It's the day before my first departure from Japan. I explored the train system in my town and got some business done, snapping some pictures along the way. Thankfully, the snow has melted now.
This is one of my Elementary schools.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
It's colder than it looks
First snow in Naruko this week. I had fun digging my car out every morning. I broke the car door handle trying to open the door because it was frozen. I don't trust my new tires and Japan doesn't clear their roads, so I will be taking the train to school now. I dressed up as Santa Claus for my classes all last week. I have only one more day of school left tomorrow. I am leaving for Tokyo tomorrow after work and I will be in America on Wednesday!
It's the day before my first departure from Japan. I explored the train system in my town and got some business done, snapping some pictures along the way. Thankfully, the snow has melted now.
This is one of my Elementary schools.
It's the day before my first departure from Japan. I explored the train system in my town and got some business done, snapping some pictures along the way. Thankfully, the snow has melted now.
This is one of my Elementary schools.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christmas!
It's Christmastime all around the world. The sound of Christmas music playing and the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping have reached their peak. Japan is no different. There is one difference, however. The ryokan that I am living in has absolutely no insulation, no heat, and is located in the coldest place in the known world. While this may seem like a bit of an exaggeration, it has been an interesting experience trying to stay somewhat warm and comfortable, and it hasn't even started snowing...yet.
Just for fun, let's take a look at my attempts at keeping warm:
#1: I built a fort inside my room.
The fort consists of a heavy blanket, surrounded by towels and an overhead blanket to keep cold air out.
#2: I put an electric heater inside the fort.
Inside the fort, the heater was located next to my futon, which is laying on top of an electric carpet, which heats my futon.
#3: Comfort food
Lastly, I try and cook some warm comfort food to make myself feel like I am enjoying the cold winter weather. This was some Nikujaga, or beef stew, that I made.
Sadly, none of these attempts really came to any real consequence. I am still cold and my electric bill was out the roof.
But don't worry, I have found an apartment in town (with heat) and I am planning to move as soon as I get back from America. So if you're wondering what to get me for Christmas, money for my new apartment would be great!
In other news, I am coming home in just one more week. I went to Sendai today to get my re-entry permit, which gives me permission to re-enter Japan once I leave. In Sendai they have a "pageant of lights" where they light up all the trees on the main street.
Merry Christmas!
Just for fun, let's take a look at my attempts at keeping warm:
#1: I built a fort inside my room.
The fort consists of a heavy blanket, surrounded by towels and an overhead blanket to keep cold air out.
#2: I put an electric heater inside the fort.
Inside the fort, the heater was located next to my futon, which is laying on top of an electric carpet, which heats my futon.
#3: Comfort food
Lastly, I try and cook some warm comfort food to make myself feel like I am enjoying the cold winter weather. This was some Nikujaga, or beef stew, that I made.
Sadly, none of these attempts really came to any real consequence. I am still cold and my electric bill was out the roof.
But don't worry, I have found an apartment in town (with heat) and I am planning to move as soon as I get back from America. So if you're wondering what to get me for Christmas, money for my new apartment would be great!
In other news, I am coming home in just one more week. I went to Sendai today to get my re-entry permit, which gives me permission to re-enter Japan once I leave. In Sendai they have a "pageant of lights" where they light up all the trees on the main street.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
More Food and My Attempts at Cooking
I have recently discovered how to cook and have been spending far too much time in the kitchen. I purchased a rice cooker for only 980 yen (~$11) and it has come in extremely handy. I make rice in it every night and it is the bulk of my dinner, but I just add something else with some protein and then some veggies and throw in a banana and it's delicious!
This is my rice cooker! It was super cheap because I bought it at the recycle shop, where it only cost me 980 yen. These suckers run around 5000-7000 yen (~$60-82) if you buy one new!
This is my attempt at a broccoli and egg creation, with lots of rice of course! After this I realized that I should cook it with cheese, so now I call it broccoli, egg and cheese! It's not the best, but I get really excited about it, hence the exclamation marks in this paragraph!
This was a feast of rice, broccoli, and egg (pre-cheese revelation), chicket cutlet with tonkatsu sauce (yummy), almond cake and ganzuki bread.
Tonight's meal was rice, broccoli, egg, and cheese, and Burmese meat. The Burmese meat is from Burma, of course and not Japanese at all. I got it from my friend who is from Myanmar (previously Burma). The appearance and texture is that of the bark of a tree. You simply pour oil on it and mash it in with your fingers, let it soak for a couple minutes, and eat. It is actually pretty tasty and goes great with rice!
Sadly, I did not cook this last meal. But I did eat it! I found this restaurant at the Sendai station and the Japanese style food was actually really like (good) Americanized Japanese food. I had the garlic chicken and it was absolutely delicious.
This is my rice cooker! It was super cheap because I bought it at the recycle shop, where it only cost me 980 yen. These suckers run around 5000-7000 yen (~$60-82) if you buy one new!
This is my attempt at a broccoli and egg creation, with lots of rice of course! After this I realized that I should cook it with cheese, so now I call it broccoli, egg and cheese! It's not the best, but I get really excited about it, hence the exclamation marks in this paragraph!
This was a feast of rice, broccoli, and egg (pre-cheese revelation), chicket cutlet with tonkatsu sauce (yummy), almond cake and ganzuki bread.
Tonight's meal was rice, broccoli, egg, and cheese, and Burmese meat. The Burmese meat is from Burma, of course and not Japanese at all. I got it from my friend who is from Myanmar (previously Burma). The appearance and texture is that of the bark of a tree. You simply pour oil on it and mash it in with your fingers, let it soak for a couple minutes, and eat. It is actually pretty tasty and goes great with rice!
Sadly, I did not cook this last meal. But I did eat it! I found this restaurant at the Sendai station and the Japanese style food was actually really like (good) Americanized Japanese food. I had the garlic chicken and it was absolutely delicious.
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