Finally, snow fell on the dawn of the 20th of February 2009 in Hanyu City and the surrounding North Saitama District. This was all I got using my camera from the doorstep of my house. It felt troublesome to go out and took pictures because by 6AM, it was already raining. Rain with snow is called misore in Japanese (霙) or sleet (English). According to tonights weather forecast on Yahoo Japan, snow will fall again in North Saitama on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Let's see about that. I have observed that the snowfall was quite late compared last year. Anyway, tropical dwelling people like me are still hoping for blizzard here in Saitama.
The beacon that is visible from afar. Stir-fried pork with salad and udon set meal.
Udon with wakame. Shrimp oyakodon.
Yamada Udon is probably the cheapest next alternative to Yoshinoya and Sukiya's gyudon. When I lived in Tokyo for about six months, I have never seen any Yamada Udon restaurants. Some of my colleagues say that Yamada Udon can be mostly found in provinces and "far-flung areas." Cruel to describe as the word far-flung but once you can find this Udon shop, its a real haven if you are really up for eating udon, soba and rice-bowl dishes. Udon and Rice-bowl set meals would range from 400 to 600 a meal. They even have one-coin set meals worth 500 yen. For most intercity highways in Japan, a beacon of Yamada Udon can be found almost every several kilometers. So, if you are on a joyride to the so-called inaka, do not miss this stop and savour their udon. It's worth coming back.
The recent G7 meeting in Rome, represented by Japan's Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa faced a lot of criticisms and has been called the worst being expected from a Japanese government official. While having a press conference, he seemed drunk from answering the questions and was even confused of who was asking the question and barely even hearing the questions from the Japanese Press contingent. What a shame for the Japanese people to have this kind of public official making mess in the international scene. Just today, he said he will resign after passing the 2009 Fiscal Budget which is expected to be submitted by the end of March of April this year. Poor boy.
A way of tripping with my newly bought camera. After accidentally discovering some of the features, I tried capturing the road with speeding cars. And this was the result.
This is actually a backlog from last year. During my last day, my student, who participated and won in the district English Speech Competition here in Saitama gave a thank you letter. I was actually overwhelmed with this. I really did not expect that she will give me a letter. Japanese students have this concept of "losing any competition is not an option." So I was afraid the past months during our every afternoon speech coaching that she might get frustrated and in the end, end-up on going negative and finally giving up. Yurina has a cute voice as many Japanese ladies of her age would possess. But the quality of her voice is almost synonymous to that of probably a Filipino teen. Well, what can we do? The ones who actually won in the Prefectural meet were not pure Japanese. Half-Viet, half-Chinese, half-Peruvian and half-Brazilian. I hope that this kid will expand his horizon and explore further. As I always tell my students, there are a lot of better opportunities for Japanese citizens who can communicate well in English.
Another letter and a serious one, I received a week after the 3rd tri-semester started from my fellow Filipino teacher who is now assigned in the South Junior High School. I was shocked to notice that his English has greatly improved. People in our city have been so negative about the kids in the South. But in my personal assessment, they are the street-smart type of kids. Naughty but more capable in reality, perhaps. Its because that despite being so naughty sometimes, you can see that they are not shy and they are keen in expressing their opinions. Even when their English becomes twisted, as with my wrong and sometimes funny Japanese, they still excel and not afraid to talk to foreigners in English. I can see myself in them. The fact is that, initially, effective communication using a second language doesn't have to be in perfect grammar pattern, but in a manner where the listener is able to understand it. Whether be it in word by word accompanied with actions, it becomes an effective communication.
I passed JLPT Level 3. I was so delighted with this. I can't believe that I surpassed the 300 score mark and my listening was even higher than I expected. What dismayed me during the exam was there were several conversations involving a kid. And its like kids are tit-tattering and speak all but dictionary forms of verbs and even very colloquial conversations which are more difficult to understand. Well, up next is Level 2. It made me put to sleep everytime I read my Level 2 reviewer. Congrats also to all JLPT passers especially to my Filipino friends in Tokyo. Gambare kabayan!
Before our gimik night with my Japanese friends, me, Saori and Minako (friend of Sao), went to this restaurant in the busy district of Roppongi. Ramen is served in an "arinola-sized" ramen bowl. I call it mini basin for clothes washing. Price is relatively affordable. I ordered sweet-and-sour udon and this is what I got. A very huge serving good for probably two people to devour. I will update next time if I can recall the name of the restaurant. Let me know if you know the name. Thanks.
My school lunch (給食・kyuushoku) for last Tuesday. Udon, 3 pieces of fish sticks, 1/4 mandarin orange, milk, and a complimentary Igamanchan. Igamanchan is an anko (餡子), bean filled rice ball, in which the name is also derived from a local Hanyu Image character.
Before going home, we stopped by this old Japanese katsudon (カツ丼) restaurant. We were apprehensive if we should get in or not because it seemed that the restaurant is expensive. Yes it was. But it was nice. Food was great and the price is reasonable. Ｉ ordered chicken katsudon. The katsudon is already a set accompanied with delicious shellfish soup in miso, salad, and pickled radish. All for 950 yen. Located near Aeon Mall, Shimokawasaki, Hanyu City.
Japan Railways East last Wednesday said it plans to introduce new green-white motif designed cars on the Tohoku bullet train E5-series by 2010. The said new designed coaches will traverse from Shin-Aomori and further to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture. JR East said the long-nosed train is designed to reduce air resistance and can run at up to 320 kilometers per hour.
Freezing cold but not enough for snow to fall. Take a lot at the idle farm plots in Hanyu City. Most of them froze because temperature during 6AM drops from 0 downto negative 3 the most. I think snow will not fall in Kanto Area this season. Based on my experience, this season's winter is not that cold as compared last year. I bet if snow falls, it would be just too short. The milk-colored portions are the frozen water in the above idle farm lots. Pictures taken along the side street farm lots bound for East Junior High School.
Sign on the right side reads as キリストのほかに神はない聖書 (kirisuto no hoka ni kami wa nai -- seisho) There is no other God but Christ. --Bible. I hope my translation is correct. Correct me if I am wrong please. I find it unusual because there are very few Christians in Japan. Taken in the street leading to Hanyu Motor School in Shimoshingo, Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture.
It should be CAUTION: RUGGED or UNEVEN ROAD AHEAD. Kanji is read as ou (凹) totsu (凸) chuu (注) i (意). Outotsu means unevennes, roughness or ruggedness. Chuui means caution, warning or attention.
Hidden in the outskirts of South District of Hanyu City is this hidden ramen shop which I only found out in the Internet. Taiga Ramen Shop is located in front of Shingo Elementary School 2 or Shingo Daini Shougakkou (新郷第二小学校). When we arrived, we were amazed to witness that it was jampacked with customers and there were around 12 people lining up outside the shop. This ramen shop is indeed famous in Hanyu. I bet the customers are not all from Hanyu but coming from nearby cities like Gyoda and Kazo.
House specialty is the Taiga Ramen, which can be ordered in miso (味噌), shio or salt (塩) and shouyu or soy sauce (醤油). We ordered miso ramen and the soup was filled with lucious pork fat in oozing miso-sesame-flavoured hot soup stuffed with bamboo shoots and bits and pieces of pork. The leek toppings blended well with the taste and the entire menu was mouth watering. Despite at 800 yen per bowl, it was really worth the wait. It was very delicious and this is one of my best pics for the best ramen shop in Hanyu City. We actually waited for 30 minutes outside the shop under the shivering and windy winter environment.
This is one of the best ramen shops scattered around Hanyu City in Saitama Prefecture. Here is the location of the shop.
Hanyu City was hammered with 4 km/hour wind since last night and today. We went to a famous hidden local ramen shop and it proved that opposing the wind direction using a bike was tougher that I thought. Breezing 7 to 9 degree wind swept the whole Touhoku region since last night. Since Saitama Prefecture is mostly flat, and especially that Hanyu is bordering the Tone River, sweeping winds flow smoothly in Hanyu since there are no known mountain-like formations in the city.
Furthermore, at 7AM this morning, a scary 4.9 magnitude earthquake shook the city. Well, this happens once in a month, in a regular frequency. Other than that, nothing special is presently happening. Waiting in vain for the snow to fall seemed dim already as the last month of winter enters in.
(A little late post.....)
