lenayuki

Festival vibes.

My last summer festival in Japan was with my two hilariously good friends. We went to the firework festival at Ohori Park in Fukuoka city. It was amazing and ridiculously crowded (as are all Japanese festivals) with thousands of people there. 

Although Summer festivals are hot and crowded, there’s something about them that’s amazing. Maybe it’s seeing everyone in their beautiful printed Yukatas (Summer Kimono), being pancaked in the middle of a crowd, the delicious smells of festival food (Karaage, Takoyaki or Yakisoba), or just being with friends and having a grand time invading each other’s personal bubble! I love it.  Japanese fireworks are also next level. It puts other firework shows (in the U.S. - or at least Hawaii) to shame. The firework shows last well over 30 minutes and its non-stop, huge displays are spectacular. There will even be some heart shaped, smiley faces and other design fireworks going off. It’s crazy. 

The Last Hurrah.

Today I went to Fukuoka City to meet up with some friends; this was the last time we would all hang out together before I leave Japan. I was super excited to see them but also a little sad because I’ll miss them a lot. After some bumps in the road and an +1 delay in trains, I finally made it to the city (much later than expected). Trains in Japan are rarely late, 2 minutes behind schedule is a big deal. Today, as expected with my “luck”, the delays were major; but I finally made it to the city after 3+ hours and met up with Eri and Yumi for lunch.

We had reservations at the Villas Fukuoka, Restaurant and Bar in the Park. It’s a very nice place, really pretty, great for a girls day out (Thanks Eri). Shortly after we being seated, we were served a delicious fish lunch with a salad/drink bar. The atmosphere in the restaurant was great and it's a beautiful place. After catching up on some exciting news, they surprised me with a personalized dessert assortment (アレナこれからもがんばってね!) and showered me with gifts, flowers and cards. Everything was so thoughtful because the gifts were things they knew was special to me. These girls right here, they’re awesome, I love them. I met both of them at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka and am lucky enough to call them my friends. Eri lives in Kitakyushu (about an hour or so away from me) and Yumi lives in Fukuoka City (even further from me than Eri). I don’t see Yumi as often as I’d like, but whenever we can meet, it’s always such a great time. She is the sweetest and most soft-spoken person. That vibe you get after meeting someone for the first time and just “knowing” that they’re genuinely kind and “wouldn’t hurt a fly” type of person...that’s Yumi. Eri studied at my university in Hawaii but our paths never crossed. It was only when I studied abroad at her university in Fukuoka that we met. I had volunteered to help at her English group on campus (this is where I met Yumi too). We quickly became friends and the three of us hung out while I was an exchange student there. A few years later, she came back to Hawaii to do research for her graduate program and stayed at my house until her research in Hawaii was finished. Fast forward a few years later and I’m here in Japan, we live fairly close to each other so we get to hang out! We’ve gone on a lot of adventures/trips while I was here and have made so many fun memories together. So grateful for her friendship, hospitality and kindness. Her mom and dad also have done so much for me while I was living in Fukuoka, I’m so blessed to have come across such wonderful people.

Grateful for the incredibly kind friends that were placed in my life. Thank you xx

Nostalgic.

I used to live in Nishijin a few years back and I really love that area so so much. I  went back a few days ago to meet up with a friend from when I lived there. Walking through the area, the subway station, driving past different places brought back a flood of memories. I miss those days.

My friend, Maki, invited me over to her house for lunch where we made Kawara Soba (tea flavored buckwheat noodle from Yamaguchi Prefecture) topped with beef, egg, and nori (seaweed). The original way to eat it is on a ceramic roof tile (Kawara tile), the tiles used on the roofs of Japanese style homes. The tile would be heated instead of using a grill/pan. I had never tried this type of soba before and I think the origin is very interesting! It was SO good! I loved the flavor and the green noodles. I asked Maki’s mom what she used to season the meat, she laughed and said “Yoshida sauce from Costco!” After a delicious lunch they shared stories about their recent travels to Kyoto and Singapore. I’ve never had the chance to visit Singapore but it looks like a beautiful place and I want to stay in the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel!

I’ve known Maki for over 4 years, she’s such a sweet, strong, woman. Every year she runs in the Honolulu Marathon on O’ahu and her mother does the walking route; the energy and adventurous spirit inside them is contagious. They’re both SO kind. We had a lot of good laughs and they surprised me with a birthday cake and gifts! It was so thoughtful and as I fought back the happy tears and let the warm fuzzy feelings take over my heart, I realized how incredibly lucky I am.

I can’t express my gratitude enough. Living in a foreign country, away from family, friends and familiarity, loneliness happens and birthdays, holidays and special moments aren’t the same; a small gesture of kindness has a lasting impact. It’s always nice when friends invite me to their home for a meal or just to spend the day together. I’m so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life who invite me into theirs. Having spent the day with Maki and her mom (friends) in a place I used to live (familiarity) and being welcomed into their [family] made me feel at home. I am floored by the warm hospitality of these beautiful people. Thank you, Maki and Mama Nakamura for helping me celebrate my 24th birthday and for being in my life. xx

バルバ   ロッサ (Barba Rosa)

I met up with a friend/co-worker for brunch at this new place near my apartment. I came across it one evening as I was riding my bike home from the station. It looked really cute and inviting with it’s raw wood interior and exterior, so naturally I wanted to check it out.  I was really excited because living in a really small town, there’s not that much choice/options in terms of cozy cafes/restaurants.  We ordered the lunch set which came with french bread & apple butter (this.was. amazing!), salad, battered cheese and rice ball of goodness and some quiche(?). Everything was delicious and was a excellent way to spend the day. 

Thankful for positive, kind, happy people. 

Natucafe.  Grundgy Chic.

I love Japanese cafes. They’re so unique and each one is so different from the next but so lovely. In Japan, the design, ambiance, food and service is so on point, I can’t get enough. I love finding new little cafes and visiting them with friends on the weekends! This cafe, Natucafe, was another one of our finds. It was later in the evening and we were craving something sweet, so we popped into this little place. Japanese design/architecture is so interesting because it can be so deceiving (in a good way). From the outside, these little cafes look just like that, very tiny! But once you go inside, their use of space is so efficient and genius that it’s always pretty spacious and surprisingly big inside! Whether it’s one, two or three stories high, from the outside you would never be able to guess. This particular cafe was only one floor but it extended way into the back; being only about 9-10 ft. wide, it didn’t feel cramped at all. They had a grungy chic vibe going on with an exposed ceiling so the piping was visible but accented with chandeliers. This doesn’t sound very appealing, but somehow (I’m not surprised) they pulled it off really well.  We ordered some fried ice cream in a crepe and rich chocolate cake. Everything was divine. 

Japanese cafes. One of the many things I will miss SO much about Japan. 

大太鼓おでん (Odaiko Oden)

After eating all day...I continued to eat. A few friends and I hit up a local Oden place in the city.  Oden is a traditional Japanese food eaten mainly during the winter. It’s common to find Oden at the convenient store or at a street cart. Each region has Oden that is unique to their area. It’s a fairly cheap eat, pretty healthy and super delicious. Here’s how it works: Customize your meal - you choose what you want from an array of items. There are many things to choose from: konnyaku, tofu, fish cake, daikon, boiled eggs, tako etc. The list goes on. All these things are boiled in shoyu-dashi sauce to get a great flavor.  Each item costs around $1-2. After you choose all the items you want, they put it in a bowl, add some flavored broth and it’s ready to eat! For some spice you can add Togarashi (chili peppers) or Karashi (hot mustard - I prefer the hot mustard).  It’s a very warm, comfort food type of dish which is why it makes such a perfect meal during the winter. While we ate this mid-summer, it was still really delicious. At this particular Oden shop, we get seated at a bar/counter where we can talk to/watch the workers or chat to those sitting next to us; It’s a really comfy, cozy place and I’ll definitely miss this little treasure. My favorite way of eating Oden is with some Umeshu (plum wine) on the rocks. Yes, please! 

Always good times with these two! 

Hummingbird Cafe. 

I got lost trying to meet my friends at this cafe, so I went to the information place outside the train station where I asked the woman “Do you know where Hummingbird cafe is?” Her response: “Flamingo?” I’m not sure how she got Flamingo out of that...those two birds are very, very different. 

Acai Bowl Fruit pancakes Cheese pancakes (I didn’t like this but both my friends seemed to really enjoy it). 

Playing catch-up. 

I live out in the countryside and getting to the city is a bit of a trek and pretty pricey. A lot of the times I wish I lived in the city where I could be closer to friends, civilization (haha) and EVERYTHING. 

Adjusting to country life was really hard in the beginning and while at times it still is difficult, I’ve come to like different parts of it: I love the view from my window, lack of traffic, and my very cheap rent. While all that’s great, I still miss the city. 

I met up with three friends: Ayaka, Kayo, Sachie and Kota - Ayaka’s 2year old son. We had lunch at Kiyu, a really delicious restaurant, and caught up on life. The food was impeccable, nothing I’ve had before. It was healthy Japanese food but the flavors and spices used were incredible and so non-Japanese in a way I can’t describe. It was great. I’ve known the three of them for over 5 years and counting!  Ayaka - I met through a job listing while I lived in Fukuoka city about 5 years ago.We met, clicked, and I started working alongside her tutoring a few children and some adults. It was a lot of fun and at the time Ayaka was trying to start up a little Eikaiwa (English class). We taught together for about a year or so and when it came time for me to leave, we had already become friends. We kept in contact over the years and that brings us to today! When I came back to Japan 2 years ago, we got to catch up again and meet sporadically (she lived in the same place - the city - and I lived way out in the country side). Kayo - I met through Ayaka’s adult class. From the get-go she was so energetic and super sweet. She is such a kind, happy, and truly genuine person! The three of us started hanging out, outside of class (5 years ago) and from then on we became friends! Sachie - Ayaka’s younger sister. She came to a few classes and she always hung out with the rest of us. She’s super sweet and her English always surprises me because she’s quiet but her English is pretty good! She’s also traveled to many places, so we always have things to chat about; Once, I was going on a trip and I bumped into her while she was working (she works for Japan Airlines) and I think we both surprised each other!  The three of them are wonderful and I’m lucky to have met them. It’s funny to think if I hadn’t responded to that job listing, we would have never become friends! 

See you all soon! xx

Happy weekend, happy grapefruit.

Recycled containers make the perfect home for grapefruit

Breakfast. 

Summer in Japan can be brutal. It’s hot and extremely humid. It can be a nightmare. 

In the summer I try to stay cool, but sometimes it’s a challenge, especially when as soon as you wake up and gain consciousness, you realize you’re already breaking a sweat. It’s ridiculous sometimes. BUT, a great way to cool down is with a...smoothie! 

I love fruit so I like to make fruit smoothies/bowls. It’s super refreshing and really simple. I just add frozen bananas, blueberries (or strawberries), ice, blend it all together and top it off with Chia seeds and fresh fruit. Finished.  Back home my dad makes smoothies/green juices every morning too (but his are probably healthier than mine). He adds kale, spinach, other greens, and some fruit. I don’t think they look very...drinkable, but they’re actually pretty good. He laughed when I told him what I put in my smoothies (literally only 3 ingredients - including the ice) and told me I should add some veg. I laughed.  Maybe later. 

Miso Chicken & Soba. 

I can’t really cook. I try but sometimes (most times) it just isn’t that fabulous. 

I took a cooking class and I had no idea what I was doing for the majority of the time; I just copied everyone else and it always turned out looking pretty good. The cooking class took a break for the summer, and since we only met once a month and I’m leaving before they start back up again, it’s safe to say that I didn’t learn much. But, it was a pretty fun experience and everyone was always really nice, so even though I can’t replicate anything we made, I had a good time. 

There was about 15 people in the class, majority of them were elderly (I think they just came to come, because they could definitely already cook) and then there was me. I think they might all remember me as the girl who started a fire while frying the pork-katsu. Let me explain myself. 

After I’m finished frying something, I like to put it on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.  So, long story short, that’s what I did. I was frying pork-katsu on a gas stove, my right hand was doing the frying and my left hand held the plate. Maybe I held the plate too close to the stove and the flame touched the paper towels, maybe the flame jumped, we’ll never know, but I do remember looking down and realizing there was a fire in my hand. Yes, the plate with the paper towels caught fire. I’m pretty sure I scared all the grandmas and grandpas and they probably thought I was going to burn the kitchen to the ground and all of us with it. Luckily, our teacher saved the day, put out the fire, AND saved the pork-katsu. Hallelujah. 

The photo above wasn’t made at the cooking class. I made it at home. By myself (my apartment is still standing). It just brought back memories of the time I couldn’t cook (which is everyday). 

Some travel essentials. 

Kenta & Tomoe. My ex-co-workers. They’re pretty sweet. 

I’ve worked with Kenta for a good year and a half; he’s such a  funny guy and so kind. We get to be the same age for only a few months and then... I get older. He’s always been so kind, bringing me food when I’m sick and I think I’m dying, coming to help me figure out why my wifi is being stupid, or just being a good friend. He transferred out of my Board of Education (BoE) office in April and I missed seeing him.  Tomoe was a part-time worker at my BoE and she also transferred out earlier in the year. I was so sad to see them both leave! They were the few co-workers I had who were actually the same age as me, fellow youngins.

I was so happy to catch up with these two over lunch. After filling up on sushi we headed back to my apartment where they surprised me with a late birthday/”thanks for being our friend” cake. I’ll miss these two when I leave. Japan has some pretty awesome people. 

On a side note, Japan wins the award for the cutest cakes. 

His mercies are new every morning

My day consisted of writing thank-you cards and catching up with old friends over Acai bowls & birthday cupcakes. A pretty good day, if you ask me. 

Being so far away from family and friends can be hard; Big life events and exciting moments happen and you can’t be there for them.  I’ve had my share of “I wish I was there…” or “why am I here?” moments but I guess that’s the small price we all have to pay when we choose to move away. When you leave home for a far away place, you risk losing/missing some things: moments, friends, life events etc. Some things you can’t help losing and some, as hard as you try to hold on, they slip out of your grasp; And some relationships don’t withstand all the miles, time zones and country codes. It’s a bitter pill to swallow but maybe that’s just part of growing up. Moving away has it’s pros and cons but the trick is to focus on the good and life will open itself up to you; it gives you a different perspective on life and everything in-between.  This has been the most interesting and exciting experience I’ve had to-date, one I would never trade away.  Grateful for kind-hearted souls, friends, good food and cupcakes. 

Balcony views. 

Watching my dad play in his version of a “jungle gym”. 

When “killing time” is spent laying out at the beach with poke bowls, you know you’ve got it good.