Kwik-E-Mart

This pic is from a few weeks ago, but it was such a cool experience so I figured I’d tell you about it. Those of you who don’t watch the Simpson’s may not find this interesting, but for the month of July Seven-Eleven took 10 of its stores in the US and redesigned them to look like the Kwik-e-mart from the Simpson’s. One of the locations was just outside Washington DC. The sign was changed, the building was painted, squishes, krusty-o’s and buzz cola were for sale, and even the cashiers were wearing the Kwik-e-mart work-shirts, just like Apu, and they said “Thank you, come again” after each customer paid. What fun!
Ｔｈｅ　Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎｓは　アメリカのテレビのばんぐみ　です。わかりますか?　Ｔｈｅ　Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎｓの　コンビニの　名前は：kwik-e-mart。先月にＴｈｅ　Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎｓの　えいがは　はじまりましたから　アメリカの　コンビニ（ほんもの）７－１１は　かざりました。一か月　７－１１は　kwik-e-martが　にてる。アメリカに　１０店だけ　かざりました。もし、Ｔｈｅ　Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎｓを　見たことが　あったら、この　けいけんが　おもしろい　です。

Mail in Japanese

Last week I received my first junk mail written in Japanese (in the US, that is). Hooray!
日本語でのゆうびんを　もらいました！アメリカに　はじめて　でしたから　うれしく　なりました!

BB King Concert

This past weekend I went to the BB King, Al Green and Little Richard concert in Atlantic City with Dave and Erica. It was a long hike to AC, but well worth it! The concert was awesome!!! I have never seen any of these legends in concert before and I was completely blown away on Saturday night. Not only was the concert a blast, but afterwards we got to meet BB King on his tour bus! We sat and chatted with him for about 25 minutes. He even shared his candy with us! Erica was definitely ‘star-struck’, which was really great. Anyway, we were able to grab a quick picture with the 81 year-old legend: Mr. BB King.
先週の土曜日に　Atlantic Cityに　BB Kingと Al Greenと Little Richardのライブを　見に　行きました。　ライブは　すごかった!　エリカさんと　ﾃﾞｲﾋﾞｯﾄﾞさんと　いっしょに　行きました。私たちの　いすは　ステジの　ちかくでした。父は　promoter でしたから　ＢＢ　Ｋｉｎｇ　会えました！　エリカさんは　びっくりして　きんちょうしました!　三人は　ライブの　あと　ＢＢ　Ｋｉｎｇの　バスに　のりました。二十五分ぐらい　ＢＢ　Ｋｉｎｇと　話せました！　今は　ＢＢ　Ｋｉｎｇは　八十一才です!　すごい　けいけん　でした!!!

Blackberries

Until recently I had never tried fresh blackberries. The house we are renting has a huge yard and way in the back there are two rows of blackberry vines. The woman that used to live here planted all sorts of things to include peach trees, apple trees, grapes, etc. I went out early this week to see how many were out there and found that there were just enough to make some blackberry pie. So…. that’s what I did ! , after a good 20 minutes of stabbing myself on all the thorns trying to reach the berries!
レンタルの家のにわに　たくさん　ベリーが　あります!　今日までに　この　生ベリーを　食べたことが　ありません。英語で：黒ベリー　です。日本語で：　わかりません。ごめんなさい。黒ベリーは　キイチゴ　にてるね。じゃあ、今日、にわに　いて　たくさん　黒べリーを　見ました！「いっぱい　あるから　パイを　つくるのが　できるかな???」　ベリーを　摘みにくかった。イバラ　でしたね。手とうでを　かいて　20っ分あと　やめました。どうにか　ベリーが　あった!　あんどう　でした。ごはんあとに　パイを　早食べました　：）

Cutie

Here is a picture of what is now considered the ‘cutest’ puppy in the world. Born in Japan a few weeks ago, this pup had some unique markings…the owners named him ‘Heart-kun’.
日本に　生まれました!　せいかいの　いちばん　かわいい　犬　でしょう?　名前は：ハートくん

Tonkatsu

Tonight’s dinner was: Tonkatsu or, Japanese style fried pork. Although rice and a salad usually accompany tonkatsu, I used left over noodles and fresh veggies as a substitute. Tonkatsu uses Japanese style bread crumbs called Panko. This was my second time making tonkatsu. It was delicious, but what a mess!
やった!　やった!　とんかつを　つくれました!　ばんごはん：　とんかつと　昨日のヌードルと　生やさい　でした!　とんかつを　つくる　ことが　とても　あぶない　でしょう?　とんかつ　たろ　じゃなかったけど　おいしかった

Temari/てまり

Dave and I were in the mood for Japanese food today, so I took him to the small Japanese restaurant that I found earlier this year in Rockville. So far, this has been the only Japanese restaurant that I have been to since I got home that felt “Japanese”. One difference for example is that they actually speak Japanese! The service was very Japanese and……..the food was Japanese!!!! YAY!!! The food is about as authentic as you can get here in the States. We ordered shogayaki, tonkatsu, yellowtail sashimi, and ramen! For dessert we had coffee jello and green tea ice-cream. We also shared some Kirin beer and a bit of sake. What a meal! Although the restaurant is kind of far (close to DC), I am certain we will be back there in the near future!
今日は　てまりレストランに　行きました。　今年　一回ママと　その　レストランに　行ったことが　あるので　そこに　ﾃﾞｲﾋﾞｯﾄﾞさんを　つれて来たかった。てまりは　アメリカに　帰の時から　日本のレストランの中で　さいこうです。さいごに　スタッフは　日本人でした!　サービスが　よかった!。。。日本の　ようしき　でした。すごかった!　そして、“すみません”『久乃さんの　スタイル（＾Ｏ＾）』言えました!　楽しかった。。。ハハハハ。たべものも　おいしかった! 　とんかつと　しょうがやきと　はまちと　ラメンを　食べました。そして、デザート：コーヒー　ゼリーと　まちゃの　アイスクーリム。。。そして、　きりん　ビールと　お酒を　飲みました!!!!　ちょっと　とおい　ですけど　ちかいうちに　てまりに　帰りたいです!

Dondohare/どんど晴れ

This is my new favorite Japanese show! Dondohare is a daily 15 minute drama on NHK. I recently found out that the actress who plays the lead role, Natsumi, is from Okinawa. The show’s story line is easy to follow, so the fact that I only understand about a ¼ of what is said doesn’t seem to be a problem. The show takes place at a Ryokan (expensive Japanese inn or guest house). Natsumi is working hard to one day become the head lady of the Ryokan which her fiance’s family runs. She comes from a lower class than her fiancé and is being taught many of the traditional Japanese arts such as ikebana (flower arranging) and tree shaping in the gardens. She has great character and possesses much of the qualities that I found in many of my Japanese (women) friends. Although she constantly has to overcome hurdles, to include some of the other workers and family members not liking her very much (jealousy), I am sure that Natsumi will prevail in the end as she is always giving 110%!
ＮＨＫのあたらしい　ドラマが　大好きです!　夏美さんは　ヒロイン　です。じょゆうは　沖縄人です。ばんぐみの　話しは　ふくざつじゃないから　わかるのが　できますよ!ハハハ!　ことばが　¼だけ　わかります。毎日　聞くことが　がんばりますけど　たまに　ちょっと　はやい　です。私の頭は　ゆっくりです。わかる?ハハハ!　夏美さんは　じんかくしゃ　です。日本のテレビを　見るので　日本のぶんかが　ならえます。いつか　りょかんに　行きたい　です!!　あそびに　どんど晴れを　見てね!　おすすめ　です。ところで。。。夏美さんの　フィアンセが　かっこいい だと　思います。でしょう???