Miurakaigan Beach.

Today we went to Yokosuka bicycle park. It was not what we thought it would be.

We found this park instead. That's me, on the top of the curved blue ladder.

"I see it. I go climb. Look, kids! I go fast." I went on every part of the playground except for the slides. Japanese girls help me with the slides and if they aren't around, I don't go down. "Daddy! I see you over there. I be right back. You wait there."

Mama sees me trying to figure out how to navigate this red bridge. I turn around thinking I'll go bottom first. The dad next to me is getting nervous. Mama decides to come over so he doesn't try to spot me. Usually, if she stands closer, the Japanese parents don't try to interfere.

I got down into the green net and I was stuck again. I figured it out soon enough when Mama pointed out that I could go under the net. 

We are done playing here and have a backup plan to go to the beach. 
"Backpack on front, Mama. Walking to train? Own seat in there?" 
"Yes, Lulu you can have your own seat if there is room. First, we will walk and get some ice cream! Get ready to come up in the backpack."
"Ice ceem. I ready to go! You comin?"
"Yep, Kami pie, I am coming." Daddy calls from behind. Mama is sprinting toward ice cream. Of course she is.

There are other desserts, but we don't care. "Ice ceem. I hold it. Bite now, please."

"Wait for just a minute, Kami Lou, the lady will get it for us." She gets us two. I don't smile for the picture. I just want ice cream. "Yaydee got it. I ready for bite, please." YUM! Finally.

It is gone fast! That's good too, because you are not really suppose to eat on the train. We have seen people eat small snacks here and there, but nothing messy. Usually, it's kids eating. I haven't seen an adult eat on public transportation since being here. "More? Nope. Ice ceem all done. Train is coming. I on it! Yay!"

"Own wipe, please. I use it on my mouff. Hands too. All better. Train is coming! I see it. I in there!" The train comes on the other side. Mama says we have to wait for one coming the other direction. I am making Daddy Bear nervous. He scoops me up. "More trains?"

On the train I use the handle like this Japanese man. I want to sit in my own seat, but this works too. I am just like him. I will be Japanese soon.

 "Off the train. I walking? More people. Look, stairs. I can do it." A tiny jaunt through the village/town leads us to the beach. We have to show you the garbage spots here. You put the garbage under the blue nets. Every day is something different like, household goods, aluminum, plastic, yard waste, burnables, etc. There is almost always some kind of garbage in there. Also, we pass lots of fish flags. It is the end of Golden week here which is a VERY big deal.  This is one of the reasons we choose to go to the beach instead of a tourist destination. We did that last weekend and were surprised at the number of people traveling. No thank you. A quiet day is what Mama and Daddy need.

The road opens up to the sand. "Beach. Ocean. Ocean fish. Opa fishing. I in there. Unlce Clary on beach. Boats on sand. Feet in sand. Let's go."

It's beautiful and windy. There are some people out today, thankfully not too many. It's like memorial day with lots of family BBQ's up toward the road. It smells delicious! There are groups of young adults too. They seem to be acting a little crazy after having a few too many beverages. Mama and Daddy do not explain any further.

Many of the beaches here are lined with palm trees. This one is lined with evergreens.
  

Yes, I think it's strange too. Daddy and I play in the sand for a bit. I hand Daddy lots of handfuls of sand. He likes it, so I hand him more. "Sand? Here you go. More? Yes, here."

We walk out on a platform. It's even windier here. "I hungry. Dinner? I thirsty. Are you thirsty? Water, please." Daddy says we walk back to the train then find dinner.

 Pot stickers and noodles for dinner! I love those. Mama is getting good at feeding me with chopsticks. I can even use them a little bit too. Usually, the restaurants give me my own bowl, fork, and spoon. I see Japanese kids use forks and spoons too.

We are full of dinner and ready to go home now. Load up on the bus! "Phone? Kami's phone. I use it now, please. I on bus. Bus goes home."

Negeesa and Ma'E

Today is the second day in a row that we see my friends. We remember their names too!

We run right into them while we were walking to the store. "I walking maself. I go fast. You comin? Store has carts. I go in it. Girls. I see girls. Friends!" They come up and give me a big hug. We tell them we are going to the store. They don't understand English, so Mama points and keeps walking. They follow us. "There, a cart. I in it. I push it."

Causing quite a commotion outside the store, we figure out whether they are coming in or not. They are giggling and talking in Japanese to each other. Mama just starts going in and they take over pushing the cart. "Free help, yes please," Mama says. 

We are done really fast at the store. Ma'E and Nageesa point toward the playground asking if we could join them. If I don't touch anything in the store, I get to go anyway, so Mama agrees. Mama's camera is acting funny, so these pictures are terrible quality. I tried to help her fix it by wiggling on her lap and asking for milk. That apparently didn't work, so this is the best we have.

The girls follow me to what I want to do. This time, they also played their own game of badminton. Mama and I join in for a minute. We share a racket. Mama and I laugh and laugh, so do the girls. Suddenly, I spotted the teeter-totter and point excitedly in that direction. The girls are more than happy to change games. Nageesa rides on one side with me while Ma'E is on the other.

I haven't figured out what this hand gesture is, yet but I see it's very popular. Mostly, I just pose with my cheesy grin. This is so fun! "I ride them. Up and down. Weee. Wee. I on it."

Time to say goodbye. Mama says she has to start dinner. Just now, the outside bell rings, just like it does every day at 5pm. It sounds like a school bell, but you can hear it everywhere in the neighborhood. The girls look at each other and know they have to get going too. Everyone goes inside when the bell rings. All the playing children hop on their bikes, scooters, or run to get home. The three parks by our house our empty within five minutes. "Bye girls. Gato, gato. I walk on orge. I do it maseff."

Mama is making tacos for dinner. "I helping. Spinach. Matoes. Nonions. You cut them. Knives for adults. Dangerous. Sharp. Adults only. I helping. Here you go, nother matoe." Daddy gets home and we are ready to eat. 

Daddy sets my plate down and soon offers me a bite of his, like normal. Today, I refuse. "I have it. I hold it. Kami's own. Daddy's own. I do it maself." Mama puts together my very own taco to hold. I eat two halves of taco shell filled just like Mama and Daddy's. I hold it myself. I am so proud. Usually, I just take bits off theirs and have taco salad in my bowl. I don't even spill much.

Today, I am a big girl.

Note: Mama and I have no idea how to spell the girls names. I wrote them phonetically for you. You are welcome.

On'nanoko.

Today is one of the days I play with the little Japanese girls at the park.

On'nanoko= little girls

I have played with this group of girls at this park before, but Mama Roo has always left her camera behind. Today, she brings it, even though we are not planning to stay long.

This is how we usually find the little girls. They are in a circle with hand-held DS like devices. Most of them have their own and they share and giggle back and forth looking at each other's screens. "Look, kids! Girls and bikes. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi!" By the time I am close enough for them to hear me, I say nothing. I just stare. It's effective. They drop their games and come play with me.

I want to show them how I can climb. They hover around me like a dog waiting for food to drop from a high chair.  I laugh at them when they worry whether or not I can climb this ladder. One is waiting for me at the top!

They help me on the slide every time. Two at the top. Two or three at the bottom. Sometimes one even goes down with me. I like to watch the girls come down too. Mama Roo is giggling to herself while she sits out of the way. Do you see the top of my head in this first picture?

I also like to climb the slide and they are more than happy to help. 

We pause from playing on the structure for a minute while I focus on baby. I decide she needs milk. They all think it's hilarious that she is naked. Pointing and laughing, they don't speak any words I understand. I shrug and make them help me put her in. Nagesa is my favorite, I let her help the most.

Mau'E takes this time to get out her DS device. She shows me and I don't want to let it go. I don't care that I have no idea what it does. Baby is helpful in the sling. Maybe she knows about these things? Prying it out of my hands, Mau'E shows me how to take a picture with it. These girls love their pictures! Nagesa and her friend assume the natural Japanese pose. 

I run toward the animals. I can climb two of them myself, but these girls will use any excuse to pick me up. Most of the time I wiggle free, but this time I know the purpose. I comply long enough to get myself where I want to be. "Yaybah!" I'm sitting high on the ladybug, now! Running back, I hand baby off to Mama for a pocket nap. Baby likes those.

One more trip up the slide, then we go home.

I love my Japanese friends! It doesn't matter that I have no idea what they are saying. I know they love me and that's what counts.