School, Banks, and Paperwork

Wow! Today the girls start school at the American School in Japan. We spent Monday there at an orientation, and I think they will enjoy it. It's such a difference from their charter school and the local public school in Quincy. They will get on the school bus at the American Embassy a few blocks away and ride for nearly an hour to Chofu City on the outskirts of Tokyo. The school is nestled into a Tokyo suburb and has all the things you would expect - football field, auditorium, and a different building each for the elementary school, middle, school, and high school. It's a bustling place, with over 1500 students. So many of the students there come from families that move frequently that they are all welcoming and accepting of my new kids. I hope Caroline and Ceci find some kindred souls there.

Meanwhile, I still haven't finished the application and interview process for Kai at the Montessori school, which is only a 15-minute walk from our new apartment. We will try to get that done this week so that he can start school next week.

Speaking of our new apartment, Ceci and I went to see it yesterday to make the final decision, and we love it! Right now there is some renovation being done, so we won't be able to move in until the end of April. But it's perfect for our family, with lots of greenery around the building and a beautiful roof garden just for us that wraps around our apartment, with doors into all the main rooms. I can't wait to show everyone photos once we've moved in.

I also managed to open a local bank account and registeras a foreign resident. All this was accomplished with major assistance from our moving coordinator, Yumi, who is not only efficient and knowledgeable but is really fun and just a great person to hang out with. Her company, TGA, is hired by my employer to settle in all our expats and they do a fantastic job.

Oops, I see it's time to get the kids up out of bed and ready for school!