I just shook hands with the Dalai Lama's sister. Coooool.

Yuina, Leah and Alec after the evening's presentation.

Tonight the Dalai Lama's sister is in Hiroshima for a speech, and Fuyuko's helping out with the translation. Looks like Leah and one of her friends from International School are going to go up on stage to give her bouquets. Should be fun. I haven't had a suit on in a while.

Leah taped a paper mustache to Alec's face while he was sleeping. A juvenile version of shaming.

Leah's busy making a mess. Alec zonked on the spot.

Leah's summer vacation lasts about two months, but Japanese schools' vacation is just a month. So we decided to enroll her at the Japanese school near my MIL's house for the month of July. It's a country school with very few students. Demographics are changing, and not many young families live in the rice paddies anymore. On the positive side, almost all of the kids used to go to our kindergarten, so Leah has lots of friends.

I think it's a good thing. Leah gets the best of both worlds: International school for most of the year, and then a Japanese school experience for a couple of weeks a year. She seems to like it.

Our local loudspeaker-and-manifesto nutcase.

I got the kids today. We're at the neighborhood park for the first time in like forever.

The Girl spilled her tea in the car, got her pants all wet and learned a new term from Daddy: "Going commando."

From the left: Sports drink, apple vinegar, and jasmine tea flavored Kit Kats.

Frankfurter and grilled corn flavored.

Wasabi and beef flavored potato chips.

All unicycles. No bicycles at a Japanese elementary school.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Mobile AND computer troubles. Here's a shot of the oldest kindergarten kids enjoying the pool.

The MIL threw her wig over my son's head. Should I even post this to the public?

Mmmm, canned whale.

Check out them pearly whites!

What the hell kind of dead animal is this?

Possibly the most disturbing ice cream mascot I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot.