Our First Play Group

So, a new friend I met invited me to join a play group she attends every Friday. They have been meeting for awhile now, ever since their little ones were itty bitty babies. In the winter months they rotate apartments and in the summer months they rotate parks. I gladly accepted the invitation and Miyako and I set off to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. First, I will comment on the play group - we had such a nice time. Well, I know I had a nice time. All of the children were within a couple months of each other in age. And what an eclectic group of children - we had a full Japanese child, an American-Japanese child, an Irish-Australian child, an American-Samoan child, and a British-Singaporean child. The children loved playing, maybe not so much together, but running around the green space. We all brought picnic lunches and sat around on blankets. It really was such a wonderful time for me socially to be with other moms and meet new friends. I was so grateful to be invited. So often as the newby in town, you do not want to invite yourself or call someone too much out of fear of being "annoying" to the other person. My friend who invited me has been in Japan for two years so she definitely has her life settled here and friends. As the new person, I do not want to impose. At the same time, I know you cannot be shy because the way to survive in a foreign country is to make friends, find a community, find your nitch. And these new friends encouraged me to not be shy because they all understand, they have all been new before and know how hard it is; because of their experiences they do not shun others but are rather very welcoming.

Now, let me say a few things about this park. We were there for about 2 hours and not one time did I hear a horn honk! It was amazing to have such solitude in such a densely populated city. This is a place I will definitely take visitors as you really would not believe it until you experience it that such a quiet and peaceful place exists in the largest city in the world. The park was completed in 1906 as an imperial garden. It has an English Landscape Garden, a French Formal Garden, and a Japanese Traditional Garden. The ladies mentioned how much they enjoy coming here in the spring time when the cherry blossoms are blooming as it is quite beautiful. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I can show you pictures of that. I hear it is a wonderful site. It was also fun to see the Japanese school children in their cute uniforms enjoying some time at the park during school. Enjoy the pictures and before I forget...GO CATS!