Good bye California... Hello Japan! さらばカリフォルニア~日本へ引越します☆彡

Cute embroidered applique patches from Japan

First off, I apologize for the non-existence... It's been quite some time since I blogged here and I truly missed posting about my latest handmade creations!

長い間ブログ更新をご無沙汰してしまいました。。。


Fabrics from Japan

The truth is, I haven't had a chance to create for a while, because we are in the midst of our family move to... Tokyo, Japan!! The move is due to my hubby's business and we are moving in just a few more days!!

ここ数か月はとても忙しく手作りをする時間もなかなか取れませんでした。というのも、夫の仕事の都合で我が家は今月末には日本に引っ越すことになりました。

Colorful acrylic yarns from Yuzawaya, Japan

Our family stayed in Tokyo for over a month in early this year, to take care of our girls' school issues and to settle down in our new place prior to our real move (scheduled in end of March).

今年は年初から一ヶ月以上、娘たちの受験や新生活に向けての準備のために一時帰国をしていました。


Sanrio World, in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan


Now we're back in California, packing things up for our final move and saying good-byes to our good friends (the worst part...)

現在はカリフォルニアに戻り、引越し準備と、これまで親しくしていただいたお友達やご近所の方々とのお別れのあいさつをしています(涙)。

Local shrine in Tokyo

This move is going to bring major changes to all of us, because we have enjoyed the sunny California lifestyle for too long! (Almost thirty years for my hubby and I, and for our teenage girls,  their entire lives were spent here.)

我が家では私と夫はほぼ30年もアメリカで暮らし、ティーンの娘たちは生まれも育ちもカリフォルニアです。一家全員ですっかり「ガイジン」の私たち。。。日本での生活にはもちろん不安もあります。

From the train station near Kamakura, Japan

We have been preparing for this move for the past few years. As a mom, my major concern was our girls' school issues, whether they can get into schools of their choice and to get accustomed to the school life in Japan. (In Japan, getting into high school is like getting into college in the U.S. - kids are required to study hard to get accepted in the schools of their choice).

実はここ数年は家族で帰国に向けての準備をしてきました。母親として一番心配だったのは娘たちの学校問題です。ここ数年は一時帰国の際には娘たちと一緒にたくさんの学校見学をして、こちらでも塾通いを続けるなど親子でできる限りの努力をしてきました。

Green tea ice cream parfait from cafe in Tokyo

There were emotional moments... but I am so proud of my girls for studying very hard and getting accepted at the schools of their choice (high school for our oldest, and middle school for our youngest). They are finally ready to start new school year in Japan, which begins from April in the Japanese school system.

お陰さまで漸く娘たちの受験も終わり、この春からは二人それぞれ都内の学校で新学期を迎えます。

Cold soba or buckwheat noodles and tempura dinner

We will badly miss our wonderful friends, the beautiful Southern California weather, and the In-n-Out burgers! For me, I will definitely miss the American fabrics...

カリフォルニアの温暖な気候や、近所のハンバーガーショップの名物バーガー(In-n-Out Burgers)、そしてこれまでこの地で仲良くお付き合いしていただいた友人知人との別れはそれはそれは悲しく辛いです(涙、涙…)。手芸を愛する者としては今後はアメリカの生地を入手するのが難しくなると思うとそれも寂しい~。

Me, in front of huge Buddha statue in Kamakura, Japan

However, we are ready to start our new venture in my home country. After all, it's great to be reunited with my hubby's and my family members in Japan. And more than anything, we wish that this experience will be a positive one for our girls.

でもそれと同時に、新生活に向けて楽しみな気持ちも充分あります。夫も私も家族は(ほとんど全員が)日本在住なので、家族の側に帰ることができるのは大きな喜びです。そして何より、今回の帰国が娘たちの人生にとって良い経験になれば、と願っています。。。


Packing, packing, packing...

 I look forward to post about our new life in Tokyo. Wish us luck and see you soon!!

Oh and don't forget to check my instagram account @chickchicksewing - I try to post frequently than I do with my blog!

このブログも次回は日本から更新することになるかと思いますが、皆さま、引き続きよろしくお願いします♪ (スマホでインスタグラムをされる方は私のアカウント@chickchicksewing もチェックしてくださいね!)では皆さまもどうかお元気でおすごしください。☆彡

With lots of love from California,
***Amy Morinaka***


Find me on Facebook (Amy Morinaka) →☆
Follow me on Instagram @chickchicksewing →★

7 comments:

PamKittyMorning said...

California will miss you! Good luck!

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Best wishes for your move Amy! I am sure you will love being closer to your extended families. What a great experience for your daughters. Good luck!

beatriz said...

Seguro que os va ir muy bien. Ánimo!

pratima said...

Wish you and your family the very best for a new life and new beginnings, Amy! It is wonderful that you will be able to stay close to your loved ones in Japan :)

verykerryberry said...

Exciting times! What a great opportunity for your girls too.

nicole follow the white bunny said...

Wishing you the very best with the move and I hope the whole family will feel at home in Japan soon! :)

Anonymous said...

I so hope you are settling in and enjoying your new life!
Love Jeannie

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