Okay, anyone who knows Talya, knows I like to eat! Experiencing the culture is only half way done unless you are eating or trying the local food. I am glad God gave me the good sense of humor to try ALMOST anything, once. Here are some of the foods I have tasted. I can't say the same for Mark.
Goya: This Japanese gourd has another name but in Okinawa they grow it and use it a lot more than the mainlanders I am thinking. There is even a dish that is considered "Okinawan Soul Food" called Chanpuru that is cooked through out Okinawa and is a true Okinawan dish. Have I tried Chanpuru? No. Will I ever? NO! The reason why? This adventurous soul has already done my Okinawan right of passage by trying goya. Now, for those of you like me, that aren't going to take anyone's word for it but your own, try it, and hey, YOU may like it. There are still things I would try after someone gave me a bad review. For those of you who take my word as good, save your taste buds for something else. Goya is bitter! I tried it fried, and even dipping this gourd in batter and soaking it in oil, a southern girl's dream, was not enough to save me from the bitter taste. It's soft. Almost reminds be of a slightly tougher avocado, but unlike an avocado the taste is not mild and I quickly found something to wash my palate with. Want to read more about the harmless looking but not so tasting goya? I found this website: http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/column4.html
Sting Ray Fin: This dish was grilled when I tried it and I don't have many words for it other than I was glad to have tried it. Could I eat a full plate of it? No, but if offered to me again, I would take a piece. I tasted this at the local izakaya so in that setting you wouldn't eat the whole plate anyways. (Don't know what an izakaya is? Read my 1st blog ;-) ) The ray fin reminded me of jerky in consistency. It was chewy, crispy around the grilled edges. It also didn't have a heavy fish taste to it which made it more pleasant than dried cuttlefish. (Tried that yucky dish in Hawai'i) They actually used a charcoal grill and I am finding out that with many foods in Japan, this makes all the difference in the world!
Beni-imo: Beni-imo shall be nicknamed by me here forth, TROUBLE. Sweet Potato Ice Cream...YUM YUM! Blue seal, which is a popular chain of ice cream shops on Okinawa, exclusive to Oki might I add. You can by all kinds of flavors, think Baskin Robins. Since the sweet potato is a staple here in Oki, I went out on a limb and tried it, and I am so glad I did. I am now going to have trouble trying the mango or pineapple ice because I have fallen in love with beni-imo. Go ahead, tell Mark, he knows me and I am sure he already knows. I see a Blue Seal and I am instantly begging to go for ice cream. Come out and visit, try the beni-imo, you will be glad you did. It's sweet, no after taste, and very refreshing on a hot day, which we have many off! Here is a link if you care to snoop around. http://en.blueseal.co.jp/index.html
Yakitori (best grilled on an open flame!) to Yakiniku. Sushi, sashimi, and seaweed. Beni-imo and my continuing quest for butter fish, Mark and I are chopsticks deep in many Japanese, Korean, and most of all Okinawan dishes and I have only been here a week! We are exploring Oki and loving every minute of it. I hope to have many pictures very soon from our Hiji Otaki hike, our Okuma Beach trip, and Kokusai Street, 10,000 Eisa Dancer fest!
Sayonara from the Scott's!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Endless RAIN...Fall on my heart!
Endless Rain is all I remember of one of the karaoke songs I sang with Mark's coworkers last night. Karaoke (which everyone should know by now is pronounced "car-ah-oh-kay") is only karaoke in it's purest form in Japan...well, in MY opinion. Everyone has a great time, everyone is singing, and someone is passing out peanuts covered with different things, and the funny part is, it is nothing you couldn't buy in Hawai'i. Which brings me to a point Mark made and I pretty much agree with. Hawai'i had all the Japanese things we like and it was easier to navigate because of everyone speaking English. Don't let that fool you though. Mark and I go many places that no one speaks English and we get along just fine with buying food, clothes, and other items. The fact that the natives don't speak English doesn't slow us down.
We went out with Mark's coworkers to what is called an "izakaya" which is a place you can drink and eat if you choose to. They serve smaller portions and the food is meant for sharing. It took me a minute to dive in, because I didn't realize we all chipped in money to eat this food together. Once I knew the rules, which basically were just pick it up, I was okay with trying things. Though, many items were nothing new, it was enjoyable to try them in Japan and the sashimi was beyond fresh, it was tasty! I forgot the Japanese word for saying something is good, but Mark knows.
Care to know where Mark and I actually are? We are on the island of Okinawa in the far southern part of Japan. A chain of island separated from the "mainland". Okinawa, from what we can tell, has what we would consider one county, it is referred to as the Okinawa Prefecture, and it includes the whole island. Our apartment is in Chatan-cho, that is our city. Our suburb that we live in is Sunabe. The air force base Mark works on, Kadena, is in Chatan-cho as well. I have not been back to Naha, another city, since I flew in 7-28-2010.
I start work when Mark goes back to work from leave on 8-9-2010. I will be working at Sunshine Montessori School. Mark works on Kadena AB.
Since my bags were lost, I can't post pictures, but hopefully I will be able to soon. I will leave this blog, my 1st, with things I have learned about Okinawa. Things I have learned:
1. You need to step up or step down everywhere you go, EVERYWHERE, meaning, always be aware there can be a ledge at the doorways of many places. Just when I think I have accomplished this, one sneaks up on me. I nearly biff it at least 3 times a day.
2. It rains, a lot, and it's different from Hawai'i in that in Hawai'i, in certain times of the year you will get misted with what is not even what we would call rain. It's a nice refreshing mist that allows you to cool off. In Okinawa, replace that daily misting with a downpour. It's not the rainy season right now, it is typhoon season, which between the 2 of them pretty much spans the whole year. One of my 1st purchases was an umbrella. The rain seems to last maybe 30 minutes tops but will soak you to the bone. I have not straightened my hair once since I have been here.
Sayonara from the Scott's!
We went out with Mark's coworkers to what is called an "izakaya" which is a place you can drink and eat if you choose to. They serve smaller portions and the food is meant for sharing. It took me a minute to dive in, because I didn't realize we all chipped in money to eat this food together. Once I knew the rules, which basically were just pick it up, I was okay with trying things. Though, many items were nothing new, it was enjoyable to try them in Japan and the sashimi was beyond fresh, it was tasty! I forgot the Japanese word for saying something is good, but Mark knows.
Care to know where Mark and I actually are? We are on the island of Okinawa in the far southern part of Japan. A chain of island separated from the "mainland". Okinawa, from what we can tell, has what we would consider one county, it is referred to as the Okinawa Prefecture, and it includes the whole island. Our apartment is in Chatan-cho, that is our city. Our suburb that we live in is Sunabe. The air force base Mark works on, Kadena, is in Chatan-cho as well. I have not been back to Naha, another city, since I flew in 7-28-2010.
I start work when Mark goes back to work from leave on 8-9-2010. I will be working at Sunshine Montessori School. Mark works on Kadena AB.
Since my bags were lost, I can't post pictures, but hopefully I will be able to soon. I will leave this blog, my 1st, with things I have learned about Okinawa. Things I have learned:
1. You need to step up or step down everywhere you go, EVERYWHERE, meaning, always be aware there can be a ledge at the doorways of many places. Just when I think I have accomplished this, one sneaks up on me. I nearly biff it at least 3 times a day.
2. It rains, a lot, and it's different from Hawai'i in that in Hawai'i, in certain times of the year you will get misted with what is not even what we would call rain. It's a nice refreshing mist that allows you to cool off. In Okinawa, replace that daily misting with a downpour. It's not the rainy season right now, it is typhoon season, which between the 2 of them pretty much spans the whole year. One of my 1st purchases was an umbrella. The rain seems to last maybe 30 minutes tops but will soak you to the bone. I have not straightened my hair once since I have been here.
Sayonara from the Scott's!
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