Japan-O-Celt (A new addition to my clan)

I would like to officially welcome a new member to the Michel-Davies-Dudley family (perhaps ‘clan’ would be more appropriate?)

It’s really ironic that my brother Mat should have met Nak (as she is called in our family). I come out to Japan for three years and my brother meets a ‘Nihon-jin’ (Japanese) lady right there in S.Wales! Now when I go home, I have free practice with my Japanese!

Naoko comes from Tokyo originally and she settled in S.Wales when she was eleven. Her Dad is a senior with ‘Sony’ in South Wales. She works as a Doctor. I only got to meet her once or twice at Christmas last year and it was Christmas day that they announced her pregnancy. It’s certainly been a cultural experience for my ‘rents, who whilst meeting her ‘rents have been learning some new things about Japanese customs and practices.

I’m thrilled to have a living embodiment of Japan right in my family! It feels like I will always have a tie with this place and now that has become all the more special and valid. Taiyo will of course learn Japanese and Naoko is already speaking to him in Japanese. I hope that I can help a little and speak bits of Japanese with Taiyo, too. I have already bought him a gorgeous pop-up book called ‘Itadakimasu’ that I can read to him when I’m home (OK, I know he’ll only be two months old, but It’ll be good for him to hear Japanese sounds and noises). Also, I’ve sent him a baby Yukatta (Japanese summer festival pajama-type things). I know that by the time he is four, his Japanese will be too complex for me, but I’ll certainly do my best! Ganbarimasu! This is going to be one clued-up child!