Cooking, food, people and memories

     I have to say, that sometimes I miss the European foods. So I decided to prepare some dishes while I wait for Mitsuyo for dinner. I must say, here in this flat, we don't have a normal European style oven. Just little machines of much smaller size, that are called "oven". So it was a bit of experiment.
     And I also discovered how food is connected with our memories and people. Amazing. I never thought or realized about that.
    
     I tried my first scones... that was disaster.. cause I put too much baking powder, and it was just too bitter. But then next day I tried again, and those were lovely scones. It reminded me of one family in Dumfries and Kenny. We used to work for them with Kenny, and the lady of the house, always prepared some freshly baked scones for us with lots of cups of tea. We loved it. And I am sure that Kenny enjoys it even now, cause he has few jobs to do for them. Please say hallo to them from me. Thank you.

     After baking scones, I was thinking about something else, so I remembered Rosa's pizza. Yummy yummy..... Then I remembered Pombo family, and Maria's pizza too.... hmmmmmm.... impossible to resist the calling of my taste buds and stomach..... It had to be pizza, first time as well....
     I tried to do the thin pizza, like Rosita (as I call Rosa) makes, but as I mentioned before, the oven here is very small, so it would be too complicated and too long process. I had to go for normal thicker pizza. But before baking, I had to do shopping... which is a challenge on its own. So of course I came back home without half of the stuff needed for making my pizza...
     Luckily the Internet is a magical place and I found a recipe without yeast for the pizza dough and also I managed to improvise with the sauce and topping.
     So at the end the pizza was finished just on time for dinner.
     Mitsuyo happy, Stano happy. Life is good....

     Yesterday, I decided to make Okonomiyaki, a Japanese classic and one of my favorite dishes. This is not European food, but I was introduced to it at Allanton, in Scotland. It reminded me of many people I prepared this food for, or people who prepared it for me, people from all around the world. Nice memories..... happy stomachs, happy faces, happy people, happy world...
     I was very surprised, because Mitsuyo said, that it was her favorite Okonomiyaki ever, and she is Japanese. Mitsuyo happy, Stano happy. Life is good....

     Another one we made together with Mitsuyo is called gyoza, it was first time I made it. Originally Chinese dish, but very popular in Japan. It reminded me of Uma san, he loves it with some sake. We talked with Mitsuyo a lot about you Uma san while eating it. Yummy yummy....    And I must say, I love the Japanese plum wine, which is on the table instead of sake. Hmmmmmm
Mitsuyo happy, Stano happy. Life is good.....

    Of course we made more foods here. As I mentioned before, lot of fish and rice and soups and salads and tofu etc.... But this ones are those, that made me realize about the connection between food and people and our memories. Magical life.
     I wish you all well...
     May Peace Prevail on Earth

First days at school

     So finally my school started. The campus is quite big. I cycle there and it takes about 20 minutes. It is quite modern place, but it should be, it is Institute of Technology.

Kanagawa Institute of Technology campus

     Of course, I am in the elementary level. We are only a small group, which is great, cause the speed is quite fast. I have 3 class mates. Two of them are Chinese and one is from Iran. Every time I look at the boy from Iran, I have to smile. He reminds me of Ron, a friend from Iran, who passed away about a year and half ago.
     I am the oldest one in the group, they are 21 or 22. But I like it. We have lot of fun. Especially the two Chinese boys, Hon-san and Oo-san. They are quite funny.

     The teachers are interesting. We go through the beginnings in a fast pace. Every day we have different teacher who is with us from beginning to the end of the teaching day. It is interesting to experience the Japanese way of education. Valuable experience.
     Our classes are actually only in the morning... from 9:30 to 13:00. Which is enough. Teachers speak all the time in Japanese, so we have to listen very carefully.

     Strangely we don't go to school on Wednesday, instead we have to go on Saturday. Which is not that great for my plans for participating at ceremonies at Fuji Sanctuary. Cause I would have to be there on Saturday for practice. But at least I can go there on Sunday and mix with the crowd. Also I won't be able to do weekend trips to visit friends or some interesting places of Japan, that are bit further. On the other hand, it saves money, which is greatly appreciated by not working student like me. And also having a day off in the middle of the week is quite a nice break too. Sugoooooooi..... So today, Wednesday, is my day off.
     
    

Iiyama kannon

     It is 800 year old Buddhist temple. It is very nice place, especially in this season, because of many cherry trees.
     I went there last week on a bicycle. It is not far away from where I live. Maybe 30 minutes ride. It has a very nice feeling. I liked it. Small, personal and quiet.
    Just want to share some pictures.

 

     Slowly I am reading and discovering about this area. There is quite a few places for hiking. Just behind the temple, there is a path towards the Hakusan hill. A place of many spiritual pilgrimages. There is also quite a few forest parks around and I read about some nice beaches too. Looking forward to visit them. 
.

Easy going days

     In past days, we had quite a few earthquakes. Some stronger then the others, but here in this area they are mostly soft ones. It is quite interesting to experience such a frequency of the Earth shaking.

     Because I am still waiting for the school to start, I had quite a bit of time, to wonder around  Atsugi. I visited few places, but actually there is not much to see here, apart from cherry blossom. Most of interesting areas are bit further from Atsugi. So this week I am planning to visit Iiama Kannon, 800 year old shrine. It is not so far away from where I live. Maybe one hour on bicycle. I will show you pictures later.

     Of course the most important thing here is Sakura blossom. People are outside under the cherry trees, playing games, chatting and having picnic. There is nice path, part of my cycling route to school, which has nice cherry trees too.

     I went for a walk along a river, just where I live. It is such a nice area. Have a look. Nice little gardens, with lot of flowers and vegetables, many many cherry trees and in the river I have seen some nice big fish too.

     And here is a little shrine on our street, I pass it almost every day. It has nice feeling.

   

     And of course, spring time also means one important thing.... planting. So we planted with Mitsuyo some Poppies, Mint, Lemon Balm and Wild Celery. Plus we bought small tomato plant, parsley and French lavender. So this is our little garden paradise at our small balcony.

     Well and other than this, I am discovering new foods, cause most of things here are slightly different. But I must say very very yummy. And the fish here...... wow....
     I am also learning little bit of Japanese, playing on guitar almost every day,
practising classical songs I used to play. I love those tunes. Bach, Mangore, Albeniz, Tarrega.....
And the guitar I play on is so nice. It has such a sweet sound. It was a present from Yoshie.

     Just few days ago I was honored. She asked me if they can play my music on Toru's funeral. I was very happy to hear that. I hope it helped people to calm down their emotions and took Toru to the skies. For those who never heard about Toru, he was a young man who recently committed suicide. He came to one of Allanton's summer flag ceremonies and helped us with preparation. He played there his song May Peace Prevail on Earth, in his special version.... heavy metal style.
He died two days after my arrival. Pity I didn't manage to meet him. At least I could give him wings with my music. Bye bye Toru.

     Life is a miracle. I love it for its beauty, for its mystery. And I am reminded every day, how fragile it is, since I arrived here. Make the most of it guys. This Earth is such a beautiful place. May Peace Prevail on Earth

First day in Atsugi, Japan

     It was a nice day. After breakfast, Mitsuyo took me to a shop nearby, to show me the area but also to buy a new bicycle, cause I wanted one as a main transport while I am here. So I bought one, and it is proper Japanese bike with basket.
 
     What a cool ride we had, throught the city to the central station, where we did some shopping and had a lunch. It is interesting how a bike can make you smile.... It feels really cool.... Love it.

     So here I am, picture is a bit blurred, but at least you can see my new lovley bike. That basket always makes me laugh. When I look at this picture, I can hear Donald singing: "I am turning Japanese, I am turning Japanese, I really thing soooooo...."

     Later on, after we came home, I experienced my first earthquake. I didn't realized it at all, only Mitsuyo said to me... "Stano, it is earthquake." It was very gentle and it made me smile. But I can imagine the power of such a shake in high levels.That would be quite a scarry thing. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is so powerfull.

     And of course, I watched some Japanese Tv programs. Hmmmm...... Well... Strange it is....
Luckily some programs have also other language option, so I can switch it to English. Good good. At least now I can see more information about the Fukushima and the effect on life and economy of Japanese people after the big earthquake and tsunami. May our mission be accomplished.

     It was a good day with nice sunny and warm weather, lovely lady next to me and yummy food.