Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Instead of the typical “Season’s Greetings” by Hallmark, we opted to send our family and friends, mostly in America, a Japanese nengajo. A nengajo is a postcard with a New Year greeting, and in Japan, they are delivered on January 1st. What I find fascinating about these cards is the elaborate system of the Japan Post lottery that accompanies them. Official printed post cards contain a lottery number on the bottom. To a televised audience, the winning numbers are selected and subsequently printed in the newspaper. The first prize for 2009 includes the winner’s choice of a 32-inch flat-panel LCD digital TV, a digital camera, a vacuum-pressure rice cooker and bags of different varieties of rice, a trip in Japan, a selection of household goods valued up to JPY200,000, and a massage chair. 2009 is the astrological year of the earth ox. An article in the Japan Times explains the complexity of the astrology that includes the Asian zodiac and the five elements: fire, water, wood, metal and earth. While this year is destined to be a year of hardship and economic clean-up, the dutiful and hard working characteristics of the methodical ox is bound to bring recovery, with a little hard work from mankind.

The Hula

At the health club I attend in Tokyo, the fitness schedule includes hula dancing. Only recently it dawned on me how frequently mention of the hula appears. As an example, a hula group was featured on the nightly news the evening of Obama‘s victory. In Hawaii we learned, originally only men danced a spirutual hula and women were forbidden. As the hula evolved to include a celebratory or entertainment function, women were included. In Hawaii we saw both. In Tokyo, I’m quite certain all the participants in the class at my health club were female. I can easily understand why the aesthetic and feminine beauty of the hula appeals to the Japanese. What’s harder to connect is the athletic or tribal. I suspect the soft aspects of the art form make it an attractive alternative for exercise. More so than say, sweating it out on the elliptical machine. I did some reading to better understand the hula’s popularity in Japan. Amidst the health craze of the 1980’s, marketers encouraged the dance as a way to remain trim. A Japanized form of the dance was created and flourished. The economic bubble and strong yen of the 1990’s spawned the influx of Japanese tourists to Hawaii. Amongst the tourists were Japanese hula dancers whose minds were opened to the authentic hula, both the ancient and contemporary forms. The two styles, Japanized and Hawaiian, continue to flourish in Japan with the first attracting women in their fifties and sixties, and the later attracting twentysomethings. In the future, maybe I’ll try a class, with the youngsters of course.

Photos of a happy boy at play. Punching, stomping, and playing catch in the water.

The Luau in Kauai

We’ve left the island where Obama is vacationing and are now enjoying the Garden Island called Kauai. It’s remote, untamed feel is in complete contrast to Waikiki. Our first evening we attended a Polynesian luau. While waiting in line to enter, families were having their photo taken with a beautiful Hawaiian woman and man, both barely dressed. Roo has two strong aversions that have been part of his personality since he’s had the ability to express his likes and dislikes. The first is food. The second is having his picture taken. Even though we gave him the option, he choose to join the photo. Providing comic relief for the impatient luau attendees waiting in line, he announced to the photographer he was going to “put on his grumpy face”. So we have this:

The weather has been a mix of sun, refreshing rain, and at times, both sun and rain together. We are near the shore, but apparently the precipitation increases as you travel inland. Mount Wai’ale’ale, located bulls eye, is the wettest spot on earth. We’re not an “adventure with the rugged” type of family, nevertheless, we will take advantage of Kauai’s natural splendor and try new things. Already today, Roo had his first kayak ride within a lagoon. And of course, more play at the beach.

The North Shore

One evening last spring Ryan and I rented the movie, Riding Giants. A film about the history of surfing and the legendary riders who have demonstrated their courage and risked their lives riding the giant waves from the pacific on the North Shore of Hawaii. Inspired, yesterday we made our way to Ehukai Beach Park and while we didn’t witness giant waves on the pipeline, we did see amazing skill. What’s interesting about this beach is the turbulence where water meets land. It roars onto the shoreline bringing the waves far onto the sandy beach with nearly no notice. We watched with binoculars as surfers of all ages and both genders paddled to the line to catch a wave they believe was intended just for them. We left the beach when the rain started. A downpour that later, we would learn, set a record. The same storm was responsible for knocking out the power in all of Waikiki at around 7pm. After groping to get my clothes on so I could leave the pitch black Macy’s dressing room where I was trying on swim suits, I found the lit emergency exit and amongst the frenzied crowd, scurried back to the hotel. I found Ryan and Roo sitting in the dark on the balcony observing the chaos. Ryan was tirelessly answering questions about power and electricity. Again, the storm is what stunted our plans for today. We trekked out to the Dole Pineapple Plantation expecting to walk through the World’s Largest Maze and ride the Pineapple Express train. Unfortunately, due to flooding, both were not in operation. Still, Roo enjoyed feeding the fish and we did learn how a pineapple grows. And with sunny skies occasionally shedding sprinkles, we witnessed several rainbows on the drive home. Another beautiful day in Hawaii!

Merry Christmas!

We spent the day driving to east Oahu and stopped to play in the sand at the beach on Kailua Bay. A beautiful day, but an odd Christmas. Back in Waikiki, I expected the beach to be full, but for some reason my mind imagined the shops would be closed and the streets desolate. Not even close! The work of the mighty dollar was in full swing and people were busy shopping, dining, and parking for parties. I have yet to see a Santa in a Hawaiian shirt sitting in an outrigger canoe escorted by dolphins. It's hard to tell it's Christmas. Even though the serene atmosphere I associate with Christmas day is absent, we had a memorable Christmas enjoying our small family together. We built a sand city complete with cave, tunnel, roads, a school, a gas station, and a car wash.

Pearl Harbor

Today we visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Inevitably this prompted a days worth of questions about war from our inquisitive four year old. “War”, a word that wasn’t in his vocabulary until today. Tenderly, we attempted to describe the fractured relationship between Japan and the US in the 1940’s. We emphasized it was a long, long time ago, when his Grandpa John was a small boy. At which he asked “were there dinosaurs?”. Roo surprised us both as he attentively watched the fifteen minute film describing the attack which fortunately, wasn’t gruesome. We talked a lot about the friendship of today between Japan and the United States. We were careful not to overuse the word “enemy” but rather emphasized “disagreement” and that war is best avoided because people get hurt and things get destroyed. Over and over he asked “is war real, is there war, now?”. Sadly we explained “yes” at which he commented “let’s never ever go to a place where war is!”. And on this Christmas Eve, a day symbolic of hope and redemption, I solemnly pray that my son, in his lifetime, never experiences war.

Aloha!

We’ve arrived in Honolulu and spent our first full day in sunny Waikiki. Because we’re still working through jet lag, we mostly relaxed on the beach and strolled around town. Roo enjoyed watching “the pretty lady in the skirt” dance the hula this evening and Ryan’s already voted we eat Mexican food, something we don’t get much of in Japan.

Winter solstice or Tooji 冬至

The sun is coming back. Pleasant words to describe the winter solstice. Stores are stocked with yuzu and kabocha in preparation. It is the custom to bath with the whole yuzu fruit on this day. The fragrant citrus oil contained in the peel is believed to encourage good health. Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) is eaten to ward off the winter cold. In recognition of the customs, we incorporated both into our day, but with a twist. We ate a favorite soup prepared with kabocha for dinner. I followed a recipe from a trusted and well used cookbook titled “From Aspargus to Zucchini”, substituting kabocha for winter squash. From the food blog of Mom in Madison I simmered a batch a Gluhwein, substituting yuzu for a portion of the citrus components of the recipe. During the early afternoon we played outside in the warm sun. We read “The Shortest Day” and our tree is lit to brighten the evening.

The author of the above poem is Soji. For more haiku poetry, follow this LINK.

Kadomatsu

The entrance to our home is adorned with the traditional Japanese New Year kadomatsu. In duplicate, a display of pine, bamboo, blossom sprigs, and a white crane. There are three towers of bamboo to represent heaven, humanity and earth. The words to describe the symbolism of bamboo seem endless. They include good fortune, hardiness, good health, strength, and resilience. The ever green properties of the pine typify longevity and the blossoms bring promise of new beginnings that are pure and resolute. The red crowned crane is a symbol of luck, peace and a happy and faithful marriage. There are two kadomatsu because the location is traditionally the front gate, with one posted on each side. I’ve also heard they represent male and female, however I suspect that explanation may be more a modern reflection rather than a historic convention. Over time, my hope is our home will be a collection of mixed traditions. Some familiar, some new, but always warm and full of meaning.

New in Town

Coming soon to the United States!

And hopefully to Tokyo or iTunes. I’m a fan of Renee Zellweger and the small town in the movie, New Ulm, is where I was born, not far from where I grew up, and where my relatives live. You might have to be from around there to understand the humor, or at least have visited. From the trailer it’s looks spot on!

Coloring

Believing I had convinced Roo we should color Christmas pictures to decorate the house, I announced I would color Mary & Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. Roo enthusiastically declared “I‘ll color Optimus Prime“. So much for my Christmas theme. Instead of Rudolph, my refrigerator is adorned with “Prime” as he’s referred to for short. And, according to Roo it’s important to always write your name so you know which picture is yours.

The Hovercraft

Roo has been fascinated with the Hovercraft ever since he was small and we would read in his Big Book of Things that Go about how the “hovercraft travels over a cushion of air”. We’ve watched clippings on You Tube and he studiously examines the photo of the fire rescue Hovercraft in his Lego catalogue. In Japanese it is pronounced ha· ba - ku· ra· fu· to. Yesterday we did an experiment to simulate the action of floating on a cushion of air. While the concept of friction reduction is too hard to explain, Roo had fun telling me how the air flows down the balloon, through the bottle cap, and out the bottom of the CD. We experimented with the amphibious properties of the Hovercraft but the run in the bathtub was not successful. Roo continues to have a fascination with flow and likes to trace using diagrams that show the insides of something. For example, a picture of a vacuum printed from the Internet that he took to preschool when they were studying the “v” sound. This is why we sometimes call him “our little engineer”.

For details about the experiment, check out Science Buddies.

Norwegian Rice

It worked! I successfully prepared Aunt Bonnie’s Norwegian rice recipe using Japanese rice. Roo has a bad cold and yesterday he announced that he wanted to stay indoors and have a “lazy day”. A perfect opportunity to prepare Norwegian rice since it requires a commitment of standing close to the stove for a few hours to stir to prevent scorching. I reserve this dish as something special for the holidays and we all love it! Ryan ate it for breakfast today and asked if I have the ingredients to make more. The ingredients aren’t the tough part. The three to four hour window of opportunity is the challenge. The rice is simmered in butter and evaporated milk with ½ gallon (or 1.9L) of whole milk added gradually. Sugar and cinnamon provide flavor. Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of the ingredients. The end result is a creamy delight! I’m not sure if this dish resembles any foods prepared in modern day Norway. I do know it’s a classic on the family reunion buffet table for Minnesotans proud of their Norwegian heritage. And, cooked in milk is the only way we ate rice growing up with the exception of Minute Rice (yuck!) or Rice a Roni (double yuck!). Sure, the way the Japanese prepare their rice is much healthier, but once a year our family will indulge and eat Norwegian rice.

The simmering.

Hot Water Bottles

Remember hot water bottles? When I was small it surfaced at our home in the winter about the time the flu was making it’s rounds. Ours was off white, made of rubber, and I faintly remember something to do with a pig. I have no idea what happened to it, but I imagine it fell out of favor when the electric heating pad came on the scene. Hence, my surprise when I stumbled on the extensive collection of hot water bottles at Tokyu Hands. Options on the left, on the right, in front, and behind the row in front. Some plain, some cute, but all cuddly. I opted for the original fashy® with the 100% cotton knit washable cover. Now, in the last few days as Roo’s battling the fever and chills he’s requesting “the hot bottle”. I wonder, does it take less energy to boil a pot of water or to run an electric heating pad? Who knows, maybe Americans will resurrect the hot water bottle as a way to “go green”. Obviously they haven’t fallen from favor in Japan.

Book Review: Interpreter of Maladies

This is a collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, a London-born, American-raised daughter of Bengali India Immigrants. Each story features persons of Indian heritage and provides a glimpse into the culture. There is depth but a fair amount of contemplation is necessary to extract. While the writing is beautiful, I found all but one of the stories to be sad. Hence, it was at times difficult to go on and if this was not a selected reading for a book club, it’s likely I would have stopped. Many of the characters lack radiance or joy. This contradicts my impression of the Indians I have come to know, and for me, this was a disconnect. The collection did win a Pulitzer Prize.

Kanji of the Year

Annually the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation solicits votes for the kanji of the year. The triumphant character this year is pronounced hen and has no association to poultry. Kanji characters have more than one meaning and hen represents change or strange. One interpretation might be that when something changes, at first it seems strange. 2008 has been a year of odd change including the deterioration of the New York Stock Exchange and the Nikkei, the revolving door of the Japanese Prime Mister post, the advancement of global warming and of course, the historic election of Barak Obama. In addition, the Japanese received a whopping four nobel prizes and won more medals at the Olympics than expected. A year of bad and good or yin and yang to aid humanity towards a balanced life!

Chief priest Seihan Mori at Kyoto's Kiyomizudera temple writing the kanji of the year.
Photo credit: JUN UEDA, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

End of Term

Today was the end of the school term and Tsubasa’s last day at preschool. Next term he will be attending a school closer to his new home in Tokyo, about one hour from the area where we live. Last night when I was explaining this to Roo he looked very sad and asked “when will I get to go to a new school near my home in Minneapolis?”. A tough question. On the way home from school he asked “but will Tsubasa still be in Japan?”. I explained yes, and that we will visit Tsubasa at his new home for a play date. We’ll just have to ride the train and have his mommy pick us up at the station. It’s a legitimate question. He’s had classmates leave to return to India, UK, Sweden, and Australia, and at the end of January we’ll loose our dear upstairs neighbors and their young daughters. They are returning to Germany. Tough transitions but an inevitable part of the expatriate experience.

Roo & Tsubasa on a field trip wearing spy glasses.

Ryan's birthday

Yesterday was Ryan’s 35th birthday. In the morning he opened his present (a book about sake) and went to work. In the evening we met at Temple University to attend a lecture and after came home to enjoy cheesecake and zinfandel with friends. The lecture we attended was titled “How Obama won the election” and was given by corporate executive Skipp Orr who worked on the campaign as part of the foreign policy team. He is the former president of Boeing Japan and now the chairman of the Panasonic Foundation and was a major fundraiser in the campaign. His lecture was divided into two main talking points. First, showing the electoral results by state for key elections in the last century that demonstrates the unique element in American politics that power swings. This is not the case in Japan. Second, based on his opinion, he detailed the top ten factors that positively impacted the results of the Obama campaign. While all points were insightful, one of the most interesting pertained to Obama’s win in Iowa. Before Iowa, the African American community had not yet solidified support for Obama. Iowa is a state with a mostly white population. Winning Iowa proved legitimacy to the African American voters that he is able to reach across race lines. After Iowa, the support from the African American community increased. He also talked about the widespread fundraising efforts and how around the world Americans were energized. In fact, he ran a call center from Kamakura Japan. A true grass roots effort that accomplished unprecedented fundraising success. He concluded by explaining that this historical event has inspired a movement of change. As an example, within the past month the Green party, one of Germany's main political parties, has elected the son of Turkish immigrants to its top political post, the first time any party in Germany has chosen a leader with an immigrant background.

Machiko Ozawa

Today I attended a CWAJ luncheon which included a recital by violinist Machiko Ozawa, accompanied by Li-Ling Wang on the cello. She played classical pieces by Bach, Handel and Gershwin as well as her own compositions that are modern and improvisational. Her duet album with Justin Hines titled Vertical Voyage is available on iTunes. I enjoyed her music and found her sound energizing and devoid of the unwelcome tension I often feel when listening to classical music. If you’d like to add freshness to your musical collection, this would be a good choice. For a fun sample of her sound visit this LINK and under the play list select Havana Murder Mystery.

At the luncheon I was sitting next to a Japanese woman that is likely from the generation before my dad. I found her interesting. In conversation it became obvious that she’s lived a full life. By far, she knew more about Minnesota than any foreign person I’ve met. She knew of Macalaster College and the fact that many people with Scandinavian heritage who eat herring reside there. She could tell my last name was Norwegian. She mentioned Lake Minnetonka and knew the Dakota meaning “Big Waters”. She knew that 3M and Cargill are headquartered there. I never meet people that know of Cargill (where I worked for 13 years), let alone bring it up in conversation! The most revealing comment she made that confirms her knowledge of the state was about how much coffee people drink. “They sip it all day long”! This proves she definitely understands Minnesota!

Photo of the Day: Roo enjoying a chocolate donut.

Skype Tuesday

Today is Skype Tuesday in Roo’s classroom. During lunch as the children are sitting orderly around their tables the mommies (or daddies, or grandparents) can make a brief skype call to the classroom to say hello. The child of the calling mommy comes to the computer to give an update on his doings from the morning. Today was my second time to participate. It struck me as funny and somewhat puzzling to see Roo act shy while talking to me over the computer. It’s like he wasn’t quite sure it was his real mommy. “Shy“ probably isn‘t the word his teachers or classmates would use to describe his character. Mostly he’s a confident little guy that is developing a reputation for being chatty. Yesterday he said to me “mommy, why do I talk a lot?”. Hmmm… how do I answer? I told him he’s a smart person with a lot to say!

A Christmas Party

Roo & his best buddy from school, Tsubasa.

Yesterday we attended a Christmas party sponsored by Roo’s preschool. The children enjoyed watching a silly clown, a brief appearance by St. Nick and the school teachers led the crowd singing both school and Christmas songs. One thing I’ve noticed is that the use of the word “Christmas” is not burdened by the political correctness that accompanies the word in the United States. There is little concern that you may offend if asking someone “what are you doing over Christmas?”, or “are you going to a Christmas party?”. My thoughts of why this is are: First, the word is used to signify the season, not the event. For most of the Japanese, the holiday is secular and the celebration of Christ’s birth is not connected to “the reason for the season”. December 24th is the day of Christmas celebration and on December 25th, the household adjusts their decorations and minds to the upcoming New Year festivities. A Japanese Christmas Cake is eaten on Christmas Eve and is simply a sponge cake with frosting, strawberries, and sometimes chocolate. Second, people in an expatriate community expect differences and therefore have a tolerance for the liberal use of the word “Christmas“. Roo has a book about the Nativity and last week he insisted on bringing the book to school to show the teachers and other children. I was somewhat hesitant to mention it to his teacher because in my American mind I thought “oh, no, we've brought a religious book to school”. I was surprised when her reaction was “oh good, we may have time to read it today”! Again, it’s another difference we’re experiencing and I have to admit, the capacity for tolerance is refreshing. Peace and goodwill to all mankind!

Disco dancing at the party.

The Spa

If I had access to unlimited funds it’s highly possible I would become a spa junkie. I love the spa. The smells, the tea, the robe, the music, the warm room, the warm towels, and of course, the treatment. My husband is supportive. So much so that he’s accustomed to taking note of the spa facilities available in the area when he’s planning our vacation travel. I do indulge even when we’re not on vacation by visiting my favorite neighborhood spa. For the most part, the process isn’t all that different from what I’ve experienced in other countries. Except, the receptacle for your clothing. What lady hasn’t been in the doctor’s office or the dressing room at a department store and felt slightly horrified when she realizes her undergarments are crumply pitched in a pile in plain sight? I can’t be the only one that hides my undies under my folded blouse and at times resorts to tucking them into the pocket of my jeans. Of course the modest women of Japan have given this some thought and developed a solution to spare others the embarrassment. It took me awhile to figure it out, but in every spa room, often in dressing rooms, and sometimes in the public bath changing area, there is a basket with a piece of cloth the same size to cover your clothing once you’ve placed your items neatly inside, keeping your privacy in tact.

Shichimi Togarashi

I’ve discovered a Japanese spice that makes carrot and lotus root sauté receive the distinction of “very good” from Ryan. Two words he doesn’t often use in the same sentence as carrot. I crave the dish. The spice is shichimi togarashi (7 spice pepper blend). It’s in every Japanese food store that has a decent spice section and a little gives a lot of kick. I use a recipe from a class I attended at A Taste of Culture, but I did find online a “pages displayed by permission” recipe from the cookbook Washoku that I mentioned in an earlier post. Shichimi togarashi is a quick and easy way to add a little heat to your palate and spice to your life!

A Sense of Humour

Roo laughs at his own jokes. He has since he was very small and way before his word development. Attempting to put a square block through a triangle hole on a shape sorter, he would pause, make eye contact, and then giggle as he tried the futile task. It was obvious he knew it wouldn’t work. So yesterday at his parent/teacher meeting I was delighted to hear his team of teachers describe “great sense of humour” and “fantastic laugh of glee”. Four is a fun age. Sure, there can be frustration but we’re all entitled to off moments. Sometimes he gets grumpy. Or, a little down on Japan. He has a unique way of saying the word Japan which makes a discussion about Japan notably cute.. He pronounces it jya-paan. He‘ll say he wants to go back to Minneapolis. Usually it’s because “they speak English there” but lately it’s transformed into “I miss my friends”, or “I miss the places we go there”. He’s certain his friends in Japan will visit him in Minneapolis. And of course he misses his grandparents. Yesterday he told me “we’re not meeting any Grandma and Grandpa’s in Japan”.

Ninja

Last night I went to a restaurant called Ninja with a group of mothers from Roo’s preschool class. In the dark, the ninja clad hostess led us to our cavernous room where we enjoyed drinks, most of the food, and magic tricks performed by an English speaking ninja. I said most of the food because there was one dish I couldn’t even consider tasting. Usually I‘m brave but when it comes to internal organs I’m afraid. Luckily two women in our group speak Japanese and were able to confirm that the white mass floating in the soup broth was indeed fish intestines. And, it did look very intestinal. A few of the woman reported that the broth was rather tasty if you could ignore the chunk in the center, but I don‘t believe any of us ventured beyond the broth. This restaurant is visited by foreigners and it is a fun place to go for a cultural experience. The intestine dish might be part of the course menu for the shock factor, but as they say, nothing goes to waste in the Japanese kitchen!

An "only in Japan" item

I’m constantly amazed by the gadgets available to the consumers in Japan. If you can stand the crowd and the overly heated subways and stores, shopping can be amazingly interesting. I used to think of America as the over abundance capital of the world, but the Japanese definitely have us beat when it comes to gadgets. At least in Tokyo. Whether it’s the multi level Daiso 100yen store, the mega shop selling stuff “for living” called Tokyu Hands, or the eight separate stores that comprise Yuzawaya, you can find just about anything your mind can imagine. Akachan Honpo, the baby/child store I visit, makes the car seat selection at Babies R Us look scant. At Tokyu Hands you can shop for a bike, chemistry beakers, yarn, makeup, crème de menthe for cooking, a samurai costume, a futon, an Anpanman clock, rain gear, a Christmas tree, 20+ different options of lights for the tree, lumber, or choose amongst several lunar calendar’s for 2009. This list doesn’t even begin to pick away at the merchandise available on it’s seven floors, each with it’s own A, B, or C wing. On a recent visit I couldn’t pass up this accessory designed to bring a bit of cuteness to the drudgery of housework. Why subject yourself to just a plain boring bottle of air freshener
When there’s a sweet little dinosaur cover available to brighten your shelf of cleaning supplies?

If you’re not fond of dinosaurs, there is a cow, a penguin, several breeds of puppies or a cat available. Reasonably priced, 100% polyester, and made in China.

Happy Thanksgiving

A Happy Belated Thanksgiving! We shared the holiday (on Sunday) with friends and enjoyed a tasty spread of good ole American Thanksgiving food. A Honeysuckle White Turkey thanks to Costco and Libby’s pumpkin pie! There was a slight glitch in plans in the minutes leading up to the feast as Roo developed a high temperature and fell asleep on the couch. Comfortable that his condition is likely due to his enormous tonsils that were scheduled to be taken out on Tuesday but won’t be now that he has a fever, and not due to a contagious germ, our friends came to our house instead of us going to theirs. Hence, the turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy took a ride in the child stroller. I’m feeling thankful for easy going and flexible friends who arrive at the door with a cooked turkey, complete with sharpened knives!

Ishi Yaki Imo

Now that there is a chill in the air, I see this truck around the neighborhood almost everyday at about 3pm. You can hear it coming because the speakers project an eerie cadence of “ishi-yaki-imo, yaki-imo”. One day I took a closer look and realized the red box in the back contains an actual fire. You can see the flames from a short distance. My first reaction was towards safety as I thought of the gasoline tank below. The vendor is selling slow stone grilled sweet potatoes. I haven’t purchased one yet, but will because I hear they are delicious. I’ve noticed advertisements revering the sweet potato by picturing a beautiful young woman with her lips softly parted as she’s preparing to take a bite of the steaming potato flesh. I tend to imagine this sort of advertisement for chocolate mousse, not a vegetable. But then again, the Japanese transform beans into a sweet treat, so why not the potato too?

Book Review: The Boat

by Nam Le. Wow! This collection of short stories is powerful. It can take your breath away. Each story is from a different part of the world and provides insight into the people. Insight that transcends trite cultural characteristic but instead exposes the raw feelings associated with an event. The extraordinary talent of the author is quickly realized as you experience the deepness of emotion present in each story. If I had to recommend one book as an absolute read in the genre of ethnic fiction, it would be this. I look forward to reading more stories by this young author in the future.

Egypt

Hieroglyphics. Roo’s spoken this at least 50 times this evening. A grand word for a four year old, I think. This month’s theme at preschool was Egypt and the children showcased their knowledge to the parents today. Costumed in Egyptian warrior garb, they sang songs and spoke about Egypt. Roo’s token line said in tandem with one other child was “four dessert foxes” as he proudly held high a poster on a stick containing golden foxes. This morning before school Roo asked Ryan if he could look up on the computer the temperature in Egypt today. He likes to explain that the Nile is the LONGEST river in the world and that pyramids are really BIG. Maxima seems to be the most effective way to impress a four year old. He’s intrigued by anything that’s the “most“. I’m not sure I knew the Nile was the longest river in the world until college. In fact, when he first brought the subject up I had to think “is the Nile the longest or the Amazon, hmmm?”. Hey, at least I do know it’s not the Mississippi. Anyway, it was a cute show today.

Roo's Rocket

We put boxes from a shipment to good use and made a rocket ship! The red stuff in the back is fire but as Roo likes to point out, "it isn't going the right way". No school Monday, it's a holiday, so more play time with Daddy and friends are coming over.

Cooking Fish Class

Yesterday I attended a Japanese cooking class given by Elizabeth Andoh, founder of A Taste of Culture and author of “Washoku”. I always enjoy her classes because it’s a small group of 7 students, informative, hands-on, and we all leave with full bellies. In this class titled “Just Fish” we learned several options for preparing fish. Including the bits and pieces (e.g. the chunks left over after filleting such as the head) that we simmered with burdock root, kombu and the standard subjects of sake, sugar, mirin and soy sauce. Beginning with the rice located at the most honored position on the bottom left and working clockwise we enjoyed:

*Rice with mixed grains
*Pickles
*Salmon steamed with mushrooms
*Ginger infused soy stewed fish & burdock root
*Chrysanthemum greens tossed in creamy tofu sauce
*Shimiji clams in miso soup
*Air-dried sama fish with sudachi lime

Salmon with mushrooms

Step 1 Prepare

Step 2 Wrap for steaming

Step 3 Enjoy!

Stewing pits and pieces

Shimiji clams after cooking