Border crossings: Western Sahara

The most problematic section of our trip was crossing borders from Morocco, Mauritania and to Senegal. The southern part of Morocco is a disputed territory of "Western Sahara" where a referendum to be independent or not is overdue and being monitored by an UN mission. Moroccan government is trying to control the area by sending lots of people to live there and is extremely sensitive with foreign journalists. There is a military presence.

TanTan Beach (there was no turning back at this point. I read a few MoFA
travel advisories about Mauritania and got really scared and second guessing
mydecision to tag along this part of the trip....)

After spending a few days in Sidi Wazek, we embarked on this unknown territory. The farther we went, the less vegetation we saw. It is the beginning of Sahara Dessert. Making a one-night brief stop at Tan Tan beach, we took an over-night long distance bus to the last major city before entering Mauritania, which is Dakhla. We packed some snacks and bottles of water (that we hardly sipped to avoid urges to go to a bathroom) and were prepared for notorious numerous police checks along the way by making many photocopies of our passport and basic information. What we had to be careful was our profession. The government probably doesn't like UN or aid workers especially human rights lawyer like M.FR. So, we decided to keep it vague enough but not totally a lie by saying I was "analyst" and he was "consultant." We were a bit nervous, as it appeared that we were the only tourists/ foreigners on this packed bus. We also didn't get to sit together on the bus.

We had a bathroom break in a city called Laayoune where the UN operation was (and is still) on-going. Until then it was not eventful. Shortly after this stop, a fist-fight broke up on the bus between Arab looking (Moroccan probably) bus driver and a guy who could be Saharawi (ethnic group native to this region which is trying to be independent.) They were both yelling quite emotionally and hitting each other on a narrow aisle on the bus right next to me. By then a kind Moroccan government official man gave me a seat so that I could sit next to M. FR. It was escalating and some by-standers on the bus were trying to break up the fight. We were getting nervous as we thought they could use weapons on the bus, which could involve other passengers. Mr. FR and I were ready to jump off the bus if it got worse. Finally police came and brought them out for questioning. It looked like it was resolved after a while and we thought we were ready to continue with our trip. Then the police started checking everyone's paper. They collected foreign passports (ours and there turned out to be Turkish guy also on board) and asked only M. FR to get off for "interrogation." I was nervously waiting. They apparently didn't like his job title of "consultant." They were asking if he was a journalist and if he worked with an "institution." Waiting seemed very long to me. The police chief guy was not so happy but M. FR managed with his small talk ability in French by being extremely friendly and polite to him.

We arrived at our destination of Dakhala in early morning around 4 and checked in a three star hotel.          

Parenting Class

今週末は、お世話になっているサミティベート病院で、出産前講習を受けてきました。FR氏もこのため、仕事が多忙な中２週連続でこちらにきてくれました。

私達を入れて６組のカップルとで、みんなBKK住まいの外国人。私の職場の同じフロアで働いている、バングラディシュ人の男性の奥さんも、実は３月出産予定だということで、たまたま同じクラスにきていました。講師はタイ人の看護師、出産と授乳コンサルタントの優しそうな女性。

まずは、実際に出産するお部屋の見学。病室と言うよりは、バスタブ付きのリビングルームみたいな感じです。真ん中に大きいタブがあり、周りに、ソファーとかデイベット（休憩用）、壁に付いたはしご、天井からぶら下がったロープ、バランスボールなどが置いてある。自分で持ちこんだ音楽を聴けるステレオやシャワーも付いてる。ここで、出産前から赤ちゃんが産まれてからの数時間までずっと過ごすらしい、フリースタイルの出産のお部屋。病人のベッドはないのだけど、緊急の時はすぐに対応できるようになってる。兎に角、妊婦さんがどれだけリラックスできるか、が肝心らしく、それで薬の使用量も６０％少なくできるそう。

講習内容は、出産のステップ、病院に持って行くもの、新生児の世話等等。カップルでできる、陣痛を和らげる体操も、フロアでみんなで練習。

講師の先生は、出産は難しいことではないことを、誰でも、自然の分娩ができること強調していました。陣痛の痛みは怖いけど、ちょっと出産自体が楽しみに思える気もしてきた。FR氏は、君はこんな素晴らしい経験ができるなんて、いいねーとまで言っていた。（彼は痛くないからそんなことが言えるんじゃない？って気もするけど）

順調にいって、帝王切開とかにならずに、自然分娩ができたらいいな。一生に１回のことなので、この貴重な経験を十分に心に焼き付けておかないとね。FR氏が、間に合ってこられると良いのだけどねー。

夜は、久しぶりにお寿司屋さんでたっぷり食べて、お買い物して（新しい和食器を購入！）たこ焼き器も買った。早速、日曜日は彼のお友達を招いて３人で、蛸がなかったので、イカで代用した、イカ焼きパーティー。楽しい週末は直に終っちゃう。もう明日から仕事か。また１週間頑張ろう。

Tiny socks

I had another checkup and detailed scan at the hospital. Overall, he seems to be growing well with a minor kidney issue which is under observation. He has almost doubled his weight since the last appointment, and now he weighs around 1.3 kilogram. According to his growth trajectory to date, he may be as big as 3.5 by the time he is born. I can't imagine how I will have space in my stomach for him to be more than double of his current size!! For Japanese baby size average, he is a bit bigger. For American standard, he is just average. The doctor told us they have no measurement for a half Japanese and half American :)

M.FR (came to BKK to accompany me for the appointment) and I went on our first baby shopping. It is little overwhelming to see so many items in shops and to know what exactly we need. We got some basics, such as onesies, a couple of bottles, little socks, hats, cloth, nail clipper, soap etc. They are all so incredible tiny! I can't believe I will get to meet him in three months wearing these cute little outfits... We decided to go with a bare minimum and not to get carried away by baby item frenzies capitalism, but let's see how we may change this attitude...

We are planning to attend a one-day prenatal parenting class next weekend. 

Happy 2015！

明けましておめでとうございます。今年も宜しくお願いします。２０１５年は大きな変化の年になるので、自己成長の機会だと思って、気を引き締めて頑張ります。

清々しい気分で新年を迎えました、と言いたい所だけど、完全寝不足。大晦日にFR氏のスタッフが４人うちにきたので、ディナーパーティー。スタッフさんの一人がパスタやグワカモリを作ってくれて、私達はポテトサラダの春巻きとサラダの簡単メニューでした。３時過ぎまでお開きにならなかったので、私はほとんど寝てないし、彼は完全二日酔いでノックアウト。酔っぱらっているのに、真夜中に彼がお皿洗いと、キッチンの掃除をしてくれていてビックリ。酔っぱらうといつもなかなか寝てくれないので、最後は無理矢理ベッドまで引きずって行くんだけど、結局は私より先に寝てしまう。こんなおかしな二人だけど、今年は３人になります。どんな１年になるのか楽しみ。

一日は辛うじて、お雑煮ランチを食べた以外はゴロゴロしていました。京風は白味噌がなくてできなかったので、岡山風のすまし汁にして、バンコクで買ってきた黒豆と、スモークサーモンのサラダのメニュー。柚子酒添え。

週末までここで過ごして、月曜の朝に仕事に戻ります。２週間体重を計ってないので、どんなことになってるやら。久々にお家でゆっくりできて良かった。二人で壁にプロジェクターで映して、床にクッションをたくさん並べて映画もたくさん見ました。

Wishing a very Happy New Year 2015 to everyone! We started the year with a bad hangover (M.FR) and a sleep deprivation (me), but otherwise everything is well. I am bracing myself for up-coming big changes in my life this year. The above photo is one the new year's eve dinner that we hosted for M.FR's colleagues. I managed to prepare a simple new year lunch to celebrate the beginning of what will be an exciting year! Wishing 2015 be filled with joy and happiness.