Stupid Americans

After much holiday celebrating, we decided a dinner out would be a nice change and went to a new sushi restaurant. This restaurant is another sushi-go-round but is a little more expensive than the restaurant we visited before. The sushi there was delicious, my favorite being a piece of salmon covered in a teriyaki sauce with a little mayo drizzle.

As you walk into the restaurant there is a small window where platters of sushi can be ordered to take home. Then continuing into the restaurant, the chefs are working in the center with the carousel moving around them and tables and bars lining the other side. There is also a large fish tank in the center, we guessed for the freshest fish.

We were seated at a booth and began our dive into the sushi. There was a chef working just opposite the carousel from where we were seated and it was entertaining watching him make the sushi. There were other items also on the carousel, a small selection of desserts and fried foods such as hashbrowns (served with ketchup) and fried octopus. I have recently decided that I am not a huge fan of octopus.

After several plates of sushi, I decided that the flan circling the restaurant looked delicious and got it off the
carousel. Only after I had gotten it did I think, how am I supposed to eat this flan with chopsticks? The party we were with joked about the nationals thinking "Stupid Americans, eating flan with chopsticks." Just then, the chef working near us looked up, saw us eating flan with chopsticks, held up one finger as if saying, "i'll be right back", and left. About a minute later, he appeared at our table presenting us with spoons. Of course! You're supposed to eat flan with a spoon in Japan too.

As we were preparing to leave, we saw a chef walk over to the fish tank with a net. At first we were stunned as we saw him pull two fish out. Then, after a minute of silence and looking at each other, one person in our party said, "That is fresh fish."

Two months

Well two months have come and gone, I think that we gave adjusted well thus far. Living in Japan brings new adventures, and concern. We have to think about things that might otherwise be looked over. Needless to say, I think we will enjoy our time here.

Every so often you can see Mt. Fuji from base. I am still trying to get a picture of that snow-covered peak to share with you. Climbing season is July and August and I hope to climb it this year. You begin at the base and as you climb, stations burn a mark into your hiking stick to show how far you went. I want a hiking stick to bring back with me showing I made it to the top.

I am also excited to see the cherry blossoms this coming spring. I have always loved the cherry blossoms and am extremely excited to see them in person. But first we have to get through winter when , I've heard, it snows. I am also slightly anticipating the snow as living in Georgia very little snow is seen.

Off to Yokosuka!

Well today was quite an adventure, my friend and I wanted to travel to Yokosuka to pick up the boys tomorrow (we are so excited). She was driving and I was her co-captain as we traversed the foreign roads of Japan traveling to the other naval base. It is still odd riding on the other side of the car and the other side of the road, it almost feels like an out-of-body experience, but I guess one of these days I will get used to it. We were both nervous as we began our trip, traveling in the country where English is few and far between.

I guess we should have been nervous because first, we could not even find our way off base! Directions said to use an alternate gate and we drove for about thirty minutes before we found that gate, but as soon as we found it, we were ok. I was amazingly surprised at how easily we were able to find our way down the highways to Yokosuka.

We arrived on base and checked into the lodge, ate at Chili's, (yes, Chili's) and then took a nap. I guess we were both exhausted from  working all week and preparing for the guys to come home because we ended up sleeping for around two hours. After our short recess, we ventured out again around base. The Yokosuka base is so much bigger than the base we live at. The NEX has a huge selection of clothes, purses, cosmetics, etc. I was overwhelmed at the selection, normal to what people in the states would be used to but at our base, selection is limited to the best selling.

Tomorrow is the big day! We are hoping to arrive in time to see the boat pull in and see the sailors man the rails. My friend and I are extremely excited, even though it has only been three weeks. I can hardly wait.

Fun Thursdays!

Thursday mornings bring sunshine, a new day, and washi paper class. Our latest creations have been quite a project, taking almost three hours a piece. The bowl above is called a heavy bowl and has curved sides. The most difficult part of this project was the corners. The project today was the sandal box. The top looks like a sandal with a little bell to add a sparkle. To think that these projects are begun with pieces of flat cardboard and that everything is molded is what I think makes this such an art.

After washi paper class, my friends wanted to go eat curry, of course I would never turn that down. We left after class and ventured out near the home store that I have visited before. There is a mall next door, Ayase Mall, and it has all kinds of stores and a food court. When we first arrived we shopped the hundred yen store where I found some small ceramic rice bowls, perfect to serve anything slightly Japanese. The hundred yen store has everything from food to clothing to kitchen items to anything else you could want to find in the hundred yen store.

After finishing there we went to the food court to get our curry from a restaurant called Darbar. When ordering, you can view the menu, then you select what you want from a machine that prints out a ticket with your order and you give it to the waiter. Our food was delicious! I ordered vegetable curry with naan and it came with a small salad. The dressing on the salad was good although I can't tell you what exactly was in it. After finishing, I decided that I could eat naan everyday it's so delicious.

A windy day in Japan

Well I think I experienced the strongest wind since moving to Japan. I woke this morning to a downpour, flooding roads, backyards, and playgrounds. About an hour later it was clear and my friend and I ventured to the gym. When we were walking out, again another downpour. All the while, the wind blew and blew with gusts that would knock you off your course. Kids would play in the water flooding the playgrounds after school and the wind continued to blow. So far it has blown all day and hasn't let up in the least.

Life has been uneventful. While Alan is gone I have been weary to leave base, except for one excursion for a beef bowl. Yum! I would love to find a good recipe for the beef bowl, it seems simple enough. Also a new favorite is miso soup. I cannot find the miso paste used to make it but I am still looking.

I have successfully finished decorating. A few lights on the garland and some good scented candles and I think it's good. I did venture to a home store off base to look for more decorations but was terribly disappointed. I did however find a very pretty poinsettia and Christmas cactus. Those additions add an extra touch.

To spend my time I have been watching the seasons of one of my favorite TV shows, Gilmore Girls. Also, I have begun babysitting some to help the time pass. I have most of this weekend booked with more people calling. I think it will keep me busy until I hear back from the school about substituting.

Besides this, not much is new here. When Alan gets back we will begin our adventures again and the blogs will be much more interesting.