Japan

[PeachBaby]

Is there a tribe for Japan? Anyone in or near Osaka?

[PeachBaby]

I am also wanting to homeschool. Not too many homeschoolers in Japan, so I know it will be a challenge.

[neko]

I have a hard time finding any Japan action on this forum... for most of my Japan info I start out at being-a-broad.com

[oceane]

PeachBaby, I will do an internship in Kobe this fall (no kids yet, but trying). I will pm you with questions on expat life. I hope that's ok.

[Rhannie]

Peach Baby, there used to be one (or a thread on Japan), but it seems to have died out. I'm in Yokohama, but have a friend who Homeschools her 2 kids. If you have any questions, I can ask her.

[PeachBaby]

Thanks for the info Neko! I'll check that site out.

Oceane, sure thing, I'll share what I know! ...although I've only been here a couple of years, not too long, and with a lo, I don't get to go out as much, but you're welcome to ask away!

Rhannie, is Yokohama where the Chinatown is? If so, I've been there once, passing by! If your friend doesn't mind at all, that'd sure be great! I do have questions!

[Orro]

anyone in Japan

Hey!


would love to hear from any of you if you are out there...!!

[OkiMom]

I live in Okinawa so not part of mainland..
As for homeschooling its easy for me since we have SOFA status we just have to report to my DH's command when the girls become school age.

[Orro]

Hey there Okimom

Sounds like you have found the right spot to settle !
i am currently pregnant but was always nagging my husband about trying Okinawa out

how old are your girls?
my son is 2 years and 7 months old
he still doesn't mingle well with other kids (i guess that the age element working there...)
how do you manage homeschooling ?
would love to hear more about living in Okinawa and the mothering experiences you have managed to collect staying there

hello to all the Japanese tribal girls here

I am located in Tama-ku Ikuta its in the Kawasaki district
would love to meet up with like minded


cheers


Orro

[SweetTea]

Hi everyone -- nice to find a Japan tribe here. I wasn't expecting it, quite honestly!

I recently moved with my husband to the Oita/Fukuoka area in Kyushu, Japan. We've recently decided to start TTC our first in early 2011, instead of waiting two years to be back in the States. I'm on the hunt for information about pregnancy and natural childbirth in Japan.

It doesn't seem like I live near any of you ladies, unfortunately -- we're a plane-ride from Tokyo, I believe. But, on the off-chance any of you could help us....Did any of you give birth in Japan? I'm looking for information in English about childbirth and pre-postnatal care in Japan, as well as for English-speaking midwives in or near Oita. Any luck that one or more of you might be able to help us?

[seattlemamma]

There is a homeschooling organization run by Americans over there called OCHEA Okinawan Christian Home Educators. If you aren't interested in joining the association because you don't share their beliefs, you can still partcipate in their functions and outings. There are also all kinds of community centers and youth centers on the the different bases that school-aged kids can join. There are classes, open rec rooms, field trips, etc for all different ages. Any branch can participate in any other branch's programs. Check out www.mccsokinawa.com and www.kadenaforcesupport.com both have youth/teen programs listed in the side bars, as well as tons of other info about events on the bases for everyone.
http://sites.google.com/site/ocheaokinawa/Home

http://www.okinawahai.com/

Someone sent me these links. My question for people living on Okinawa is:Should we choose off base or on base housing? My DH is an O1E ARMY. He is already over there we are trying to jump over medical paper work. Don't really trust him to choose housing on his own.

[DebraStorm]

We are in Yokosuka! :)

[mmmmochi]

........................

Edited by mmmmochi - 3/24/11 at 12:40am

[Orro]

Hey!

it would indeed be nice to make this thread more active so ill try something if i may

My name is Orro im a soon to be 34 years old mama of 2 charming home birthed Kyo who is a boy 2 years and 9 months old and Ella who was born 2 months ago here in Ikuta (tama-ku)

my husband is a native Japanese and is working from home (thank goddess!!)

i am about to finish writing my first children book (about dragons!!! muwhhahah)

i find my self having loads of complications deciding what is right and wrong for family and self and i guess that have to do with the fact my japanese speaking ability is rather flat.

ever since we are having a second child i do feel like i am losing grasp of the mother i used to be ,you may say its my first crisis as a mother.

ive had a good integration with my primitive instincts and intuition 

i tend to believe this might have to do with me being so aware of time flowing so quickly lately...

maybe it all has to do with the weather ?

PREVIEW

[mmmmochi]

 Hello Orro!

Thats great, Ill keep replying, so perhaps some other Japan mothers will get involved! I am in central Tokyo, but know Tama. Do you like living there? I bet you have more space than we have in Tokyo!

Its good that your husband works from home. Mine is Japanese also, but is a manager in a huge Japanese company, so we dont see much of him.

Im the same age as you, but my children are a little older. I have a daughter, who is 8, and a son who just turned four. My dd was prem, so a highly medicalised birth and section. I was bullied into a section for ds too, but it was a far better experience. Well done you for getting your homebirths!

Congratulations on finishing your book! You will have to let us know how it goes with publishing.

You are not liking the cooler weather?! I am so happy now its colder! I can sleep at night, and get cosy and barely feel cold, just comfortable really. I dread late spring and summer. It is far too hot for me.

Are you going to try the Japanese school system or homeschool. We did not have a great time with the system here, and now have withdrawnn from it totally, and homeschool with  no outside influences. My husband wants the boy to try yochien here, but I am really not keen.

If it makes any difference, it took a while for us to settle into our new family make up when ds arrived. I would say it took at least 8 to 9 months for me to get used to having two childrenn and get the balance feeling natural. Now he is 4, and it is easy. Ild just like one more, but  no way with homeschooling that I could manage three.

Congratulations on the new baby. It will get easier, promise

best wishes

Mochi

[Orro]

Mochi!

How splendid of you to be homeschooling in JAPAN!

i am giving a lot of thought to the subject lately ,we went to see several places but they all made me even more "ambitious" about the idea.

the thing is my husband and frankly myself too finding our son to be slightly isolated in here.

its most probably due to the fact i turned quite unsocial during the final stages of my pregnancy and so didnt really manage finding the energy to clean the house for the guests and so ...

in any case Kyo isnt very social himself and i do wonder if that have to do with him being shay or perhaps uninterested ...(?)

or perhaps it because he isnt speaking much (trilingual!) these thoughts bothers me from time to time and yet on a daily base is he lonely? do i do him harm not sending him to a fixed routine sort of system,,, am i a good mother to my child...and so on 

i would love to hear about your homeschooling experience and in case there are other "J mothers" who do the same how about sharing some of your experience yourselves...

[Orro]

oh and by the way Mochi! 

I suppose we do  have (MORE) space then you guys have in Tokyo

although i'm afraid this place is much colder the yours...

[PeachBaby]

Hi and welcome to everyone!

Nice to see this thread picking up pace! 

About giving birth in Japan, these are a few things I know of:  that typically no epidural is given.  Also, lots of places don't allow the father into the delivery room, but it depends, some will, so you have to ask/research.  It is common to have the mother & baby stay longer after the delivery, I think anywhere from like 5-10 days instead of 3 or so.  Many places also separate the mother and the baby for the first several days after birth, to allow the mother to rest.  But if you plan to breastfeed, that is probably not the best way, so better to search for a place that will allow you to stay together with your newborn. 

One couple's story about giving birth in Japan:

http://www.globalcompassion.com/japan-birth.htm

Uh oh, looks like DS is waking up so I have to cut this short.

[mmmmochi]

Hello Orro! Thank you for the heroines welcome! It certainly is not easy to homeschool here. If anyone wants to hear the trials and tribulations of getting a child out of the system, you are welcome to ask me. I just dont want to bore you all with it!

I too worry about my dd being isolated and not socialising here. However, the damage caused to her by the bullying, emotionally and physically meant that school did not give her any positive interaction anyway.

We found a few activities with a very international bunch of children, and she now is not so isolated.

4 year old ds is meant to be going to yochien. He does not want to go. I too worry that he only plays with his sister, that he might be lonely. Life in Japan is MORE lonely for my children than in our short time back in my home country. In Tokyo we have childrens castle and the big play centre in Shibuya which is free to use. So we can go and play if we want to.

It is not impossible to find activities for children. A good international school might also be more positive, however they are very expensive.

You are  not doing Kyo any harm at all, Orro. He is only little, he only really needs you and his family in my opinion. Making friends here is not easy. I would invite you to come out on one of our field trips if you were close enough.

[mmmmochi]

Originally Posted by mmmmochi 

Hello Orro! Thank you for the heroines welcome! It certainly is not easy to homeschool here. If anyone wants to hear the trials and tribulations of getting a child out of the system, you are welcome to ask me. I just dont want to bore you all with it!

I too worry about my dd being isolated and not socialising here. However, the damage caused to her by the bullying, emotionally and physically meant that school did not give her any positive interaction anyway.

We found a few activities with a very international bunch of children, and she now is not so isolated.

4 year old ds is meant to be going to yochien. He does not want to go. I too worry that he only plays with his sister, that he might be lonely. Life in Japan is MORE lonely for my children than in our short time back in my home country. In Tokyo we have childrens castle and the big play centre in Shibuya which is free to use. So we can go and play if we want to.

It is not impossible to find activities for children. A good international school might also be more positive, however they are very expensive.

You are  not doing Kyo any harm at all, Orro. He is only little, he only really needs you and his family in my opinion. Making friends here is not easy. I would invite you to come out on one of our field trips if you were close enough.