What I taught my daughter about today

Last night, instead of our daily prayer before bed, I talked to Lucy about Martin Luther King and the new President Obama. I just happened to by substituting in Lucy's kindergarten classroom yesterday, and had to try and make Martin Luther King's message real to 5 and 6 year olds. After reading a book about his life story, we talked about what ifs. For example, what if only girls could drink from the drinking fountain, what if only kids with blue eyes could ride on the swings on the playground, what if only kids who have a certain skin color can come to school...etc. That wouldn't be fair would it? When I talked to Lucy last night before bed, I tried to explain to her why I am so happy about the new president. To me, and to us as a family, I think that President Obama represents the realization that really everything is possible, for everyone who embraces America's true spirit. When I walked through the immigration lines at the Seattle airport this November, I remember being impressed at the stark diversity, almost identical, in both the "U.S. residents" and "Visitors" lines. Many nations' people cannot say the same, but I know that my own Japanese husband will be granted the same rights, privileges and opportunities as everyone else in this country. I told Lucy that 60 years ago, Japan and America weren't the best of "friends" and actually did some really bad things to each other in the form of bombings and fighting. Our world today really is so much more peaceful and fair, so we are lucky and should be thankful. Watching the festivities today, the thought that brought me to tears was the pure optimism that we are once again on the right track to restoring faith in the American Dream and America's proper place in the world. It gives me great comfort to tell my daughter that she really can be all she wants to be. I don't know how much weight my prayers carry these days, but I do hope with all my heart that the new president will given the chance to put some of his lofty dreams to work.

毎日は寝る前にLucyちゃんと簡単なお祈りします。昨日はMartin Luther King牧師の記念日と今日はObama大統領の就任式のでLucyにこの日の大切さを説明をしたかった。偶然に昨日はLucyの教室に行って、担任の先生の代わりに授業をしました。King牧師について話しないといけないところで、どうやって５〜６歳の子に説明すれば良いと思って。学校は簡単な絵本を用意してあった。読み終わったら、話した。女の子だけは昼食をたべらると言われたらどう？青目の子だけは運動場のブランコで遊べるなら？この色の顔色の人だけが学校に行けるなら？平等じゃないね。LucyにObamaが大統領になって嬉しい理由も教えたかった。私にとってObamaの勝利はアメリカの可能性を現している。本当にこの国にAmerican Spiritを信じるなら、誰でもに何でも出来る。11月はSeattle空港の入国の列に待っていた時、『アメリカ居住者』の列と「visitor/訪問客」の列は明らかに似ている。そっくり。この国こそ、私の日本国籍である旦那はここに来ると皆と同じ権利と可能性がある。Lucyに歴史も教えた。ただ６０年前にアメリカと日本は「友達」じゃなくて、お互いに悪いことした。戦争があて差別もあた時代を超えて、今は本当にもと平和な平等な時代で感謝します。今日の式をみて涙が浮かべた。なぜなれば、久しぶり楽天的になって、アメリカはもう一同に正しい道を向かって、American Dreamと世界の役割はまた意味があると感じます。娘に「自分の将来には何でも出来るよ」は安心に言える。私の祈りは力がないかもけど、Obama大統領は自分の夢をがかなうように祈ってます。

Cheers to Obama

My father, who often brings home found treasures from his daily walks, picked up this Inauguration 2009 bottle opener yesterday. Its noon, but I toast to this moment.

Proud to be American again more than ever

Let freedom ring ...

What a beautiful, colorful, country we live in...

The pomp and circumstance never felt so fitting

Planted in front of the tv

A school just called to see if I would come in at the last minute today. SORRY! I am planted in front of the television watching the inauguration, and not moving, thank you.

TGIF

Thank God It's Finished! I can't believe that the Bush administration will finally be booted out! What a happy thought! I've got everything riding on the hope that Obama will prove a lot of us right, and a lot of others wrong.

あと２日！もうすぐBushは追い出せる！嬉しい！

Working, sort of...

I got called into work last week. Finally! Trying to get my feet wet in the schools here, so I have myself on the list to substitute in the 4 school districts near our house. Kindergarten and junior high school so far. Same mentality, different age and height. I probably am guilty of letting the kids talk more than they should in the classroom, but I enjoy listening to their chatter. Such a change from Japan. Think I would like to teach in the junior high, so now I have to brush up on the adolescent lingo. Nonetheless, it will be nice to have a few pennies coming in.

やっと仕事あった。まだバイトですけど、久しぶりに学校の教室に入って面白い。今までは一年生と中学校しか行ってない。一年生と中学生は変わらない。年と身長は違うだけ。教室のなかで、おしゃべりは許し過ぎかもけど、若者のおしゃべりを聞いて面白！日本と違う。またまた仕事が入るなら嬉しい。

久しぶりの雪

Happy New Year 2009 in Kalispell. I don't remember seeing so much snow since I was a young kid.
写真は良くないけど、これは１月２日の朝。友達の家を泊まった時。朝から、友達が「ちょっと買い物に行く」と言った時、外を見たらびっくりした。「ちょっと待て。車庫から、出れないかも。」たしかそうだた。２時間かけて、３人でシャベルINGして,やっと車庫から道まで車を出せた。久しぶりこの雪。やっぱすごい！

Gotta Glove!

Lucy hasn't quite figured it out yet, but when we shop, if she can find something that I think might actually lead to some sincere physical or mind activity, I'm pretty willing to dish out a few bucks. Books are my greatest weakness, and Lucy's collection of books can attest to that. Luckily we have made the library here our new favorite hangout in town, so a few pennies saved there. Over the holidays, while we were looking for ice skates (NOT a cheap venture), we stumbled upon baseball gloves, left-over lefties, lucky us. Since we have been hitting the nerf ball around the garage a bit, I had her try one on to get a feel for it. "Cool, it fits perfect, can I buy it?" Mitts must be pretty pricey too, I expected, but when the sales price read $4.99, why sure! Now we just have to find a way to teach her to stop throwing like a girl!

Lucyはある程度は分かっている。私は基本にはおもちゃが買わない。買ったら、一週間であきるから。でも体か頭を使う者ならちょっと考える。特に本を買ってしまう。Lucyは本は持って過ぎぐらい。今は町の図書館が大好きになったから、良く行きます。節約だ。年末前にice skateを探しに行った時、野球のgloveを見つけた。ちょどLucyのサイズの左利き用のあった。最近はちょっと野球に興味があるみたいから「入って見て」と言った。「ちょうどいい。欲しい」と言われて。失敗したと思って。高いだろ。しかし、値段を見たら、時期はずれのセールで、＄５（５００円！）で。『今日は特別でいいよ」。。。ただ。。めちゃめちゃballを投げるのはヘタピ！パパは早く教えに来てね！

So much snow!

This was what the roads looked like when we hit the road to go visit our friends. 出かけに道の風景！

ちび紅白

大晦日は日本の友達の家でPARTYをして。懐かしいので、この小さいテレビで日本の紅白をみた！

Snow bunnies

Lucy and her friend, braving the cold to take a dip in the outdoor hot tub! 大晦日のPartyで、外は寒いなのに、Lucyと友達は水着で外のjacuzziに入った。