ダディがイギリスより到着。大和田駅まで迎えに行く。乗客が大勢降りて来る中、アラタは私に抱っこされて「タイタニックのポーズ」で待ち受ける。あれ、これ誰？って顔をしたアラタだった。写真は10ヶ月歳になったアラタがイトーヨーカドーで車の形をしたショッピングカートに夢中になっている図。
Daddy has arrived in Japan. Arata was expecting him at Owada station opening his arms in 'Titanic' pose. When Arata saw daddy, he was a bit puzzled. Arata is 10 months old now. In this photo, Arata was in a fancy shaped shopping cart and enjoying 'driving' the cart.
日本にいるとついついみてしまうのが野球中継だ。日本のプロ野球中継だけではない昨今。ここ数日はロッテとホワイトソックスの無敗のシリーズ優勝に盛り上がっている。（ビジオファンとしては、アストロズに勝って欲しかったけど。）かつての高校野球オタクでもとソフトボール部員の私。妊娠中、男の子が生まれてくると判明した時からの私の夢は「早く息子とキャッチボールがしたい。」
同じく野球好きの父がアラタにボールの投げ方を教えている。野球というよりはクリケットのような球道だが、アラタはなかなか筋がいい。セットポジション（ボールを両手で持ってかじる）から、振りかぶって投げる、というか、床に叩きつけると、バウンドしてこっちにちゃんと到着する。アラタがボールを投げるたびにおじいちゃん、おばあちゃん、そしてママが「上手上手！」と拍手をするもんだから、アラタも一球投げ終わるたびに拍手をするのがご愛嬌だ。写真はボールが手から離れた直後のアラタ。真剣そのもの。
Once I am in Japan, I can't avoid watching baseball games. In the last week, both Japanese and American baseball 'series' matches have been on TV. Neither teams I was supporting, Hanshin Tigers and Houston Astros, won but I enjoyed watching them. I used to play softball and baseball is one of my favourite sports. Since I got to know that I was pregnant with a boy, my dream has been 'playing a catch with my son.'
My dad also loves baseball and he bought a few balls to play with Arata. Arata can throw a ball very well. He throws a ball with quite a strength and usually after a couple of bounces, the ball reaches to us quite accurately. I think he has a talent!!! The funny bit is Arata always claps his hands just after he finishes throwing. It's because his audience, my parents and me, cheer him 'Well done!' with clapping hands after his every single throw. Can you see the ball Arata has just thrown in this photo?
アラタは日本で人気者だ。街に出ると、女子高生が振り向きざまに「あ、かわいい～。」エレベーターに乗っている時や、駅のベンチに座っていたりすると、「かわいいわねぇ」と大抵中高年の誰かがあやしてくれる。そして一日に一回は「ハーフ？」って聞かれる。里帰り前にワピングのママたちから聞いてはいたが、日本に来るとハーフの子供は目立つようだ。みんなが好意的な目で微笑みながらのぞきこむから、アラタもいつもニコニコしていて、好循環。
そして、アラタの祖父母は、アラタを知り合いに見せたくてしょうがないらしく、近所に牛乳を買いに行くだけでも連れていく。一緒にデパートに行けば、おじいちゃんは自分で抱っこして、エレベーターの中ではわざわざ他の乗客の方を向いて立つ。一緒にいる私は恥ずかしい。まあ、アラタにとっては周りからのポジティブな反応は人生のスタートに悪い事ではないだろう。写真は「キューピーちゃんみたい」とも言われるアラタ。土呂駅で。
Arata attracts many people here in Japan. When we walk past female high school students, I can hear they say, 'Wow, he is cute! (Kawaii!)' When we are waiting for a train at a station or sitting in a cafe, someone, usually a middle aged woman, comes and amuses him for a while. My friends in Wapping warned me before that mixed-race Japanese children draw lots of attention in Japan. It is really true. Lots of people look at Arata smiling. So Arata is always smiling as well, which causes more attention. (I'm also asked, 'Half?', meaning if Arata is half caucasian, at least once a day.)
Among all, my parents are, of course, the most excited Japanese people. They take Arata out even when they just go out to buy a bottle of milk. They are hoping for running into some neighbours to 'show off' Arata. When we are in a department store, my dad insists to hold Arata and he stands in a lift not facing to the doors but to other passengers. I feel quite embarrassed... Anyway, it shouldn't be bad to have a positive start of life for Arata. This photo was taken at Toro station.
アラタは会話を始めた。ついこの間までの単語の連発（短い音の発声）から、長い文章を喋る（いろいろな音をつなげて発声）ようになった。「こちょー」「ちょくと、ぐおいぐー」「こっくーん」と、一人で喋り続けている。私達の言葉のコピーもたびたびするようになった。今日はなゆみちゃんが遊びに来てくれた。写真は庭で採れた柿をかじるアラタ。
Arata has started to make much longer sound. He often says 'Kochoooo' 'Chokt, goiguuu', 'Kokkuunn.' And he keeps talking to himself. He clearly copies our words more often than before. Nayumi came to visit us today. Arata is eating Kaki in this photo, which we picked from a tree in our garden.
弟がちょっと寄ってくれた。帰国後２週間、アラタを連れた短い外出以外しないで何をしているかというと、築35年の実家の簡単なリフォーム。弟の部屋を片付けて、天井にクロスを貼り、ライト、じゅうたんやカーテンを替えて、次回滞在する時にも気持ちのよい客間作り。きょうは父と作業中に弟にアラタをしばらくみてもらった。初めての二人きりだったけど、アラタもすっかり打ち解けて、ひろおじちゃんもまんざらではなさそうだった。
My brother, Hiro, dropped in. He usually doesn't come to my parents so often but it must be Arata's effect! Since we arrived 2 weeks ago, I've been doing some simple reform of my parents' 35 year old house. I've changed my brother's room which was full of stuff to a nice bedroom. I changed the light, did the ceiling and put new curtains and a carpet. This afternoon, I was changing carpet and curtains with my dad while Hiro was looking after Arata. It was the first time for my brother to spend some time with just Arata. They seemed to be getting on very well.
つらい。帰国後アラタは再び夜中に何回も起きるようになってこっちは完全に寝不足だ。Jasonにどれだけ普段頼っているかを実感。私の両親は仕事で昼間いないため、イギリスでの子育てをJasonなしでしているようなものだから、思ったより大変。帰国前には、会おうね！なんて話していた友達に会いに行くのも億劫で、あっという間に一日が経つ。外出はもっぱら大宮駅周辺のデパート。デパートにはだいたい幼児用の小さいプレイエリアがあるので、最近ではバギーの上でじっとしてないアラタをしばらく野放しにする格好の場所だ。
I'm shattered. Arata has woken up more than twice every night since we came to Japan. I have to take care of it without Jason and it's so hard. I often forget how much Jason helps me. I really appreciate Jason's involvement with Arata. My parents still go to work during day and they can't help me much. No wonder, I'm looking after Arata without Jason for 24 hours. Harder than I thought. I even don't feel like going out to see my friends. The only places I go out are play areas at department stores around Omiya station. I try to take Arata out once a day, often to shopping. In almost all department stores, there is a tiny play area, where I can put Arata, who no longer quietly stays still in a buggy, for a while to let him play.
とにかくおじいちゃんにべったり。おじいちゃんが仕事から帰って来ると、アラタは狂喜乱舞。これが、おばあちゃんだと全然ダメ。おばあちゃんには、生後すぐにあんなにお世話になったのにねえ・・・。仕事と趣味でほとんど家にいないおばあちゃんと、仕事の途中にもちょこっと家に寄るおじいちゃんでは、おじいちゃんに軍配が上がったか。おばあちゃんは名誉挽回に必死だ。
Jasonがいない毎日に、男性の代わりを探しているのかなあとも思う。先週弟が遊びに来た時も、じーっと（パパかなって？）見ていたし、スタバあたりでPCを開きながらコーヒーを飲んでいる男性を、やはり凝視しているから。この写真は、おじいちゃんの足にまとわりつくアラタ。
Arata is so clingy to.... to... grandad. When my dad comes home, Arata crawls very fast to him with excitment. It's not like this when my mum comes home. She came to look after Arata just after his birth but apparently Arata can't remember that. My mum is barely at home, she is too busy at work and her hobbies, while my dad even pops in during work to see Arata. My dad is leading the 'race' and mum tries hard to take the first position back!
I often think Arata may be looking for an alternative father figure while Jason is not around. When my brother was here, Arata was staring at him for a long time. At a cafe, Arata can not take off his eyes from a young man having coffee working on a PC. This photo is Arata holding onto grandad's leg.
日本到着後一週間が過ぎ、ようやくアラタの時差ぼけが落ち着いて来た。とは言っても就寝は英国での8時ではなく10時。日本は夜遅くまでお店は開いてるし（私のショッピング！）、中里家は宵っ張りな家庭なので、昼間はまだ仕事に行っているアラタの祖父母にもちょうどいい時間かもしれない。
英国との8時間の時差は赤ちゃんには不憫だ。いや、それよりも、いつもと環境が違う事はアラタをもっと不安にする。夜中に何回も起きて、おっぱいを上げても泣き止まず、Calpolを上げて寝かす羽目にもなった。そして、Calpolが効かないかと思うほど泣いていた初めの数日、アラタは「ダッ、ダッ、ダディー－－－」と言いながら泣き続けたのだ。
実はこれがアラタの口から「ダディ」と初めてはっきりと聞いた瞬間。私も涙がでた。ママが視界から少しでも消えると「マミィー－」と言って泣くことも覚えた。アラタの人生で一番の試練の時に、意思の疎通の手段として言葉を喋ろうとするアラタはなんともけなげで切ない。
写真は早速会いに来てくれた弟夫婦と。
It took about a week for Arata (and me) to adjust the 8 hour time difference. Well, Arata goes to bed at about 10 pm, not 8 pm like in England. But here in Japan, it's more to do in the early night, lots of shops or department stores are open till 8 or 9, and my parents go to work during day, 10 o'clock should be quite acceptable.
8 hour difference is tough for 0 year old baby. Probably the change of environment is the worst fear for Arata. In the first week, Arata woke up many time during night, crying and crying. Breastfeeding didn't work and I gave him Calpol in the first few days. And during these days, Arata was crying for daddy.... he kept going 'Da da da da daddiiiiiieeeeeee...'
It was the first time for me to hear Arata so clearly saying 'Daddy'. I cried as well.... In the first challenging moment for his life, he tried hard to communicate with us with words. Even when I was going to walk to another room, Arata cried shouting 'Ma miiiieeee'. It's moving but I feel guilty.
My brother and his wife came to visit us last Sunday to see their first nephew.
日本到着。機内には知り合いママ3人を含めた５組の赤ちゃん＆幼児。私の隣は２席空けてあさみさん親子が座り、斜め前には窓側の2席をブロックした通路側にしのぶさん達がいたため、そこをテンポラリープレイエリアにして子供達を遊ばせたりと、快適な旅だった。
子供の時に乗って以来のJALフライトだったけれど、フライトアテンダントの人達はみな親切で、これなら一人でも乗れそうだ。子供達が寝てからは、しのぶさんとホッと一息、コーヒーを飲んだりしている間にあっという間に日本に着いてしまった。
アラタと言えば、バジネットに乗せたら「遊び」と思ったのかきゃっきゃっと楽しそうだった。離陸着陸時はおっぱいを飲ませてしのぎ、11時間のフライト中7時間ちょっと寝てくれた。
さて、ヒースローの出国ゲートで子供を母親に渡して見送る（あさみさんのところ以外）3人のパパ達。ぎりぎりまで子供を抱いていた胸のあたりの空間を残したまま、私達が見えなくなるまで佇んでいた姿が妙に寂しかった。
Arrived in Japan. During 11 hour flight, there were 5 babies and families on board, including us, 4 families. Asami and Sachi had a seat in the same row with 2 blocked seats in between. Shinobu and Akira sat with 2 blocked seats towards a window, and we made this area as a temporary 'play area'.
It's been long since I flew on JAL, because usually they are more expensive than other airlines. But anyway, it was a really comfortable flight. Flight attendants were all friendly and helpful. I thought it won't be so difficult to fly on my own with Arata. After our children fell asleep, Shinobu and I had a nice cup of coffee and enjoyed the short peaceful moment. Surprisingly, it was really quick to arrive in Japan.
Arata enjoyed being in basinet. He seemed to think he was doing pee-ka-boo at first. I breastfed him while taking off and landing, and he didn't cry in both occasions from the sudden changes of air pressure.
At Heathrow airport, it was quite a sad farewell for daddies. (In this photo, all daddies except for Asami's.) They were all holding their babies until the last moment before we went into the departure gate. When we looked back for the last time, before we completely disappeared, they looked 'lost' with the space they had been holding their children still wide open.
今晩の便で日本へ。アラタの初フライト。Jasonは一緒に来ないけど、友達も何組か一緒の集団帰国なので心強い。アラタはいい子でいるかなあ・・・。
We are flying to Japan this evening. It's Arata's first flight. Jason is not coming with us but 3 other mums and toddlers are with us. Hopefully, everything will go well!
アラタの風邪がよくなってきた。さて、うつ伏せでも昼寝をするようになったアラタ。好んでというよりは、寝たくなくて泣きわめきながら、そのうちに疲れて眠ってしまうとうつ伏せになっている。仰向けになるという意識がないので、腹ばいから倒れこむのかなあ。（実はその瞬間を目撃したことがない。）
Arata is recovering from cold. Arata has started to have a nap on his tummy. Not always and not because he likes it. Often he is grizzling before having a day-time nap and when he falls asleep at last being tired, he is sometimes lying on his tummy. My guess is he just falls forwards from sitting or crawling position because he has no idea how to lie down on his back. (I've never eye witnessed him doing yet.)
