Friday Night Out

Last Friday night I went out to eat with Koomoto-sensei and his family. He is the professor that I work with here primarily. The plan was to have dinner and some drinks, and then, rather than trying to get me the forty-five minutes across town that night, I would just stay in a spare room at their house. At the house I met his son and daughter. His wife met us at the restaurant. His son is my age and finishing college and his daughter is 19.
We went to a Chinese restuarant near Meguro station. Everything was family style so we had a lot of courses. We had: shark fin soup with crab, prawn in chili sauce, sweet and sour fish, beef fillet, lemon fish, pork fried rice, and abalone with jellyfish. I had Japanese beer, Chinese wine (that tasted a bit like scotch), and Jasmine tea. For dessert, (because there is always room for dessert) I got coconut jello.
His wife brought a present for me when she arrived for dinner. They gave me a wreath for my door and a Santa Claus with little ornaments for my table.
After dinner we went back to his house, where Koomoto-sensei and I were going to discuss work. But we were tired after so much food, so he went to bed. I talked with his kids for awhile about school and what they want to do, and music. His son is into a lot of the same music as me (not pop like many Japanese people), but punk and rock and emo. Right now his favorite is Green Day and he got to see them in concert this summer, I think. I am planning on sharing Dropkick Murpheys with him soon.
Then I spent my first night on a Japanese futon. It was very warm and comfortable. The family was very hospitable and made sure I had everything I needed before we went to bed.
In the morning, we went to Meguro station and had breakfast at Starbucks. Koomoto-sensei explained to me how to get back on the trains, and I was home in no time. I had a great time with his them and am so grateful to get to spend a little time with a Japanese family.

Thursday night out

On Thursday I went out to dinner with Kanami. We went back to Shinjuku and wandered around until we found a good Japanese restaurant. It was an exciting combination of modern and traditional Japanese cultures. We sat at a normal height table in booths, but checked our shoes into cubbies at the door. We had salmon sushimi (raw salmon) with soy sauce and wasabi; salad with eggs, small fish eggs, and a delicious Japanese sweet mustard dressing; and yakitori (meat on a stick). Everything at dinner was delicious. We spent a couple of hours over dinner and a couple beers, talking and laughing, and comforting each other.

Next up on the night's schedule was karakoe! We decided to do just one hour, but this was a mistake. By the end of the hour we felt as though we had not had anytime in the room at all! In one hour, you don't get to sing many 3-5 minute songs.We decided we would have to go back soon. Being that the following Wednesday was a holiday, we decided to go the next Tuesday (tonight!) Songs we sang (and danced to) include: Imagine, by John Lennon; Toxic, by Brittany Spears; 3 Maroon 5 songs; and a Japanese song called "Cutie Honey".

Current Music : You and I, by Jason Mraz, from Megan's Sweet Reverie mix
Current Mood: excited, a little sleepy, relaxed