December 11, 2015

Kit Kat time!

Hello, today we're talking Kit Kats!

It's a special day because I've passed the 40 mark on Kit Kats sampled!

First is Sweet Potato:



It's recommended that you bake this Kit Kat which I did but not before trying it pre-baked.  When baked it loses a lot of it sweet potato flavor for some odd reason as the sweet potato flavor was stronger before baking.  It was good baked though, so you can decide what to do with these if you can still find them.

Here is Premium Hazelnut:



Oh my was this delicious!  One of the most delicious Kit Kats I've ever had.  Even one of my coworkers was so surprised by how yummy this was.

Next, two special Kit Kits from the Chocolatory store in Tokyo Station which my wonderful husband bought for me.



Pictured you see Orange Cocktail Noir and Butter. 

Now the butter was good.  I'm not so sure it tasted like butter.  Maybe butter you've mixed with sugar when you're baking cookies or something.

The Orange Cocktail Noir had a very strong flavor, very strong orange and very strong dark.  It was okay, not my favorite.

Here's the list:
  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. White
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake 
  38. Cookies & Cream
  39. Chocolate Mint Ice 
  40. Sweet Potato
  41. Premium Hazelnut 
  42. Butter
  43. Orange Cocktail Noir

December 10, 2015

Lipton Tea...

Hi folks!  I'm writing to you from a cold and rainy December day in Tokyo.  No worries though because it's my day off so I've got a heating pad on my back and I'm drinking hot tea and sitting under the covers.

Meanwhile, let's talk about some cold teas.

First, I tried White Peach Mix Tea:



It was okay.  I really felt that the grape flavor was way too overpowering.

Next is from the Premium Series.  Generally, I tend to dislike the Premium Series, but this one is an exception.  Chocolat Milk Tea:



If you really love tea forget it, this tastes exactly like chocolate milk although I read the ingredients, and it does have tea in it.  It's so yummy.  If you're in Japan now, pick this up for sure!

The list:  

  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
  55. Lychee Mix Tea
  56. Royal Tea Latte
  57. Green Fruits Tea
  58. Wanashi Tea 
  59. Pineapple Mix Tea
  60. Apricot Mix Tea 
  61. Sweet Pumpkin Tea Latte 
  62. White Peach Mix Tea
  63.  Chocolat Milk Tea
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

October 11, 2015

Lipton Tea: Special Edition!

Hi all!  It's officially fall!  The weather is cooler.  People are actually wearing knit caps for a reason.  And pumpkin things and fall flavors are popping up.  Japan doesn't get as crazy about fall as America does (pumpkin pasta sauce anyone? Yes, that's a thing), but there are a few fall flavors in stores.

Normally, I don't review Lipton in the bottle but I thought this deserved a special mention.


Now I wasn't sure about this but holy smokes Sweet Pumpkin Tea Latte is quite delicious.  I even love the Halloween decor on the bottle.  If you have the chance, try this.  It's so good!

Next, Milk Tea is not new but they have some cute packaging for Halloween.  I can't help it.  I just love it.


Adorable.

The list:  
  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
  55. Lychee Mix Tea
  56. Royal Tea Latte
  57. Green Fruits Tea
  58. Wanashi Tea 
  59. Pineapple Mix Tea
  60. Apricot Mix Tea 
  61. Sweet Pumpkin Tea Latte
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

September 17, 2015

Lipton Tea...

Happy 60 teas!  Wow.  I can't believe I've sampled 60 Lipton teas in only 3 years.  By that math I hope the number will have doubled in the next 3 years.

Anyway, two new teas for you.

First is Pineapple Mix Tea:


So they claim to have passion fruit, lemon, and pineapple in there.  I don't know.  I can't taste them.  The pineapple taste overpowers the other flavors but not in a bad way.  The taste is actually light and refreshing.  It was nice!

Next is Apricot Mix Tea:


This one claims to have apricot, mango, and orange.  I couldn't taste anything except apricot, and it's got a light, refreshing apricot flavor.

The list:  
  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
  55. Lychee Mix Tea
  56. Royal Tea Latte
  57. Green Fruits Tea
  58. Wanashi Tea 
  59. Pineapple Mix Tea
  60. Apricot Mix Tea
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

September 13, 2015

What happens when you drop a gaijin in a lake?

Sounds like the beginning of a joke, doesn't it?  Well, what happens?  Does she sink?  Float?  Swim?  Who knows how many times people have attempted to toss a gaijin in a lake?

Today was a day of firsts.  Normally my blog is pretty boring because most days I sit on my butt and watch TV since I've spent the bulk of my cash traveling. 

Sunday (today) my husband invited me to go wakeboarding on Lake Yamanaka with a couple of doctors.  Sure, I said.  I've waterskied before (although last time I did that I was in my teens I think).  It's what you do in Arizona.  You gas up the boat and go to the lake.  I couldn't even tell you how many times I've been to the lake.  No biggie, right?  Here's some caveats you should know.  I've never been in a lake in Japan.  (I've walked around one and been on a lake cruise.)  Additionally, I've never been wakeboarding before.  Also, before today I had never met a brain surgeon.  Yeah, the doctor who invited us was literally a brain surgeon.  No joke.

Anyway, they took the boards out of the car.  It looks like a snowboard (which I've never been on either).  I took one look at that thing and I said, "Oh yeah, I can't get up on that."  I said that out loud. 

Once on the boat the doctor proclaimed I'd go third.  After the other doctor aka super wakeboarder (I was expecting this guy to do flips but he didn't), and my husband who kindly reassured me that he didn't get up right away the first time he went either.  Okay, so how bad can it be?  I received two mini wakeboarding lessons or a wakeboarding crash course.

When it was my turn, I was standing on the wooden platform strapping the board on and my husband accidentally pushed me into the water.  They tried to hoist me back up to standing, and I was just like forget it and put the board on in the water.  When they tried to run the boat nothing happened because prior to me getting in the water they had run over a buoy and the propeller was stuck and rope was wrapped around it. 

"Oh yes!" I thought.  I don't have to embarrass myself after all.  We'll all go home because the boat is broken.  Well, some Good Samaritan from a nearby boat strapped on his goggles and dug the buoy out.  Crap. 

Okay, so five time I tried to get up.  The fourth and fifth time I came close to standing.  I received some helpful advice (all in Japanese). 
 
"Relax!"
"Don't try to stand up so soon!"
"Bend your knees!  Bend!"

Sigh.  On the fifth fail as the boat circled back around, I heard "last chance" so if I didn't get up I failed miserably and could suffer embarrassment for the rest of the day.

Try six.  By some miracle I got up.  Seriously, it was a miracle.  When I got up to standing, of course, everyone on our boat cheered (maybe mostly from relief), and I heard the whoops and shouts of a nearby boat which was huge for my ego.  I kindly replied back "YEAH BITCHES!"  It was glorious.  Now, I don't know if they were cheering because they witnessed the whole embarrassing debacle or if it was because I was a girl (the lake was almost entirely devoid of female wakeboarders) or if it was because I am a(n out of shape gaijin).  Either way it was nice to have fans.  They pointed and waved at me later.  "Look it's the gaijin!"  I flashed them a peace sign.

Here's a picture of me being awesome:


You'll notice the boats in the background which stopped to watch me.  Like really?  Water celebrity.

And here's the gorgeous Mt. Fuji which only appeared for about ten minutes:


This was like unbelievably fun.  (However, I guarantee you that I'd be singing a different tune had I not gotten up on the water.)  Here's the bottom line: wakeboarding is like super hard.  Especially, if you're a(n out of shape) gaijin like me.

August 1, 2015

On Being a Woman...

On Being an American Woman in Japan.  

On Being a Woman in America.  

On Being a Woman...

Beautiful Women

Obviously, I live in Japan.  It's the land of beautiful women.  It's 95º and 80% humidity and the woman standing next to me on the train looks flawless.  Her skin is dry and bright.  Her make-up is flawless.  Her clothes immaculate.  It's almost like she teleported from station to station, and she never stepped foot outside.  Meanwhile, I am not wearing any make-up, and I'm wiping the visible sweat from my brow and fanning myself with a small handkerchief.  I don't understand this phenomenon, so I went to an expert on the subject: my gay hairdresser.

"I don't understand Japanese women," I said.  "Like they always look perfect.  Aren't they ever hot or sweaty?"

I was still trying to cool off after an hour in the chair.

"I think they carry make-up with them.  They are always going to the bathroom for touch ups," he said.

"Why don't they ever sweat?"

"I think they are the opposite.  The women I know are always complaining about being cold.  I think there's something wrong with them.  Poor circulation due to dieting all the time."

I think there's a lot of pressure in Japan to be beautiful.  I buy fashion magazines.  There are some with ads for diet pills in the back pages.  I look at the before and after pictures.  I can't seem to see any problem with the before pictures while the after pics look emaciated.  I look at the population of women around me.  It's very easy to see which ones are young and unmarried.  They are the girls who are very fashionable and always look pristine.  The "moms" (married with kids) always dress super casually.  These are the only women in Japan I see wearing jeans.  It's like they have succeeded in "catching" a man and no longer need to paint on their beautiful faces.  Every single Japanese girl friend who I say looks beautiful vehemently denies it though.  You do.  You look beautiful.  Maybe it's modesty.  Maybe they think they are still not beautiful after all that work.

The Land of S

Shopping in Japan is a real pain especially for America girls who are not a size S or M in America.  If you're an L or XL or bigger than that, shopping in Japan gets tricky.  There are many stores here which only sell one size.  That size is Japanese S which is about an American XS.  Even the stores here are telling women they need to be skinny.  This is terrible because I see women of all shapes and sizes.  I wonder silently where they buy their clothes.  I hate this trend in Japanese stores.  Maybe it's a sales strategy.  Maybe that size sells and larger sizes won't.  Maybe the larger sized women are sitting in a corner eating cabbage and crying and therefore aren't shopping until they can fit into that size.  Okay that last part was an obviously exaggeration.

About Me

I always thought I was fat even when I wasn't.  I look at pictures of me in high school and think "My god what was I thinking?!?!  I wasn't anywhere near fat!  I was so so skinny!"  There must have been someone or something telling me I wasn't though because that thought of feeling fat crept into my brain and never left.  When I started my career I was 23 or 24 (that's a little over 10 years ago).  Looking at pictures of my then, it's the same thing.  "My god what was I thinking?!?!  I wasn't anywhere near fat!  I was so so skinny!"  Then I got bronchitis and the doctor put me on a steroid medication as a means of treatment, so I ate.  And I ate.  And I ate.  And I couldn't figure out why I was so hungry all the time.  By the time I figured it out I had already packed on pounds.  Oops.  But even then I wasn't at my heaviest.

On Moving to Japan

I was pretty ecstatic when I moved to Japan.  I mean, of course, I was.  It's my favorite place ever.  The first 6 months were really hard.  I was super depressed.  I didn't leave the house much.  I didn't have friends.  I was incredibly homesick.  I had left 30 years of my life behind.  I had heard all the stories about people lost so much weight when they moved to Japan embracing the Japanese diet.  I was excited for that.  I could lose weight effortlessly!  However, I didn't account for the Japanese diet not being vegetarian friendly at all, so I cooked things I would cook in America since I'm definitely not an expert on Japanese cooking, and I drank with coworkers every Friday night.  Also, I ate a lot of bread because well bread is delicious.  I tried to shop at trendy stores, but I couldn't because I couldn't fit into any of the clothes.  I am definitely not a Japanese S.  Maybe I was when I was 10.  My worst experience shopping was needing a skirt.  I went to many stores and tried to squeeze into skirts with elastic waists.  I couldn't.  I felt horrible and that I hated shopping (something I had never ever felt).  I've always loved shopping.  "Why isn't there a Kohl's here?"  I lamented.

Then I got a boyfriend and he loved me just as I was, so I became happy.  Sometimes when people are happy they tend to gain more weight.  Fat and happy.  That boyfriend became my husband.  I felt really lucky because I wasn't a skinny Japanese girl (who are literally everywhere here).  I would never ever be a skinny Japanese girl, but it's okay because I didn't want to be.  One thing I didn't understand though was that I was phenomenally more active in Japan than in America and I never lost weight.

On a Period of Inactivity

Maybe you remember this post.  It's where I fell down the stairs and was a hobbler for like 2 months.  I couldn't walk as well as I could so I hobbled slowly.  I stopped riding my bike and took the bus and never used the stairs because I was afraid.  I became a slug.  I hated it.  I hated every waking minute of being so unfathomably helpless.  Because of this I gained more weight.  I had an unpregnant pregnant belly.  It was ridiculous, and I was embarrassed when I stepped on the scale and saw what my weight was during my health check.  I didn't feel very good about myself again, so now I'm taking steps (sometimes literally) to try and feel better about myself.  It's a slow, slow process, but I don't expect miracles.

On Being a Woman

This is my story.  It's one of many.  I've experienced how difficult it is to be a woman in two countries now, and I can guess it's not any easier anywhere else in the world.  What I want to say is we need to support our sisters better.  The media doesn't help us at all ever.  It's constantly telling us we are too fat no matter what size we are, so it's up to us.  Real people of the world.  Not the media fallacy.  We need to support each other.  I'll go first. 

Dear women,

I support you.  I want you to be happy.  If you're happy with yourself, then I am too.  I don't care what size you are, what blemishes you have, and your stretch marks or scars don't bother me.  Love your skin.  It's the only one you'll ever have.  If you want to change your body, I support you.  Just don't hurt yourself.  If you want to stay as you are, I support you.  Just don't hurt yourself.  Please eat.  Don't starve yourself to live up to someone else's standards.  Have something sweet once in a while.  You work hard.  You deserve it.  Your struggle is real.  You are strong.  You are smart.  You are beautiful.  Love yourself.  

Sincerely,

Jamie

July 27, 2015

Lipton Tea...

Hi all!  We are knee deep in summer here.  It's HOT and humid which makes it feel more hot, so how about some teas to try to cool things down!

First is Green Fruits Tea:


I assume from the box that there's pear, mint, and limes in there.  I can't be sure as no one flavor stuck out.  Regardless, it's a light and refreshing tea.  Not bad.

Next is Wanashi tea:


In English "wanashi" is Asian pear or apple pear.  This tea was okay.  Not my favorite.

The list:

  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
  55. Lychee Mix Tea
  56. Royal Tea Latte
  57. Green Fruits Tea
  58. Wanashi Tea
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

June 26, 2015

Kit Kat time!

Apparently there was a fatal error in my list.  It turns out #17 which I had marked as Cookies and Cream was actually labeled "White" so I've corrected it.  I don't know it TASTED like Cookies and Cream at the time.  How wrong I was because I tried the actual Cookies & Cream Kit Kat and boy was it much different and much better!

Cookies & Cream:


Yep, this was excellent.  So good!  Definitely try this if you can!

Next was Chocolate Mint Ice:


Another winner in the Kit Kat family.  The mint was cool and refreshing.  Perfect for summer.

(Holy cow almost 40 Kit Kats sampled!)

Here's the list:
  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. White
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake 
  38. Cookies & Cream
  39. Chocolate Mint Ice

May 15, 2015

On cabin fever...

I love my house.  I love relaxing and watching TV, but all this occurs under the premise that I can leave it at any time if I need to.  This injury has had me laid up and stuck in my house.  If I become brave and attempt to venture very far, the pain flares up again.  I feel so weak and frustrated but most of all lonely. 

A friend of mine came to visit yesterday, and we ate desserts and sat and talked for hours.  I really miss talking to human people in person not via the internet.

Today's weather is particularly horrible.  It's cloudy and humid, and I'm certain a storm is coming.  I want to run away and leave this stuffy air behind, but I can't run.  I can barely walk.

Yesterday, I was moving much easier, and I had a faint glimmer of hope.  "I'm getting better!" I thought.  Unfortunately, it was just the medicine, and once it wore off, the pain returned.

I feel so...I don't know, so many things.  I just want my life to return to normal.

May 12, 2015

あしかがフラワーパーク。。。

My husband and I celebrated the beginning of my by going to あしかがフラワーパーク (Ashikaga Flower Park). The weather was perfect albeit a little warm and despite fighting hoards of people, I managed to get some good shots.  The wisteria 藤 were in full bloom and absolutely beautiful.  I definitely recommend Ashikaga for a day trip from Tokyo.



















May 11, 2015

On going to the hospital in Japan...

You may remember my last post where I talked about not going to the doctor for a cold.  Well, I want you to know it's not because I hate doctors or hospitals.  I know the appropriate time to go to the doctor. 

Yesterday, I left work about thirty minutes early hoping to get home so I could relax and fight off the rest of this cold.  As I was walking down the train station stairs, the heel of my shoe broke off and I tumbled down the stairs.  It was a rather epic fall, but not the good kind.  I was in so much pain.  Two Japanese mothers (the one who saw me fall and another waiting for the train) immediately came to my assistance.  While I was wailing, they asked me if I was okay and if I needed to go to the hospital.  I said I wasn't okay but I didn't need to go to the hospital.  I'll just walk it off, I thought.  I managed to hobble myself to the train platform where I leaned against the wall and immediately broke down again whether due to pain or embarrassment I can't be sure (but probably pain).  While I was again sobbing, an older Japanese woman insisted many times that I go to the hospital.  I still insisted I was okay and got in the train where I continued to weep for 11 minutes until the end of the line.  The girl next to me tried to give me a towel to dry my face, she insisted I take it (and keep it) and I politely refused.  How Japanese of me.  I dragged myself into the elevator still sobbing and another older lady helped me out of the elevator and at that point I just gave up and told them that I needed to go to the hospital.  A mother with a baby strapped to her chest asked me in perfect English what happened and I explained that I fell at another station and needed to go to the hospital.  She was surprised I (foolishly) rode the train.  She and the older woman together got the stationmaster and they put me in a wheelchair.  I profusely thanked the older woman and made certain she got on her way, so she wouldn't trouble herself further over me, and before the lady with the baby left me she said: "They are talking you to the hospital, so don't worry.  You'll be okay."

The stationmaster rolled me up to the street where there was an ambulance waiting.  Now my mom's a nurse, and she always warned us about taking an ambulance to the hospital because the cost to ride in an ambulance in America is outrageous.  Isn't that sad?  You have to worry about money in an emergency situation.  I got in the ambulance but was a bit worried about the cost the whole (short) ride to the hospital.  All the EMTs spoke English and tried to make me feel as comfortable as possible.  It was a weird experience, surreal. 

When I arrived at the hospital, the doctor who spoke a little English, ushered me to have X-Rays.  I received pain medicine and after the x-rays, the doctor said they could find no fracture but they wanted to do a CT scan to check for any other problems.

Meanwhile, I had to wait a really long time for my husband because the doctor wouldn't tell me anything and wanted to explain everything to my husband.  (I assume this was due to his limited English proficiency and my limited Japanese proficiency).

The doctor explained there were no fractures and I got to wear this glamorous half cast:


I was ordered to return the following day for another check of things.  The hospital bill was nothing to mortgage your house over or even cry about.  I'm so glad I live in a country with national health insurance, and I'm also really glad I pay for it.  Aside from the pain, the hospital experience was not very stressful at all.  I could understand what they were telling me to do, and they took very good care of me.

All in all, I'm really not happy that this happened, but I'm glad that the hospital visit was not a difficult experience.

BTW this was my first ride in an ambulance.  Weird that it happened in Japan.  (Well, I guess not considering the cost in America.)

Finally, I'm sorry I'll probably never see these people again, but I am so thankful for all the people who showed care and concern for me and helped me get to a hospital.  Japan is a nation of mothers, and when it all comes down to it, maternal instinct is much much stronger than any fear of foreign people.  I am so thankful for the two mothers who came to my assistance on the stairs.  I'm thankful for the two older women who helped me at the station and I'm thankful for the mother who made sure I got to the hospital.  I am also so thankful for my wonderful husband who came to me at the hospital and made sure I got home safe and that I ate dinner.  I'm truly lucky.

May 8, 2015

Cultural differences: on being sick...

I'm currently sick with what I'm 99% sure is a cold virus.  I have wonderful symptoms like congestion, cough, sore throat and runny nose.  My mom's a nurse so maybe I know better than others that there is no cure for a virus.  You treat the symptoms, get lots of rest, and drink lots of fluids (which also thins that nasty mucus).  This is what I've done practically my whole life every time I've gotten a cold.  I've never gone to the doctor.

This is not the Japanese way, and my husband who is Japanese insists I go to a doctor every time I'm sick.  When Japanese people are sick, they go to the doctor where they are prescribed a short dose of antibiotics.  I thought that most people know that antibiotics are useless when it comes to viruses.  Apparently Japanese people don't think so and this medicine miraculously cures them.  I'm pretty sure it doesn't and that their immune system does all the work.  In addition, Japanese medicine is ridiculously weak.  I've tried going to the doctor in Japan when I have a cold.  They give me antibiotics (every time) and some other weak and thereby useless (for me) medicine.  I find this to be a tremendous waste of time.  Dragging my miserable self to the doctor when I don't want to leave the house.  I find that time better spent on resting and letting my immune system do its job.

Therefore this is a major cultural difference for my husband and me.  I've tried to explain it many times, and he still insists I go to a doctor.  While I appreciate tremendously his care and concern for me, based on experience there's nothing a Japanese doctor can do for me.  I know it's probably best not to self diagnose, but I've had many colds over the years and I know what to do when one appears.

How about you?  Care to share any stories about going to the doctor in Japan or Western versus Japanese doctors?

April 29, 2015

Lipton Tea...

Hello tea drinkers!  Just a quick post with two teas.

First is Lychee Mix Tea:


My disclaimer is I'm not a big fan of lychee.  However, this is the best lychee flavor yet because it appeared to be mixed with apples and that dulled the lychee taste.

Next is Royal Tea Latte:


I was not a fan of this one and couldn't even finish it.  I should know better as anything with "royal" in the name is not the best.

The list:

  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
  55. Lychee Mix Tea
  56. Royal Tea Latte
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

March 18, 2015

Lipton Tea...

Hello!  Spring has sprung evident by the gorgeous and wonderful smelling plum flowers everywhere which means cherry blossoms aren't far behind.

With that I have two new teas for you.

First is White Tea Latte:


Upon first glance my husband thought that was a picture of butter.  It's actually white chocolate.  I had initially tried this after eating, and it was gross, but once the food taste disappeared, it was okay.  Not the best but drinkable.

Next is Hyuganatsu Tea:


I had to Google this because I had no idea what a hyuganatsu was.  Obviously from the picture it's a citrus fruit.  It's native to Japan.  Anyway, the tea had a light citrus taste, and it was pretty good.

The list:
  1. Milk Tea
  2. Maple Milk Tea
  3. Lemon Tea
  4. Peach Tea
  5. Earl Grey Milk Tea
  6. Green Apple Tea
  7. 50/50 Tea & Lemonade
  8. Tropical Fruit Tea
  9. Chamomile Citrus Tea
  10. Roast Milk Tea
  11. Jasmine Lemon Peel
  12. Grape Tea
  13. Straight Tea
  14. Apple Tea
  15. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  16. Matcha Milk
  17. Tea Cappuccino
  18. Mikan Tea
  19. 50/50 Tea & Nectar
  20. Luxurious Milk Tea
  21. Muscat Tea
  22. Plum Honey
  23. Cream Milk Tea 
  24. Grapefruit Tea
  25. Orange Marmalade Tea 
  26. Royal Milk Tea
  27. Golden Pineapple Tea
  28. Italian Fruit Punch Tea
  29. Honey Milk Tea
  30. Green Apple with Honey
  31. Thailand Lychee Tea
  32. Sweetened Condensed Milk Tea 
  33. Turkey Apricot Tea
  34. Milk Caramel Tea
  35. Navel Orange Tea
  36. French Pear & Apple Tea
  37. Creamy Milk Tea
  38. American Tea Lemonade
  39. Hojicha Latte
  40. Gold Kiwi Tea
  41. Bitter Caramel Tea Latte
  42. Green Tea & Muscat
  43. Green Tea & Peach
  44. Extra Black Tea Latte 
  45. Green Tea & Citrus:
  46. Caramel Tea Latte
  47. Peach & Mango
  48. Mixed Berries Milk Tea 
  49. Lychee Tea
  50. Winter Tea Punch
  51. Winter Tea Latte
  52. Earl Grey Orange Tea 
  53. White Tea Latte
  54. Hyuganatsu Tea
The Top Five:
  1. OG Milk Tea
  2. Green Tea & Peach
  3. 50/50 Tea Lemonade
  4. 50/50 Tea & Fruit Punch
  5. Peach & Mango

March 13, 2015

Moving...

Not the blog, my actual physical self is moving to my 3rd ku in 3 years in Japan.  Moving is never fun, having to live out of boxes until everything is sorted, not knowing where anything is despite having labeled every box, and the all around disarray that goes with moving.

My current apartment which I'm leaving behind has served me well this past year.  It introduced me to a new neighborhood of Tokyo and despite it being just a little smaller than my last place, it actually felt bigger, and the best thing of all about this place, it's pet friendly and allowed me to adopt this beautiful face:


Anyway, for closure purposes, I thought I'd write about what I would and definitely would not miss about this place.

Will NOT Miss
  • traffic sounds from the busy street
  • the annoying and unbelievably loud auto shop across the street (which always seems to be the absolute loudest every time I try to take a nap)
  • old everything
  • really far from the station
  • people throwing trash in my bicycle basket every single day
  • stinky pachinko next door
  • LOUD, LOUD, LOUD

Will Miss
  • gorgeous view of Fuji-san & lovely sunsets
  • allowed me to have my first dog in Japan
  • bedroom on an outside wall and on the top floor
  • bright, lots of windows
  • the newly-built, super convenient market downstairs
  • vegetable farm nearby
Anyway, I've made my peace with leaving this place in more ways than you realize, and I'm beyond excited to start the next chapter of my life.

Today I dragged two suitcases two different times to the new place.   It's so quiet there and everything I look at in the house makes me happy.

Here's some lackluster pics for now.  I guarantee it will be a lot spiffier once we're all set up.




And our very first housewarming present:


March 12, 2015

Kit Kat time!

I have some new Kit Kat flavors to share with you.  The first three I picked up at Narita before my trip to The States.  I always like to give people Kit Kats back home because they only have two flavors of Kit Kats there.

Anyway, here's what's new!

First is Apple:


It was okay.  Not my favorite.

Next is あずきサンド or Red Bean Sandwich:


This one was super weird and borderline gross.  Definitely not a fan.

Finally, Tokyo has new Kit Kats this month, Cheesecake:


The outer package recommends you toast them.  I did that.  They were pretty good toasted.  I also tried them regular style.  They didn't taste much like cheesecake though.  They tasted really lemony.  I liked them better toasted.

Here's the list:
  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. Cookies and Cream
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake


February 20, 2015

梅まつり。。。

Hi everyone!

Temperatures were a little warmer today so I had a Starbucks and lunch with my husband.  After he went to work, I went to Yushima Tenmangu.  Now it's 梅 season (plum blossoms).  Unlike さくら (cherry blossoms), 梅 last only a short time usually mid-February to March.  I almost always forget about 梅 season because it's not a prevalent as さくら but we have an 梅 tree at work, so I knew it was time to get out and see some 梅。

 梅 flowers are really beautiful and if you're in Tokyo around this time, you should check them out.