Like many gaijin, I get a million questions from confused Japanese people when they see my Nalgene bottle full of water. The most common question is, “What's in that?” Hmm, let's see, a large amount of a clear liquid...it is OBVIOUSLY vodka! I mean, what the fuck would it be other than water at work, seriously!
Anyway, a question I have been getting a lot lately from students (after I explain that it's water) is, “Oh, do you only drink water from America?” Now, this is an acceptable question from shougakkou kids, as many of them think that I fly to work from America every day. However, what kind of retarded chuugakkou kid would ask that?! Many of them, apparently! How would I even get American water? “Mom, please mail me 100 gallons of water from America, I REFUSE to drink Japanese water for the two years that I am here!” I guess maybe they could assume it is bottled water from the store, but most of that comes from Japan, too. I don't get it!
Of course, maybe it is best to not question the odd logic found here. This IS a country where I get asked, “Oh, can you eat fish? You can?! YOU ARE SO JAPANESE!,” as if fish are some rare animal found only in the Sea of Japan. It is also amazing to them that I can use chopsticks, despite living here for over a year (I usually don't even bother explaining that I use them in the States, too). I think Japanese people have a great amount of pride regarding their food, culture and everything else, but assume that for some reason no foreigner would ever appreciate it, or even like it. Is that because they think we just wouldn't “get” it? Or is it something else entirely? I have no idea.
Anyway, I am babbling, but if anyone knows that answer or has a theory, let me know!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Escape from Gunma!
So for the first time in far too long, Cindy and I escaped from Gunma’s grasp on Saturday! We were feeling muy restless and decided to either go to Yokohama or Omiya….we were too lazy and impatient to be on a train for 2 1/2 hours, so we decided on Omiya, and it was a VERY good choice! Omiya is the biggest city in Saitama, the prefecture between Gunma and Tokyo...it is kind of like a mini-Tokyo, sorta. Well, much more Tokyo than any cities in Gunma, hehe.
Anyway, so we get to Omiya, not knowing what to expect (I had been there once, but six years ago and I didn’t really do anything then), and we discover that Omiya has the MOST AMAZING EKI (train station) IN THE WORLD! Like, seriously, you don’t even need to leave the eki! There are like 5 million AMAZING bakeries in one eki! Hello, this place is obviously meant for Cindy and I. On top of that, they have REAL pastries, REAL bread, REAL sandwiches, etc! Then there are like yummy-looking restaurants and shit, too! HELLO!
Anyway, after buying far too many pastries, we leave the eki and find out that Omiya has a Disney Store! We are officially Japanese, as I would totally ignore the Disney Store in the States, but we practically ran to it here! Hahaha. I bought a Stitch toy for my desk, another Stitch strap for my keitai and a STITCH STUFFED ANIMAL! He’s so cute! Yes, I am gay. BUT I decided that I need a boyfriend to hug until my boyo comes here, so Stitch is my boyfriend until March. Wow, this is the most depressing post ever. Anyway!
Oh, also, when I was buying Stitch, the lady at the register was like, “Is this a present?” (to wrap it) and I was like “Um...no...” and she laughed! SAD! Hahahaha.
Anyway, we spent the rest of the day wandering around Omiya. I must say any food addicts MUST go there, as there is a bakery every five feet.
Before we headed back to Gunma, we of course had to raid the bakeries even more. I bought bagels (!!!) to freeze for later, some bread for our dinner the next night, etc.
Wow, this post is really sad, but it was a fun day, god dammit! AND we got great ingredients so that we could make a YUMMY dinner (together) on Sunday night! So yes, it was a good escape from Gunma AND a good way to get fat fat fat!
Here are some pics of my purchases:
Oh, you have no idea how much joy the sight of bagels gives me....mmm...
Bread that ISN'T white?! Unheard of!
Asian-ing my keitai up with some strap action.
For my desk at work, yo.
Stitch!
Sad, he doesn't look very happy to be with me....
Anyway, so we get to Omiya, not knowing what to expect (I had been there once, but six years ago and I didn’t really do anything then), and we discover that Omiya has the MOST AMAZING EKI (train station) IN THE WORLD! Like, seriously, you don’t even need to leave the eki! There are like 5 million AMAZING bakeries in one eki! Hello, this place is obviously meant for Cindy and I. On top of that, they have REAL pastries, REAL bread, REAL sandwiches, etc! Then there are like yummy-looking restaurants and shit, too! HELLO!
Anyway, after buying far too many pastries, we leave the eki and find out that Omiya has a Disney Store! We are officially Japanese, as I would totally ignore the Disney Store in the States, but we practically ran to it here! Hahaha. I bought a Stitch toy for my desk, another Stitch strap for my keitai and a STITCH STUFFED ANIMAL! He’s so cute! Yes, I am gay. BUT I decided that I need a boyfriend to hug until my boyo comes here, so Stitch is my boyfriend until March. Wow, this is the most depressing post ever. Anyway!
Oh, also, when I was buying Stitch, the lady at the register was like, “Is this a present?” (to wrap it) and I was like “Um...no...” and she laughed! SAD! Hahahaha.
Anyway, we spent the rest of the day wandering around Omiya. I must say any food addicts MUST go there, as there is a bakery every five feet.
Before we headed back to Gunma, we of course had to raid the bakeries even more. I bought bagels (!!!) to freeze for later, some bread for our dinner the next night, etc.
Wow, this post is really sad, but it was a fun day, god dammit! AND we got great ingredients so that we could make a YUMMY dinner (together) on Sunday night! So yes, it was a good escape from Gunma AND a good way to get fat fat fat!
Here are some pics of my purchases:
Oh, you have no idea how much joy the sight of bagels gives me....mmm...
Bread that ISN'T white?! Unheard of!
Asian-ing my keitai up with some strap action.
For my desk at work, yo.
Stitch!
Sad, he doesn't look very happy to be with me....
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