Living life in Japan is like a game of balloon volleyball
Yes! Balloon volleyball...
you make the most of your small space and surroundings and have a good time with it
until the unexpected happens.
Isn’t that just like life?
As much as we’d like to be the authors of our own story, the script ultimately is not in our hands.
But you have an essential part to play in where the story goes.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
If there’s anything that we’ve learned through our life in Japan, it’s that one must be flexible
and I mean really flexible!
There.
I don't understand how Joshua is that [flexible]
Joshua is so flexible.
Sarah not quite...
Oh! Oh, almost!
Here, let me help you.
It's certainly further than Daddy would make it.
We’re all flexible when we’re young, but what happens as we get older?
I sure couldn’t do this and get up afterwards!
Oh, you're even worse than Sarah!
Push me.
Push you!
OK stop!
Nothing like a little brother showing us all how it’s done.
Mommy, can I try one more time?
Hey Ruth, you're turn!
Yeah right!
Uh uh. Uh uh. I don't know if I've ever been able to do that.
Especially not now.
Well... Now it's Joshua's turn.
It's Joshua's turn for his first happiokai — his first, I guess you'd say "recital?"
Yep. At school, here we go.
The kids are all in public Japanese schools, and today we get to see what Joshua’s been up to.
Having our kids in Japanese schools has been a huge stretch for us as parents,
since we didn’t grow up in Japan or the school system here,
and trying to navigate it can be a bit overwhelming when you’re also in the process of learning the language yourself.
Since the beginning, this channel has been about an epic journey — specifically the journey of our family in Japan.
The longer we’re here, the more Japan becomes a part of us and we become a part of Japan.
People all over the world may seem to have a lot of differences, but deep down we are all so similar.
For example, people love to watch their kids perform.
Not only do we love to watch our kids perform, we often use the same songs!
[Playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"]
We may look different on the outside, but the truth is we are the same — we are all human.
OK guys- who's ready to shop for ski gear?!
Yes?! Ha ha.
As humans, one of the greatest abilities we have is connecting with other humans.
After air, water, food and shelter, the need for connecting with others is one of the most core needs we feel.
Finding ways to connect with the people in our life is not just a nice thing to do if you have extra time
it’s an essential part of the human experience.
So when Becca and Anna wanted to skiing earlier this year, we knew it was an opportunity to connect with them on a deeper level.
And boy did we have fun!
OK, we got to figure out where to go now.
We came to Ochanomizu because this area is known for ski gear.
And so if you want to find good ski gear, this is where you come.
Alright, now Ruth's ready to brave Tokyo in the winter!
What did we find here?
We did it! We found your first ski clothes set!
How exciting is that?!
After some shopping, we were ready for our first Daddy-daughter ski trip.
Oh my! Here comes the other one.
Thing 1, Thing 2 and the Cat in the Hat.
But different people connect different ways, the key is discovering what that is.
For Sarah, she likes her own space, so Ruth is helping her create some.
What's going on here Sarah?
Mommy's putting curtains on my bed so my bed can [have some] privacy.
Oh! Wow.
Me too. I'm making my own.
Are you excited Sarah, a little bit?
I need that other bag of hooks.
It's snowing a tiny bit...
Oh! It says it's snowing,
It says it's snowing, but what did you say?!
It's snowing like a tiny tiny bit.
You can't see it! You can't see it?
Hardly. Hardly.
Let me go see. No, you can't see it with the camera.
No, you can't?!
Can I?
This camera can see all things!
Yea
It says it's snowing, but...
I don't really see anything.
I want it to be snowing...
But I don't see snow.
Do you want it to be snowing, Dude? Yes?!
Daddy!
Oh! Let me see, Sarah!
Give me it!
Give you what? The camera!
The camera?!
Yea! So I can film in here! Can you hold it?
It's so heavy!
Ah, I can hold it! Be careful!
I'm so strong!
Ah! OK...
Here is the curtain...
And then my pillow and my special doggies.
And my Pokemon's right here.
Where is Pikachu? Pikachu is somewhere.
And there's Daddy.
Here I am.
You zoomed in majorly on my face! I can tell!
Daddy, it's too heavy!
OK.
Now I've got a camera and a Big J!
Save me!
Whoa Dude!
What in the?! You like literally went under the bed!
Yes, connecting with one another is arguably the biggest reason we’re living here in Japan.
It’s a big reason why our kids go to Japanese school and the reason behind our work.
Did you guys see outside?! It's collecting!
What do you think, Sarah? Is that exciting?!
Oh cold! It's cold.
OK, it's too cold. I can't go outside.
Will it collect more than this? Who knows?
There go the kids! It's cold!
Bye guys!
Bye!
What do we have going on here today?!
We have to go work at the coffee shop!
We're on our way to a work day at our coffee shop! Here we go!
Our Paz Team runs a coffee shop in Noborito, and this has become an amazing way to connect with the community.
Not only is it a great place to get a cup of coffee, but we’re making upgrades to make it a great place for events.
Junko, how's it going?!
Yes! It's snowing!
Wha?!
What do we have going on here today, John?
Oh, we got some new lights going on!
New lights!
We got some barn doors.
Some barn doors for the lights!
Ha ha! Translate that to Japanese!
Yea really.
Ba- Doa-
As a rare snowstorm hit our area, our team was busy making upgrades to our Paz space which we use for community events and church.
It all goes towards our goal of connecting with the community, and we’re happy to do it.
And the new lights we just installed, they are intense!!
Boy, they're awesome!
This space is constantly being used by community groups who want to livestream their events,
so these upgrades make this a great place to do it.
OK, we're getting ready for a big Gospel concert here at the coffee shop
With Yuki and her amazing choir of singers
They are good!
And if you follow us on Instagram, you know that we use this space every Sunday for our live Paz Church Service.
There is really nothing greater than people connecting with God and each other and it makes this a super special project in our hearts.
In fact, we’ve met so many of you here, so if you’re ever in the area, please come by on a Sunday at 10:00 AM and introduce yourself to us!
Only 5 people were ready!
We're ready!
Everybody in the train heading out for a night on the town.
For John's 40th birthday! John!
John! 40 years young!
Whoa, look at that!
He's got the gray hair to prove it.
Yea, that's right!
Life really is so much richer when lived connected to others.
It’s why we go to so much work to bring you along with us on this journey here in Japan,
So it's intermission here — we're enjoying the symphony!
Oh man!
and it’s why we appreciate so much each one of you who takes the time to subscribe to our channel
it means so much to us!
This is your first composition/arrangement of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
Done on the iPad? OK?
And you're singing?
It's an effect.
It's an effect. OK.
Next time of Life in Japan
We are coming up to one of my favorite times of the year,
Plum blossoms are blooming, Sakura is just about to bloom
And Spring in Japan is always something special!
We’re going with the crew to check out the plum blossoms in nearby Umegaoka and try a famous sushi restaurant for the first time…
So we love our sushi but today we're coming to a new place that has nice sushi...
We're going to try it and see how it compares to other sushi we've had.
Assorted tuna — oh my goodness!
This looks fan-freakin-tastic!
Sushi and plum blossoms, let me tell you what — this is a good Spring Japanese day!
If you liked episode, then click the next one on the screen for your next hit of Life in Japan!