Fun with Japanese Friends

It's Tanabata time!  The decorations are out and the city looks very colorful and festive!  The past month I really made an effort to make and keep Japanese friends.  It's been really nice and very refreshing.

Thanks to the International Center, Aaron and I have met several Japanese people.  All very nice.  There is one girl that I have been meeting regularly for dinner.  She introduced me to a Korean restaurant underneath Sendai Station.  It was the first time I've had Korean food in Japan so I was really curious.  I ordered Aaron's favorite dish -- bibim naengmyun.  I wanted to try it so that I could bring Aaron one day if it was really good.  Well, it was definitely not up to Korea's standards or even Hawaii standards.  But for being a Japanese place, it was not bad at all.

Bibim Ngaemyun!

I also met a college guy who is very talkative for a Japanese person.  It was a nice change to not always have to lead the conversation.  Aaron and I met him for a second time this past weekend for lunch.  Where did we go?  To the Korean place of course!  Aaron ordered the bibim naengmyun.  He actually thought it was good!  I ordered the kimchee jigae.  It was not bad either.  It had more of a fishy Japanese taste to it, but still not bad at all.  It came with a side of bibimbap which was unfortunately too sweet for my (and Aaron's) taste.  But we were glad we found this place.  Especially Aaron!  I was a little worried about our friend feeling like a third wheel, but he said that next time he would bring his friend along.  Good idea!

Vindome: the restaurant we tried.

Yoko and I also had a mini-adventure together.  She took me to her hot yoga class.  It was my first time doing yoga ever.  I was surprised by how not so hot it was.  I was expecting it to be much hotter.  But I guess after living in Arizona for 10 years, I've been conditioned pretty well.  A summer's day in Arizona is still hotter!  But having to stretch and balance and PLANK in 100 degree heat... there was much sweatage.  Luckily they had individual showers!  It was really nice and refreshing.

Afterwards, Yoko took me to an Italian/International restaurant. It had nice decor set up with indoor and outdoor tables.  The food wasn't bad either.

Sayaka's on the right!

Chee-hoo!

This Sunday, one of my students (Sayaka) had a hula performance in downtown Sendai. Yoko, Aaron and I rushed to go see her.  There was really heavy traffic due to the rain.  It's also a real pain trying to find parking near the station.  But we finally made it just in time to see her dance their last dance.  Aaron and I were curious to see how their hula would stack up to Hawaiian halaus.  Aaron thought they were a little stiff, but I thought they did a good job.  Sayaka was definitely the best dancer of them all!

Before heading downtown to see Sayaka, Aaron wanted to check out GEO (the dvd/game store).  We stepped in and it was Nerd Heaven.  Tons of video games, game systems, dvds, manga, and there were even walls of game cards displayed!  Aaron couldn't believe it.  That's when it got far too nerdy for me.  Directly behind the walls of cards were tables where nerds could play and talk and I dunno what.  But there were some there playing their cards.  When Aaron and I got to the back of the store, I jokingly said to him, "You're the only one in this store with a girlfriend!"  Eventually it got too nerdy even for Aaron and we left.

Aaron geeking out in front of the card display.

Oishiiiii!!

And finally, I had a day off yesterday.  So, I headed over to Nobuko's house and they prepared a wonderful dinner feast for me.  It was incredible!  Toru (Nobuko's husband) is such a great cook!  He prepared an amazing soup.  I have no idea what it's called.  But it had pork, tomato, onions, okra, squash.  It was soooo good.  He also made some veggies, yakitori, shumai, scallops, and clams!  I really wish I had a bigger stomach so I could've eaten everything up!  But it was too much for me.  Afterwards they tried giving me three types of dessert -- peaches (which I don't like), mochi, and chocolate cake.  They really overstuffed me.  But it was so good.  It was one of the best meals I've had in Japan. I only wish Aaron could've been there with us.

Nobuko wants to plan another dinner with me, Aaron, Yumi, and Manabu again.  It's so hard with my work schedule and Aaron's work schedule.  I'm praying that God will give us another opportunity!  She's also wanting to take me to Yumi's new soba shop that just opened up recently.  She said she's been there three times already.  It's really good and really cheap. I can't wait to try it!