Daddy has left the building...

Two weeks ago, we sent the advance guard, S (a.k.a. Daddy), to Japan. After a Fulbright orientation in Tokyo, S took the shinkansen to Kyoto to meet his host professor and take possession of our "manshon" (modern apartment--perhaps a mansion if inhabited by people only of J's size). I think we'll have everything we need there (bed, futons, kitchen table, washing machine) and some things we didn't know we needed (heated toilet seat, soaking tub that plays Pachelbel's Canon when it reaches the correct temperature, German bakery down the street).

S has already tried out the national health care system. J and I will get our health care cards as well as alien registration cards when we arrive. Little J already has a passport and visa. His passport will be good for five years, though it's already hard to believe the tiny baby in the picture is him.

We're looking forward to seeing our new apartment and neighborhood, though it feels as though we've already been there because we talk to S every day via webcam and we've worn out our virtual hiking boots on Google Earth looking at street-level pictures. We can even (virtually) walk down the street to the "depato" (department store) and the train station, so we'll know our way around when we get there. Of course, Google Earth doesn't include a cool Macleran stroller!

Having S in Japan for the last couple of weeks hasn't been easy. Poor little J has really noticed his daddy's absence and was quite confused and fussy for a few days. He seems to be adapting to the new daddy in the computer (he thinks all people on the computer or TV are talking to him now!), and his grandma is staying with us which is a huge help. Now he's going to be confused and fussy when Grandma has to go home! Good thing she's flying to Japan with us and staying for several days.

We leave a week from today, though we have at least six months worth of work to get done before liftoff. I've got to get classes ready to convert to the online format as well as complete a ton of paperwork at the office, we've got things to fix and do around the house so we don't have to worry about it for a few months; and somewhere in there we have to decide what to take, get it all washed, and put it in suitcases. I'll be relieved when we get on the plane and they slam the door behind us!