Always Wondering

We haven't heard from Colin in over 36 hours and in our house we have a long-standing joke....are you dead in a ditch? When we don't hear from our children it's a natural reaction from concerned parents. (or helicopter Moms..those who hover over their children. Dr. Phil did a show on them yesterday) Of course our fears are alleviated when we hear the key in the door or we receive the comical text message 'dead in a ditch. Home soon.' I imagine that using Mana's computer is getting old for her and Colin is very busy with his first day of school and getting to know Steve. Yesterday should have been his language proficiency test...I'm sure that he did well.

I see that no money has been withdrawn from his account so either he hasn't started a Japanese account yet or hasn't been able to withdraw any or hasn't needed to. Or he's dead in a ditch. Do they even have ditches in Saga? I wonder...once a cellphone is purchased in Saga will it cost him to receive a long distance call? I downloaded google earth yesterday to try and get a sense of what Saga looks like. Either I'm doing it incorrectly or it's very flat, small and surrounded by rice fields.

The Canadian Blood Service called yesterday to ask Colin to donate. I was actually able to talk to her without my throat catching and proudly told her that he'll be away for a year in Japan. Oh Wow, was the reaction.

Garry had to eat the leftover egg slop (don't call it that!!!!) on Saturday because Colin wasn't here to finish it off. I drove Garry to the airport at 530am this morning to go to Toronto...early to the airport in the dark twice in one week to drop off the men I love.

So...it's girls only in our house for the next 3 days. On Thursday the girls are getting awards from their high school (Claire is working and will miss the ceremony) and Friday is Martin's wedding. (they're both going) I get to be the keeper of the fish. I'm busy with work and getting ready for Saturday's garage sale and waiting to hear more tales from the boy...

Settling In

It was a big relief for us to hear that things are being purchased, that Colin isn't sleeping on the floor and that he can eat. Of course though, the more we hear the more we want to know. Darn my journalist training...I could ask questions all day!

The girls think my little sentimental outbursts are funny and I guess in a few months I might feel that way too. For now I'm still missing my kid and worrying about him just a little. Mana and Mio seem to be doing a phenomenal job acclimatizing him, but now they have Steve to worry about as well.

It's all a gigantic learning curve..for everyone, the tutors, the boys and the families left behind!

The major request now from everyone is for photos...we want to see what you see Colin! Get that internet hook-up so that you're not relying on Mana's computer!

One more thing...what would you like me to do with the box of cigarillos on your dresser? Shall I give them to the girls?

It Was Good, It Was Fun. I Like It!

Colin, honestly. I now have some answers to my questions (posted under comments in Colin's blog yesterday), but the details are somewhat lacking and reminds me of his earlier English journals in grade school. Do I need to bring Mrs. Macintosh in here to teach you how to fluff it out? Also, it's apparent that Colin is not reading my blog...no response to anything I've said.

I started to wash his bedding in hot water on Thursday and it's sad for me to be getting rid of his smell...even if it is a bad one. Yesterday I picked up enough money on his floor and dresser to buy a lottery ticket so I used his pertinent numbers...birth date, age, leaving date, returning date and his weird magical number '37'. I haven't checked the results....maybe I'm a winner. Would he want his mother to visit next year if I was? Did Sebastien take the Smash Brothers Cutout?

The time change is frustrating me...when we're awake, he's asleep so I know I have to wait 14 hours to hear anything new and yesterday's info was sparing. How hard is the surface of the floor? I've heard that some are tatami and soft. How good a futon could it be if they got it from Mana's house to his place? I remember futons being cumbersome. At least he's not sleeping on the floor!

Random Thoughts

-I passed a red van with the personalized plate reading 'sagapo' on Wed....aother break down moment for me...Saga is the city he's in
-my computer wallpaper is a beautiful picture of Colin sitting in a gondola in Venice so I see him every time I sit down here smiling back at me

I'm really happy for my son. I really am. This year is the fruition of a lot of hard work and dreams. When do I stop being such a sentimental mush bag.? I'll bet he never thought I'd be so weepy. I never thought I would be. Anyway, I have a busy day showing houses, clipping the kitty's nails (again) and maybe take in a quick bike ride to see the rapidly turning leaves later this afternoon. Have a great day Honey. I can't wait to hear about all the things you bought for your apt! Tell us what things cost there please!

Not Enough Answers Coming from Japan

Of course the boy is dead tired and obviously culture shocking as observed from his "So Much Japanese' comment (which I found really funny btw)....but...we have so many questions. His apt. is described as small, which we were expecting, but just how small exactly? Does it have an address? How is the food, what is he eating, can Colin understand people, can they understand him? What is the climate like, what does Japan look like? Are there many trees? What was the busride like? Tell us everything Colin!!!!

News From Home in Wpg.

-the cats have discovered toilet paper in the girl's bathroom...no need to add anything else to that
-the girls' Europe trip will be $1,000 each more than Colin's trip 2 years ago
-I was elected to the board of Directors at my Remax office on Wed.

Random Thoughts

-I'm distressed to learn that internet may not be available in his apt...that will really limit communication especially when school is out
-my good friend Sandy is helping me cope having had 2 sons leave home-she's becoming my mentor on the path to rational thought
-there really is no rational thought at this early stage- I still really miss my kid and yes, the tears still flow
-I trust him implicitly to make good judgement calls and know that he is safe now that he's in Saga

The journey begins!

Colin's First Real Day in Japan and not in Canada

Whew! I woke up at 6:00am to find a nice email from Mana, Colin's tutor (mentor) to say that she'd heard from him when he arrived in Tokyo. So I checked his blogspot (Japanfromuphere.blogspot.com) to find the very briefest of descriptions. I'm incredibly relieved to hear that the planeride (flight?) went safely and now can't wait to hear the details. Can they understand him? Is his Japanese ok? Did he sleep on the plane or was he too hyped? What kind of food does Jesus cook? What does his room at the Hyatt look like? I hope there are lots of photos being taken!!!!!

Meanwhile we had our first reality check last night...Colin, can you go pick up Angie from work? Oops...guess not. Funny thing...this morning we were all more tired than yesterday morning when we'd had no sleep!

And the real question...can I talk about Colin without getting teary? Darn, not so far.

Colin is in the air!

It's departure day at long last! A day Colin awaited eagerly and his Mom dreaded. We all woke early at 335am to find Colin already showered and dressed in a brand new rather dapper navy blue pair of cotton pants and light blue and white striped dress shirt. The boy was eager to get going! He said he slept about an hour and lay awake imagining various scenarios upon his arrival. What will the future hold?

We dashed off to the airport in a light drizzle and found we needed to wait 1/2 hour until the check-in gate opened. We were met by Kate and Sebastien, 2 good friends, who also came to send Colin off. I vowed to remain calm and was fine until check-in when tears flowed, but I quickly recovered. This was not how I wanted my boy to remember me! We took lots of pictures and he waved and disappeared thru the US Customs door at 545am! Off on his year long adventure! Chicago, Tokyo, Fukuoka and finally his permanent destination...Saga. We meanwhile returned home to one more brief hour of shut eye....all of us exhausted especially after the previous night's thunderstorm, which had kept us awake half the night.

United Airline's website said the plane arrived in Chicago early and every time my cell rang I hoped it would be him to tell me that all had gone well on the first leg. Colin had said that he would try to upload pics and updates on his blog while in Chicago, but I guess that wasn't possible. Did he manage to get an exit row seat so that his legs wouldn't be cramped? I won't know until tomorrow because now he's in the air on the way to Tokyo...incommunacado. I expect the first email to contain the word 'awesome' somewhere! We're waiting...

Japan Eve

So...Colin really is leaving tomorrow! After years of saying that he wanted to go to Japan he's made it happen. My boy and I spent our last day together having lunch and packing and then his last Canadian supper was tacos. Ok, something's not right there! We figured that tacos might be a rare commodity in Saga, Japan.

I had my emotional hissy fit yesterday and only cried once today. The thought of my first born going away for a year is almost unfathomable to me. To not see him every day is heartwrenching for me as a mother, but I know that it'll be such a great experience..he'll meet so many people, see such great sights, eat different foods and come back a much changed man. I'm not so worried anymore...I think I'm jealous!

Bon voyage my babe! I can't wait to see the pictures and hear about your travels. I love you Colin!