IKEA, despite all the hype

We made the requisite trip to IKEA, the one in Funabashi (Chiba) that opened a few months ago. Many people raved about the prices and reasonable modern furniture - interesting considering IKEA was in Japan 10+ years ago and failed miserably. I suppose times have changed and less prosperous times bring less finicky customers?!

I suppose we should have gone to IKEA before going to IDC Otsuka Furniture...because IKEA seemed let a letdown in comparison. It was smaller, much more crowded, had few staff around to help (as opposed to having a personal guide at IDC Otsuka), and full of shoddy plywood do-it-yourself furniture.

Though I must admit, the vivid colours really grew on me and I too, ended up being duped into becoming yet another newbie IKEA consumer. We bought plenty of stuff: kitchenware, candles, napkins, lights...just not any furniture! We went with the intention of buying a rug for our dining table...and gave up at the cash register when we were told it would cost almost 80USD to deliver it! Yet an even more shocking ripoff: a sofa at IKEA (at almost 1400USD, a little less than the sofa we bought from IDC) was not even made of REAL leather. Imitation leather but purportedly designed by some esteemed blah blah blah person. Get outta here!

Not that all of the hardware is bad, just a lot of it is of shaky (at best), so you should be careful when buying anything from IKEA...it might not last long! It was nice to shop around with 'commoners' in such a colourful casual place - IDC Otsuka was kind of snobby in presentation and style. For a day trip, you should check out both IKEA and IDC...on different days, of course!

The lamp to the left was at IKEA for 1900 yen, or about 17 dollars - how reasonable and fun! Available in 120cm or 160cm. Looks like a giant thing of Japanese sake! Great for sake-olics.

JO-JO-EN

We were eating yakiniku (at upscale Jojo-en in Ginza) with our also recently married friends, Lewis and Akiko in Tokyo. It dawned upon me that I had no idea how sesame seeds came to be, which really bothered me considering we eat it practically every day here!

Luckily that fleeting thought about sesame seeds lingered in my brain and today I remembered to Google it! Sesame seeds grow on stalks like this and the sesame seeds remain in a pod until maturity, at which point the pod bursts, hence the idiom, "open sesame!"

Oh, as for the yakiniku (BBQed meat and seafood), it was scrumpdiddlumpcious!!! Really fresh and tasty, especially the tender kalbi!!! The meat and seafood was loaded up with so much garlic that much remained in our breath even the next day! Phew, talk about potent stuff. I highly recommend JoJoEn, especially if treating out of towners...however, one caveat: it is a little pricey compared to your average BBQ place.

watch out KFC, here I come!

Sorry for all you KFC fans out there, but I think I have come across a recipe which is as tasty, if not tastier! I stumbled upon the secret while looking for fried chicken recipes for Christmas Eve...what kind of Japanese Christmas would it be without fried chicken?! What's more, this recipe tastes amazing even when made with skinless dark meat. Now that is what I call the ultimate test.

Next time instead of buying KFC, why don't you try making it instead? It is not as hard as it looks and tastes leaps and bounds fresher!

hearty meaty breakfast, anyone?!

How people can do it is beyond me - I mean eat tons of meat, first thing in the morning. So much for nudging awake the digestion, ha ha. I suppose Americans eat their fair share of meat (in the form of bacon, sausage, etc) for breakfast, too...yet... Well, I suppose to my friends back home it is a bit odd that I eat so much fish for breakfast these days!

This morning we ate fast-food breakfast at Yoshinoya after another driving training session. I could not believe all the meat entrees they offered: kimchi pork bowl, ginger beef bowl, regular pork bowl...phew! The food was not bad, but it was definitely more like Grade C than usual homemade Grade A or AA. Even the rice glistened less in the sunlight.

Despite my griping, I will admit that if one opts for the natto or fish set, it is relatively healthy even considering it is fast food. Natto, rice, miso soup, raw egg (to be seasoned with soy sauce and dumped into the rice bowl), seaweed (laver kind), pickles, and a generous portion of rice. My grilled salmon fish set had the same, minus the raw egg.

happy news for the day!

AH-HA! There is an equivalent to the all-American fries in Shamrock shakes after all! Here it is ladies and gents...feast your eyes out! Hmm, don't think I would be up for trying it myself, as much as I like fried foods in ice cream and all... Wasabi ice cream was kind gross but SALT ice cream was delish, a definite must-try!

BIZEN, Okayama -- For those with more robust palates, an unusual local specialty is gaining popularity here: A soft ice cream topped with fried oysters.

Called "kaki (oyster) soft," this unlikely taste sensation can be yours for a mere 250 yen at Gomi no Ichi, a shop operated by a fishermen's cooperative in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture.
The ice cream, boasts two fried oysters drizzled in soy sauce. (Mainichi)

adulterated cream?!?!

Some of you may spend less on foods to save an extra buck or two, but hopefully after you read this, you might think twice about it! My mother-in-law always stresses using the highest quality goods that one can procure (without unreasonable back breaking, that is). I too have adopted her way of thinking and hope others will follow my lead.

I went to buy whipping cream to make whipped cream frosting for our Christmas cake (strawberry shortcake)...and just before I reached in to grab the one on sale, the woman asked me to taste a sample: whipped cream (100% fresh milk from Hokkaido, think Wisconsin of America) on some sponge cake. It was heavenly and so light, unlike much of that found in some franchise cake shops.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I reached for the REAL milk whipping cream (I was almost fooled into going cheaper!) and not the significantly cheaper alternative posing as real whipping cream. How tricky! The fake whipping cream is made from all sorts of emusifiers, preservatives, and vegetable oils...oh, yuck, the travesty! Now I have begun to suspect that many shops use this fake whipping cream. Here is what gives it away: real cream hardens after sitting for some time, fake cream leaves a very oily residue on one's tongue and the roof of one's mouth, and fake cream lasts for ages!

put the kabash on a gassy friend?

Ah, the lovely inventions of the Japanese. Gotta love them! This is Vivian's funny news report of the day, compliments of SPA tabloid mag.

Gas Medic Pants are undies designed to eliminate the odor of flatulence. At just 140 grams a pair, they're light and airy, according to the weekly. They're also durable, lasting for about 3 months (not presumably if worn every day). Gas Medic Pants are designed for those suffering from chronic flatulence, but have also found fans amongst salarymen who like letting one rip during meetings without leaving a prolonged pong, Spa! says.

bad news sells

I check out the headlines and 9.5 out of 10 times it is about something tragic or scandalous. I wish they would report more upbeat events...but I suppose we have it in us to think that such 'happy' news is not so-called newsworthy material, therefore news agencies worldwide write it off as frivolous? Pity. At times reading the news makes me feel like the world is corrupt beyond salvation and we are all going under and gonna burn in hell. Ha ha. Well, not that bad, but you know what I mean. So from now on, I will make a concientious effort to report some good news and fun aspects about life in general and happenings in Japan!

Let's start with announcement of a birth...and no, not mine. ^_^ The funniest thing about this article is that despite the pandas being twins, one was considered premature. Huh? Can anyone explain this to me? Maybe fraternal twins instead of identical??? Hmm... oh, I feel dumb...my friend told me premature not in terms of time but rather in SIZE. Dooops.

WAKAYAMA — Twin giant pandas were born in a rare winter delivery on Saturday at Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama Prefecture, the park announced Sunday. The cubs and the mother are in good condition, though one of the cubs was delivered prematurely.
Giant pandas typically give birth between summer and fall.

oooh, we're over 100!

When you planned your last vacation, how much money did you appropriate for souvenirs?

One month after our honeymoon I am still doling out souvenirs to friends and students. Phew. It is quite tiring to remember who to give it to, who I have yet to give to, and so on. To date I have given out around 130 souvenirs...and still more to go. Sometimes we do not always have a chance to meet someone, especially in the busy holiday season like now!

So if you live in Japan and plan on going on the trip, remember that a big chunk of your budget will go toward buying souvenirs. Sure people are big on souvenirs back home but it seems more obsessive and obligatory here, in Japan. Nevertheless my students are often so generous to buy me some souvenirs from their trips so I was happy to finally return their kindness. (and for all those who gave us wedding presents!)

Tahiti is well-known for its amaaazing vanilla and beautiful shell jewelry. I would have liked to buy black pearls for all my friends but at 200 dollars a pop, I did not even buy one for myself. (not to mention I do not find them particularly flattering on me, no matter how hard the salesman tried to convince me)

It is hard to buy suitable presents for men, yet for women there are plenty of beautiful jewelry and shell artwork, too! To give you an idea of what souvenirs cost - a magnet the size of a one-dollar coin cost 15 dollars. Umm, yes, um, did I mention one month later and we are still recovering from the magnitudal (a word?!) financial hit...ooOoooOooOooo!!!

Christmas just doesn't feel the same...

As much as Japan seems to celebrate Christmas, it just does not feel the same. Recently many houses have started to put up decorative lights, some of which look great and others which really lack taste! They are nice to see but something...is just missing in the air.

I also find it humorous to see a pagan country go all out and commercial for Christmas, a religious, family-oriented and spiritual holiday for others. Here it is about young couples hitting up KFC,(or dining out, indulging in an extravagant Christmas dinner course) buying a strawberry shortcake (Xmas cake...see pic in post below) and visiting a love hotel. It is so far from the real essence of Christmas.

The cool thing is Tsukuba has what is called the 100-Christmas tree display. 100 trees decorated by individuals, families, and organizations across Tsukuba are shown for about one month. They trees are taken out of the ground, used for Xmas and replanted...explained the helpful woman at the info desk. It definitely explains why the trees look like they have had better days! Hee hee.

Perhaps the lack of authentic Christmas magic is due to the lack of Christmas vacation? People work until the 28th and have a week off for New Year's. Here New Year's is the major holiday spent with the family. Hmm, maybe.

I wonder how I will spend future Christmases with my family. The Western or Japanese way...or both. One thing is for sure, it is a fusion that will certainly be interesting!

Scorpios always get revenge, that's a given

I am so ticked off - at myself and at the person who STOLE MY brand-new scrapbook out of my bicycle basket. What the FLYING FFFFFFRUITCAKELKJS.

Okay, we are talking TSUKUBA, the place where 4 years ago I could forget my camera in my bike basket on a platform in the middle of Tsukuba Centre (busiest spot in town) and still find it there at the end of the day, with the exception of my bike being turned 180-degrees.

I left for just a short moment to buy vegetables in a supermarket and took the rest of my parcels, purse, and other baggage. Though I took everything else, I figured it would be safe to leave my brand new photo album in the bike basket...boy, was I wrong! Who would want a blank, less than 5-dollar drab and generic brand (TopValu) photo album which I intended on making a scrapbook?

I am a firm believer in karma and somewhere soon, that miserable little thief is going to suffer some bad fate. Trust me, things come back to you. It is just a matter of time. Justice will be had! As a result of this, I was inspired to compose a CRIME report for the local foreigner community in Tsukuba. Quite often foreigners miss out on this 'good stuff' because we cannot watch the news in Japanese or read the local paper. Sometimes the best crime prevention is awareness. The stories are already rolling in - watch our criminals, we're onto you!

what delightful performances

Yesterday I went to see two of my former students (sisters) play the violin at their annual Christmas recital. I was told their teacher is a reknown violin player as well as instructor who comes to Tsukuba only once a week.

I did not tell the girls I would come see their performance so they were so surprised to see me. Hee hee, I like surprises! I got them some chocolates instead of the usual flowers because someone told me they would receive too many flowers from others. They were right on, making the choice of chocolates a great one!

My 70-some-year old student referred me to the little girls, her grandchildren. She explicitly mentioned she did not wish for them to truly 'study' from textbooks and the typical English academia. Instead she asked if I would play with them in English and serve as kind of a mentor as well. It is one of my most enjoyable classes - we play games in English using simple English phrases, built gingerbread houses (last week), and sometimes even do yoga in English.

It is a joy to see them truly want to know more English not just to pass another routine test at school. What's more motivating than learning while having fun?! If you want your child to learn from a textbook, don't send them my way. ^_^

cellphones, a necessary evil

You know it is very easy to get a 0-yen phone in Japan, as a new subscriber to any major phone company. The catch? You have to remain a subscriber for two years before you are able to terminate the contract. Cancel before that and you can expect to pay an exorbitant 'cancellation' fee. I did not know this rule until I wanted to cancel 1 1/2 years into my contract...bummer. I had to hold on to my half-broken (battery was in and out) phone until the two years were up!

Now I have a new phone similar to the one pictured on the right. Same size and functions as my last phone. No extra features please, I cannot live without my phone as it is! Do you know how many old mobile phones end up in landfills leaking all kinds of nasty metals, chemicals, and who knows what!? TONS! Pity too - the metals (including gold) in phones add up to quite a bit, too!

I stayed with SOFTBANK because it is too much a hassle to change companies and pay all sorts of 'additional service fees.' Yuck. The other catch: your first phone may be free but getting another phone will really cost you! So if you are looking for a nice phone loaded with all sorts of features you might as well switch companies to get another free phone.

PAELLA

Thanks to Mayumi for inspiring us to make Paella! We made it last weekend. PAELLA turns our really well with Japanese rice, in case you wanted to know. I think Japanese restaurants add a lot of turmeric powder to their paella to give it an almost fluorescent yellow glow. We added real threads of saffron but the color was overwhelmed by all the other ingredients. Next time I will throw in some yellow turmeric!

Hello, my name is Mrs. Yamada...ha ha.

山田、or Yamada
This is my new surname. I rather like it because it is a heck of a lot easier telling people my name when I order take-out pizza (just Thursday night), photos, or whatever. Trying to tell them how to spell 'Lee' was really hard, sometimes.

I remember last year around this time when I had to get used to using fiance...now I feel funny calling my husband just that, "my husband." Ha ha. With time I am getting used to it and reality is sinking in each time I say it. I mean, the reality of being married!

the MISERY of single life in Japan

Back home we celebrate Xmas with the family, not exclusively with one's boyfriend/girlfriend as they do here, in Japan. If you think about it, Japanese holidays were practically designed to make singles feel miserable.

Some people prolong a bad relationship just in order not to be single on Xmas day! Ugh, to be with someone one dislikes...what are you thinking?!?! Security and/or comfort do not necessarily equate to happiness! Gimme a good friend, book, or movie any day over a lousy or even lukewarm date.

In Japan we have Valentine's day, White day, Christmas Day and now...I have heard that the New Year's holiday is becoming more a couples thing. Oh, why does Japan tease singles like so? What's more, some of my students have to attend end-of-year work parties where the boss harps on all the singles to hurry up and marry. Umm, guy, there are laws against that now - it is called harrassment, even sexual harrassment!

Anyway when I was single, I had parties in the company of other singles! So for the singles out there, stop moping around at home and do something about it. Life is too short to mope and sulk about. Gather thee, singles out there...power to you all!

Winter solstice

Winter solstice, tooji 冬至 the 21st of December (or is it the 20th???). On this special day, Japanese eat pumpkin and take a bath in which yuzu (Japanese citron) has been soaked in. (see my blog entry from last year around this time)

Following this custom is said to keep on in good health during the cold season when one is typically more prone to disease, etc. These days norovirus is getting to everyone, including my poor cousin Michelle in Gifu prefecture! I have since stopped dining out (as much as I can) and wiping/washing my hands at every opportunity.

Another name for this day is, "the sun is coming back" (ichiyoo raifuku　一陽来復）. The yin and yang are changing. It is an end to negative things and beginning of good times! Like starting off a new year with a clean slate. Sounds good to me!

SORRY, it was December 22nd, yesterday! I felt really sunny and happy taking a yuzu bath. For dessert we had sweet pumpkin puree!!!

OFFICIALLY ONE YEAR has passed!

It has been one year since my first BLOG entry, what a surprise! I only expected to continue blogging for a month or so before tiring of it, but look at how far it has come - a whole 685 posts!!!

:) Thanks to all my loyal readers.

end-of-year spring cleaning

It is that time of year. Time when the house needs to be cleaned to a shine, New Year's cards must be shipped out, end-of-year gifts need to be ordered, end-of-year parties must be attended, and so onnnnnnnnnn. Furthermore, all before the holidays start. I forgot the days when Christmas holidays started on the 23rd or something like that...in Japan it is more like the 27 or 28th.

I might not be posting as regularly as before, so please just be patient. Have a wonderful holidays and enjoy plenty of eggnog to wash down all those cookies!!!

trendy in Tokyo now

Rainbow roses for your honey? At about 10 dollars a pop, they are a bit pricey but for some, a worthwhile novelty. As for me, hmm...I find them kind of cheap and tacky looking...almost as sinful as fake flowers. I'll pass on this trend. You?

that special thing that not everyone has

Charisma. This is something I have been pondering for quite some time. Charisma is not a gift that all those have...at the same time, I think it is something very desirable but not always attainable. You know it's fascinating how some people ooze charisma from every pore of their body while others seem to suck the life out of everything they encounter.

On Saturday I was again a judge for a university ESS (speech team) contest. This time an intercollegiate (Meiji University) competition. It was impressive, seeing such men and women interested in topics other than shopping, gaming, and more shopping. Topics included: excessive disposal of cellular phones induced by consumerism, violent games effects on children, paternity leave, and so on. What very worldly and interesting students. I enjoy talking to them - keeps me young and fresh, too!

One thing I noticed from my first experience as a judge about one year ago, was charisma. Some contestants have it and come across as powerfully convincing; others without it try very hard and may be good at speaking itself but lack any ounce of persuasion. This is not necessarily due to a poor argument, weak English, or boring topic itself...I think charisma is key.

How is it that one has or lacks charisma? My best friend from my hometown once told me about the spark (charisma) in people. You either have it or you don't. Like it is something one is born with or without. Can charisma be learnt without coming across as fake? So many who try so hard to be charismatic end up looking like phony and contrived...if you do not know what I mean, just read "The Great Gatsby" by Scott Fitzgerald (sp?).

More on this interesting topic in the future...

EASY cooking days...

As my friend warned me, it has happened! I have gone from complex culinary delights to simple home cooking. Cooking daily, breakfast and dinner can be really exhausting (physically and mentally!)...so keeping it simple is necessary to preserve one's sanity.

Last night we had nameko seaweed soup, simmered Japanese radish along with okara konnyaku (okara is tofu lees), and seafood bowl: sashimi quality salmon, salmon roe, shiso, and seaweed! Yummmm.

These days we eat brown rice for plenty of Vitamin B...or was it E? Anyway for a chock full of goodness.

YUZU jam season

This is yuzu jam, given to me by my kind neighbor. She and her husband are so kind, not to be annoyed (or at least not show...) by our frequent bouts of shouting, laughter, and more. Ha ha. She made it herself - it is great on toast, in some yogurt, and so on.

YUZU is quite possible my #1 spice (?!) in Japan. So pungent, bursting of citrus power!

nature is great, isn't it?

It looks like this sucker is suspended in thin air! I do not particularly like spiders but the way this one clung to its web as I tried to frighten with a blow, impressed me! Love the blue sky. Something we need more of today. :)

Today is a grim gray cloudy day - cold but I have a delightful 紅まどな, Red MADONNA orange to brighten up my day! It is a type of orange developed only one year ago. The skin is as thin as paper and the flesh is soooo juicy and sweet. Ohhh, blissful!

Quote of the day, from dad

"It's good to be a little poorer but having lots of family time."

Gone are "apple for the teacher" days?

Poor teachers...they have to deal with all sorts of demanding parents, especially the kind who are in denial that their child is the 'devil reincarnate.' Some children behave like angels, that is, when their parents are within eyesight. My poor friend E is a fantastic teacher (in Canada) but has had a rough time with some students and at times their respective parents. Recently some parents yelled at her for not giving out enough homework...geez!

Tsukuba is a particularly tough place for teachers! Most parents are from elite, top-ranking universities...these same well-educated parents have particularly high expectations. Meaning? Teachers in Tsukuba are likely under some of the most pressure to perform, in all of Japan! My friend A, who is an English teacher, claims one of her students asks her to check the English on some papers distributed by the teacher of her child's Engilsh class. Oooo, scary!!! It is not wonder these days the incidence of teachers taking leave due to mental illness is on the rise (60% of teachers' sick days were due to mental causes), and doesn't seem to be tapering anytime soon.

Here was my way of thinking when I taught children at AEON. Here is the thing - try hard and get many complaints. Do not try and get many complaints. Umm...it does not take a genius to find out what a teacher is going to do...eventually stop trying! Most of my co-workers developed a strong dislike for children and one of my classes was penned, the "terror tots." Parents who put down and gossip about teachers are only pulling down their morale, which does not help much. Complaint-ridden parents might want to think about teaching at home before immediately pointing their finger at teachers. As the saying goes, "Practice what you preach!"

After my AEON experience, I decided to teach only the children who wanted to learn and only those who were not spoiled beyond 30-day old natto (sticky fermented smelly beans). If the parents complained, they could go somewhere else. I would rather sit and twiddle my thumbs or volunteer for the elderly rather than waste the money of overambitious parents on their brats. Tough logic but my logic!

shop at your local store today!

As my friend pointed out in her blog a while back, it is really worth it to go to some smaller (albeit more expensive) ma and pa shops. Some of the big chain stores have employees who could not give a rat's @#$ if you need help or not. Sometimes they look like they would rather be cleaning the gunk in the middle of their toes - eww, toe jam!

EXAMPLES:
The local ma and pa grocery store
The veggie man often gives me samples of fresh fruit that has just come in. The fish counter staff always cuts the fish according to what dish I will make. (I do not know the names of all the cuts so I just say, "I want to make saba no misoni today" and off they go to gut and cut my fish! They seem to make a bet to see if I come every day...sometimes when I went in just before closing time, I noticed they made funny looks, as if to say "Ha, I just knew she would come." I go nearly every day...and sometimes, even twice a day! Hmm, again, what is the point of that new fridge I bought?

The local liquor shop
The man knows well what liquor marries with what foods. (Unlike Yamaya, the really popular discount liquor giant...where staff turnover is faster than baby diapers) The prices of the local shop are not lower but the service is above and beyond. They will deliver for free and sometimes knock of tax or round to the nearest dollar.

The local rice shop
She tells me when the first shipment of new rice will come in. They always throw in a free bag of puffed and candied rice. The rice is the same price as that found in markets...only fresher and of higher quality. (more on rice, soon!)

This is another reason why I discourage very popular stores from opening other 'chains' because inevitably, the quality and service of the flagship store will go down. Keep it small, simple to be successful.

ドゥ！レミパン Remmy pan!

This is Remmy pan, named after the celebrity TV chef who designed it...er, so I have been told. It was a pan we received from a friend as a wedding gift. (thank you, if you are reading, T!!!)

The special features are that it is very non-stick, making healthy cooking easy as pie...and it was a proppable lid (see pic to the left!) No more icky lid condensation mess all over your tabletops! What's more, it is IH-compatible, hurrah!!! The heat conduction and distribution of this pot is impressive, heating evenly from the core allll the way to the outside. If you turn off the stove, the food will continue cooking for at least 15 minutes...like I said, amazing heat conduction!

One can make simmered foods, boil pasta, delicious melt-in-your-mouth curry, sukiyaki, Japanese dumplings (gyouza) and more! It is so versatile...like 5 pots in one. Geez, I sound like a regular advertisement. Anyway if you are looking for a good wedding gift, this one will surely make the couple pleased.

Making its rounds...worse than usual stomach flu!

This year saw the largest outbreak of the infectious gastroenteritis in the past 25 years, caused mainly by a norovirus, the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center warned Friday.

It is that time of year again, when gastroenteritis (otherwise fondly known as norovirus...) plagues the nation. This year number of 'victims' have reached epidemic-like levels, prompting health officials to warn the public. You know something is going around when someone's e-mail signs off with, "don't catch norovirus" instead of the usual bid to "take care." Ha ha.

Wash your hands frequently, especially before meals. Raw vegetables or not completed heated through foods are culprits of transmission. I got it almost two years ago while in Tokyo, in Tokyo Station...suddenly I felt the urge to vomit and next thing I knew, I was madly dashing down the stairs to get to the public washroom. I didn't make it, though I did have a plastic bag on hand - thank God! That followed by days of misery, ohhhh - it is not an experience I want to have again...

how to lure in all the ladies...

I forgot to post this photo a few months ago, taken at Mie and Nao's wedding party. This sugary masterpiece on wheels took everyone by surprise...wooo!

I finally went to the Italian restaurant in our building. I had been dragging my feet all this time because many told me it was not particularly tasty, despite whopping plates of pasta. The salad and soup were not particularly impressive, the easily made at home types.

The main (pasta) tasted all right and might I mention, it was astronomical in size...but it failed to really grasp my tastebuds. As it turns out, the dessert is the 'main' at this restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by the parfait-style presentation of fruit pound cake, rum&raisin ice cream, whipped cream, puff pastry, corn flakes...daintily garnished with a sprig of mint! THIS is why the restaurant is always packed with the line trailing all the way outside.

There you have it. If you own a cafe or restaurant, draw 'em ladies (especially housewives in Tsukuba) with sugary sinful sweets. Your local dentist may not forgive you but many others will!

Act on impulse lately?

This weekend I had a sudden urge to lop off all my hair. So, moments later, and a sinkful of hair later, I was finished! My husband came home to a very surprising sink full of what he assumed was 'road kill.' Ha ha.

Why? The hair stylist who gave me a digital perm did not thin out my hair enough. Arghhh...it looked nice for about a week before it all starte d to go downhill. What is all the fuss about diji-perms these days? If you ask me, they are overrated - hair stylists make like digital perms are low maintenance perms, but in my experience, maintenance (and plenty of it) is what it takes to make it look good. Left alone, it looks like a case of bed head...many bad hair days. To make a digital hair actually look like it is supposed to, one must glob on some hair wax, hair cream, and blow dry it while finger-curling one's hair.

Agh. So now I have a head full of thinned out (but still somewhat long) hair, ahhh...what a relief. It does not look as bad as you might think. Maybe I will take a photo and post it...after it has grown out for 6 months, ha ha, just kidding.

recruiting, in Japanese!!!

Today I went to the University of Tsukuba (see logo to the left) to recruit some testees for a sleep and habitat study. Armed with around 40 handouts, I zoomed in on the central campus area.

I approached people without hesitation, asking whether they could speak English or not...at first, I tried speaking in Japanese but asking them if they could speak English at times lowered their guard and made them kind of curious. (Not to mention, they could understand though I may look Japanese, I am in fact not!) The study offers participants 3000yen for only 1 1/2 hours of their time. It is a painless survey kind of research, no poking or prodding involved!

At first I worried it might be hard, but then I really got into it. Within about an hour, my handouts were gone and I was off on my way. Can you approach strangers without hesitation? Do you feel self-conscious among strangers? Hard for some to believe, but in fact I used to be as shy as a mouse back in junior high...over time, I changed. Next thing I knew, I was in high school being auctioned off as a 'slave for a day' to raise money for cancer charity! Then in my university days, I was 'sold' to the highest bidder in the "Date Auction" held to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Now thinking back...I think the breakthrough was a small part in my junior high school play. That was where I learnt how fun it was to entertain people and not worry about what others thought of me. Life is too short to be overly self-conscious. Recently I wore a 'Santa hat' to the supermarket and some cafes. It is fun! As they say, "dare to be different!"

Back to the topic...some student were so happy I approached them, telling me it was like they had won the lottery today. That made me glad. On the other hand, some students kind of smirked at the renumeration, thinking they were above it. Okay, you might not be interested, but you do not have to act all high and mighty about it! In Japan it is not uncommon for students to have rich mommies and daddies forking out 200% educational expenses.

What's with it?

Interesting things my husband and I have discussed these days. Suicide. In the West, children go nuts at schools and (kill) off their classmates and teachers, while sometimes topping off the bloody massacre with suicide. To them, it's their classmates and administrators' fault. In Japan, children kill themselves, thinking it is their own fault. Hmm...curious.

Another interesting thing. In the West, children who do not get along with their parents have the tendency to run away. In Japan, children who get into spats with their parents commit matricide and patricide. These days it is hardly rare to see another such incident reported in the daily news. Umm, can we say, "biting the hand that feeds you...?" Is this just my slanted perspective or is it the same back home...hmm, I wonder if this is part of what some call the 'moral breakdown' of Japan. Though one could argue such a 'moral breakdown' is prevalent in areas throughout the world.

Ugh, the greed disgusts me!

TOKYO — Japan Airlines Corp will raise both domestic and international air fares next April despite recent falls in crude oil prices, JAL President Haruka Nishimatsu said Tuesday. (pictured is a JAL logo from the 70's)

For those of you unfamiliar with Japanese airlines, you might know JAL (Japanese airlines), the former leader in its field. Last year it went into the red due to a series of safety bloopers and even some pilot error. Just last week its competitor, ANA airlines, announced a cut in airfare due to the recent wane in oil prices. Today JAL announced a raise in airfare? Sou-kai?! If there is anything improving about JAL, its they way they are driving away customers! If given the choice, I would rather use ANA or some minor carrier.

Though, it might be said that asian airlines are HANDS DOWN better in customer service! Though Lufthansa was not so bad...United, on the other hand, was an utter nightmare.

Thanks Jinny!!!

These orangy-pink coral earrings were made by my dear sis-in-law, Jinny. As I have noted before, she is incredibly artsy and has great sense of fashion and colour! I no longer buy earrings because Jinny makes great original pieces for me to wear. I can wear them and remember how lucky I am to have her in our family.

On another note, I have become an oba-baka, meaning 'stupid auntie' ...not meaning stupid in the low IQ sense of stupid, rather it means an auntie who fawns (excessively, if I might add) over nieces or nephews. The baby is not even born yet and I am shopping for all sorts of cute clothes and accessories!

notice about recent crime in つくば！

Especially for my single friends and students living in and around Tsukuba!

In the past 6 months there has been an increase in sexual assault cases around Tsukuba University. The criminal has not been caught yet, so it is extremely important to take care at night time and always double lock your door and windows, even if you are on the top floor of an apartment building.

There have been two types of cases which have lead to sexual assault:
1. Man pretends to be a courier (Takkyubin) and forces his way in when you open your door.
2. Man knocks on your door and says that he has crashed (or bumped) into your car in the carpark, and asks you to come out and confirm whether it’s your car. When you open the door he forces his way in.

Do not open your door to anyone at night-time. If you are expecting a parcel delivery, ask for confirmation (with the chain on the door) before you open the door.

Double Lock your Windows!
There is a criminal recently who climbs up buildings and breaks into apartments. He is being called 'Spiderman' as he can even climb up to 4th floor apartments. Statistics show that if it　takes more than 5 minutes to open the window, 70% of criminals give up. Therefore, it is important to always double lock your windows, to make it more difficult to break in.

Different picture, similar results

What celebrity do you look like?

Apparently I look like these

皮剥ぎ Kawahagi, 'trigger fish'

This is a fish I found on special at the market. I decided to buy it and prepare it for dinner, despite not knowing a thing about it! I was going to salt and grill it but then decided to turn it into 煮魚, a simmered teriyaki fish dish: mirin, soy sauce, sugar, sake, and dashi (Japanese broth). It turned out tasty, much like flounder.

Life is too short to always eat the same foods. Try something new at the supermarket today. Makes for great surprise at the dinner table. I eat at least 2 kinds of fruits a day now - it keep the glucose levels up and me, happy and cheerful! (and if you include chocolate, it makes 3 fruits a day...hee hee hee)

Boy, you look really smart!

When you think of the word smart, what do you think?

The other day I was teaching a student a lesson on people and personality. I came across one of the top 5 blunders Japanese people make when speaking English, using Japanese-English...words that are in fact native English words but their meaning is been corrupted, lost in adoption.

Japanese people think 'smart' means something along the lines of, 'thin or svelte.' Umm...hmm, not even close! Every time some student or even friend uses the word smart, I have to clarify by saying, "Oh, you mean he/she is intelligent?" I think many 'loan words' from French used in English retain their original meaning...don't they? Anyone have any comments or examples?