We’re closing a chapter of our life here in Japan with our first move since arriving in Japan.
We’ve finished the move, but for the kids one of the greatest changes is about to take place: changing schools.
This new chapter is full of new challenges as Life in Japan moves forward.
Oh my goodness!
I'm trying to find curtains...
No, I'll need them both.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
Well our first living space had an incredible view of the sunrise,
But this place has an incredible view of the sunset.
And you got the big dresser this time. Yes!
That's quite a step-up, isn't it?
Sarah! Getting your room ready?
Nice!
What's this?
Oh, those just help your clothes stay fresh.
So should I keep it?
Yea sure, you can keep it for now.
They're probably old though. They probably don't work anymore.
Then I'm going to ask mommy.
Mommy knows everything.
Hey Mommy!
Daddy says these keep your clothes fresh, but is it still fresh?
No, you need to change it.
OK.
I need to move this.
Who can help?
You need to move that?!
Here, I can help. Joshua's lost in the box room.
It's like looking for the lost ark.
The place might be smaller but the view... Is amazing!
Are you watching Life in Japan?!
I am, I like to read comments and reply to some people.
As we’ve documented in previous episodes, moving is full of challenges,
but perhaps one of the greatest is changing the kids schools.
Not only is the paperwork immense, but the change for the kids is huge.
For them, almost everything but the Japanese language is changing, and it’s happening first for the younger Reutter kids.
This? Yes.
We can have breakfast!
You can put it on the stove please... OK.
Actually if I zoom in a little bit
You can hardly tell that we're anywhere else
Because of the blue curtains in the background and the tree right there.
Well we did a good job right here.
Look at all these boxes knocked out in one morning.
You're killing it!
Yes! Way to go.
Yeah.
If feels good and overwhelming all at once.
Unpacking after a move is stressful enough.
But trying to help your four kids transition schools in the middle of the school year is a strain of a completely different scale.
Oh my goodness Sarah and Joshua...
This is your last day at your school before you go to the new one.
It's a 2-minute walk to school.
Our classes will be right next to each other.
Alright, the school bus is going — the daddy school bus!
How about that?!
Well this is different.
Alright, dropping off the girls.
This is the first drop-off and then we've got to take the Not-so-littles [Sarah & Joshua] to their last day of elementary school at the current school.
OK let's go.
It's a rainy day, huh? But here we go.
Do you know why it's raining today?
Because? The clouds are crying.
It's crying because it's your last day here at school, huh?
Uh huh.
Are you guys excited though?
Uh huh. It will be fun?
Yea, but the only thing is that I have a boy teacher.
The new one will be a boy teacher, huh?
And Joshua, your new teacher is going to be a girl teacher, huh?
You will be a friend of my teacher, and I will be a friend of your teacher.
Does that make sense? That does, that does.
Oh the piles and piles of clothes that we must organize.
Another kitchen cabinet goes up.
We got to get all this food a home.
We had a cabinet
But it was just a little too small
Since my kitchen's a third of the size of what I had,
I have to get creative.
And baking is my happy place,
So I can't give that up.
That's right, nobody would want that.
Hey Dude — how was it today?
It was good? Did they do anything special for you guys?
They made cards for me...
They made cards for you?
Yeah, and they surprised me with origami.
Wow!
Sarah Bara! How was school today?
It was super fun but super sad but super fun.
Sarah Bara — the camera wants to know...
What?
How was your last day at school? What did everyone do?
Uh, gave me a card.
They gave you a card? Uh huh.
I got a year-end picture...
Wow, it was special, huh?
Aww- the Anna Cakes has found the piano
In the midst of the disaster!
But this disaster is slowly getting organized, isn't that nice?
Yes.
Mommy's had an emotional day.
It has been emotional, hasn't it.
I may have cried a little today.
I cried today. Ha ha!
What are you doing girls?
Conducting
You were selected for... Conductor, was it?
To conduct the choir!
You have to do that?
Yea, I need to because everyone doesn't hold it long.
Girls, Daddy had to do that when I conducted a choir. Did you know I conducted a choir?
Yep.
And now my girls are going to conduct their choirs, how awesome is that?!
So proud of you girls.
The girl’s old school asked them to stay one week longer so that they could conduct their classes in the school choral music festival.
It’s going to be a super special way to end their brief time at their old junior high school.
Oh boy, this is our first official meal that mommy has made in our new place.
And what did she make? Lasagna.
Lasagna, oh!
This is wonderful.
It warms my heart on cold days
It does. It warms your heart and makes it feel like home.
Thanks Momma chan.
It comes to your heart...
It was Anna this time that said it.
Was it?
It comes to your heart.
It comes to your soul and heart and feelings.
And mind, oh!
Here goes Becca.
Gonna give it a bite. The Samurai Mac.
It's hard. The bacon's kinda chewy. Here, Anna's going to try it.
Anna's going to try it while Becca chews and decides what she thinks.
It comes to your heart. It comes to your heart?
It comes to like your heart. What do you mean it comes to your heart?
Oh, she's trying it.
3, 2, 1
Everybody fold your hands... Anna
Yes!
Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful day, bless this food, bless this day...
Thank you that we are almost settled in...
And [Becca whispers]
Thank you that we're going to get a new bike, in Jesus' name, amen.
Well the thing about moving is that you get lots of boxes
But at least I have a big stack where I can put it.
OK, we're going to get new bikes for Rebecca and Anna!
They are overdue for some new bikes, aren't they?
Yeah
Before making any kind of decision about what bikes to get, we like to check our options and prices at a couple of different local shops.
Ah, look at all the koi down there...
Don't drop your phone, Daddy.
Don't drop your phone!
Are you going to go after it if you drop it?
Oh yeah.
Here we go.
It's the girls' turn. It's your turn!
Back at home, we were using every free moment to get settled in as quick as possible,
and that means getting the right furniture in the right places.
Well we've been here, done this before...
And now we're doing it again: putting IKEA furniture together.
It's going to save the day here.
I think these I bang in.
We just barely have enough space here to do this.
Just so everyone knows, I call her "the girlfriend" because she is my girlfriend, but she's also my wife.
And right now, she's putting together our tv stand, wow.
Way to go.
I'm putting together my dresser over here...
And it just got done, and now I finally get to put clothes in the dresser.
That's right, they're coming off the floor into the dresser. This is a big moment.
We've been living out of boxes with clothes just in piles on the floor
And now they're going into a proper dresser — yes!
Oh yes yes yes yes yes — that is fantastic there.
We had to get a smaller one.
I had one that was 5 high at the old house,
But we had to buy one that's three tall because I need it to double as a night stand and the five-high is too tall for that.
But that's just right.
And now all the clothes gone,
And the rest of the clothes are fitting into this cabinet over here.
We're going to make the use of all of our space here to make this work.
I better go help the girlfriend for the sake of our marriage.
Your knight in shining armor is here.
Or shall I say your "Nate" in shining armor?
Oh boy.
Then it's done.
It's nice, huh?
Now I'll take it over to where the tv is.
Did you understand, Sarah?
Look at that!
Yet another piece in the puzzle coming together.
And we gotta go
So we're going to the Paz Church Volunteer Appreciation Party
These are all the volunteers that make Paz Church happen.
And it's going to be a pretty big party. It's going to be fun!
We moved to Japan because the Japanese branch of our employers, Paz International, asked us to work with the new church here.
Now, nine years later, the church is thriving, made up of mostly Japanese and a number of internationals like ourselves.
Everyone good?!
Oh there's some great coffee.
That's good.
Paz Church happens every week and everyone is welcome, whether you’re a Christian or not.
But today’s party is just to celebrate the volunteers that make this a great place to come.
The volunteers alone fill our coffee shop!
And what better way to celebrate then offering them all free drinks!
After the party we went across the street and the girls found something else to get excited about.
The girls are getting their bikes...
You're getting a new bike, Anna are you excited?
Yes.
A new season in life, a new bike.
Becster Booster helping out here.
Oo, watch the finger!
Don't worry, I'm not hitting so strong.
Alright Becca, way to go.
OK.
In case anyone's wondering, Mr Potato Head made the move. Oh my goodness!
Mr Potato Head made it. Why, he almost died?
And he will—No, but he will make his appearance when we do our Disney video.
Wait? We're going to go?!
Disney video.
When is it going to happen?
Here we go, our first Sunday night in our new place.
And we're watching Dude Perfect.
And we're going to watch Dude Perfect, we're going to have some pizza, Do they have the same camera as you?
I think—no, it's not the same camera but it's very similar...
And we got our tv setup, we're going to watch now...
Oh yes!
And we have internet!
And we have internet, that's important, yes.
Next time on Life in Japan...
The younger Reutter kids get ready for their first day at their new Japanese elementary school
while Becca and Anna conduct their classes in the choral competition before being sent off from their junior high schools in heartwarming fashion.
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