If anyone has been wondering why there haven’t been any new posts since the beginning of the year it’s because the kids and I spent the past 5 weeks back home in New York. It was our first time back since we moved to Tokyo and prior to arriving there I was really curious how it would feel to be back. Would I want to stay? Would I miss Tokyo? It turns out the answer is a little bit of yes to both questions. I definitely still feel very at home in New York City, but being there when I was on my own is very different from being there with children. Comparing the superficial aspects of each city, I feel more comfortable with the kids in Tokyo – the cleanliness, the efficiency of transportation, the general sense of safety, the various public facilities available, the free health care for young children. But the energy in New York is still incomparable. Having our family and friends there is what made it all the more enticing to stay. Keiji and Arisa were really having such a great time with everyone, especially since they were getting the star treatment. Anyhow, since we’ll probably be awake in the wee hours of the morning I’ll be back soon to post more. Until then…