"Neither Here Nor There"

Yesterday Canadian Academy alum Ema Ryan-Yamazaki came back to school to screen her film about being a Third Culture Kid. It was a well-done 35-minute documentary about what it is like to grow up 'between cultures' and is something that has been on our minds with regard to Anya and Samudra for the last few years. It is the source of the name for this blog!

We really hope that by choosing this life of international schools and living among cultures they will grow up to be decent global citizens - but we do need to be mindful of their own needs for identity.

Anyhoo - here are the introduction and trailer:

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE Sneak Peak from Ema Ryan Yamazaki on Vimeo.

Trailer: Neither Here Nor There from Ema Ryan Yamazaki on Vimeo.

Anya's first day of her new school!

We have been so incredibly busy with the move that I have been terrible at getting photos up in the last couple of weeks. We will post something better at the weekend (hopefully well have fast wireless in the new house by then), but for now here are some photos:

First Day at school!

And here's one of Mum, Dad and the kids at Glasgow airport:

I'll keep adding more to this folder:


OK - got to get back to work.

Packing Stations!

There was more than this before... but Hesty has it under control. The mower is not coming.

Where did that holiday disappear to? Five weeks have been very busy and tomorrow morning we jet off to Kobe. We ended up buying more baggage online through KLM, which works out much cheaper than paying for excess bags at the airport. With the money saved we bought two big backpacks to check in and a baggage scale (basically a newton-meter), so we hope we don't get stung at the airport.

15 Kilos. Raaar!

You can't tell from the terrible photo, but yesterday I woke up with a big swollen eyelid. Went to the doctor, expecting to have to pay a fortune or not be seen and it turns out I was still registered - although I'd not seen a UK doctor in 21 years. Anyway, two minutes in the office and I was out, told to carry on with the salve I got from Boots and to keep it bathed. Gotta love the NHS - no matter how people complain, not all countries have a system like it. With a new short haircut and a swollen eye, Japanese immigration will think I'm well 'ard. Or perhaps not.

Here are some more pictures of the last few days:

Anya took this photo!

Sunday Sam Snap Week 20

On time! Here's the boy in a hoodie from Aunty Helen - thank-you!

Week 20

Samudra and Helen

Anya drumming with Toby

Anya was very taken by Toby's drum kit. Here's her drum solo rendition of 'Sweet Child of Mine':

Cockermouth Show

A glorious day for Cockermouth & District Agricultural Show!

At the sheep judging pens

Face painting!

Show jumping competition

Daring dogs display

On the rides

On the rides

On the rides

"Can we go again next year?"

Then we made it back to Bridekirk in time to see John's wedding party on their way out of the church and meet up with Helen and Charlotte. A busy day so far!

Fun with Team Timony

A quick visit from our Norn Iron cousins.

Kevin paramotoring around Bridekirk and Cockermouth

Kevin paramotoring around Bridekirk and Cockermouth

Click for video From Summer 2011

Click for video From Summer 2011

More holiday snaps...

... in the same folder. Gotta love Picasa.


Here are some highlights:

Anya's Japanese Haiku

Two weeks from now we'll be in Kobe for the next stage of our adventure. Visas done, shipping sent, fingers crossed. Anya has been given some great Japan books, and last week learned this haiku by Matsuo Basho about a frog jumping into an ancient pond and going 'splash!':

On a nerdy note, the iPod does pretty well at eliminating the background noise of being on a busy train.

Here is a YouTube video explaining the poem: