tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64042525554517677652024-03-18T21:15:03.568-07:00The Cultivated MotherTending to life with intentionality and authenticity.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-27946093144205724672014-12-08T07:02:00.004-08:002014-12-08T07:04:51.878-08:00Life After Japan: A few updates.It's been just over a months since I flew back from Japan, and it's hard to believe that I have been through such a huge transition in the last few months. If anyone had told me six months ago that I'd be getting a divorce and living on my own in Chattanooga, I never would have believed them. Because so many of you have asked, I decided to write a blog post with a general update about how the girls and I are doing. Despite everything, the three of us are doing really well. We occasionally have our rough days, but by and large, we are happy and healthy.<br />
<br />
<b>Chattanooga is finally home.</b><br />
<br />
I went to school in Chattanooga for my bachelors degree. It's where I met all of my closest friends, and really started figuring out who I am. I have so many fond memories here, and have always dreamed of moving back. When I started trying to plan life on my own, I knew that Chattanooga was where I wanted to have a new start. It's only 1-2 hours from all my family, so we're closer than ever, and I still have a lot of friends in the area. Coming back to Chattanooga feels like coming back home.<br />
<br />
<b>Our House</b><br />
<br />
I'm renting a lovely little two-bedroom house in one of the best neighborhoods in the city, and our neighbors are wonderful. One brought over a Halloween goody-bag for my girls, and another already gave me a ride to a friend's place when I locked myself out of my house (yes, it only took me 2 weeks). It's not a huge house, but it's perfect for myself and the girls. We've been doing our best to make it comfy and cozy, and the girls seem to have settled in nicely. We spent this past weekend setting up a real Christmas tree (our first real one in a couple of years) and it was picturesque with the gas fireplace going and Christmas movie on the tv. The biggest draw to this house was the school, which is only about half a block away, and is one of the best magnet schools in the state of TN. Who knows where we'll be a year from now when our lease is up, but it's been the perfect house in which to start a new chapter.<br />
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<br />
<b>The School</b><br />
<br />
The school was the biggest selling point for our new house and neighborhood. My girls are attending Normal Park Museum Magnet, and it is arguably the best school in Chattanooga. Miraculously, their PreK program had an unexpected spot opening in late October, so both of my girls were able to be enrolled there. I'm so glad that they get to go to school together, and it certainly makes my mornings a lot easier. I was a bit worried about how they'd transition into public school after being homeschooled, but they have jumped right in and have integrated into their classrooms effortlessly. Both of their teachers say they have been wonderful additions to their classrooms, and both girls are performing at the appropriate academic level. We've even had playdates and birthday parties with new friends from school, just in the last week, and I couldn't ask for my girls to be doing any better.<br />
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<br />
<b>From SAHM to Working Woman</b><br />
<br />
As if all the other changes weren't big enough, moving out on my own has also meant that I have to join the working world. It's terrifying to strike out on your own, especially when you haven't worked in a paid position in almost seven years. I'd <i>heard</i> about how difficult it was to make the transition from a stay-at-home-mom to working-mom, but now I found myself facing the same seemingly enormous problem: What do you put on a resume when your work for the past few years has included homeschooling and childcare? I tried to jazz up my resume as best I could and apparently, it worked. Within three weeks of moving here, I had two interviews with Youth Villages, and was offered a job just before Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
I'm headed up to Knoxville today to attend orientation and I'm going to be working as a Transitional Living Specialist. I'll be helping youth ages 17-22 who are aging out of foster care, or transitioning out of juvenile detention. My job is to help them develop housing, job, and educational plans so that they can begin adulthood with some stability in their lives. I'll have a case-load of about 8-10 young adults, and will be working with them for 9 months to a year. The job is salaried, and has great benefits, so I'm very grateful to have found a place there.<br />
<br />
It's definitely been difficult to transition to work so quickly, because for so long, I was a professional mother. If I wasn't going to be working outside the home, I was going to do a damn good job working within it. I no longer have time to cook like I did and I don't have any time for all the cute little Christmas crafts I was always pinning on Pinterest. My kids' school projects aren't as fancy as the ones that you <i>know</i> were not done solely by the kids themselves... and I just have to make my peace with it. It's a new normal, and we're all slowly settling in.<br />
<br />
<b>The Kids and the Divorce</b><br />
<br />
So how are my kids <i>really</i> doing? Honestly, I think they're doing about as well as they could be, given all the change that has taken place in their lives. They miss their Daddy, but seem to handle it well, and only cry about it if they are really tired and it's late at night. They like talking to him on FaceTime, and often draw him pictures that they want to save to give to him when he comes to visit for Christmas. He's going to be able to go to the big "Exhibit Night" at the girls' school where they have the chance to show off all the things they've learned and made at school, and I'm glad he'll be able to see all of that. They're counting down the days on the calendar until his flight into the States, and they are excited about spending Christmas with him and his family.<br />
<br />
The divorce doesn't seem to be hampering their ability to function at school, make new friends, and spend most of their days laughing and playing, and I'm so thankful for that. Thank goodness for FaceTime and the ability to make phone calls from overseas. I think it's been helpful to the girls to talk to their dad so often - almost daily at times - so that they feel like they're keeping him "in the know" with everything going on in their lives. When they do get upset about the divorce, or ask questions about it, we sit right down and talk about it. I try to let them voice whatever feelings they have and usually, that's all they really need and they're off playing again in a few minutes.<br />
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<br />
I'm thankful that they are as young as they are because I think they are much more willing to go with the flow. They have done well with all the transitions and I haven't noticed any behavioral or emotional changes in them. That's not to say that I don't expect it to always be so easy... but I'm glad that they seem to be doing well. I was very worried about how they would deal with all of this, so it's a relief to see them continuing to be happy and healthy. Oh, I also asked the school psychologist to check in with them periodically, and I feel confident that I'll hear from her and/or their teachers if there are any concerns.<br />
<br />
<b>What About Me?</b><br />
<br />
For the most part, I have good days. Occasionally, I have bad <i>moments</i>, but rarely does it turn into a truly bad day. My family and friends have offered amazing support, and I know that I did the right thing for myself and my kids. However, it doesn't mean that I don't hate that pain that I've put people through. If I could have taken care of myself, while also protecting everyone else from feeling any pain, I would have done it in a heartbeat. But, sometimes, there isn't another choice.<br />
<br />
So, here I am, plowing through and doing what I need to in order to get us settled into this new life. I appreciate all of you who have sent me supportive notes and comments, and I hope that I can offer the same kind of support to those around me who may also find themselves in a difficult transition someday. Life sure is one hell of a ride.<br />
<br />Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-25705450270905816032014-10-22T10:53:00.000-07:002014-10-22T10:53:01.565-07:00Mata ne, Japan.<div class="MsoNormal">
We had narrowed it down to two choices: Camp Lejuene, NC or
Japan. For me, it was not a tough decision. I desperately wanted to see more of
the world, and I knew that I’d probably never travel to Japan on my own. I was
ecstatic when we got orders to Yokosuka, and I started doing everything I could
to prepare myself for our move.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because I was so excited about moving to Japan, I was
completely surprised by the culture shock when it hit me. I knew that I would
have some trouble adjusting to a new place, and an unknown language, but those
first six months were really hard. I doubted whether or not I should have
moved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then, Japan wooed me. I could not help but fall in love
with its mountains that so comfortingly reminded me of East Tennessee. I fell
in love with its kind and proud people, always willing to help a
confused-looking foreigner who is obviously lost. I loved the food – especially
katsudon, a Japanese comfort food of fried meat on top of steaming rice cooked
with green onions and egg. I loved the wonderful mix of old and new: modern
houses with all the usual amenities, but with intergenerational families living
in them, sleeping on tatami mats with futons every evening; ancient temples in
the middle of bustling modern cities; young girls talking on their cell phones
while wearing kimonos. I adored the ancient history of the country, which was
in stark contrast to the young America I grew up in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most of all, I loved visiting the temples. Oh, the temples.
There is nothing quite like walking up to the front gate of an ancient Zen
Buddhist temple, and stepping over the large beam of wood, hundreds of years
old, which divides the ordinary from the sacred. Temple grounds enchant me.
It’s as though I can feel the history seeping out of the earth. I felt the same
way in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. I was listening to mass in
this large, looming cathedral, and I took my shoes off so that I could feel the
cold stone floor beneath me. I knew that countless others had walked on those
floors before me, all connected by a belief in something larger than
themselves. The temples of Japan evoke the same feeling in my soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most
meaningful experiences I’ve had in Japan has been taking part in zazen, or Zen
Buddhism’s sitting meditation. I still remember how giddy I was to go to my
first zazen session at Kenchoji temple in Kamakura. I could not believe that
after studying Eastern religions in college, I was now walking into an ancient
Buddhist temple in Japan to sit with monks and meditate. I fell in love with
the scent of incense wafting through the temple; the faint aroma of aged wood.
I loved the way my bare feet felt against the woven tatami mats on the floor,
and the feel of the cushion underneath me as we sat and bowed to each other
before beginning zazen. I became completely addicted to the calm of the room as
these human beings came together to quiet their minds, taking what was probably
the only moment in their day to be still, listen, and feel the world around
them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never dreamed that I’d be friends with Buddhist priests,
or that I’d fall in love with the practice of zazen (who ever thought I’d be
able to sit still, and in silence, for almost an hour?!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never dreamed that a foreign country in
Asia would become another place I called home. And I never knew that I’d fall
so deeply in love with Japan that it hurt my heart to leave. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to visit
Dokuonji temple, the temple of my friend Fujio san, on Tuesday night before
flying out of Japan the next day. I could barely get out of the car when I
arrived. I knew that it would be the last time, in the foreseeable future, that
I’d step into that temple. Over the course of the last two years, Dokuonji
temple became MY temple. It’s been years since I felt comfortable in a church,
and this temple became my church. It became the place where I could go and feel
closer to God. Each visit had me leaving with a wonderful stirring in my soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On that last night, I talked with Fujio san, and could
barely hold back the tears. Fujio san was no better. We talked about how much
we have enjoyed each other’s friendship, and how much the temple had meant to
me. We talked about my divorce, and he lovingly told me that he would always
support me, and that I had no need to blame myself, or my husband, for what was
happening. We then sat in zazen together for a while, me wiping back tears as
we began. Just as it was supposed to, zazen calmed my feelings of grief and
anxiety, dulling them just enough to make them more manageable. I felt immense
gratitude as I sat there in the darkness, listening to crickets outside, and
smelling the incense stick that I’d lit upon my arrival. These experiences are
what life is about. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My life in Japan was a blessing. Even knowing what I know
now about my marriage and what was to come, I would not have done anything
differently. I needed Japan. I needed to grow in my spiritual practice, to
challenge myself in ways that made me feel vulnerable, and to expand the world
for my children and myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Thank you, Japan. I love you and will miss you terribly. You
will always have a piece of my heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-73265691776387965642014-10-05T20:08:00.002-07:002014-10-05T20:38:57.452-07:00What happens when you blog about your divorce.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmBbx3nMFUrNq8cqkpGEtIDwfGTIL2ImsWPyU4AdvKoREVv5jnssclfmXZLXZrPnZQxBnrViitl-jJCzOoZWE16jc9gvRfwqoGYLDYUsylxo8WZrDm5nW7mbLdHW4tG5uc2n0hkO8EoU/s1600/When+you+blog+divorce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmBbx3nMFUrNq8cqkpGEtIDwfGTIL2ImsWPyU4AdvKoREVv5jnssclfmXZLXZrPnZQxBnrViitl-jJCzOoZWE16jc9gvRfwqoGYLDYUsylxo8WZrDm5nW7mbLdHW4tG5uc2n0hkO8EoU/s1600/When+you+blog+divorce.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;">When you decide to open up about your divorce online, be prepared for what you may learn about yourself and others. </span></div>
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<b style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></b></div>
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1) You find out that everyone has an opinion.</b><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s amazing to receive Facebook messages from people who never have any contact with you outside of Facebook, but who suddenly know how to fix your marriage. The internet has been a blessing for our family while living overseas, allowing us to keep close relationships with people even though we live on the other side of the world. But, the internet has also become a place where people feel emboldened to pass judgement without any fear of having to look someone in the eye while doing it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People don’t just want to know you’re getting a divorce. They want to know why, and whose fault it was. I know I did. And for me, it boiled down to a fear of it happening in my own marriage. If I could diagnose what went wrong with someone else’s relationship, I could make sure it didn’t happen to mine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2) You lose some friends.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When people decide that the fault in the divorce lies squarely on your shoulders, some of them will decide that they can’t be friends with you anymore. Mutual friends are put in a particularly rough spot. They may try to be supportive to both of you, but in hearing each of your stories, they inevitably feel compelled to take a side. You’ll start to feel the cold shoulder. You’ll get messages of support, while your spouse gets messages of pity. And underlying those messages is the opinion that your spouse is the victim and you are the perpetrator. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I think our first response to pain - our or someone else’s - is to self-protect. We protect ourselves by looking for someone or something blame. Or sometimes we shield ourselves by turning to judgement or by immediately going into fix-it mode.” - Brene Brown “The Gifts of Imperfection”</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of your friends won’t be able to understand your reasons. They’ll want justification for what you’re doing. And because you won’t be able to satisfy their questions, you’ll feel the friendship starting to wither. It will be disheartening. You’ll feel shamed, and lonely, and abandoned. In simple terms, it will suck.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3) You find out that some friends were even better friends than you first realized.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s the silver lining in regards to friendships: even as you feel some friends turning away, you’ll feel some of your friends pull even closer. I have friends who I felt I was close to, but who, since reading my blog, have gone above and beyond in offering their love and support. The good friends haven’t judged and haven’t offered advice. They aren’t there to fix, or to help, the situation. What they are is present. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The good friends practice compassion. They suffer <i>with</i> me, holding my hand as I wade through something difficult. They don’t make me feel as though I’m somehow less than them, or that my situation reflects an inherent fault in who I am. They continue to make me feel as though we are equals. They recognize our shared humanity, and by doing so, remind me that I’m not <i>really </i>on my own. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4) You regret putting the blog post out there.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In some ways, my life would have been a lot easier had I never written about my divorce on my blog. I would have shed far fewer tears over the course of the last week, and I would have preserved my “good standing” with many friends and acquaintances. I would have kept some blog readers, too, one of which informed me that she no longer admired the life I was creating and would be </span></span><span style="color: #181818;">unsubscribing</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> from the blog. By writing that post, I made myself vulnerable. I laid myself out there, and thus, welcomed both support and criticism. And believe me, I received a fair amount of both. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5) But then you remember that some woman out there needs to know she’s not alone.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not the first time that I have chosen vulnerability over comfort and safety. I would like to say that I’m chock full of courage, but really, I am open and honest because I don’t quite know any other way to be. When I write posts about my struggles with post-partum depression, low self-esteem, the difficulties of parenthood, or divorce, I’m writing to the woman (or man) out there who feels the same way that I do but is too scared to tell anyone. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Underlying each of those struggles are the same inherent desires. I want to feel valued. I want to feel capable. I want to feel worthy of being loved. And I would venture to guess that most people want those same things. Do I know the secret formula for feeling valued and loved all the time? Of course not! <b>Yet, I think the work we do - the journey we take - is ultimately more important than the answer itself. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If laying my struggles out for all the world to see makes someone else feel less alone, or helps them along in their own journey, the blog post is worth it.</span></span><br />
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-40603395565955760142014-09-30T06:20:00.001-07:002014-09-30T06:52:25.212-07:00when the only choice you can make is the one that hurts the most.<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XuI0UgwAiRfiW56UnBU1ss7u6dMJT0h_MRa-bviRuPFfAEJ8_o7UINVSqtd33EZe3x9v4H7w62sRKzAKhIQkGJw_q7qScBMrtCjB9ioVRV-a9yrEWL_PwmABPLvZ5V_Fcg_zZuD3JlU/s1600/Divorce+Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XuI0UgwAiRfiW56UnBU1ss7u6dMJT0h_MRa-bviRuPFfAEJ8_o7UINVSqtd33EZe3x9v4H7w62sRKzAKhIQkGJw_q7qScBMrtCjB9ioVRV-a9yrEWL_PwmABPLvZ5V_Fcg_zZuD3JlU/s1600/Divorce+Journey.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Taylor Loy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818;">"What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs." — </span><span style="color: black;">Rumi "<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/304079.The_Essential_Rumi">The Essential Rumi</a>"</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Once something is brought into your consciousness, you can’t really make it go away. As Brene Brown says, “Once you see something, you can’t un-see it.” I try to live my life in a way that is intentional and mindful, always attempting (and it’s an attempt, at best) to avoid harmful speech, actions, and thoughts towards myself and/or others. This has been the focus of my blog, my parenting, my zazen practice, and most of my experiences day-to-day. So, you can imagine how surprised, distraught, saddened, and scared I was when I realized t</span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;">hat despite what always seemed my best efforts, I had been blind to the fact that in order to live more mindfully, I was going to have to put myself first and even hurt those closest to me: my husband and children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">A few weeks ago, I asked my husband for a divorce. I have my reasons, obviously, and one of the hardest parts of this decision-making process has been to honor my feelings and intuition, even though they may not seem rational, or reasonable, to those around me. To hear that I’m asking for a divorce has been shocking to some of my friends and family. It most certainly has been shocking to my husband. And yet, as shocking as it is, it feels like the only choice I have.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I now find myself wrestling with the knowledge that in being true to myself, I’m causing a lot of pain and sadness for people I love. I’m capable of getting rid of their pain, and yet, it’s the one thing I cannot bring myself to do. For a wife and mother who has always put her husband and children ahead of herself, this has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done: sitting with the shock, the sadness, the hurt, and the confusion of those around me without doing anything to fix it. </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm starting to understand that mindfulness, compassion, and kindness aren't always about keeping others from feeling pain. </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">While I was trying to be a mindful wife and mother, I was ignoring some of my own intrinsic needs and truths. In the last couple of months, I have learned that there is a fine line between being compassionate and kind towards others, and making sure you take care of your own needs. If I had been more honest with myself, and my husband, about what I wanted from my relationship, I might have saved my marriage. Or, I might have asked for a divorce even earlier. But instead, I pushed a lot of uneasiness, and longing, and resentment below the surface and led my husband to think that everything was fine. Admittedly, I convinced myself it was fine too. I now realize that I was being mindful of what everyone needed except me. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve heard a saying that the only way out, is through. And the only thing getting me through this is the profound sense that I’m doing exactly what the Universe wants me to do. If I didn’t wholeheartedly believe that, I never would have considered putting my husband and children through this. So, coupled with the pain, and guilt, of what I’m inflicting on people I love, I’m also comforted and strengthened by the knowledge that I’m following the path that has been laid out for me. <b>It’s true: once you know something, you can’t un-know it. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the next few months, I’ll be writing my way through my divorce. I’ll write about moving away from Japan earlier than I expected; about moving back to my home state of Tennessee. I’ll write about the transition from homeschooling my children, to sending them off to a public magnet school. There will be posts about why I felt like I needed a divorce (while obviously trying to be respectful of my husband, my children, and his family), and what the entire divorce process entails. You’ll no doubt see posts about both the good days, and the difficult ones. And all the while, I’ll be trying to live a mindful, compassionate, loving, and honest life - not only for those I love, but for myself, too.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"Whatever life you lead you must put your soul in it--to make any sort of success in it; and from the moment you do that it ceases to be romance, I assure you: it becomes grim reality! And you can't always please yourself; you must sometimes please other people. That, I admit, you're very ready to do; but there's another thing that's still more important--you must often displease others. You must always be ready for that--you must never shrink from it." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">— </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/159.Henry_James" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" title="Henry James quotes">Henry James</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> (</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264.The_Portrait_of_a_Lady" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">The Portrait of a Lady</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">)</span></i></blockquote>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-8484679424862219112014-07-10T03:05:00.000-07:002014-07-10T03:05:54.867-07:00Little Passports (a review!)<em style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri;">**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.**</em><span style="font-family: calibri;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=305851&u=959759&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/32333/300x250CreativeGreen.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri;">Do you want your kids to see the world? Do you have an unlimited budget, loads of free time, and no responsibilities? If you're like most of us, the answer is no. The good news is, thanks to <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=300697&u=959759&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=">Little Passports</a>, you can show your kids the world anyway. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=618684&u=959759&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=">Little Passports World Edition</a> lets you travel the world with your children, teaching them about a new country every month. With a monthly subscription, two world travelers, "Sam and Sofia," will send your kids a goody bag full of new souvenirs and facts about the latest country they've visited. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">We received our first package last week, and my kids couldn't wait to open it up. Inside the box was a brand new suitcase for all their travels. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lQJzNoThjqCDpdJ5OyeFnuApbJsS57DSX4NxwMzl6EYVpVKFqNHsXrd6B_PTS43HEDHZmk9EVhyXRHXxMc2aWA5JQgFFYL3evOtE_Thn9mvcUxhLS0Fa9bzvNxt1Si6tffq_4gN-ULs/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lQJzNoThjqCDpdJ5OyeFnuApbJsS57DSX4NxwMzl6EYVpVKFqNHsXrd6B_PTS43HEDHZmk9EVhyXRHXxMc2aWA5JQgFFYL3evOtE_Thn9mvcUxhLS0Fa9bzvNxt1Si6tffq_4gN-ULs/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">In the suitcase was:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">a passport </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">an introductory letter from Sam</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">a colorful world map</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">a boarding pass (with links to online games and activities)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">stickers for their suitcase</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: calibri;">and an activity book. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVLb5Y6rk83-Z1tZ3BJnfWSihWNZvlz1RcisyFV-uBzPTOOnNKAC2bpc7VxQOY_7dJn-TuXG_U_JxZSq1EZDtZDNMZUL9fH8PKKeS5p79KgcxedJOwjGk9wXonNqQng1D2yaCroJYWQg/s1600/Little+passports+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVLb5Y6rk83-Z1tZ3BJnfWSihWNZvlz1RcisyFV-uBzPTOOnNKAC2bpc7VxQOY_7dJn-TuXG_U_JxZSq1EZDtZDNMZUL9fH8PKKeS5p79KgcxedJOwjGk9wXonNqQng1D2yaCroJYWQg/s1600/Little+passports+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">After pulling out the map, my 6yo dove right into the activity booklet, figuring out the secret codes that showed her how to say "Hello" in several foreign languages. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5gNfChakQgFUyXvBWHM9xR-HoIsdXM13YOIJtTMz_dbhAmewExZv8mnwpxX3rgy7j_-EI2sB9fPv1YKeONcnO9h1kDEn0YruxT1bEfW-qgthjDLaBxuq_dm0tCelk4wec7-X7-8M-7w/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5gNfChakQgFUyXvBWHM9xR-HoIsdXM13YOIJtTMz_dbhAmewExZv8mnwpxX3rgy7j_-EI2sB9fPv1YKeONcnO9h1kDEn0YruxT1bEfW-qgthjDLaBxuq_dm0tCelk4wec7-X7-8M-7w/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
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A <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=300697&u=959759&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=">Little Passports</a> subscription would be a great addition to any family, especially those who are homeschooling. These monthly packages could easily be a jumping-off point for more in-depth study of a country. You could look up the country's flag to color, find library books about the country, cook a meal that you'd eat there... the possibilities are endless. There is also a <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=618681&u=959759&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=">Little Passports USA Edition</a> for older kids who might be interested in learning about our 50 states. </div>
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My girls are excited about seeing what country we're visiting next month, and they can't wait to add some stamps to their passport.</div>
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<i><b>What do you think of Little Passports? Would your kids enjoy it?</b></i></div>
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-42134149792015635602014-06-24T23:40:00.000-07:002014-06-24T23:40:46.545-07:00Our Daily & Weekly Rhythm (Or, how we keep our sanity)<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you follow along on this blog, you’ll know that a couple of weeks ago, we were dying for more routine in our lives. We finished up our homeschooling year at the beginning of April, had friends come visit, went to Kyoto (Japan), had a two-week break before my sister came to visit in May, took lots of day trips with her, and finally settled back down at home - with no visitors - in June. Kids at the base elementary school were just beginning to enjoy their first days of summer vacation, but we were desperate to start our next year of school. Because we’d also be traveling for a month at the end of August, I decided to start our 2014-2015 school year on June 16.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cvKdNR7fXfu-O2CDZNLOQpVi2Y2aH-_X6IwSO2iNe3dMA0DRb6B5xK82Z_0AAwrZyMSiipYrv_Y9EHNn2pu9oES_S-IlMIr5mle_N93AtoS2puUrqlpF46ANS3hCMj0JoNrkZwSMV00/s1600/DailyWeekly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cvKdNR7fXfu-O2CDZNLOQpVi2Y2aH-_X6IwSO2iNe3dMA0DRb6B5xK82Z_0AAwrZyMSiipYrv_Y9EHNn2pu9oES_S-IlMIr5mle_N93AtoS2puUrqlpF46ANS3hCMj0JoNrkZwSMV00/s1600/DailyWeekly.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’re now in our second week of school, and I couldn’t be happier! Our routine and rhythms seem to be exactly what we needed, and today, I thought I’d share what our days and weeks are beginning to look like. We try to have a fairly relaxed schedule that includes time outside, lots of play, and afternoons free for our own special interests. And I am trying to institute a 4-day school week this year so that one day of the week is free for trips to the grocery store and library. Why not do those things on the weekend? Weekends are for family. We still have Saturday free to explore Japan, and Sundays are for being lazy - together.
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Weekly Schedule</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Monday</b> - Errand Day/No School.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll go to the grocery and library (it’s convenient to get any books we might need for lessons during the week), and I usually have my Japanese lesson on Monday afternoon. While I wish I could do these errands in the morning, our base library doesn’t open until 11:00am (?! - I know I’m not the only SAHM mom that wishes they would open around 9:00am).
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tuesday</b> - Home Day
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wednesday</b> - Home Day (except for the first Wed. of every month on which we have a tour with Fusako san)
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thursday</b> - Home Day
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Friday</b> - Home Day + Japanese class for 6yo
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Saturday</b> - Free Family Day
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sunday</b> - Home Day/Rest Day
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">See? Not too much going on there. And that’s exactly how I like it.
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Daily Schedule</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Daily Schedule has a bit more life in it. I have tried to keep the same routine going day-to-day, and this has been whole-heartedly embraced by my children. They are not bickering as much, and aren’t asking me 5 million times a day what we are doing next. My eldest has also stopped asking to play on the iPad or LeapPad all day long. It’s been a much-needed change.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>0500</b> - I’m up with my husband so that I can have sit in zazen (I’m not great about this), have coffee, read, and check email/FB/Twitter, or blog.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>0600-0730</b> - My kids usually wake between 6:00-6:30am, and they are allowed to turn on the tv at 0630. They have time to watch one show each before I watch the “nightly” news (we’re on the opposite side of the world, remember) at 0730. Somewhere in this time frame, we’ll also fix some breakfast.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>0730 - 0830</b> - While I’m watching the news, the girls are doing their morning chores (potty, brush teeth, get dressed, make beds). Around 0830, we’ll head outside to the playground if the weather is nice. I like to go out first thing in the morning before it’s had a chance to get uncomfortably hot.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>0930-1000</b> - We’ll come back inside, have a snack, and get started on our school work. Usually, the girls will come inside, wash up, and head straight to our “office.”
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember how I was going to institute workboxes? They have been GREAT! The girls each have about 5 paper-tray-sized drawers which are labeled with subjects. Only 3-4 trays will be filled each day, and they contain worksheets/activities that take no longer than 5-10 minutes each. Both girls complained a bit when I first introduced them to the idea of workboxes, but after only a couple of days using the system, they eagerly go in to check their boxes each morning. My 6yo now knows what she is expected to do, and there has been little-to-no complaining about her schoolwork since we started using the boxes.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They usually do “daily work” first. This is a review or mash-up of subjects.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next comes handwriting, math, and our special subject of the day.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two days a week we read “Story of the World” together and do activities from the activity guide. One day a week we study science together, and one day a week we’ll do an art lesson together.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are usually finished with school at lunchtime (yay!).
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1130-1200</b> - Lunchtime! While the girls are eating, I usually go over a short grammar lesson (we’re talking 5-10 minutes thanks to First Language Lessons).
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1230-1330</b> - This is usually free time for the girls. They might play, read, or work on a project of their own choosing. I might work on my own project or do some household chores.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1400</b> - By this time, they are usually asking for some downtime by way of the television or computer. And that is fine with me! I’ll set them up with something to do while I read, blog, or continue my own project work.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1530-1600</b> - We’ll ease back into playtime and I’ll start straightening up the house before my husband gets home. I want him to think it’s looked clean all day…..
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1700</b> - It’s time to start preparing dinner. We have made it priority that we all sit down together for a meal in the evening. We’ll eat around 1800.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1830-1900</b> - After dinner, the girls will do their evening chores (<i>sometimes</i> they’ll help clean up after dinner, then potty, brush their teeth, pajamas). They’ll spend their remaining time before bed either reading or playing, or maybe snuggling up with us on the couch.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1930-2000</b> - Bedtime. One of us will read a book to the girls before bed, sing a song and tuck them in. However, for the last couple of months, our 6yo - since she started reading on her own - will spend another half an hour reading to herself in bed.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every morning, our school work is done by lunch, leaving us with plenty of time in the afternoons to play, read, work on projects, or watch something that relates to what we’ve been learning during the week. I firmly believe that children thrive when there is a consistent reliable routine in place. And, notice that I use the word “routine.” I do not have our day scheduled down to the minute. I do, however, how a predictable flow that the girls are learning, and they know what is coming next in the day. They know when they have some work to do, and they know when they’ll have free time to do whatever they like. IT. HAS. BEEN. WONDERFUL. Hopefully, we’ll be able to keep this going all year. </span></div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-84157190413835578922014-06-19T01:07:00.001-07:002014-06-19T01:07:18.295-07:00The Plant Party (A small win for Project-Based-Homeschooling)My kids throw out thousands of "good ideas," every week. Sometimes it seems like there are thousands in one day. I know we can't do every single thing our kids ask, but since <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/project-based-homeschooling.html">I've been trying to integrate more PBH time into our days</a>, I have found myself looking for more opportunities to say "yes."<br />
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One of these opportunities popped up the other day when my 6yo said she felt like celebrating something. It's rainy season here in Japan, so she said it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the rain and how it helps the plants grow. "A plant party! We should have a plant party!" she said enthusiastically. For most of her life, I've probably shot down ideas like this without a second thought about them. But this time, I said, "Sure. You can have a plant party if you make all the plans and preparations." She looked completely shocked that I'd said yes, and immediately got to work.<br />
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She decided when she'd have her party (two weeks from that day), and what time of day would be best.<br />
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She asked me to help her make invitations and we made one on Facebook (to save trees, right?).<br />
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For two weeks, she made lists:<br />
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-- lists of what foods we should have<br />
-- lists of games we could play<br />
-- lists of activities we could have for guests (coloring pages, anyone?)<br />
-- lists of decorations<br />
-- lists of supplies/groceries she would need from the store<br />
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I rarely offered help or suggestions, only giving my input when she asked for it or I knew something would not go over well with parent (like conflicts with siblings' nap schedules).<br />
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A couple of days before her party, she insisted on going to the grocery with me and she made sure we bought some extra fruit, snacks, and cake mix. She also spent time working on a game for her party. She loves "pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey," so she made up her own version for the plant party: "pin-the-pollen-on-the-flower."<br />
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The day before, she made a list of things that still needed to be done, and shortly after lunch, she asked if she could make her cake. She's started reading more and more on her own now, so she got all the ingredients together, read the directions, and directed the baking of the cake. She iced it (with a little help from me) and offered her little sister the important job of putting sprinkles on the cake. She was so proud of herself.<br />
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Later that afternoon, she asked if she could start decorating. I pulled out a bag of streamers and balloons that I keep on-hand, and I told her to think about what she wanted and that I'd be available to help her in a few minutes. I went to finish up on something I'd been working on, and when I came out, she'd already started hanging up string across the room, and using the streamers as vines.<br />
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The morning of the party, she donned her fanciest dress. "Isn't that the same dress you wore for your birthday party?" I asked. To which she responded, "Well, I looked for something else, but this was the only suitable thing I had." Ha! What 6yo says "suitable?"<br />
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After getting ready, I showed her how to look for flower coloring pages online, and then showed her how to go to "File," then "Print," and how to change the number of copies printed. She was excited to learn a bit more about the computer, and picked out 3 different coloring pages for her friends.<br />
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The plant party went well, but wasn't without a few hiccups for the 4-6yo age group. There were some tears because not everyone wanted to do activities (they just wanted to play), and some party guests were upset about not winning the pollen game, but overall, there were a lot of giggles and hugs.<br />
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I could have said "no" to the plant party. I could have dismissed it like I have done with so many other ideas. But instead, I said, "yes," and my 6yo learned a little bit about planning something, baking, and getting creative. She also might be saying that she wants to be an event planner and plan our anniversary party next month.... (Oh boy...) So who knows what will be next. <b>I'm very happy to count this as a small win for PBH in our home, and I hope that these kinds of opportunities will help my daughters learn that they are capable of so much! They are creative, resourceful, determined, intelligent and passionate, and I don't want them to forget it as they grow older (like so many adults do...). <i>That's</i> what project-based-homeschooling is about. </b>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-32998353519220392492014-06-14T06:28:00.002-07:002014-06-14T06:32:56.645-07:00We're Going Back to School! (First Grade & PreK curriculum choices for 2014-2015)Starting on Monday, we're launching into our school year for 2014-2015. Yes, it's only June, but we have been on "break" for the last two months (friends and family visits, and traveling, took up our time) and we're going to be taking a month-long vacation to the States at the end of August (our first trip back in two years!). We are itching to have some routine back in our lives, and want to get started well before we spend another month traveling.<br />
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<i>This will be our second year homeschooling. I have a Preschooler (she'll be five in November) and a First Grader. I'm going to try to homeschool on a 4-day schedule, taking off one morning for myself (if I can find a daytime babysitter, which is the HARDEST job position to fill). </i><br />
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Needless to say, I feel like I've been working non-stop to get things ready before next week. I've been ordering materials, browsing Pinterest, printing worksheets, and trying to figure out our daily/weekly schedule. Even with all the planning I've done, I've not done nearly as much as I did last year. <b>The past year was our first year officially homeschooling, and I learned a few things - one of which was to calm the heck down.</b> I don't have to plan out every single lesson for every. single. subject. (See: <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2013/06/elementary-science-with-3-and-5-year-old.html">my science curriculum</a> last year. Oy.) And my kids learn an amazing amount by just soaking up the things around them: nature, library books, educational shows and computer games, and play.<br />
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So this year is <i>hopefully </i>going to be a bit more laid back as far as curriculum goes. We are eclectic homeschoolers... we mix a little bit of unschooling, interest-led learning, and classical philosophy and do what works well for each of us as individual learners. We're not doing a science curriculum. We're not doing spelling. Or a formal reading program. We are going to concentrate on reading/language arts/writing and math as our core, with lots of room to study everything else we find interesting: history, art, science, geography, religious, and <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/project-based-homeschooling.html">special project work</a>.<br />
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One other change that I'm going to try and implement this year are workboxes. Some homeschoolers go workbox crazy, but we are doing workbox *lite* (if that's a thing.). We struggled with finding a good routine last year, which in turn led to problems with my eldest knowing what was expected of her. This year, she'll have daily work to be completed before any afternoon activities (read: fun) can be done. I'll also be preparing work for my Preschooler, but this will be <i>very</i> informal and fun. <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/03/knowing-when-to-back-off-or-realizing.html">She needs a fun year.</a> <i>Every day, they'll find something in their daily work, handwriting, and math boxes. History will be two days a week, and art, science, and religious education one day a week. </i><br />
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So here's what we're going to be using this year:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Daily Work</span></b><br />
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The first thing in our workboxes will be a daily worksheet. I bought the "1st Grade Morning Workbook" from <a href="http://www.secondstorywindow.net/">Second Story Window</a> for my First Grader, and she'll just have a one-sided page to do each morning. I thought this would be a great way to cover several things in small increments (reading, writing, math, and spelling) over the course of the year.<br />
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For my preschooler, I will use coloring pages, simple worksheets, or activities in her "daily work" drawer. She hates sitting and doing workbooks, so this will have to be something fun to start her school day.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Handwriting</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In our handwriting drawer will be one page of handwriting work. For my first grader, this will be a page from her <a href="http://amzn.com/B004NF3M9Y">Getty Dubay</a> workbook. She does not enjoy writing things out by hand, and complains about her hand getting tired. She also continues to make mistakes with some letters and numbers. So, this is something that I want to work on despite her predicted protests. I know handwriting will become easier as she grows older, so I'm fine with her doing just one page per day. We'll work on italics for a while, and when that seems to be better, I'll let her start learning cursive (which she is very interested in). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My preschooler will also have a daily letter- or number-tracing page to complete. And because she is opposed to workbooks, she'll have the option of completing the page with a pencil/crayon, <i>or</i> using her markers/dry-erase board or a <a href="http://playathomemom3.blogspot.jp/2011/07/squishy-bag-tactilemultisensory.html">gel bag to practice her writing</a>. There are lots of free handwriting pages online, and I might use<a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/08/z-handwriting-worksheets.html"> these from Confessions of a Homeschooler</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Math</span></b><br />
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My eldest is a year or two ahead in math. It seems to come easily to her, and she enjoys it, so we're following her lead. She's finishing up her <a href="http://amzn.com/1411401077">Math Skills Grade 2</a> workbook, and will be starting <a href="http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/">Teaching Textbooks</a> Math 3 in the next week or two. TT3 is a computer-based curriculum that needs little-to-no help from parents (yay!). She is very excited about doing math on the computer and loved the demo lessons that we tried before buying. We'll see how well she does with the third grade curriculum, and will do some first/second grade review if needed.<br />
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While my eldest is on the computer, I'm going to be doing some simple, fun math games with my preschooler. She thrives with one-on-one time, and we ordered some manipulatives for our core math work (counting bears, pattern blocks, scale, clock, money, etc.). I also bought her the <a href="http://amzn.com/1411401050">Math Skills K</a> workbook in case she comes around to workbooks by the end of the year. It is very colorful with minimal work on each page, so I think she might come around to working on one page every day alongside me (and with plenty of manipulatives within reach).<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>History</b></span><br />
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I've debated about this a lot, but I think we're going to start over with <a href="http://amzn.com/1933339004">Story of the World Volume 1</a>. We started this last year, and have made it about half-way through. The girls seem to have enjoyed it and we've taken our time studying about the ancient peoples in the chapters we've read. However, there is so much to do with Story of the World that I think I'd like to start it over again and really dig in this year. <b>I will be using this as the spine of our homeschool. Story of the World can be used for narration, dictation, copy-work, vocabulary, geography, social studies, music, art, read-alouds, and history. </b>Almost all of this is spelled-out in the <a href="http://amzn.com/1933339055">Activity Guide</a>, and I'd like to make better use of it this year. What can it hurt to study the Ancients again? My preschooler is in love with ancient Egypt, and I'm sure she won't mind.<br />
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I'm also going to be ordering the <a href="http://amzn.com/1933339047">audio cds</a> so that I can upload them onto my phone and computer and play them during snack time, rest time, or travel in the van. I'm hoping this will also help the girls to soak up even more of the information.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Science</b></span><br />
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We're not using a science curriculum this year, but that doesn't mean we're not going to study science. We're going to be utilizing <a href="http://www.brainpop.com/">Brain Pop</a> and <a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/">Brain Pop Junior</a> (can't say enough good things about these websites! worth every penny!). They have a science section loaded with videos, activities, vocabulary, book suggestions, and games for a whole slew of subjects aligned with Common Core (if you're worried about that sort of thing....). We'll be going through the videos one by one, completing the activities and checking out corresponding books from the library.<br />
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We'll also continue to fill our home with all things science - nature study, science toys (Snap Circuits, science experiment kits), books, and educational tv shows like the Magic School Bus and Cosmos (if you haven't watched <a href="http://www.cosmosontv.com/">Cosmos</a> with your children, <b>you should</b>). My kids have learned an amazing amount from these things already (my 6-year-old can tell you about DNA, for instance), so we'll just continue to see where our interest leads.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Grammar</b></span><br />
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Grammar has become such a regular part of our lunch time that the girls hardly even know they're "learning grammar." I started <a href="http://amzn.com/1933339446">First Language Lessons: Level 1</a> towards the end of the year and will definitely keep working through the levels. It is <i>very</i> repetitive, but for my young kids, that's okay. Each lesson takes about 5-10 minutes and I go through one lesson while the girls are finishing up their lunch. My 4-year-old can tell you the definition of a noun and my 6-year-old is learning about proper sentence form, capitalization, proper and common nouns, and narration. And that's good enough for me.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Art</span></b><br />
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We hardly did any arts and crafts last year, and I want to change that. Not only do I want my girls to get their hands a little dirty, but I want them to learn about some famous artists, and technique. That's where <a href="http://www.officialhomeartstudio.com/">Home Art Studio</a> comes in. I picked up the Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade DVDS at a steal from Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. These videos were made by an art teacher who wanted to bring age-appropriate art classes into the home. My girls are SO excited about these, and we'll be doing one project each week.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Religious Education</span></b><br />
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We don't have a Unitarian Universalist church here, and have not found much of a religious community for ourselves or our children. I've become involved in a local Zen Buddhist temple, and have made friends with several priests, and am very grateful that my children have become involved as well. They enjoy going to the temple with me and feel very comfortable there. But in one year, we'll be moving back to the US, and our kids are going to need to learn a bit more about Christianity. I also want them to develop more spiritual awareness and their own relationship with God.<br />
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I purchased the most progressive, liberal, non-creedal Christian curriculum I could find, from where else but... <a href="https://progressivechristianity.org/">Progressive Christianity</a>. I'm going to try to do one lesson a week and see how it goes. I'll definitely be writing a review of this after we've jumped into it. If you'd like to see a list of lessons, <a href="https://progressivechristianity.org/resources/list-of-lessons-in-a-joyful-path-year-one/">go here</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Yay for school!</b></span><br />
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I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to begin school on Monday. We have long-awaited dentist appointments that morning, but I'm not letting that stop us. Our appointments are early in the morning, and when we get back home, to school we'll go!<br />
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<b>If you are homeschooling, when will you be starting your next school year? Have you used any of these books or curriculum? I'd love to hear what you're doing in your homeschool. </b><br />
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While my sister was visiting last month, I knew that one place she <i>had</i> to visit was Hakone. Up in the mountains, close to Mt. Fuji, with gorgeous views and lush greenery, Hakone was right up her alley. <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2013/11/hakone-in-fall.html">I've been to the Hakone shrine before</a>, but another place in Hakone high on my list was the <a href="http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/english/">Hakone Open-Air Museum</a>. </div>
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<b>Here are the specifics for the museum:</b></div>
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Open 9:00am-5:00pm. </div>
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Parking is only 500 yen ($5 US)/day.</div>
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Adults: 1,600 yen</div>
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University and high school students: 1,200 yen</div>
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Elementary and middle students: 800 yen</div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/english/ticket.html">CLICK HERE TO PRINT A DISCOUNTED TICKET!</a></i></b></div>
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There are two restaurants and two cafes, but you're also welcome to bring your own food.</div>
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If you have children, you might think they won't be too interested in an art museum... but this is no ordinary art museum. Hakone's Open-Air Museum has plenty of artwork that you can't touch, but it also has several areas dedicated specifically to children and their exploration of art. That's right - this art museum has art that is made to be played upon. Two areas are outdoors, but there is also an indoor area as well (we didn't go in because of time constraints). My girls had a blast, and my sister and I just laid in the grass and enjoyed the mountain air while the girls tired themselves out. <b>It was the best visit we've ever had to an art museum.</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first play area we came upon. Only children were allowed to climb on the art, and I was jealous!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's my kid tangled up in there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's not so sure about climbing up this high.... </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were lots of tears coming down these stairs. The girls did not like the height.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my sister. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is also a free footpath that we had to try out. It felt great.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most days, I feel just like this guy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our favorite play area. It was like a big maze of plastic bubbles.</td></tr>
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<i>**My girls loved this area, but my 4.5 year old had trouble at times climbing through it. It would be almost impossible for younger children to climb, though they'd probably have a good time anyway. Climbing did become a lot easier when we let them take off their socks and shoes.**</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this shot!</td></tr>
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This museum was GREAT, and the drive to get there was beautiful. It might be too hot for kids in the summer, but it would be a fantastic place to go in the spring and fall. I have a feeling we'll be taking a second trip there before we know it.<br />
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-66177532977838150512014-06-04T16:57:00.001-07:002014-06-04T16:57:11.930-07:00Bathing with strangers - a surprisingly nice Japanese tradition. (A guide to Enospa and onsen etiquette.)It's been almost a month ago since I bathed with strangers at EnoSpa, but we've had so many visitors and have been so busy that I'm just now getting a chance to write about it.<br />
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One of the things everyone says you should do when you visit Japan is to go to a Japanese onsen. An onsen is a spa/inn/bathing facility with a natural hot spring. Onsens in Japan date back to Ancient times, as onsens were believed to have healing powers, and the arrival of Buddhism in 552 AD supported the use of onsens as a way to remain purified.<br />
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To the average Westerner, the idea of going to an onsen and bathing nude with complete strangers is shocking.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #48423f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">Western, Christian-influenced views of nudity – and its relation with sex – are at odds with the Japanese take on nakedness, which finds nothing intrinsically suggestive, offensive or debauched about public bathing in the buff. When Francis Xavier inaugurated the first Christian mission to Japan in 1549, the missionaries who arrived were horrified to learn of the Japanese custom of almost daily public bathing, often with men and women sharing the same tub. Their disgust was exacerbated, too, by the fact that many sixteenth century Europeans believed daily bathing to be harmful to one’s health. (<a href="http://www.japanzine.jp/article/jz/551/japan-and-onsen-a-naked-history">www.Japanzine.com</a>)</span></blockquote>
I know several Americans who have tried onsens while here, and all of them said it was a great Japanese experience. I had made up my mind to give it a try, but I had yet to go with my husband because we'd have to go to separate bathing areas. (There are mixed-bathing facilities where you are required to wear a swimsuit, but it's not quite the same experience as the traditional onsen.) The last thing I wanted to do was try to figure out proper onsen etiquette on my own. So, I was thrilled when our friends came to visit in April and said they wanted to try it out.<br />
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We decided to go to <a href="http://www.enospa.jp/">Enospa</a> on Enoshima Island - about a 20 minute drive from our house. If you'd like to go to an onsen, and would specifically like to visit EnoSpa, here's your guide (with photos taken straight out of the English brochure):<br />
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<b>Getting to Enospa:</b><br />
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<b>What to do when you get there:</b><br />
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When you go to the admission counter, you'll get a locker key. This key will be attached to you/your party and will be used for a locker, and to pay for any services. For instance, when you put on a robe before/after your soak and go get a massage or eat in one of the restaurants, the attendant/waitress will charge the service to your key number. Then, when you leave Enospa, you'll take your key back to the front counter and you'll be charged for whatever services you used.<br />
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You'll also be given a mesh bag with 2 towels (one large, one small) and a robe.<br />
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<b>The baths:</b><br />
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There are co-ed and gender-separated baths. Bring your swimsuit so that after you soak in the women/men-only baths, you can go down to the other indoor/outdoor pools. If you go during the day, you might have a great view of Fuji. We went in the evening and though we didn't see Fuji san, it was wonderful to soak in a hot bath with the ocean waves just beneath us.<br />
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<b>Onsen etiquette:</b><br />
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When you walk into the women's/men's area, find a locker and undress. Wrap yourself in the large towel and carry the small one with you to the onsen door. There are two doors leading to the onsen. Inside the first door are cubbies where you take off your large towel and store it until you come back out of the bath. On the wall behind you is a large board with suggested ways to bathe (when to wash yourself off, suggested orders of baths, how long to stay in, etc.). After you have removed your large towel, take your smaller one and walk through the second door into the bathing area. There will be small shower stalls along the inside wall. Sit down at one of these stalls, on the small stool provided. On the shelf in front of you will be shampoo, conditioner, and body wash - all provided by the spa. Wash yourself <i>really well</i> <b>before</b> getting into the bath. When you're ready to get in, place the small towel on your head (or wrap your hair with it) and enjoy your soak.<br />
<br />
My favorite bath was the carbonated bath! It felt so good to have tingly little bubbles all over your skin. When you're done with bathing, wash again before leaving the room. If you are concerned about doing things the right way, just pay attention to what all the Japanese are doing and copy them.<br />
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Go back out to the cubby area and wrap up in the large towel before exiting. After we left the nude onsen, we put on our swimsuits and robes and met our husbands for dinner upstairs. (Don't do what we did and completely miss the small row of slippers just inside the restaurant door.) After dinner, we all went down to the co-ed pools for another soak. And surprisingly, we opted for a second soak in the nude onsens before leaving for the night. I would not mind a soak in the onsen every weekend!<br />
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I have to say, as nervous as I was about bathing in the nude with a bunch of strangers... it turned out to be wonderful. It was amazingly relaxing, and to be honest, it was nice to be around a bunch of normal bodies - bodies not photo-shopped and all exactly alike - with absolutely no cares in the world about the fact that we were all naked. It is so different from American culture and ideas about nudity - and it was refreshing.<br />
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<b>Other things to do at Enospa:</b><br />
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<b>Hours and prices of Enospa:</b><br />
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Hours vary slightly depending on the season, but the average hours are 10:00am-10:00pm with last admittance at 9:00pm. Also, if you go after 7:00pm, you'll get a discounted price.<br />
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Full-day price is 2,742 yen (about $27 US) and night-spa price is 1,705 yen.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>If you have ever considered going to an onsen... YOU NEED TO GO! It's a great experience and you'll be very glad you did. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Have any questions about a visit to an onsen? Let me know and I'll try to answer them.</i></b>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-23950993564519342002014-05-19T01:10:00.003-07:002014-05-19T01:11:08.683-07:00The hardest part of parenting is having good behavior.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtR05yUAa9KlY0TDzcceOJJcLcifRFoP3NPTJ2nG61AjRb9WRUO-ytyjp4ZvnQz8rnXpjOoMxVm5Wv-e_cVXugz1u4NLE8r8FpmOLe2N2b_36e5Pji2YmoXliY8EjydPi8X5mu04xh8Y/s1600/Hardest+part.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtR05yUAa9KlY0TDzcceOJJcLcifRFoP3NPTJ2nG61AjRb9WRUO-ytyjp4ZvnQz8rnXpjOoMxVm5Wv-e_cVXugz1u4NLE8r8FpmOLe2N2b_36e5Pji2YmoXliY8EjydPi8X5mu04xh8Y/s1600/Hardest+part.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a>I'm not talking about good behavior from my children.<br />
<br />
I'm talking about good behavior<i> from myself</i>.<br />
<br />
Parenting is HARD. (I'm sure I've said that about 7 billion times on this blog.) And as of late, I know I haven't been doing the best job. That's the thing about being an intentional parent - it's something you <i>constantly</i> have to give your awareness to - and if you're not careful, it's easy to slip back into old ways of being and doing. The last couple of weeks, I have felt my reactions becoming stronger and less controlled. <i>I have noticed myself becoming a reactionary parent instead of an intentional parent. </i>And it's time to reign it back in.<br />
<br />
Last night my eldest daughter said that things "weren't fair," and that we "never do anything fun," just before tucking her in the bed. I had heard those same words uttered [what seemed like] a gazillion times that day and this time was the one to break the camel's back. I launched into a lecture - using my very-frustrated-mom-voice - and I was towering over my children as they lay on their beds. I went on and on about all the fun things we do during the day, threatened to do absolutely nothing fun tomorrow to "show them" how not-fun the day the could be, and warned them of how frustrating they were making their mother feel.<br />
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Like an out-of-body experience, I watched myself saying these things, and I felt all the anger and frustration boiling inside me, as my children looked at me with expressions of fear and hurt. I absolutely hate these moments. The moments where I see myself spinning out of control - saying or doing things that I don't want to - and becoming exactly the type of parent that I try so hard to avoid. It's easy to blow up. It's easy to yell, hit, spank, scream, send-away, or retreat. <b>But in these moments, it's not my children whose behavior needs to be fixed. It's my own. </b><br />
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As my oldest daughter hid under her covers and started crying, I had a chance to model the behavior I wanted - for both my children, and myself. And while humility has never been my strong suit, my daughters needed it from me. In that space of both frustration and hurt feelings, was a chance to connect with them in a real and meaningful way.<br />
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So what did I do?<br />
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<b>I apologized.</b><br />
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I said I was sorry for saying all those mean and hurtful things. I said sorry for the tone of voice that I used.<br />
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<b>I was honest.</b><br />
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I told my daughter that the reason I felt frustrated was because it hurt my feelings to hear her complain about her days. I opened up to her about my desire to be a good mother - that I felt like I was doing my best - and it made me feel uncomfortable and insecure to have her say otherwise.<br />
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<b>I asked for her help in fixing the situation.</b><br />
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I asked if there was something bigger bothering her. I asked why she felt the way she did, and if she had any ideas about how we could make her feel better. We talked a bit about how she hasn't had much control about what she does during the day - she often feels like she's being ordered around - and so we came up with a plan to have a "meeting" soon where we could discuss the things she'd like to do, and how she would like the day to go.<br />
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<b>I was willing to hear her. </b><br />
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Whether or not I agree with her, or think that all her ideas are feasible, is not important. What <i>is</i> important is that she feels valued and heard. By being present and listening - <i>really</i> listening - to her, we connected, felt better, and left space for new possibilities to emerge.<br />
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<b>When our children are having an experience that we feel is uncalled for, handled incorrectly, or full of bad choices (a.k.a "bad behavior"), we need to take a step back and question what is being triggered in <i>ourselves</i>. My daughter is allowed to feel frustration, boredom, and unhappiness. But instead of giving her the space to experience those emotions and work through them, I took them personally and found my own feelings of inadequacy, and my need to be validated, bubbling to the surface. And in turn, I took it out on her. </b><br />
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This. This is why parenting is so difficult. Because the true work of parenthood is that we only ask of our children that which we are willing to embody ourselves.<br />
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So many times, however, we demand much more from them.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-47293227458962579942014-05-16T03:57:00.000-07:002014-05-16T04:09:04.132-07:00The only thing missing from project-based homeschooling was... me.Thanks to my good friend, Shelli, over at <a href="http://www.mamaofletters.com/">Mama of Letters</a>, I was introduced to <a href="http://project-based-homeschooling.com/">Project-Based Homeschooling</a> with Lori Pickert. Project-based homeschooling is exactly as it sounds - using projects to further your child's education. However, these are not projects that parents have picked out or prepared for their children. <b>These are projects that are child-led, based on the child's own interest and desire to delve deeper into a subject. </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"Project-based homeschooling combines your child’s genuine interests with long-term, deep, complex learning. It is the part of your curriculum when you mentor your child to help him learn how to direct and manage his own learning." - PBH</span></blockquote>
I purchased Lori's book, <a href="http://project-based-homeschooling.com/books">Project-Based Homeschooling</a>, and read through it months ago. One of the first things I did after reading the book was to head to my local IKEA and buy desks for my girls. They needed some workspace that was dedicated solely for them. Previously, we'd been using the dining room table for all of our homeschooling (and we still do), but now that the girls have desks, they can leave out work to come back to later.<br />
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The desks were a great addition, but months went by with no real project work. Any time I suggested a project, it was shot down or met with whines and complaints. When I set aside project time, it lasted about 20 minutes, and seemed to produce nothing. Feeling stuck and out of ideas, I picked up Lori's book again.<br />
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It became obvious that when I read it the first time, I was not really focused on its message. I read through it, but absorbed little of the information. Reading it a second time was transformative for me as a mentor and educator. <b>The missing link from PBH in our home was ME.</b> I was not making myself available to my child during project time. I was sending her off on her own and hoping she'd come up with something. I also realized that I was not always present during moments of inspiration. My daughter would suggest a great activity or project, and I would dismiss it because it wasn't the right time or place... maybe we were driving in the car, or in the grocery store, or in the middle of a book at bedtime. I'd say, "Sure, honey, that sounds great" but that's where I'd leave it.<br />
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So, knowing that I needed to invest a little more of myself into PBH, I saw an opportunity for a project the other day and jumped on it. My eldest daughter found an old video of herself on my iPad, taken more than year ago, in which she proclaimed to have an "animal show" and she talked about dolphins and beluga whales. She immediately stated that she'd forgotten about her animal show and she wanted to do more episodes. The next morning, I asked her if she wanted to make another video after breakfast. She was ecstatic! She decided to talk about snails since we recently adopted a snail we found outside.<br />
<br />
We spent TWO HOURS that morning making her video. She was engaged the entire time. She chose music, effects, and a background, and asked me to show her how to find information about snails on the internet. We made notes, she rehearsed her information, and told me how she wanted the "episode" put together. It was great! We were both thrilled with her finished product and she immediately wanted me to send it to all her family and friends. And as soon as we were finished, she asked when she could do the next one. If you'd like to see the video, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100470218216288&l=8964282953707742956">here</a>.<br />
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That night, she asked to research information about Nile Monitor Lizards for her next video. As she pulled up Google, and I told her how to spell the keywords, she was looking over the search results and said, "This is so great! I'm learning how to use the computer!" THAT is what PBH is about.<br />
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PBH offers her practice with research, computer skills, reading, comprehension, narration, and much, much more. It's wonderful to see her so excited about learning more, taking charge of her own project and being proud about the work she's done. Who knows how many "episodes" she'll produce, but it's the process that has been a blast thus far.<br />
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Her second video was done today, and if you'd like to learn about Nile Monitor Lizards, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100470824446398&l=3168792354893368749">here</a>.<br />
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And, if you'd like to learn more about Project-Based Homeschooling, here are some great links:<br />
<br />
Shelli @ Mama of Letters has a <a href="http://mamaofletters.com/project-based-homeschooling/">whole section on how she's used PBH in her homeschool</a>.<br />
<br />
Lori @ Project-Based Homeschooling has a <a href="http://project-based-homeschooling.com/camp-creek-blog">wonderful blog, forum, and master class for parents</a> (and educators) interested in introducing PBH into their family or to their students.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-79753411589451697272014-05-10T18:50:00.003-07:002014-05-10T18:50:53.662-07:00Kyoto: Our 5-night, 6-day Itinerary<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
If you are thinking of going to Kyoto, I highly recommend spending at least 4-5 days there. Many of the package trips offered at the on-base travel office are for 3-days, 2-nights, and honestly, I have NO IDEA how people see everything in that amount of time. There are so many great sights in Kyoto, and it was nice to have plenty of time to see them all. So, in case it might be helpful to you, I'm posting our itinerary from our trip. I grouped things into areas of Kyoto to save time on traveling throughout the city. There are two great websites to use to plan your trip: <a href="http://japan-guide.com/">Japan-Guide.com</a>, and <a href="http://inside-kyoto.com/">Inside-Kyoto.com</a>. Inside-Kyoto was by far the best website I found for in-depth knowledge of Kyoto.<br />
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Good luck, and have a great trip!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/04/kyoto-day-1.html">Day 1: Arrival & Central Kyoto</a></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ride the shinkansen into Kyoto (a 2-hour trip from Tokyo) and arrive around lunchtime.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once in Kyoto, we grabbed a taxi and checked-in to our <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1405193888"></span>rental home<span id="goog_1405193889"></span></a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to <b><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3918.html">Nijo castle</a></b> this afternoon. It’s one of the only things that’s on the tourist list for central Kyoto. </span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open from 8:45am-5:00pm (last admission 4pm).</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/04/kyoto-day-2-fushimi-inari-shrine-and.html">Day 2: Southeast Kyoto</a></b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html">Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine</a></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open dawn to dusk, free admission.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html">Gion Corner</a></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.miyako-odori.jp/">Miyako-Odori performance</a> (only in the month of April)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2,000 yen for walk-in tickets</span></li>
</ul>
<li>Dinner at Kyoto's <a href="http://www.ninja-kyoto.co.jp/">Ninja restaurant</a></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/kyoto-day-3-southern-higashiyama.html">Day 3: Southern Higashiyama</a></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html">Kiyomizu-dera Temple</a> (“must-see” temple with balcony)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0600-1800</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adults 300 yen, children 200 yen</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3959.html">Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka streets</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li>Many shops don't open until 10:00am</li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3928.html">Chion-in Temple</a> (Pureland Buddhist temple, staircase featured in “The Last Samurai”)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0900-1630</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Free admission to grounds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">For temple: Adults 300 yen, children 150 yen</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3905.html">Nanzen-ji Temple</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0840 to 1700</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Free grounds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">500 yen to go up in the huge front gate. It's worth it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">500 yen admittance to Hojo and rock garden</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/kyoto-day-4.html">Day 4: Northern Higashiyama</a></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3900.html">Sanjusangendo</a> ("Hall of 1,000 Buddhas" - it's located in Southern Higashiyama, so we took a cab from Kyoto station and then took a train to Northern Higashiyama)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0800-1700</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adults 600 yen, children 300 yen</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3906.html">Philosopher’s Path</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.insidekyoto.com/honen-in-temple-northern-higashiyama">Honen-in Temple</a> (a favorite among locals, special Amida Buddha statue)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0600-1600</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Free admission</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3907.html">Ginkaku-ji Temple</a> (silver pavilion)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0830-1700</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adults 500 yen, children 300 yen</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/kyoto-day-5-arashiyama.html">Day 5: Arashiyama, Northwest Kyoto</a></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3908.html">Kinkaku-ji Temple</a> (golden pavilion)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0900-1700</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adults 400 yen, children 300 yen</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3909.html">Ryoan-ji Temple</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0800-1700</span></li>
<li>Adults 500 yen, children 300 yen</li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3913.html">Tenryu-ji Temple</a>, with <a href="http://www.tenryuji.com/shigetsu/">lunch at the temple restaurant</a> (vegetarian, Buddhist cuisine!)</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0830-1730</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Free admission to grounds</span></li>
<li>Hojo garden and temple admission: Adults 500 yen, children 300 yen</li>
<li>Lunch set starts at 3,000 yen and is worth every penny.</li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html">Monkey Park</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open 0900-1700</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adults 550 yen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Food for monkeys 200 yen (I think...)</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/05/kyoto-day-6-nishiki-market-and-our.html">Day 6: Downtown Kyoto</a></span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3931.html">Nishiki Market</a> (traditional food/shopping)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Head home on the shikansen!</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-9804976043244536632014-05-08T23:26:00.002-07:002014-05-10T18:58:34.532-07:00Kyoto: Day 6 (Nishiki Market and our return home)On our last morning in Kyoto, we had a little bit of time to waste before catching our afternoon train. We decided to visit the popular Nishiki market to do some browsing and grab some lunch. Nishiki market is 5 blocks long and is filled with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Most of the shops sell foods that you'll only find in Japan. It started with the first fish shop that opened in 1310, and many families have operated the same shops for generations. I read that the market location was chosen because of the underground springs (which made it easy to get water for fish vendors) and because it was not to far to carry food to/from Nijo castle.<br />
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Our friends had lunch at what they say was a marvelous vegan restaurant while we had lunch at a little Indian restaurant. We caught our train around 2:00pm, and were walking in our front door by 5:30pm. It was a great visit to Kyoto, though it was hardly a vacation. We jam-packed our days with things to see and do, and I have no idea how people visit Kyoto in just a 3-day trip. I'll be posting our itinerary for our trip tomorrow if you are planning a trip to Kyoto yourself. Kyoto is the place to go for a trip to Ancient Japan. It's one of the only cities in Japan that wasn't destroyed during the War so many of the buildings are originals - not reproductions. If you find yourself in Japan, Kyoto is definitely one of the places you should squeeze into your trip.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-20787205963472589282014-05-08T15:43:00.004-07:002014-05-08T16:17:35.829-07:00Kyoto: Day 5 (Arashiyama)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our fifth and final day in Kyoto, we headed to the far western edge of the city. The Arashiyama area is known for the Golden Pavillion, the most famous zen rock garden in Japan, Tenryuji temple, and the bamboo grove that is so often seen in pictures, and on postcards, of Japan. </div>
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The famed Golden Pavilion is the Zen temple, <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3908.html">Kinkakuji</a>, and the top two tiers are completely covered in gold leaf. It was the retirement villa for a shogun, and in accordance with his will, it was turned into a Zen temple in 1408. It has burned down multiple times, and was most recently rebuilt in 1955. My 4yo loves all things gold, so she really liked visiting this temple. I, however, didn't enjoy it as much as other places we'd been to because of the insane amount of tourists visiting. </div>
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After leaving Kinkakuji, we walked a little ways to <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3909.html">Ryoanji temple</a>. Ryoanji is home to the most famous rock garden in all of Japan. Originally, it was an aristocrat's villa and was converted into a Zen temple in 1450. Surprisingly, little is known about the rock garden's origins. No one really knows when it was constructed, and there are just guesses about its designer. Even more of a mystery is the garden's meaning. Some say the rocks are meant to represent a tiger carrying its cubs across a pond, islands in the sea, or... maybe an abstract concept like infinity. The temple also had some beautiful gardens on the grounds. In all honesty, we enjoyed the gardens more than the rock garden.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep in thought.... maybe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sakura blossoms falling like snow! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6yo took this picture. She said she loved the two colors of sakura.</td></tr>
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After we got our zen on at the rock garden, we took the train to Tenryuji temple and my husband and girls split off from myself and our friends. He was going to take the girls to get some lunch while we had an authentic, vegetarian, Buddhist meal INSIDE the temple! Tenryuji temple is the first among Kyoto's five great Zen temples, and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was built in 1339.<br />
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You can call the temple and make reservations (which we did), but I also saw plenty of people just walking in for lunch. It was 3,000 yen ($30) for the set, but you could also buy nicer sets, as well as add on beer, wine, or sake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the temple restaurant. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what most of this was, but it was delicious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicq8fYa2a-sRFHB3T_m5iuPW7YjzUjdWip8sWRpoZ9bupCmkddM-YPvlycq1RxAVPbPmbO-ZtBjrycZNAEwxh7l4dUPwTIo826b09f5kjl8yYzpJaR0ecGmThbZJOXe563vK9irBfPuEk/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicq8fYa2a-sRFHB3T_m5iuPW7YjzUjdWip8sWRpoZ9bupCmkddM-YPvlycq1RxAVPbPmbO-ZtBjrycZNAEwxh7l4dUPwTIo826b09f5kjl8yYzpJaR0ecGmThbZJOXe563vK9irBfPuEk/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the highlights of their trip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdVmZ5vu3YB7Y-Oa-fNhE9sbqYtIkx-PkxgU4WgCdJNeC8GyYlQ9ptjq1dzQyS_XpVJ1BRz3uQUdhxgnb3LEMdvPpk1vAhgLMKIzio95RSs3EXZx4q0yX40JN8h9H33fwJS-Lp0dFlA8/s1600/DSCN3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdVmZ5vu3YB7Y-Oa-fNhE9sbqYtIkx-PkxgU4WgCdJNeC8GyYlQ9ptjq1dzQyS_XpVJ1BRz3uQUdhxgnb3LEMdvPpk1vAhgLMKIzio95RSs3EXZx4q0yX40JN8h9H33fwJS-Lp0dFlA8/s1600/DSCN3675.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garden behind the main hall at Tenryuji.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous bamboo grove... although, I like our local bamboo temple, Hokokuji, better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUhNJgfS2RIeTYCQQCStYpwMFPxU1YtgR3iNfVyGaqhVLTPtTtylS1QIKwiaJeoZo2-23C_S0kVgLNxg1Vh2WI-rMTYQxtBIUQMvm-TVi3wOyzZ7bXwTZrSfhe7J-43OCYmA8hMMLfcU/s1600/DSCN3681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUhNJgfS2RIeTYCQQCStYpwMFPxU1YtgR3iNfVyGaqhVLTPtTtylS1QIKwiaJeoZo2-23C_S0kVgLNxg1Vh2WI-rMTYQxtBIUQMvm-TVi3wOyzZ7bXwTZrSfhe7J-43OCYmA8hMMLfcU/s1600/DSCN3681.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional meets modern.</td></tr>
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You've probably noticed that we've tried to include a visit to a "fun" place for the kids the last few days. We've had them trekking all over Kyoto, visiting lots of temples, and eating lots of Japanese food (not their favorite). The least we could do was to reward them with something at the end of our long days. Today, that reward was the monkey park in Arashiyama. This was another place that they had previously seen on <a gp="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="" product="" ref="as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002OLNU50&linkCode=as2&tag=thecultmoth07-20" www.amazon.com="">The Little Travelers: Japan</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecultmoth07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002OLNU50" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" />, so they were very excited about following in the Little Travelers' footsteps. And they were <i>really</i> excited about seeing the monkeys.<br />
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I knew the park was up in the mountains, but I didn't know that the park is literally on the top of the mountain. The climb up to the monkeys is NOT stroller friendly... heck, it wasn't friendly in general.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQgxENsmyET-3sTNyOh6w6dMf3hkmBbQcm2GKqNvAc4bT9KwwhxdHhkTSjNeoQi8T3DSlalkhpqEjzUs-ss3DWF4ZzRsJSNy5I8A6D7YJpNwC1DfNXySCAuhgJ_yKt1Jdq6euPaedMR0/s1600/DSCN3683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQgxENsmyET-3sTNyOh6w6dMf3hkmBbQcm2GKqNvAc4bT9KwwhxdHhkTSjNeoQi8T3DSlalkhpqEjzUs-ss3DWF4ZzRsJSNy5I8A6D7YJpNwC1DfNXySCAuhgJ_yKt1Jdq6euPaedMR0/s1600/DSCN3683.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to cross the river to get to the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I burned about 70,000 calories on the way up. It just kept going!</td></tr>
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Just before you'll get to the top, you'll start to see monkeys swinging through the trees. These are Japanese Macaque's, a native species to Japan. On top of the mountain are amazing views of the city, and then there's also a cage. The cage isn't for the monkeys... it's for the humans. You go into the cage, buy a bag of peanuts or fruit (the fruit is more expensive), and feed the monkeys through the cage wire. If you have kids, they'll love it. There is also a small playground on the way down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the best view in all of Kyoto.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I adore this picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure joy.</td></tr>
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The monkey park was a great end to our day. I wish we had been able to spend more time in Arashiyama - there were some great shopping streets and restaurants - but it was freezing and windy when we got to the monkey park. The girls wanted to play so badly that they toughed it out as long as they could. However, we were too cold to walk back to the train, so we just decided to grab a taxi back to the machiya. The taxi ride turned out to be one of the perks of my trip - I was able to carry on a conversation <i>in Japanese</i> with my taxi driver. Even though it might have been full of the same types of sentences, it was more than just one or two sentences in length and our taxi driver seemed to enjoy talking with me! Finally, those Japanese lessons are paying off. </div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-70288475899767153582014-05-07T19:07:00.000-07:002014-05-07T19:08:13.083-07:00Kyoto: Day 4 (the "Philosopher's Path")<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On our fourth day in Kyoto, we took a cab from Kyoto station to Sanjusangendo, the "Hall of 1,000 Buddhas." I had heard lots of good reviews about this temple, and my best friend told me that it felt like one of the most spiritual places she'd ever been. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to it. </div>
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Sanjusangendo was founded in 1164 and is filled with 1,000 Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The hall itself is Japan's longest wooden structure. In the middle of all the smaller Kannon, stands a giant 1000-armed Kannon. Pictures are not allowed inside - there were signs saying, "If we see you taking pictures, your camera will be confiscated." So, while I was not able to take pictures, I did find one online to give you an idea of what you'll see inside. This temple was one of my favorite places in Kyoto. The ambiance inside was so serene, and yes, spiritual. The room was dimly lit with filtered light from windows and the glow of candles. There was incense burning throughout. And everyone walked slowly along the wall, admiring the mesmerizing amount of statues. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The temple hall. The part jutting out on the left is just the middle. Yes, it's LONG. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">More school kids taking pictures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Purifying herself. (Or, just playing in the water.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Inside the hall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Outside the hall were some covered walkways and small gardens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Back to the fountain for a second round.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">4yo tried taking a picture of us. Not too bad!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Daddy and daughter. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">6yo also wanted to try her hand at the camera. It turned out well!</td></tr>
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After leaving Sanjusangendo, we headed to the famed "Philosopher's Path" - a scenic walk along a canal at the bottom of the hills of Higashiyama with many temples along the way. During cherry blossom season, this path is lined with gorgeous sakura blossoms.<br />
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One of the temples we stopped to visit was Honen-in, which I had read was a hidden gem. It was full of moss-covered rocks, and was simply beautiful nestled among the trees and hills.<br />
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The final stop at the of end of the Philosopher's Path was Ginkakuji, the "Silver Pavillion." The street walking up to Ginkakuji was lined with shops and restaurants, so we found a little hole-in-the-wall place for lunch. I got some Japanese comfort food - katsudon - which is a pork cutlet, mixed with gooey egg, on top of rice. Mmmmm!<br />
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Ginkakuji was the retirement villa of a shogun (samurai warlord) and was converted into a Zen temple after his death in 1490. The unique dry sand garden is definitely an interesting site, and the grounds are fantastic. The only problem is the huge amount of visitors, which detracts just a bit from its beauty.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCDGMlX0SIpbMIM98UYrKZ7PVtZ0T8TQ8IWxXFA7b0XzC55498RY4WFnKXExZhG6eU2Jss_3hyEqIAqAe4qMp1hO9x35vvd7w7ndoFlzikWVDgaJMQkxZR9rVJdQysz12Cl2m69y5XLA/s1600/DSCN3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCDGMlX0SIpbMIM98UYrKZ7PVtZ0T8TQ8IWxXFA7b0XzC55498RY4WFnKXExZhG6eU2Jss_3hyEqIAqAe4qMp1hO9x35vvd7w7ndoFlzikWVDgaJMQkxZR9rVJdQysz12Cl2m69y5XLA/s1600/DSCN3617.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The "silver pavilion" is the 2-story structure just to the right of the sand mound. Don't you love the sand designs?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhv_FZVjSbTf9fDmG1IxePECCkA6fX_orsJ3rCRtdWKvxHBoFJ69yg-eb_45Karj-XtkDZI9Dfn69DXMhJd6D5cEPhQbItByan97kZSuNlDcvlSlq8VtirECckgVJiIQHWFoMTIBK_W0/s1600/DSCN3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhv_FZVjSbTf9fDmG1IxePECCkA6fX_orsJ3rCRtdWKvxHBoFJ69yg-eb_45Karj-XtkDZI9Dfn69DXMhJd6D5cEPhQbItByan97kZSuNlDcvlSlq8VtirECckgVJiIQHWFoMTIBK_W0/s1600/DSCN3619.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg77Q9kDh-l_QRjc5AXC1Jc_XMC44Fhn8mo_z1fH19rEfMZ4Djs638vY4JNKOzUMU6HwBcabysJSOjLpncllozCoEHHbGqX6kDk5tgdMjZx_NzhScApfNyPs4arxkI6Y64BIs7VCiHaU/s1600/DSCN3638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg77Q9kDh-l_QRjc5AXC1Jc_XMC44Fhn8mo_z1fH19rEfMZ4Djs638vY4JNKOzUMU6HwBcabysJSOjLpncllozCoEHHbGqX6kDk5tgdMjZx_NzhScApfNyPs4arxkI6Y64BIs7VCiHaU/s1600/DSCN3638.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The view from the hill at the back of the grounds. Beautiful! </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PI-Mij7snqchTKLfRsmhXnMOZUbHmR9qZ6whz_CfpqnItEsXtaAK7fkHR5akO3_34n7HekQzVRqWb5MmDt4trABq-9X849TzwNfOdUiGQKfjDvyiuZxvkN9NsxTo0mpNhRB2J4_YTI8/s1600/DSCN3642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PI-Mij7snqchTKLfRsmhXnMOZUbHmR9qZ6whz_CfpqnItEsXtaAK7fkHR5akO3_34n7HekQzVRqWb5MmDt4trABq-9X849TzwNfOdUiGQKfjDvyiuZxvkN9NsxTo0mpNhRB2J4_YTI8/s1600/DSCN3642.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Love this forest. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Simply beautiful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVh5dJ-d4sXUMr66l5YNlN0Y4-_G2nycRBMKHoMwBzrTOQR6v7pZ4D1-dtd79p05v9ZGtDJIG85v9pdxx8nOD8AAmL-psWmVSJgG3FULIba7MorprVURS7FhyNnj0BWjyDEUJ8R50_NQ/s1600/DSCN3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVh5dJ-d4sXUMr66l5YNlN0Y4-_G2nycRBMKHoMwBzrTOQR6v7pZ4D1-dtd79p05v9ZGtDJIG85v9pdxx8nOD8AAmL-psWmVSJgG3FULIba7MorprVURS7FhyNnj0BWjyDEUJ8R50_NQ/s1600/DSCN3646.JPG" height="429" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">4yo requested this picture at the ice-cream shop just outside the temple. So kawaii!</td></tr>
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After leaving Ginkakuji, we split up from our friends and took a taxi back to the machiya with the girls. At this point in our trip, they were started to get a little templed-out (and let's be honest, so was my husband). We knew they needed a bit of a break, so we took them home for a little R&R while our friends headed out for more sightseeing. </div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-61757089885351231462014-05-04T15:23:00.002-07:002014-05-04T15:29:38.610-07:00Kyoto: Pass on the Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1_LKEr5XWuGyEYW47XsDihBHMWe9LfZvfO5o4Cf8Hh2gypJ0MH8xSE6L5M_Vy2IxOXu86f-LZzYhE3P0rY1mvkdhcGNOTzMdQE7wVFpjN3PBsDGj8pqjo-j5eFzQ7G1kdHfHEPDumq8/s1600/Kyoto+Zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1_LKEr5XWuGyEYW47XsDihBHMWe9LfZvfO5o4Cf8Hh2gypJ0MH8xSE6L5M_Vy2IxOXu86f-LZzYhE3P0rY1mvkdhcGNOTzMdQE7wVFpjN3PBsDGj8pqjo-j5eFzQ7G1kdHfHEPDumq8/s1600/Kyoto+Zoo.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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After a long day of temples, we decided to take the girls to the Kyoto Municipal Zoo. They deserved a treat after all the walking and sightseeing we had subjected them to. The zoo wasn't far from the last temple we'd visited, and is the second largest zoo in Japan. The girls were really excited about going, and to be honest, we were looking forward to it as well. But, when we got there, we quickly realized that financially supporting the zoo was a big mistake.</div>
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I have seen reviews of the zoo, and most reviews say that it was a nice zoo, their kids had fun, they had great animals, etc. However, I have NO IDEA what those reviewers are talking about. The zoo was probably the worst one I've ever visited. I wanted to rescue all of the animals.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfA6Rg2GVa6xRZJewvzViz0y_Aaoloxh6KItnv4lTTL7ghQtg8XVPhwAR06U9uKB-yzycX86AXT9suWrTNgc6rQt-r9410NPb1riUt89sswhIbJt66Q05zVo__7ZadKWLz-piItFia3I/s1600/DSCN3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfA6Rg2GVa6xRZJewvzViz0y_Aaoloxh6KItnv4lTTL7ghQtg8XVPhwAR06U9uKB-yzycX86AXT9suWrTNgc6rQt-r9410NPb1riUt89sswhIbJt66Q05zVo__7ZadKWLz-piItFia3I/s1600/DSCN3501.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at these monkeys! Just a trickle of water in a dirty, grassless, concrete hole in the ground.</td></tr>
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Most of the animals were housed in concrete areas, with no grass and little water. The mandrills in the picture below had scabs on their knuckles and bottoms from being on constant concrete. It was heartbreaking. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gl8ukaclL_wkg6CPVHPFVBLxy7XpLpCaoYEgSJBpM-8RAwn6035eW41XeW9OkTzLeb-5xlu0kpifqgysxnP0_WAY3MO9mwJX6Z2b2PHrfoBclDs4-bMeUQc2yE1Z6vzymCXnGzqDeqM/s1600/DSCN3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gl8ukaclL_wkg6CPVHPFVBLxy7XpLpCaoYEgSJBpM-8RAwn6035eW41XeW9OkTzLeb-5xlu0kpifqgysxnP0_WAY3MO9mwJX6Z2b2PHrfoBclDs4-bMeUQc2yE1Z6vzymCXnGzqDeqM/s1600/DSCN3503.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is TERRIBLE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNA1xofhVyFkWnMsmoo26B_iT-V6UI8V-de7RsQdCd_ey9fxOU1-Z9Qulhyphenhyphen8hkYxEgsq1xuKF1Y3RL2N3lFqkjWqcoov01HX0tFX-IMnze-5xnU1O5IHD9yBL0EzwAb6QARA0H8B4_SU/s1600/DSCN3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNA1xofhVyFkWnMsmoo26B_iT-V6UI8V-de7RsQdCd_ey9fxOU1-Z9Qulhyphenhyphen8hkYxEgsq1xuKF1Y3RL2N3lFqkjWqcoov01HX0tFX-IMnze-5xnU1O5IHD9yBL0EzwAb6QARA0H8B4_SU/s1600/DSCN3506.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These giraffes had no grass, and the only trees were caged so that they couldn't eat the leaves. They were trying so hard to reach trees outside their enclosure.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2U0nFldaHFpl-hBzcq98GPPqpmrTR2a988Uymtksn1DfXK4uZjiLvRNevc7u1NIf8ffQV5QdSpKHex473cC9YDVEN1ZC5znI1U4QBxJA2njwebX0E8CrahLWU4oX6SX3ukue3zdyR3I/s1600/DSCN3508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2U0nFldaHFpl-hBzcq98GPPqpmrTR2a988Uymtksn1DfXK4uZjiLvRNevc7u1NIf8ffQV5QdSpKHex473cC9YDVEN1ZC5znI1U4QBxJA2njwebX0E8CrahLWU4oX6SX3ukue3zdyR3I/s1600/DSCN3508.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pool, and dirt yard, was the hippo "habitat."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This caged, dirt square was for the lions.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fUPHkZ1SPE8AbLSMmEKkvailqaRfqfckeLwahbktauTs0upAfwq1-jOYboEuuDyM5npWWrXyo4JCiULzuGDuEZ-X2mjdfBAj4MB2WwvP5UcVy83N5lFsspgiHfDThIUih_jbOHiZV6M/s1600/DSCN3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fUPHkZ1SPE8AbLSMmEKkvailqaRfqfckeLwahbktauTs0upAfwq1-jOYboEuuDyM5npWWrXyo4JCiULzuGDuEZ-X2mjdfBAj4MB2WwvP5UcVy83N5lFsspgiHfDThIUih_jbOHiZV6M/s1600/DSCN3514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tigers didn't fare much better.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKw4XjIXeMuyH1FR44D5iM4oLo8E16Jvbhjn_2tWe9wI2yBm7G-x08FmLTMe_6UC_3qT0YbKVx9eoc3jV5DT9sRzGMkC01ty_VZCa6MKPER_DmqqPKjiekaC1FDj1gUo2cJeZYNLVjzQ/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKw4XjIXeMuyH1FR44D5iM4oLo8E16Jvbhjn_2tWe9wI2yBm7G-x08FmLTMe_6UC_3qT0YbKVx9eoc3jV5DT9sRzGMkC01ty_VZCa6MKPER_DmqqPKjiekaC1FDj1gUo2cJeZYNLVjzQ/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was strange to see so many people laughing and taking pictures in front of these animals. My husband and I just felt so heartbroken for all of them. So many of them looked lifeless, and many more looked simply crazy from being in a concrete pin all day.<br />
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The zoo is cheap - only 600 yen for adults and free for kids - but your money is only keeping this place running. I have a growing disdain for zoos and aquariums.... Yes, it's nice for my children to be able to see exotic animals up close, but not at the expense of these animals' freedom.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-23673915489586770922014-05-01T15:53:00.001-07:002014-05-01T15:53:51.281-07:00Kyoto: Day 3 (Southern Higashiyama)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our third day in Kyoto, we decided to walk the southern Higashiyama area. <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-503.pdf">Japan's National Tourism Organization has some great PDF's with walking tours of Kyoto</a>, and we found the maps to be more accurate than the city map given to us by our rental agency. </div>
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We started our day by going to <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html">Kiyomizu-dera Temple</a>, one of the "must-see" temples on any Kyoto list. It was founded in the year 780 and its name literally means, "Pure Water Temple," thanks to the sacred waterfall on the adjoining hillside. It is well-known for its wooden stage that juts out from the main hall, high above the ground, and was<i> built without the use of nails. </i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvLoFdek3gdH_bywY927h7UKL_UGaVN62Oyf4QVmoZpEakMT4-FUGJM58RYYUNWIAzH9gkZMM7weQAwnBWA06kxA5E41vN87tNDRaW7_E2HQKZBxkVZJbvmkSqVyaMF6ayMruZ539ebU/s1600/DSCN3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvLoFdek3gdH_bywY927h7UKL_UGaVN62Oyf4QVmoZpEakMT4-FUGJM58RYYUNWIAzH9gkZMM7weQAwnBWA06kxA5E41vN87tNDRaW7_E2HQKZBxkVZJbvmkSqVyaMF6ayMruZ539ebU/s1600/DSCN3397.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At almost every temple, there were school groups taking class pictures (their school year begins in April).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3xc6u9PpashIIPOiXRL8WEj8LcOCvUar-VxPNQev7POAsUHcMdddR81vRPKoq38xmbb6DZSgS6d-zyvPMG_cWRuZ_EcC6yhgHoiVPXAPmxYUXrlNK2nJhyphenhyphenX4H6lXf7EZdo6kbb-AR8w/s1600/DSCN3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3xc6u9PpashIIPOiXRL8WEj8LcOCvUar-VxPNQev7POAsUHcMdddR81vRPKoq38xmbb6DZSgS6d-zyvPMG_cWRuZ_EcC6yhgHoiVPXAPmxYUXrlNK2nJhyphenhyphenX4H6lXf7EZdo6kbb-AR8w/s1600/DSCN3400.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simply astonishing to think it was built without nails.</td></tr>
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The sacred Ottowa waterfall is located down the hill from the stage and main hall. It's water is divided into three streams, with each stream having a different benefit - long life, school success, and luck in love. All the students were lining up to try and reach the streams with a cup attached to a long pole. You have to drink from the stream to reap the benefits. It seemed like most of the girls were reaching for the "love" stream....<br />
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We followed the suggested walking tour over to the Ninenzaka and Sannanzaka shopping slopes. These streets are an iconic picture of old Japan. We were there early, however, and most of the shops were still closed. (In Japan, many stores don't open until 10:00 or 11:00am!)<br />
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Just after exiting the slopes, we came upon the large Ryozen Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). It hadn't been on our list, but was so interesting that we decided to go inside for a look. Turns out, it was a WWII memorial - with areas for both Japanese and Allied soldiers - and paying for admission also bought you a stack if incense to play in front of the Kannon. (My 6-year-old particularly enjoyed carrying the lighted incense and sticking it in the sand.) Also within the grounds is an altar containing soil from every Allied cemetery located in the Pacific theater of WWII.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool out front had fish that were OBVIOUSLY used to being fed. The girls loved them!</td></tr>
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We stopped by Kodai-ji Temple, which was right next door to the Kannon, but kept moving because we were starting to burn through some of the coins we had for temple admissions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugging some statues in front of Kodai-ji.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kodai-ji Temple with beautiful sakura out front.</td></tr>
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Up next was one of my favorite temples in Kyoto: Chion-in! <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3928.html">Chion-in temple</a> is part of Pure Land Buddhism and dates back to the 16th century. It's wooden gate was built in 1600 and is the largest wooden gate in Japan. The gate was simply magnificent, and the colorful banners draped across the front columns and upper balcony only added to its beauty. And I won't lie... part of the reason I was looking forward to coming here was because it's tall staircase was featured in one of my favorite movies, "The Last Samurai." </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This column is HUGE, Mom!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Last Samurai" staircase!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends down front look tiny under the huge Sanmon Gate.</td></tr>
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After we stopped to get some lunch, we decided to head to one more temple, Nanzen-ji. <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3905.html">Nanzen-ji</a> is important because it is head Zen temple of the Rinzai sect in Kyoto. It is a large complex of buildings, and though it was founded in the mid-13th century, most buildings had to be rebuilt in the 16th century after a series of civil wars destroyed them. The large gate at the front of the grounds isn't quite as big as the Chion-in gate, but what makes this gate worth visiting is the fact that you can go up to the second-story balcony to take in views of the city! I think it cost us about 500 yen each (a little less for children) to go up on the balcony, and it was worth it. I loved it! Nanzen-ji is also home to a couple of Zen rock gardens that are worth a visit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking up to the Nanzen-ji gate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved walking barefoot on these wood floors, built in 1628.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To get an idea of how high we are, that's my husband standing on the sidewalk in the white shirt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the abbot residences on the grounds. It had a lovely garden in the back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I told The Hubs that we should build one of these onto our house one day, and 6yo piped up from behind me saying, "Are you crazy? This would probably cost $1,000!" Haha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love so many things about Japanese architecture. </td></tr>
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The only way we made it through this last temple visit was to promise our kids that we would take them to the Kyoto Municipal Zoo. The zoo visit was... depressing, aggravating, and heart-breaking, to say the least. Don't worry, I have a wonderful review of the zoo coming up next....</div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-61436568976444609652014-04-29T16:02:00.001-07:002014-04-29T16:10:40.794-07:00Kyoto: Day 2 (Fushimi-Inari shrine and the Miyako-Odori)On our second day in Kyoto, we left the house around 8:30 to head to <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html">Fushimi-Inari-Tiasha shrine</a>. There are thousands of Inari shrines in Japan, but this one is the most famous - and most important - because it <i>predates the capital's move to Kyoto in 794</i> and it has <i>thousands of torii gates</i> weaving up through the hills to the sacred Mount Inari. All Inari shrines are dedicated to the Shinto god of rice, and because foxes are believed to be Inari's messengers, you'll notice lots of fox statues around the shrine.<br />
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Even if you have never heard of the Fushimi-Inari shrine, I'll bet you've seen pictures of those reddish-orange torii gates, packed so closely together that they form a tunnel. I knew about this iconic place in Japan and wanted to visit the shrine, but I had no idea just how much hiking would be involved. The torii tunnels are literally going up to the top of the mountain, and if you are tough enough to climb the whole thing, it's a very rewarding trip. (Be advised that it is NOT stroller friendly - almost the entire trail is made of steps.) There were a few nice views of the city, but my favorite parts of the climb were sections with large, looming cedar trees surrounding us and a stillness in the forest that couldn't help but make you feel a bit more peaceful and connected to the world.<br />
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My children were also excited about going here because they had seen the same shrine on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1424338379/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1424338379&linkCode=as2&tag=thecultmoth07-20">The Little Travelers Japan</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecultmoth07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1424338379" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. My girls love going to the same places that the "famous" Little Travelers girls have been.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends tried ringing the bell and calling Inari to the shrine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance of the torii tunnels.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the fox prayer tablets.</td></tr>
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We spent our entire morning at this shrine, and went back towards the Kyoto station area for lunch. We finished up lunch by 1:00pm, so we decided to walk across the river to the Gion area (the geisha district!) and make an attempt at getting tickets to the famous Miyako-Odori performance that afternoon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLj4-iC8lxfRMTWinrsNeM20-KzZZawTrsdUBPrOoqWvzt0CPZjT057yJjppxH4ihrQI5dLyX9jY2iOETJH22Jpdd_07-gAOjBbXwpFqCDTaraEeh5NW0R-RZHsfokmO-GlnlfJxDcBg/s1600/english_img01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLj4-iC8lxfRMTWinrsNeM20-KzZZawTrsdUBPrOoqWvzt0CPZjT057yJjppxH4ihrQI5dLyX9jY2iOETJH22Jpdd_07-gAOjBbXwpFqCDTaraEeh5NW0R-RZHsfokmO-GlnlfJxDcBg/s1600/english_img01.jpg" height="640" width="628" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.miyako-odori.jp/">Miyako-Odori</a> is the "Dance of the Capital" and was first performed in 1872. This dance is performed by the geisha and apprentice geisha (maiko) of Kyoto, and is only done during the month of April. You can purchase different types of seats (one of which includes a tea ceremony), but we opted for the walk-in tickets priced at 2,000 yen each. We were up in the balcony, but had a great view of the entire stage. The performance was an hour long, and though we didn't understand much of it, we were nevertheless entranced by all the beautiful geisha and maiko on stage. There were 8 different dances, flowing through each of the seasons, and the backdrops on the stage were simple stunning. My daughters even watched the entire thing, making guesses about what was happening in each story. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the theatre, so I found some online to give you an idea of what the performance was like.<br />
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And <a href="http://www.miyako-odori.jp/movie/index.html">click here</a> for a video from the Official Miyako-Odori website! This experience was one of our favorites during our stay in Kyoto, and I highly recommend it if you are visiting during April.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjBGKlCEAYy2Y-JLTF3zpdlv4Sg9-9ah5Jopfc3uVm_vZiiOkrp2MTlSBnVcEaOIu_RFfqF4FmzJfL1yRB9Liq8fnBLDje-C_lq9vMjvDkY8OVW5XX57pF7u3T96v9UXe29oo9Wmb9Po/s1600/Miyako_Odori_Geishas_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjBGKlCEAYy2Y-JLTF3zpdlv4Sg9-9ah5Jopfc3uVm_vZiiOkrp2MTlSBnVcEaOIu_RFfqF4FmzJfL1yRB9Liq8fnBLDje-C_lq9vMjvDkY8OVW5XX57pF7u3T96v9UXe29oo9Wmb9Po/s1600/Miyako_Odori_Geishas_2006.jpg" height="321" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Miyako_Odori_Geishas_2006.jpg">here</a>. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIsRwk8p-ZKTgwaPj8Ck0qJ6C2plZm4Zdw36s89J9MsEDnFhUBmkmoTCh3bw92-MqNHo93Rj-htcwzMWX_vPpThecW3MguoDX7CSBdQCJ9wp-OkbhZp8Nejt0ZWnlySYe4yxm5tQSImY/s1600/128946759_cb5586cfb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIsRwk8p-ZKTgwaPj8Ck0qJ6C2plZm4Zdw36s89J9MsEDnFhUBmkmoTCh3bw92-MqNHo93Rj-htcwzMWX_vPpThecW3MguoDX7CSBdQCJ9wp-OkbhZp8Nejt0ZWnlySYe4yxm5tQSImY/s1600/128946759_cb5586cfb1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit <a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b1c59b348ecec2e93689b782e975dbb7/tumblr_mutsg4BqHc1qedijlo1_500.jpg">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNbpYbkyCJGPucVk5iNJiAZPlgcnn6CpaMmCnPxBW-EvcOvBX7ZtFDpEFHC6WRC3UVLVq4N9mb-KGMCvVBgVUUFHdg2XPsVx6dU-5_9eUyYN83WJVzWgY-Hweiyj1tKymoT8TIeLPvjI/s1600/Miyako1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNbpYbkyCJGPucVk5iNJiAZPlgcnn6CpaMmCnPxBW-EvcOvBX7ZtFDpEFHC6WRC3UVLVq4N9mb-KGMCvVBgVUUFHdg2XPsVx6dU-5_9eUyYN83WJVzWgY-Hweiyj1tKymoT8TIeLPvjI/s1600/Miyako1.jpg" height="259" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQAMZjo5UP3PSfozZ4c9-Uzme-8-hXbJQv_RHSwnchIXacApGexPcBOT3CkIFCYcdF1ECXVo3qrsju42O3MzoSYQmaZLMPRyMFdTJeU5eRsX-w7JBZUPG_JaxleBgk3pdu0rUBpvx_h4/s1600/Miyako1.jpg">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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We saw the last performance of the day, so when we left, it was time for dinner. We weren't too far from a ninja-themed restaurant that we'd heard about, so we decided to reward the kids with a ninja dinner since they had trudged along with us ALL day. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZ3y9EOIyTuC7tRhLW7I1aghu0pSltkJVKtnYVgqxAw_lDpk-27yzws-MAoX2CzuA3LgpPehfZsMAKdgg1Qe7TgcN04hRIrmz9Vs8O6ze2h9ClTZl1jXeh_9h3bDRdkVsaNnjSpkJ2A0/s1600/k267912l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZ3y9EOIyTuC7tRhLW7I1aghu0pSltkJVKtnYVgqxAw_lDpk-27yzws-MAoX2CzuA3LgpPehfZsMAKdgg1Qe7TgcN04hRIrmz9Vs8O6ze2h9ClTZl1jXeh_9h3bDRdkVsaNnjSpkJ2A0/s1600/k267912l.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/restaurant-search/eng/detail.php?rst_code=k267912">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ninja-kyoto.co.jp/">Ninja Kyoto</a> is ninja-themed to the max. There is a ninja greeting you at the door, and once you walk in to get a table, a ninja pops out from a "secret passageway" to show you to your table, which, by the way, is through a maze of dark tunnels. Our table was in its own little room, and another ninja was our server. The food was ninja-themed as well, each plate being delivered with a special ninja-trick or weapon - fire, swords, ninja stars.... The kids loved it. The food was expectedly overpriced, but it was pretty good nonetheless. We wouldn't go back a second time, but it was another fun experience to add to our list and a nice end to a very long day.</div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-25946364628321146082014-04-28T05:02:00.000-07:002014-04-28T05:35:23.136-07:00Kyoto: Our Machiya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**For more detailed information about our accommodations, scroll to the bottom of this post. </span></div>
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If you are traveling to Kyoto, consider a rental home for your accommodations. In our experience, hotels in Japan have not been very family-friendly.... Rooms typically have two large twin beds instead of two doubles, the rooms are generally smaller, and the room charge may increase if there will be more than 2 adults in the room. We were going to be traveling to Kyoto with 4 adults and 2 children, during a peak travel time (cherry blossom season in April), so every hotel room I looked at was even more expensive than normal. Many hotels were already booked up as well! So I turned to vacation rental sites like <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/">AirBNB</a> and <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/">VBRO</a> in hopes of finding accommodations for our group. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmDwY5e36PxtxZ_2tHgpoD49tszRl8ZPnSfWGZM_DantK-KAgnFAKqRhZ6DXVZ4UZxA8npicShLxGmPcP_H0KIJZRAvnbTrDogNuboaTNxmKhZsJTZzJFHiAluOB-PkHZNJy8-MwnbhU/s1600/Machiya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmDwY5e36PxtxZ_2tHgpoD49tszRl8ZPnSfWGZM_DantK-KAgnFAKqRhZ6DXVZ4UZxA8npicShLxGmPcP_H0KIJZRAvnbTrDogNuboaTNxmKhZsJTZzJFHiAluOB-PkHZNJy8-MwnbhU/s1600/Machiya.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Luckily for us, <a href="http://www.kyo-machiya.net/">we found a GREAT machiya (traditional town home) in the heart of Kyoto</a>, just a few blocks from Kyoto station. The machiya was managed by a guest house company, with a guest house just a couple streets away. There was a 24-hour grocery just a 5-minute walk away, and a 7-11 around the corner. We had easy access to both Kyoto station, and Gojo-station and had no problem getting around the city with the machiya as our home base. </div>
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Staying in the machiya was a great choice for our family because we were able to put our girls to bed in the evenings, while still having plenty of space to unwind and visit with our friends. It was also night to have a small kitchen so that breakfast and dinner could be eaten at home when we were too tired to go out. The only downside to the machiya was that it was connected to another house behind us, and houses on all sides... and the walls are very thin. We had to remind our girls to be quiet and they weren't able to run around the house like they usually do at their own home. However, the sound of neighbors never bothered us, and since we weren't kicked out, I assume we didn't bother them either! :) </div>
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If you'd like more information on this machiya, and the guest house company, please scroll down to the bottom of this post.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our street.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinik3iXG1p8L93ZteP70trz3idNfdVw8hOkpYJaDTuyiMykOD6xCBzUBjXzP3ie6ERyPvrLuliNqlRBQR0blKPDjptWhIUJnVfauxauZ1qBwAW5D7jdCDIL33ZmIkFIJ99qufxFo9qYiE/s1600/DSCN3557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinik3iXG1p8L93ZteP70trz3idNfdVw8hOkpYJaDTuyiMykOD6xCBzUBjXzP3ie6ERyPvrLuliNqlRBQR0blKPDjptWhIUJnVfauxauZ1qBwAW5D7jdCDIL33ZmIkFIJ99qufxFo9qYiE/s1600/DSCN3557.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front entryway of our machiya.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pb3Mhng5mD09LAGKQJ01aDTn7WtElgDcuq9tUS1Sqw_dvrnpRmpNwaJKyTII6pvs4tRQenZu7VPIO0VaTNfeBtHkQoRtMdJFHMwk7NSUyc182sVVHt2ed50XRszl9Qh6BOBgwFD2_zA/s1600/DSCN3535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pb3Mhng5mD09LAGKQJ01aDTn7WtElgDcuq9tUS1Sqw_dvrnpRmpNwaJKyTII6pvs4tRQenZu7VPIO0VaTNfeBtHkQoRtMdJFHMwk7NSUyc182sVVHt2ed50XRszl9Qh6BOBgwFD2_zA/s1600/DSCN3535.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our front door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpBv_X-QCATOMVfgy1UpNC4HjNVL_cggK-5uc5rY7Vk32r6Jy_U28vs3j54CfDAW1gkeGPq7WzZuRs1JYaRM9MLfVYW-hJ2J4DS6ypl1OntJCbkxp07HXNx6s-0CtLNF3e5UKjPb3wpI/s1600/DSCN3533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpBv_X-QCATOMVfgy1UpNC4HjNVL_cggK-5uc5rY7Vk32r6Jy_U28vs3j54CfDAW1gkeGPq7WzZuRs1JYaRM9MLfVYW-hJ2J4DS6ypl1OntJCbkxp07HXNx6s-0CtLNF3e5UKjPb3wpI/s1600/DSCN3533.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foyer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKGQqNn56ajc5bgFOsvDkl5SOK4Qu2nFRm6yFBnlWrLxiHg4txV8-zO41HRwRanwhIfVxI9DPDNnN7vkN_HIi9A4Bp-bVz_uPTe-TLy6TEJ_5uECMm-2vUVbVawhr4isuPlJREm0-8S0/s1600/DSCN3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKGQqNn56ajc5bgFOsvDkl5SOK4Qu2nFRm6yFBnlWrLxiHg4txV8-zO41HRwRanwhIfVxI9DPDNnN7vkN_HIi9A4Bp-bVz_uPTe-TLy6TEJ_5uECMm-2vUVbVawhr4isuPlJREm0-8S0/s1600/DSCN3523.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living/dining room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRIFbYHBH29BCDH9IljTTs4TPRnaUmb6fEzzRxHAtBECCdHR-D1LdHWRK35CiazizI9Lp0UOkZP4AgT64HbFY7kBja0yANU51FkG5p6MSNQ-YEo5LPXNFDVaFq4ZVCoR02nYNF4AQ1sA/s1600/DSCN3526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRIFbYHBH29BCDH9IljTTs4TPRnaUmb6fEzzRxHAtBECCdHR-D1LdHWRK35CiazizI9Lp0UOkZP4AgT64HbFY7kBja0yANU51FkG5p6MSNQ-YEo5LPXNFDVaFq4ZVCoR02nYNF4AQ1sA/s1600/DSCN3526.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOT3wgwbecYig8fv6iA5X2wXt3dEyT0_lvjt012I749VKQbuWLYwuMjKdV-0IQzlw3wsxo1EdLdjf3hPYEtPghQ4hNU535f6qwM0dQmDBYZV1b2hFye503SJRCwtD8w76cWsJgWmUr9c/s1600/DSCN3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOT3wgwbecYig8fv6iA5X2wXt3dEyT0_lvjt012I749VKQbuWLYwuMjKdV-0IQzlw3wsxo1EdLdjf3hPYEtPghQ4hNU535f6qwM0dQmDBYZV1b2hFye503SJRCwtD8w76cWsJgWmUr9c/s1600/DSCN3536.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs leading to the second level. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFh20ixKWzl_Kiqjek3HQ7LJq1H2boE-WxBRPrFWa4vvtaYfVFzH82-f9xrrGMaNssAc0uiWe6LjKJ2_MvS4alhqFsqodq0J2YkJBb1RbCbmm4hF4_mSFOft5UU-K0UPfcWmXOr5R9dE/s1600/DSCN3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFh20ixKWzl_Kiqjek3HQ7LJq1H2boE-WxBRPrFWa4vvtaYfVFzH82-f9xrrGMaNssAc0uiWe6LjKJ2_MvS4alhqFsqodq0J2YkJBb1RbCbmm4hF4_mSFOft5UU-K0UPfcWmXOr5R9dE/s1600/DSCN3541.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two upstairs bedrooms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3bb0OG_jpa9kBCezTzw_Y1bWB-dKdKZc0oX5_40XzF1j8mmKDlV7Z_KWzJ1GXw4BLAEuO_G5cgsWEDidxWm8jGxpJgYXJ-A3o1-TuovMzk9aHFX55ww44NvwKJLgg0RrgbESu5gRz5w/s1600/DSCN3542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3bb0OG_jpa9kBCezTzw_Y1bWB-dKdKZc0oX5_40XzF1j8mmKDlV7Z_KWzJ1GXw4BLAEuO_G5cgsWEDidxWm8jGxpJgYXJ-A3o1-TuovMzk9aHFX55ww44NvwKJLgg0RrgbESu5gRz5w/s1600/DSCN3542.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two twin beds or one king (western style, but hard!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSSB7UnTfb_hpcJV8e0gPbRjU3ypz_4mp5L4qWgBznWdfdNya1pukwrBToS7d1Df_-BdqqiagKeVNYmS7VuUckT7W0W7R3XN4dwYAgHwjssDkD_DRk0_OsMtRQrBw-TshZJv3X_whwZc/s1600/DSCN3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSSB7UnTfb_hpcJV8e0gPbRjU3ypz_4mp5L4qWgBznWdfdNya1pukwrBToS7d1Df_-BdqqiagKeVNYmS7VuUckT7W0W7R3XN4dwYAgHwjssDkD_DRk0_OsMtRQrBw-TshZJv3X_whwZc/s1600/DSCN3543.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatami mat bedroom for futons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpdsDnuA_W8mjsbcYnrYDdQnPFdSos2rI8nw4P4oiZXj2xPsiX2gDGs_GJ5utd6RxdqXJIFTVaQ1qx618mAa4WSGOlyk_DIncvh2aS7Swrrvi-avIqvSo-2I9m9zogpseudd8ZL73n-g/s1600/DSCN3549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpdsDnuA_W8mjsbcYnrYDdQnPFdSos2rI8nw4P4oiZXj2xPsiX2gDGs_GJ5utd6RxdqXJIFTVaQ1qx618mAa4WSGOlyk_DIncvh2aS7Swrrvi-avIqvSo-2I9m9zogpseudd8ZL73n-g/s1600/DSCN3549.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loft-area accessed by ladder. There is space for additional futons up there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEGaaZA2uiTFDXsc0xpPNIJXvKvxlkFNa3eJ2O6G3oEuVsjEUAOQaNG7pwT1smF0Xw5-qivnHm5zxav-AcpfGSpQ-3UWhnapIJHDVE9CEZH5f81xcvLcB01hCioWcxDjqTI5bCAvh788/s1600/DSCN3559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEGaaZA2uiTFDXsc0xpPNIJXvKvxlkFNa3eJ2O6G3oEuVsjEUAOQaNG7pwT1smF0Xw5-qivnHm5zxav-AcpfGSpQ-3UWhnapIJHDVE9CEZH5f81xcvLcB01hCioWcxDjqTI5bCAvh788/s1600/DSCN3559.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls enjoying the cypress bathtub.<br />
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If you are interested in staying at this machiya, or browsing other properties, contact:<br />
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Nagomi Ryokan Yuu</div>
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<a href="http://www.nagomi-kyoto.com/">www.nagomi-kyoto.com/</a></div>
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Our machiya was called "<a href="http://www.kyo-machiya.net/">Zeniya-An</a>" and with 4 adults and 2 children (paying a child's fee of 1,000yen/night and sharing bedding), our cost was just shy of $400/night USD. Most hotels we looked at were between $150-$200, so we felt like this was a great deal considering we had so much more space than two hotel rooms.<br />
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We had free wifi (excellent speed!) and two bikes available should we want to use them. Our machiya was very clean and had all the expected amenities. The traditional bathroom was also a nice touch, with a deep cypress bathtub (you can tell our girls enjoyed it). The staff was great, and we had nothing bad to say about our machiya or the company. However, be aware that cash is required for payment.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-26855391161878406852014-04-28T00:39:00.000-07:002014-06-21T20:58:04.001-07:00Kyoto: Day 1 (Arrival and Nijo Castle)Things have finally started settling back down since we arrived home from Kyoto and that can only mean one thing....<br />
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It's time to blog about it!<br />
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We traveled to Kyoto by way of the shinkansen (bullet train) and it took 2 hours from Shinagawa station in Tokyo. When we arrived in Kyoto, our first priority was to check into our machiya (yes, <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/04/kyoto-our-machiya.html">we rented a traditional town home!</a>), which was only a few blocks from Kyoto station. We grabbed a taxi and checked-in with our rental company. They walked us over to our town home and we dropped off our luggage while they finished cleaning the place. It was early in the afternoon, so we decided to spend the rest of the day at Nijo castle before getting dinner and settling in at our machiya.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGa_pDeggxDwkOHtNgJAvYvz28x2l0n8FmZWW6uaOKuuzpXAg6UPFMoxJ6QHcPa1y7UlWtzjjwDFQcCXyHgrTYX5jL9R87b8bzK41Svve2cnL5bOHBuUmSF-KJuSh_ZkIsqw38fOsI74/s1600/DSCN3300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGa_pDeggxDwkOHtNgJAvYvz28x2l0n8FmZWW6uaOKuuzpXAg6UPFMoxJ6QHcPa1y7UlWtzjjwDFQcCXyHgrTYX5jL9R87b8bzK41Svve2cnL5bOHBuUmSF-KJuSh_ZkIsqw38fOsI74/s1600/DSCN3300.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Our home in Kyoto.</td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3918.html">Nijo Castle</a> was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, the Castle was used as a palace for the imperial family </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in 1994.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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Unlike some other castles and historical buildings, you are allowed to walk through this castle! The girls particularly liked the "nightingale" wood floors that were rigged to squeak if an enemy tried to sneak into the castle at night. They had fun pretending they were ninjas while they tried to avoid squeaking. I couldn't believe we were allowed to walk on the same wood floors that had been there for a few hundred years!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The palace entrance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">View of the castle from a hill in the garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">One of the gates in the garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Weeping sakura.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">She asked me to take this picture. :)</td></tr>
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One reason we decided to go to Nijo castle was because it was relatively close to our machiya. Kyoto's tourist attractions can be very spread out, and we didn't want to try and trek all over the city on our first afternoon. The rest of our days spent in Kyoto were divided amongst areas of the city so that we could optimize our time. There is a LOT to see in Kyoto, and with small children along for the trip, I'm glad we planned on spending almost 6 full days in the city. We were able to fill most of the day with sightseeing, while still ending our day around 3:00 or 4:00pm so that they kids could rest the remainder of the afternoon. And I'm not going to lie, I enjoyed resting too.Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-81305028728906757682014-04-10T02:36:00.000-07:002014-04-10T14:48:03.719-07:00she cut her hair, and i lost it (or, how to transform regretful behavior and teach your kids a bigger lesson).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had left the scissors on my bathroom counter as I went to the kitchen to call the beauty shop. I had offered to trim my eldest's hair, but she decided she wanted to go to the shop instead. I called and got an appointment, and as I hung up the phone, my four-year-old was standing in front of me with hair in her hands. I was immediately filled with dread. As she looked up at me, I noticed she had cut the side of her hair... the back... and the top.... and instead of staying calm, and using all the knowledge I've gleaned from the parenting books I've read, I <strike>might have</strike> overreacted.<br />
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I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something to the effect of... </div>
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"What did you do?! You cut off all your beautiful curls! Your hair looks terrible now! Why would you do that?! Uggggh! I can't believe you would do that! You know better! You look awful! Oh, I am just so mad right now that I could spank you! (I didn't.) Go to your room until I calm down!"</blockquote>
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It's hard to even type all of that. It was an epic parenting failure. She ran to her room and slammed the door, crying. When I walked back to my bathroom, there was (what seemed like) a giant pile of hair on the counter. This only made me mad all over again, and I walked into her bedroom, and basically said the same things a second time. When I left her room, she slammed the door again, locked it, and proceeded to throw herself on her bed, crying loudly. </div>
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About 2.5 seconds later, I regretted what I had said. The parent I <i>want</i> to be would not have overreacted like that. She would not have yelled, would not have placed so much emphasis on something that will grow back, and most certainly would not have equated hair with beauty or value. However, instead of making myself suffer in regret, I realized that I was also being handed a perfect opportunity to parent consciously and authentically. I could keep my pride and "teach her a lesson," or I could humbly admit I was wrong, ask for forgiveness, and teach her a lesson in compassion, love, and connection. I chose the latter.</div>
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Before I approached her again, I gave her a few more minutes to calm down. She emerged from her room, carrying a yellow piece of paper and asked to talk to me. We sat on my bed and she showed me the "sorry letter" she'd written. There was a sad, crying face on the top and scribbling underneath where she had "written" her apology. She cried as she read it to me, and I could hardly keep from crying myself. </div>
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I told her that she had nothing to be sorry for. I had left out the scissors without telling her not to touch them. I told her that I had behaved badly, and had said many rude and hurtful things to her. I took her head in my hands and told her that she looked just as beautiful as ever because her hair was not important - her hair would grow back - and that she was an amazing, beautiful kid who I loved simply for being born into this life with me. Tears filled her eyes, and mine, as she said, "That means so much to me, Mom. Thank you. I love you."</div>
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The moments leading up to that "I love you," were not my some of my proudest. If I had it to do over again, I would have reacted in a completely different way. However, my imperfect reaction opened the door for me to become a little bit more like the parent - no, the <i>person</i> - I aspire to be. </div>
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<b>We will always do things we regret. We're human. But we don't have to live in that regret. Our regret can be the light that shines on our opportunity to make a different choice, to become more authentic, and to teach our kids a lesson much more important than, "Don't touch the scissors." </b></div>
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-58021948070720383312014-04-08T15:34:00.003-07:002014-04-08T15:34:51.317-07:00We're doing bare minimum homeschooling. Because life is the ultimate curriculum.We are in a bit of a homeschooling lull at the moment, and for the most part, I'm okay with it. I loved <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/everyone-wants-to-quit/">this post</a> from <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a>, in which she says, "Everyone wants to quit in November and February," because I found that the transition from February to March put the brakes on our homeschooling routine. The sun finally started coming out, so we started spending more time outdoors instead of at the dining room table. My husband left on a short deployment, so I was single-parenting for a little stretch. And my oldest daughter had her sixth birthday while he was gone. Things were just out-of-sync in our family.<br />
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And here we are at the beginning of April, and we still don't have a rigid homeschooling routine. Add to that the fact that we have friends coming to visit next week and are taking a trip to Kyoto, and that my sister is coming for two weeks in May, and I know our routine isn't going to be looking steady for a while. When the schedule is changing every week or two, it's easy to feel like we're not "doing it right." I notice those thoughts creeping in... the ones that say, "Are your kids learning enough?" or, "You are a terrible homeschooler!" And "the should's" aren't great either... "I should be doing more reading/science/math/art/music/you-name-it."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94FA6nEUFDYPw56Lzt7fPGIpxuFdW0S52vYf2PUlyXIFCUENy3iGRSxIbHylPx71hcyxgzDnf0TEp36378_C8xn9h3URvFhdfPXgBjzDLCtaKfJVfwjtetgNnclsW0eIQnaucfM8FTUw/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94FA6nEUFDYPw56Lzt7fPGIpxuFdW0S52vYf2PUlyXIFCUENy3iGRSxIbHylPx71hcyxgzDnf0TEp36378_C8xn9h3URvFhdfPXgBjzDLCtaKfJVfwjtetgNnclsW0eIQnaucfM8FTUw/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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But this changing schedule is exactly one of the reasons homeschooling appealed to me. We don't follow a homeschooling yearly schedule because we try to learn something every day. If learning is a daily/monthly/yearly goal for us, then it's okay that our homeschooling schedule and routine changes with the seasons in our lives. It may look like we're doing the bare minimum, but I'm convinced that my kids are learning a lot from life itself.<br />
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Here's what "bare minimum learning" may look like:<br />
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<b>Workbooks and read-alouds to slowly practice what we're learning, and reinforce foundational concepts.</b><br />
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We have a phonics workbook, handwriting workbook, and math workbook. I still don't require any workbooks for my four-year-old because... she's only four! But I do require work from my six-year-old most days. It may only be 1-2 pages in each workbook (and spread out over the course of the day), but even if that's all she does, I can still see progress and retention of what she's learning.<br />
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I also use mealtimes for read-alouds as I usually have the girls' undivided attention. We might read one chapter from <a gp="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="" product="" ref="as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933339004&linkCode=as2&tag=thecultmoth07-20" www.amazon.com="">The Story of the World</a><img 5-minute="" a="" alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecultmoth07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1933339004" do="" from="" gp="" grammar="" gt="" height="1" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="" lesson="" nbsp="" or="" product="" ref="as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933339446&linkCode=as2&tag=thecultmoth07-20" single="" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" www.amazon.com="" />, or do a short lesson on grammar from <a gp="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="" product="" ref="as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933339446&linkCode=as2&tag=thecultmoth07-20" www.amazon.com="">First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecultmoth07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1933339446" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" />.<br />
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<b>Playing outside with little interruption from me when they start digging in the dirt.</b><br />
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We live in a military community, in a tower apartment. We don't have a large backyard right outside the back door. I think it's important for my kids to get outside and play. They burn off energy, get some exercise, and use their imaginations. And they notice, observe, and ask about things in nature that I forgot were interesting. They learn so much when they get dirty! I know homeschooling is working well when they ask a question, I lack the answer, and their response is, "Well we should look that up and learn about it!"<br />
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<b>Using their iPad to practice piano over and over, and over.</b><br />
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Yes, they are "playing" on an iPad. But after the purchase of <a href="http://www.joytunes.com/piano/pianomaestro.php">this app</a>, they have spent significantly more time at the piano in the last month than they have in the last year. I have seen improvement in tempo, sight-reading, and using both hands to play. It's hard to tell my daughter "No" when she asks to use the iPad to practice piano.<br />
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<b>Travel! And new experiences!</b><br />
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In just the last month, we went on a tour of the Hina doll museum in anticipation of Japan's "Hinamatsuri" holiday (a celebration of girls). <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/04/sakura-cherry-blossom-hike-in-kamakura.html">We went on a hike with the girls' favorite Japanese tour guide</a>, Fusako san, to have a picnic lunch under the cherry blossoms. <a href="http://thecultivatedmother.blogspot.jp/2014/03/the-museum-of-science-and-nature-museum.html">We went to a science museum and art museum in Tokyo</a>. And my girls went with me to the a Buddhism class at a local temple, where they played inside the temple, chatted with priests, and got lots of little candies for being good. :)<br />
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This month, we'll be traveling to Kyoto and staying in a machiya (traditional town home), going to Tokyo, taking a day-trip to Hakone, and going on another tour and hike in Kamakura (the ancient samurai capital of Japan).<br />
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Next month, we'll be showing my sister around Japan while she visits for two weeks. I think my kids will be learning plenty....<br />
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<b>Watching educational television.</b><br />
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Have you been watching "<a href="http://www.cosmosontv.com/">The Cosmos</a>"? If not, you should be. We have been watching a new episode every week, and though much of the information is over the heads of my girls, I have been amazed by their interest. They have learned about the solar system, evolution, DNA (which my six-year-old can explain pretty accurately!), Halley's comet, Isaac Newton, space time, and the theory of light. Because of this show, we've had some interesting science discussions, checked out books from the library to learn more, and watched corresponding videos from www.brainpop.com and www.brainpopjr.com to help them understand those concepts a little more clearly. The Cosmos television series has been an excellent addition to our science lessons.<br />
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I'm sure our schedule will settle down a bit more this summer - when it's so hot and humid that we <i>don't</i> want to go outside anymore. But until then, we'll plug along with our daily reading and math, adding social studies, geography, history, and science lessons when they pop up. <b>This is the time for imaginations to run wild, for the world to be awe-inspiring, and for learning to be second-nature. If excitement and curiosity is what I'm going for - and believe, me, IT IS - then I think we're doing just fine with "school" at the bare minimum. </b><br />
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<br />Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-51677618456629095292014-04-04T22:55:00.002-07:002014-04-04T22:56:47.545-07:00Hijiki with Gen san (vegetarian cooking with a Buddhist priest)As part of our third Buddhism class this past Thursday, one of the priests, Gen san, wanted to tell us about his time spent as the kitchen manager of his monastery. "Tenzo" is the word for the chef at a Buddhist monastery, and when he was in this role, he said there were three rules:<br />
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<li>Do not waste.</li>
<li>Do not use instant seasoning.</li>
<li>Do not eat meat or fish.</li>
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In addition, all cooking is done over a wood fire. These rules and stove are used to preserve the way of the ancient monks - a tradition followed for the last 1,000 years - and as a way to be prepared in case of emergencies like the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. </div>
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At a previous class, Gen san brought a delicious dish to share with everyone and I asked him for the recipe. So at the next class, Gen san came prepared with more hijiki to share, as well as large pictures to illustrate how to prepare the sea vegetable dish. </div>
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Hijiki is a brown sea vegetable growing wild on the coastlines of Japan, Korea and China. Hijiki can be sautéed with other root vegetables, tofu, and/or legumes for a delicious side dish. </div>
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For your hijiki dish, you'll need:</div>
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<li>1 package of hijiki</li>
<li>1 package of kelp</li>
<li>3-4 dried shiitake mushrooms (soak overnight prior to use)</li>
<li>2-3 carrots</li>
<li>1 package of abura age - pronounced "AH-geh" (seasoned deep-fried tofu pouches)</li>
<li>2-3 tbsp of olive oil</li>
<li>sake</li>
<li>soy sauce</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hijiki package</td></tr>
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Soak your hijiki for 1 hour prior to cooking.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp package</td></tr>
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Also soak your kelp and mushrooms.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried shiitake mushrooms</td></tr>
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Gen san said the dried mushrooms are better, so you'll need to soak them overnight. </div>
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After the mushrooms have soaked all night, cut off the stems and set aside (you'll use them later), and save the water in which the mushrooms were soaking. Cut the mushroom tops into slices.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfWya1XVzh9DeVGTZL2AZPyteGepILNHs_RhyphenhyphencCerRGXz_RwivzdcBG2sKFTOiZOOm0mBpv53QqAUM4im7xzSnvkCfifyoXX3CPr0jFElm14I3gkXyTsslueECuUZwcGkHeFoFb9uaNg/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfWya1XVzh9DeVGTZL2AZPyteGepILNHs_RhyphenhyphencCerRGXz_RwivzdcBG2sKFTOiZOOm0mBpv53QqAUM4im7xzSnvkCfifyoXX3CPr0jFElm14I3gkXyTsslueECuUZwcGkHeFoFb9uaNg/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Package of age ("AH geh")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cut the age into pieces and set aside.</div>
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Cut your carrots into fourths and cut off the peels to form cubes. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Slice the peels.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Now slice the cubes. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
After you have prepared your other ingredients, you should have your mushroom stems, kelp (soaked), hijiki (soaked), age, mushroom tops, and mushroom water. These are the ingredients we'll add to the carrots after they have cooked.</div>
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Grab your olive oil and sake.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Heat some olive oil on high heat. </div>
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Add all of your carrots.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
After the carrots have cooked for a few minutes and begin to soften, add your mushroom stems.</div>
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Add the sake. When we asked how much to add, Gen san made a pouring motion. So add a lot!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Add your kelp and some of the mushroom water. You'll want to add enough so that your carrots will boil and soften.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
When the carrots are very soft, turn the heat back down to low. Now, go grab your hijiki that was soaking.</div>
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Wash it a couple of times, rinsing with clean water each time. Then strain.</div>
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Add your hijiki to the carrots.</div>
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Then add your mushroom tops.</div>
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And now the age.</div>
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Turn off the heat and let it cool off a bit before adding your soy sauce. I didn't know this, but high heat changes the taste of the soy sauce. Add as much or as little as you like. </div>
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That's it! You're ready to serve your hijiki. In temples, it is typically served with white rice and miso soup. And it will keep in your refrigerator for 2-3 days if you'd like to serve it later.</div>
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I will be attempting to fix hijiki for the first time tonight, though I'll be using only carrots. Maybe next time I'll try it with some of the age. </div>
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Thanks, Gen san!</div>
Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404252555451767765.post-48633972373339945952014-04-04T05:56:00.000-07:002014-04-04T21:25:04.041-07:00Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Hike in Kamakura<span style="font-size: x-small;">**Directions and notes about this hike can be found at the bottom of this post.</span><br />
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On Wednesday, the girls and I were excited to head out on another tour with Fusako san, a wonderful Japanese woman who knows the ancient city of Kamakura like the back of her hand. She has an incredible knowledge of the many 1,000-year-old samurai trails that snake through the hills of Kamakura, and we have gone on some great hikes with her. All I have to do is tell my girls that we're going on one of Fusako san's hikes and they are thrilled.<br />
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This tour had its focus on the sakura - the cherry blossoms - that are covering most of Japan this<br />
week. They are in full bloom, and only last maybe a full week (if you're lucky, and have no wind or rain) before all the petals start falling to the ground like snow. We started off the tour by taking the train to Kamakura and walking up the sakura-lined path that leads to the prominent Hachimangu shrine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplMG5i0Eah4GSwRuqyo5bGOwTjM7RruOnT_NklyElcMcWnyA77xh9lgKJwnXhqjO-EntL-iUhbXMJ5m68IPMRksi9COUvot1ioWRmf5WmHpuo7I1oQTwtBqwzzh_xHTJmssdCYVc5ThQ/s1600/DSCN3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplMG5i0Eah4GSwRuqyo5bGOwTjM7RruOnT_NklyElcMcWnyA77xh9lgKJwnXhqjO-EntL-iUhbXMJ5m68IPMRksi9COUvot1ioWRmf5WmHpuo7I1oQTwtBqwzzh_xHTJmssdCYVc5ThQ/s1600/DSCN3240.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My oldest walking with Fusako san (in the green jacket).</td></tr>
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Instead of going all the way up to the shrine, we turned left and walked over to Jufuku-ji temple. This temple is number 3 of Kamakura's five great Zen temples, and is not open to the public. Ever.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had so many people on this tour that we had to create a makeshift flag for everyone to follow!</td></tr>
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We walked to the left of the temple and followed a path towards the back where the cemetery is located. This is where we found the trailhead towards Genjiyama park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by my youngest daughter. </td></tr>
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One of the first things we saw upon entering Genjiyama park was this statue of Minamoto Yoritomo, who in 1192 was appointed the first shogun (highest military officer) of the Kamakura shogunate.<br />
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The section of the park where we were to have lunch was breathtaking. We could see the sakura long before we got there. It was like snow covering the trees. Simply stunning.<br />
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Just as we got into the picnic area, we spotted some newlyweds taking pictures under the sakura. They seemed a tad bit embarrassed as we circled them to take pictures, and clapped in celebration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AMyPbFWj3OHow1Dp4k07pv5TYBsnpS8DSwZ_BzF-MvYuK_iepyuuEEWDtWy4ek8QpHldrURz4FncK3n7zF07sYVsnMzMSc6ovubx6UtRkqKmS77S1YOgpr6u1CgZ6_Rp0ynGRa1K4cQ/s1600/1966681_667645806628466_200312352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AMyPbFWj3OHow1Dp4k07pv5TYBsnpS8DSwZ_BzF-MvYuK_iepyuuEEWDtWy4ek8QpHldrURz4FncK3n7zF07sYVsnMzMSc6ovubx6UtRkqKmS77S1YOgpr6u1CgZ6_Rp0ynGRa1K4cQ/s1600/1966681_667645806628466_200312352_n.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that pink flower in her hand? My youngest ran up to her and presented it to her as a gift. <br />
All the Japanese ladies let out a collective, "Awwwwww!"<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Miho Yoshikawa</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuzuharoka shrine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wJrlSq_D-RbmyhtR47MuGWrYwjlcN9SilNvMDUc0dlgsenPgwactiKfew7lqZ09-izwqjdPKu8HBBNupo5_ZXo97j8DRsRYgaJHrNjrhvpB2vJUdqOXSTcS2vawQOaNQhvuMIbsRfM/s1600/66839_10152290352865412_1787866321_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wJrlSq_D-RbmyhtR47MuGWrYwjlcN9SilNvMDUc0dlgsenPgwactiKfew7lqZ09-izwqjdPKu8HBBNupo5_ZXo97j8DRsRYgaJHrNjrhvpB2vJUdqOXSTcS2vawQOaNQhvuMIbsRfM/s1600/66839_10152290352865412_1787866321_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: PA Tran Le</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE_eYAapmRQmxo4r1GqAuUHLnXY-OitG4XHlm4IBrgjdZXI1N6Tph8JPhKzOWhbwXa07PMVM1L4Wvo6GE9e081DlCSv_uqn7RBtBlCzq2PEHG5BoaQ3fAVoFkXvS4Tog5s6UiOzu-bmQ/s1600/DSCN3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE_eYAapmRQmxo4r1GqAuUHLnXY-OitG4XHlm4IBrgjdZXI1N6Tph8JPhKzOWhbwXa07PMVM1L4Wvo6GE9e081DlCSv_uqn7RBtBlCzq2PEHG5BoaQ3fAVoFkXvS4Tog5s6UiOzu-bmQ/s1600/DSCN3281.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls jumped at the chance to purchase a small plate (100yen) that they could smash against a rock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3Vo0603OrWdxtqXQy8iE7_hZIwI0hKPjr57NxNuqsyeMJ0SK7Ilkpea1M3Yc7uJRh2dW1y3YQ5XQVgUn5ZPmi97njVWX1s8Y_Xo88gu9GpmuheY6OIHS69Y5cZK2IItTfbQ4dDjeYEU/s1600/1504111_10152290352755412_1274804354_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3Vo0603OrWdxtqXQy8iE7_hZIwI0hKPjr57NxNuqsyeMJ0SK7Ilkpea1M3Yc7uJRh2dW1y3YQ5XQVgUn5ZPmi97njVWX1s8Y_Xo88gu9GpmuheY6OIHS69Y5cZK2IItTfbQ4dDjeYEU/s1600/1504111_10152290352755412_1274804354_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: PA Tran Le</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7LuTUrB5Z4MnmQFGohaVqXHIo1cxW3qGjT6OozvfIu7QHNH_e9ANt8SuWF6bB4tHtFYuUAWowacuvUWwqiRseBj5TTE8oayMg0ka4V1T2LHMHWQI0EADl8GzZhhiInQnPtEphfbjkDg/s1600/10174837_10152290356060412_1536262981_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7LuTUrB5Z4MnmQFGohaVqXHIo1cxW3qGjT6OozvfIu7QHNH_e9ANt8SuWF6bB4tHtFYuUAWowacuvUWwqiRseBj5TTE8oayMg0ka4V1T2LHMHWQI0EADl8GzZhhiInQnPtEphfbjkDg/s1600/10174837_10152290356060412_1536262981_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirei, desu ne?</td></tr>
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We had a wonderful picnic lunch, sitting under the sakura ("ohanami"), before heading back down through the hills and ending up near the Great Buddha.<br />
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We had a great day, and I'm so glad we were able to take advantage of the amazing weather to have lunch under the sakura. The week or two of sakura is my favorite time of year in Japan. I think I'm going to have to plant a sakura tree whenever we settle down, buy a house, and have a yard. And a gingko tree... and some bamboo....<br />
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If you'd like to go on this hike, I've provided a link to Google maps with directions from Kamakura station to the trailhead at Jufuku-ji temple. Once you are on the trail, there are signs leading toward Genjiyama park, as well as signs leading from Genjiyama park towards the Great Daibutsu (Buddha) trail that ends near the Big Buddha, and is close to Hase station. Parts of this trail are not stroller friendly, but there are long sections where the path is large enough for a car. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEl7Z7-pcjdV8xz-n8y8bFOtkM5iZKZSYBwi8wlcJ3ABjlgdAaMxEzKBD42qgSga0SnwJP1LKAJ8DXukI7XCZQJ0yGpNdpCli6Eb51eWEL-0BQjTfP-Vz7IYumgsJYW9MAAa9xsQAylg/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEl7Z7-pcjdV8xz-n8y8bFOtkM5iZKZSYBwi8wlcJ3ABjlgdAaMxEzKBD42qgSga0SnwJP1LKAJ8DXukI7XCZQJ0yGpNdpCli6Eb51eWEL-0BQjTfP-Vz7IYumgsJYW9MAAa9xsQAylg/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuzukaraoka-Daibutsu Hiking Course (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhxH-bKg0Plfi0_jbjaHOkNEU1WJkmPpLcu0xjyw9BLtB6RCPqisHVq0O5CGUNuVoYKHmlaitVk4iFtr2e0DspHsdEhIaIRALRQKjdIhaw45jHJFDMEgB-aN4jkbrEGpezu9cPq3nzkQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-04-04+at+8.36.35+PM.png" height="278" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/5CiCN">here</a> to see directions to Jufuki-ji temple.</td></tr>
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Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606878085206882771noreply@blogger.com0