Taking Michael to Seattle: Success!

So we're back in Japan after three weeks in beautiful, cool, sunny Seattle, and the trip was a great success.

Michael got to know his cousins Colton and Aili well and hang out with American kids at summer adventure and soccer day camps speaking in authentic 7-year-old English. I (Mark) got to hang out with family and friends, experience being a full time house husband for a few days, and enjoy some kayaking, hiking and microbrew tasting. I got a few hours of work in at the UW library, but not much...there was just too many things to do.

Many, many thanks to my sister Jeannette, her husband Derrick, and kids Colton and Aili for putting us up and putting up with us for so many days, and to Ken B. for letting Colton, Michael and I interrupt your peace and stay for the week of Adventure Camp. We hope we didn't overstay our welcome too much. Cousins Michael and Colton were a potent combination, endlessly being silly, finding ways to mess around, outdoing each other, telling on each other and getting in each other's faces. The noise level was high, and I think all parties are a little relieved that they are now separated by the Pacific Ocean once again.

Thanks to the stay, Michael's fluency in American first grade vernacular has been enriched by new invaluable phrases such as, just to list a few frequently recurring ones off the top of my head:
"It's not fair. You always get to go first. It's my turn."
"This is boring. I hate this. I really hate this. Why do I have to do this?"
"(Uncle MaAAAark, Michael punched me! ) Shut up. No I didn't. Dad, he's making it up.
"Stop it. No, YOU stop it. No YOU stop. YOU YOU YOU YOU (endlessly)"


But seriously, it was really great for Michael to have a chance to play, mess around, and be silly in English to his heart's content.

For Michael, International Soccer School (link) week was his best week and he absolutely loved being able to play soccer all day 9am to 4pm, day after day for a week. The practice menu was simple, with kids mostly playing game after game, sometimes mixing Michael with bigger kids up to sixth grade. It really worked out well for him. He was a better player than most kids in his age group of 6-8, and that led to a certain level of admiration and acceptance from the group of American kids in spite of not being much of a conversationalist (like getting picked first for team selection--which was good for him, but a bit cruel for less experienced players like his cousin Colton). I observed the beginning and end of a few practices, and he just played the game quietly and diligently, with just limited spoken interaction such as "(kid) What's the score now? " "(Michael) three nil" or "(kid) Do you want to take the corner kick?" "(Michael) "OK." Quiet and diligent (almost too serious) made him very popular with his coaches and that must have made him feel really good, too. He's excited about going next year (if there is a next year...).

The 20 days flew by!

So, what's the "English immersion" plan for summer next year? Budget and yen/dollar rate permitting, I definitely want to go as a whole family rather than just Michael and I. Also, it would be best to have our own place to stay and our own rental car rather than occupy a family or friend's house....In fact, with the beautiful weather in Seattle in summer, it was tempting to look into buying a place over there, but that's a plan for the long term future since I'm not tenured and we haven't bought a house in Japan yet.

As for summer camps, soccer camp was good, but I kind of hope I can put Michael in a camp that gets a little more verbal development...like a science camp or computer camp kind of thing?

Once again, thanks to all in Seattle for your kindness and hospitality!