked in a tomato sauce flavored with bell peppers, green olives, and Spanish paprika.

 Ingredients

• 3 pounds beef chuck roast , cut into 2 inch cubes

• 3 tablespoons flour

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 yellow onion , chopped

• 2 carrot , peeled and cut into ½ inch thick coins

• 1 green bell pepper , cut into ½ inch cubes

• 4 cloves garlic , minced

• 1 tablespoon Spanish paprika

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 2 bay leaves

• 28 ounces diced tomatoes

• 15 ounces crushed tomatoes

• 1/3 cup tomato paste

• 1/2 cup green olives , sliced

• 1 cup green peas

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees and toss beef cubes with flour salt and pepper.

• Heat oil in large dutch oven on high heat and cook the beef on all sides until well browned then remove from the pan.

• Lower heat to medium, add in the onions and cook until translucent, about 5-6 minutes.

• Add in the carrots, bell pepper and garlic and stir well.

• Add in the paprika, oregano, bay leaves, died tomatoes, crushed tomato, tomato paste and the beef and stir well.

• Cook, covered in the oven, 2 to 2 ½ hours.

• Remove from the oven, add peas and olives and stir well.

• Place back in the oven for 15 minutes.

• Remove from oven. Stir and serve.

If you prefer, you can cook the entire thing on the stove top. Once you add the seasonings, tomatoes, and beef to the pan, bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer on low for 2 ½ to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Add in peas and olives during last 15-20 minutes of cooking.

This recipe serves 8

Total time including prep is 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes but it is worth the wait.

My family enjoyed it. Jared called it a nice break from our normal fare.I agree.

Week One is Done

One must remember to thank the superintendent for the “C” day. It is a day to recover from the horrors of teaching... eerrr... resting from the work of teaching.

I will now admit to understanding more of my mothers face exercises. I always considered them funny to watch as she did each one but now I understand my face would be less tired had I devoted at least some time to them. I spent much time this week changing expressions, often with not conscience of doing them. More than once, it seemed I owed an apology for what my face said as they were speaking.

I did get some of my rules out there so they knew expectations. I had a sign up in several places throughout my class room, especially on the front of my desk just below the assignment basket. It would be good for them to pay careful attention to it in the beginning weeks of school.

Another “suggestion” for them to earn respect was to posted on my wall behind my desk as a reminder. I do not possess the figure or voice that Jared does so his saying would not work well, “When my lips are moving, yours are not!” I chose a gentler approach that I believe will convey my idea of courtesy as well as my refusal to quietly accept discourtesy.

It was a good week though. I have some very bright students, some very entertaining students, and some … challenging... students. It is balanced though so it should be an interesting year.

                                                            Do I look as tired as I feel?

I will also say it was a tiring week. I had forgotten how busy one can be as a teacher.

New School Year

Today I meet my students for the first time.

I will discover the personality of my classes. Every class has one. It depends on the students. What mix of the star pupil, people pleaser, and hard worker will set the tone.  Every classroom is a kaleidoscope of personalities and managing them all is important.

My first priority is to redevelop my "poker face." It is very useful in dealing with a difficult student. If I am to believe Jared, I should play poker often because my face can be hard to read. Keeping a neutral expression during a conflict can be difficult but I remember that the conflict can also be a teaching point.

I am nervous to begin. I know my subjects well. I know my students not at all.

 

Dayy 1!

 First day, here I come! I must admit, it is not for teaching yet. This first week is to meet/greet other staff  members, familiarize my self with the school rules, and finish prepping for my classes. In  regard to the last one, it will be a boring week since I have finalized my class materials. I suppose I could go over my expectation sheet again to make it as easy to understand and abide by as possible. I do not believe they are asking for too much: be respectful, punctual, ready to actively engage in learning, and use technology responsibly.

I do not permit cell phone usage in my class. To that end, I have phone cubes that cell phones will be deposited in at the beginning of class and returned at the end.  I did not use to be so strict with them but past experience has encouraged it and the school recommends it.

Let the year begin! We will see how Su does at daycare on her first full day. 

Off we go!

 So the countdown begins.

My summer is shorter than I had planned but I will not complain of it. My duties as a teacher begin next week. Staff will begin August 11. We will have the week for a “meet and greet” for new staff members to ne introduced and a coupe of meetings to discuss expectations and last minute rule changes.

I believe DoDEA schools are structured more than most civilian schools but are not oppressive in their standards. The differences are obvious to students attending a DoDEA school for the first time though. I suppose the military environment has an influence on them.

My classes are developed and ready, including the Chinese (Mandarin) class. My influence of the class title held very little sway. It seems that "There is no language called Chinese but what they call Chinese is comprised of several hundred dialects" is unimportant. Ok. Chinese it is. The students will know they are being taught Mandarin, perhaps a little Cantonese here and there.

Staying current in my field will be helpful teaching my computer science classes. I also drew an “Advanced Quantitative Reasoning” class. It was unexpected. It may sound more complicated than it really is though. It is for students interested in non-mathematics-intensive majors in business, social sciences, or the arts. This class runs all year so I will know these students best.

School for students begins August 18 at 8 am. I am excited to begin the year. I wonder if my students are? I look forward to meeting them and discovering who my academics are or who my class clowns are. There are always both and that is good. How boring if they all were academics? How traumatic if they were all class clowns.

Fortunately, I have this week to establish our new routine and get Su accustomed to her daycare. I am eager to begin.

Traveling With a Baby

 

Once again, Jared is away so the children and I are left to our own designs.

One would have thought I would have a definite system for traveling with little by now. I though I had one once then along came Su. A 9 months old child is not so easy to travel with. There are some things I have discovered to make it easier Notice, I did NOT say easy!

When traveling, there are three things to remember. Forgetting them can be easy to do. If Su starts crying I check these immediately; sleep, diaper, food. The first thing I do is check for her diaper. Then I determine if she is hungry, and then remember the last time she slept.

Nine times out of ten she was upset for one of those three reasons. And once I solved it, the crying would stop almost immediately.

Traveling with a baby can be challenging but it can also be rewarding. Just think of the pictures of the baby with Palace or ornate gates that most people do not see. I offer my ideas for traveling in case it can help someone else.

First , plan for several stops. Especially if you are driving. It will become obvious that stopping is needed every 1 to 3 hours, depending on the baby's age. For Su, it is 2 hours. She steadfastly refuses to remain in her seat for longer. We are always prepared to dedicate a few stops for essentials such as diaper changes and feeding.

As one must do with the Navy, be flexible. You should always have a Plan A and a Plan B. Plans C and D could not hurt. Plan A is the goal but it will likely end up Plan B. You may have to remove an activity from your day, choosing a drive-thru over a sit-down restaurant, or taking the fastest route instead of the most scenic. It will happen so be prepared for it.

Do not be in a hurry! Patience is the key. A trip that usually takes two hours might take four. That is just the reality. Take a deep breath and enjoy the journey anyway. You will find your rhythm. When you do, let go of strict timelines, your trip will feel much more enjoyable.

If possible, plan driving time around nap times. I try to begin driving about 30 minutes before our Su’s scheduled nap. It gives her time to settle and often results in a solid car nap. An app certainly helps in tracking just when her naps are. I use an app called Huckleberry. It helps me keep tabs on sleep, feedings, medicine, and more.

Prepare to pack far more for the baby than for yourself, From 2–3 outfit changes per day to diapers, wipes, towels, and more, I filled an entire suitcase just for her. Add in the stroller, car seat, and pack ‘n play… it adds up fast. Make sure that when you load it all into the car, all of the baby stuff is the easiest to access. And make sure you have the little things that are easy to forget such as batteries for toys.

Use breaks or evenings at your destination to give the baby a gentle stretch or massage. It helps with sleep, soothes fussiness, and can even support digestion and muscle development.

BABY WIPES! They are like gold! Baby wipes fix everything – diaper changes, spills, sticky hands, wiping down surfaces... And make sure you pack one more than you think you will need. Trust me, you will use them.

As I suggested. If you do these things, it may help you have a better trip. It is not a rule though as all babies are different. Develop your travel habits accordingly.

Saturday Soup

It has been some time since I have posted a recipe. It is not because there have not been any. Only that I have been too lazy. I have determined to make up for my lacking.

Today's recipe is Irish Bacon and Potato Soup. I discovered it last March searching for an appropriate meal for St Patrick's Day.  It has been deemed a favorite so we do not wait for any particular day to eat it. Even the neighborhood boys enjoy the break from their typical Spanish cuisine when I prepare it.

 

Irish Bacon and Potato Soup

 

Ingredients

- 6 slices of Irish bacon or thick-cut bacon, diced

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 4 cups chicken broth

- 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced

- 4 cups cabbage, chopped 

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.

2. Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot, sautéing until the onion is translucent.

3. Stir in the diced potatoes and pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.

4. Add the chopped cabbage and cooked bacon back into the pot.

5. Cook until cabbage is softened to your liking.

 

It is a simple soup but delicious and filling. We have been known to serve it room temperature on those days that seem to warm for soup.

A Happy Future

We have been here in Rota for a little over a year (by a few days) and things have certainly changed.

I remember my children at the beginning of this tour and how timid they were. They were so much unlike their normal selves. Who knew that a soccer ball could have so much influence on their outlook? Inigo, the first boy to greet Chao lei, remains his friend. In fact, they are usually found playing together at some game or other. So much so that I have been tempted to find a new home for the Xbox because it is used so little. Alas, it remains fiercely protected.

Vendors are usually very pleasant

 I remember our first place to explore was Puerto de Santa Maria. It is where I discovered that one does not shop during siesta and that after siesta it is the best time to be at the street markets sampling the fare at the food vendors.  I do not know about you, but I have found that the food from a street vendor often trumps a sit-down restaurant. Sandwiches and snacks on a stick are everywhere. One may even find some delicious version of paella. Did you know there is more than a single type of paella? Puerto de Santas Maria has become our home grounds and we have learned its in-and-outs quite well I believe.

A new way to have Ham and Cheese

 Unlike at my arrival here at Rota, I can look forward to returning to teaching this fall. A position opened unexpectedly, and I was available. I was able to substitute teach last year and it was enough to keep me busy(ish) but it was not the same as having my own classes. This year, that changes. Jared’s tour has been extended by a year so I have a two year availability for the school, enough to occupy a teaching position.

It seems our touring schedule will need modifications. This does not upset me at all. The children and I will again return to our school schedule. Su will do as her siblings did and face being in childcare but again, the center is very near campus allowing me to visit during her day so her time apart from me is minimal.

I am looking forward to this next year. While we wait for the new school year, let the tourism begin in earnest.

Success!

The decision is made. I will become a full-time teacher in the new school year. I will teach Computer Science 1,2, and 3. An additional Mandarin class has been added to the curriculum but that is not a guarantee of a class being assembled. Student interest requirements must be met so we will see.

Again, I will face the question of which name I will use; title or married? In Japan I used my Chinese title (Lao shi) to avoid distraction. For some reason, some people thought I had some kind of influence because of Jared’s position so avoiding the link between Jared and me seemed prudent. This being a much smaller base, I see the potential for more thinking of this sort. I am uncertain how well that would work in this Spanish heavy environment though. It could be confusing. “Maestra” may work. Maybe Mrs. Mei.

In any case, it seems this summer is to be dedicated to tourism. Our London trip is set for July and Madrid is set for the beginning of August. Paris will have to wait until next summer. It seems funny that during the height of tourism season, we will be going to London while many Londoners will be coming here for their holiday.

We will fill on the weekends with short side trips to different places in Spain or anywhere within a reasonable train ride from Rota.

Good News?

Now that school is out for the summer, their plans for next year have begun. I believe it is safe to say that administrators enjoy much less time off than teachers. One of the subjects that is discussed is staff and potential changes to that staff.

This past year, I have served as a substitute teacher. It is not as I wished it to be, but it was satisfying and helped me not to miss it so much. Yesterday, I got some potentially good news from the Superintendent.

It is likely that next year I will be a full-time teacher at the high school. If I am, I will teach Computer Science and possibly Mandarin. Computer Science is all but assured. It is a college prep course with no teacher for next year and several students are declaring interest in the class already.

The original request was if I would be interesting in teaching a “Chinese” language class. I had to explain to them that they must be specific as there really is no distinct language called Chinese. What people think of as Chinese could be any one of several dialects, most of which are very distinct from others to the point of not being understood. I must assume they are wanting the common language (government language) be taught so Mandarin it is.

It is the Mandarin class that is not set. It requires approval, funding, and students. Approval has been acquired. Funding is applied for but not guaranteed.

Students must sign up for the class. It requires a minimum of six students to show interest in taking the class. If we get the funding, the class will be listed in the updated curriculum guides.

I will be informed by Friday if I have a full-time position next year. I am eagerly waiting to discover what I will be doing next school year.

We have also discovered Jared’s tour here will be extended at least 12 months. I am not upset with the idea of not moving after only two years. My children have little enough certainty in their lives. Staying longer is good for them knowing they will not be uprooted again so soon.

My little family has had a lot of fun these past two weeks. Combined with Father’s Day, other activities filled our time for which I will make a post dedicated to only that.

Other things put a damper on our lives but I will not speak of them. I will instead focus on what is good. “Nuff said.”

Set to Begin Summer

Already, we are registering the children for next years schooling. This year has passed by very quickly. The scary thing is, Chao lei will be 7^th grade next year. I think I feel every minute of my age when I think of this. While I have always wanted children, I did not plan to have them age so quickly. I had hoped they would remain my little bundles for much longer than they have. Now I must look forward to the mental trauma of Jun reaching the same age as her brother is now. She already eyes what little makeup I have. I think her father will become aware of just how little makeup I wear when she begins to wear it. At least I have a few years to pretend that Su will not grow up so fast.

Our neighborhood is beginning the summer season change. It is becoming warmer and we are beginning to see temperatures in the 80's more often. Our winds usually come from off shore so it is not too hot. I am content with light breezes and temperatures in the mid 70's to low 80's.

It is perfectly comfortable to hold the community fiestas right now. I eagerly await the first bowls of Tinto de Verano, a simple red wine and lemon-lime soda drink that I have tried to duplicate myself. My efforts result in something that is acceptable but I cannot seem to duplicate it as Marisol or Adella prepares it.

More tourists are being seen in the park so there is more talk of watching the children as they play. Since there are no attractions in our park, it causes the locals to view them with suspicion. We are far from the nightclubs but we are just off the beaches. I am told those that have drank too much often wander to the beach. All that I have met so far have been older and seem to be wonderful people so I assume the suspicions are founded on past experiences during the peak of tourist season. I suppose it is part of living in a tourist destination town.

We plan a lot of traveling this summer. So far, trips to Paris and London are scheduled but I hope to work in Florence, Italy even if only for an abbreviated winery tour. Perhaps a solo trip with MWR would be in order. I have only to convince Jared to keep his children by himself. Sure... that will happen. Lol

It is only three weeks until school is out for the summer then we can begin being tourists in earnest. I look forward to experiencing it with my children.

That was... Fun

 We had a power outage. Not your regular “Oh no! The power is out in the neighborhood!” It was an “Oh no! The power is out in the entire Country!”

I have never experienced an outage that affected the entire nation and many other parts of Europe. It is eerie when one looks outside and there are no lights... anywhere. It lasted all night and into late the next evening. School was canceled for the day and most offices and stores were closed. Power off base was finally restored at approximately 10 pm.

The most horrible thing to happen, according to my children anyway, there was no TV or internet! Horror of horrors! Fortunately for them, no other school had electricity so all the neighborhood children were home and they all remembered there was an outside to play in that needed no power beyond their own.

For me, I made myself comfortable on a bench and did something I do not often do, read a book. Not my normal fare, but a “Historical Fiction” novel called “All the Light We Cannot See.” It is interesting so far. It is also easier to read than my usual fare.

The base recovered sooner since they have power generators of their own. It is a good thing they do else a carrier would have returned with little fanfare. There was also the convenience of hot food being available for us in limited amounts.

In all, the night and day proved to be a blessing in disguise. As a family we rediscovered how to be a family independent of electronics and other distractions. We discovered that we can, in fact, have fun playing board games,  and wrestling with each other (well, them and Jared. Their mother does not wrestle well).

I will be sure to not forget the lessons of a power outage.

Our Latest Days

For a change, I am the one keeping us from traveling very much. I have been doing a lot of substituting at the high school this past week. It has almost felt like I was employed full time. It has served to remind me how much I enjoy teaching and how much I miss it.

I am determined that upon discovering our next assignment, I will begin the process of applying at the school on base or off base should we return to CONUS. This is very likely since we have been overseas for what will be 12 of 18 years.

Speaking of our next assignment, whispers are beginning to float around of it. There is nothing concrete yet. Orly little teasers of possibilities, There is one I do not find objectionable; NAS Everett. It is close to my home in Oregon making visits to Mother Bing and my best friend Heather possible. There is plenty of recreation to be found. I suppose before I begin investing myself in an particular base I should wait for Jared's detailer to become available.

We are almost a year complete on this assignment so change is in the wind. How odd is this way of life that you get a single year that does not require planning for relocation to somewhere new? It is no surprise my civilian friends look to me as an alien when I describe our navy life. Strangely though, I enjoy it. Even despite those inconvenient moments that always arise.

The Navy life is not for everyone but it suits us very well. We are home.

The Shoe Has Dropped

 It was as I feared it would be with Jun and her departure from Japan. To her credit, it took longer than I expected. She has finally asked, “When are we going to go home?”

Before we left, I had posted that she has only known Japan as home. She was born there and I was not prepared for how attached she was to her birthplace. She has even described herself as Japanese. She will argue with the suggestion that she is actually American. Who would think an almost five year old child would be so sure of it?

I had to explore exactly what she meant by “home.” As I expected, home was Japan. She missed her friends, her room, and especially Sobo.

My answer did not go over well with her. Her belief that Japan was home and she wanted to return there was insistent. At this point I realized my answer should have been a little less back and white. Where was the parenting coach when I needed one?

It took considerable time to undo the trauma I had caused before we could speak more of it. It is not easy to speak “five year old.” It gets no easier when trying to re-explain after forgetting the first time that you were speaking to a child. Jared was required to do some damage control.

After much comforting and explaining, which would not have been required had I just spoke more carefully the first time, Jun seems to accept the notion that we may not return to live there but there is the possibility we could visit Japan. Though she was not satisfied with that answer, she is accepting it... mostly. Her parting word to end the discussion were shouted as to make her point clear. “I AM STILL JAPANESE!”

We will see how it goes as she ages.

It is Warming!

 I am pleased that winter is over and the warm temperatures are returning. I have neveer been fond of the cold weather. I am sure Alaska has its charm but the cold instills no desire in me to visit. I believe I would panic if somehow Jared received orders for there. Fortunately, there are no naval bases in Alaska so the chances are near impossible.

No, if I must be OCONUS, I prefer sunny Spain. I sit now with the courtyard door open enjoying 65° and a light breeze. Why am I up at 0100? The ship is to arrive in port at 0230. Why 0230? Because they can. Daylight seems to be an unsuitable time of day for docking. It is good there is no school tomorrow.

Fuente de la Plaza de Seville

 I am hoping Jared will be home for a short time at least. It would be good to do a short trip to Seville or Cordoba. If we can get a little more time, maybe even Tangier. I will not be picky. I just wish for a trip anywhere. I am not ticking the bucket list boxes very quickly.

All that remains for this morning is to retrieve my husband from the docks and finally fall into the bed... after putting three excited to see their daddy children to bed. Wish me luck.

What Would Surprise Me?

 

Kristin, over at Going Country, posted this question to her readers.

She asked, “What about your current life would be the most surprising to a younger you?” What a perfect question. It made me think. I love questions that make me think.

As a young girl, I did not dream of becoming an American. I did think of visiting it someday. After all, in my native language it is commonly called 美国 (meiguo) or “The Beautiful Country.” Who would not wish to visit a country so named? Since I immigrated and became a citizen I am called 美国人 (měiguó rén). It was not something planned or dreamed of. It simply occurred.

I am a Doctor of Computer Science. That of itself is not so surprising. Since I was raised with an emphasis on education, it is reasonable to expect that I pursued it. Early, I had a knack for all things computer so of course, that was the direction of my education. Since I was learning my occupation, I wanted to know all I could learn of it.

I dreamed of being a mother. That dream has been fulfilled. I have three children. That is not surprising but it did lead to teaching. That would surprise a younger me. I would not have thought of how satisfying it would be for me. I was introduced during my doctoral studies. Medical doctors do residency, Computer doctors teach so I became staff at Tokyo University. As my children began attending school, I found my schedule to be conflicting with raising my children so I acquired my credentials and began teaching in the high school on base. I loved it. So much so that I believe my younger self would be far beyond surprised at how much I love it.

I think another surprise would be how much I have traveled. Young me thought of traveling little. I did go to Vietnam and Hong Kong so it is not that I had not traveled some. Now my travels include Japan, South Korea, Spain, France, and Italy. Later this summer I plan to add England and Germany to the list. I never dreamed of traveling so much.

The biggest surprise for a younger me is that I am a naval officer's wife. This is a big thing. It is common to marry a common soldier. It is prestigious to marry an officer. It is more prestigious to be married to a ship's captain. I am the latter. I do find a small bit of evil joy reminding my brother's wife of this when I visit Mother and Father since she is so pretentious and it humbles her just a bit.

There are many small surprises but the question was what would most surprise. The biggest surprise of all is the very blessed life I have lived so far. It has not been perfect, but the hilltops have been much higher than the valleys have been deep.