Takenaka-san was the first lady to arrive. She is the newest member of the study group and my daughter knew her the least. She brought some sesame fried chicken the way only the Japanese can prepare it. Dee-lish. She stressed that it was made without oil. Steamed, then baked. It's great cold too. One observation: very little Rubbermaid, Tupperware or Gladware. Most of the ladies brought their items in small white boxes, much like the size and shape of various sized chocolate boxes. Just a little difference I noticed. It's a nice difference. The sesame chicken was in just such a box. We had a few minutes to chat, just us three. Although the language barrier made anything but deliberate conversation difficult. I was able to discern that she is a very sweet woman, a little shy, and trying to feel where she fits in the group as the "newby". "Také" means bamboo, so I am told, and "naka" means inside. Whether together the words of her last name is connotative of someone who is as strong as bamboo inside, uses bamboo, reams out bamboo, or what, is anyone's guess. More on Takenaka-san later.
Amy and Stephanie - two other English teachers, came next. Amy is a first year teacher with my daughter, and Stephanie teaches at the University. I liked them very much. Amy is very quiet, and likes to observe. Stephanie likes to talk and ask questions. They brought (together) some fried chicken ala Japanese which was very well done, and TUNA CASSEROLE. Stephanie was apologizing all over the place for it not being baked (ovens are scarce in Japanese apartments). It has been ages since I had good old-fashioned, made on the stove top tuna casserole and I loved it. They left the leftovers and I scarfed that as well. They brought their food items in Japanese versions of Rubbermaid. BTW.
Makata-san was (I think) next, although the rest of the ladies kind of arrived at the same-ish time. It's all a blur. She is short, even by Japanese standards and reminds me a lot of a friend of mine in Carroll. People are people all over the world, dontcha know. She brought a Costella, which is a pound cake of sorts. Makata-san is the lady who drove us to Tsunoshima and the onsen after that. See "Tsunoshima and Nude Bathing". More about Makata-san later as well.
Nakano-sensei is an English teacher at the school where my daughter
teaches. She had gone to Chicago and then Buffalo and NYC last summer. Her English was quite good. She brought strawberries. Lots of strawberries. They were quite yummy on the costello. One of the strawberries is very reminiscent of a "fugu". More about Nakano-sensei later as well.Higa-san is last (but came the same time as Nakano-sensei and Makata-san). She is a Japanese ME. Mini-me. Although she is quite tall. She was wearing a knitted silk vest that she knitted herself and it looked cool.
For food Higa-san brought Annin Tofu (it's pronounced more like "Dofu" in this case, but I can't find anywhere where it's spelled that way) (!). It is ambrosia. What we would eat in Heaven when we have bodies that need it. It's almond "jelly", which is what they call Jell-o. Has no tofu in it. It's a jelled almond confection - not too sweet. When it is time to serve, it's cut into cubes, then mixed with chopped fresh tropical fruits. Then a simple syrup is poured on top. YUM. Ruthie was jumping up and down and squealing, so I knew it would be good. Higa-san was so embarrassed because it didn't gel properly this time, but that didn't stop any of us from wolfing! And, because she was embarrassed and the costello cake was kind of overlooked amongst the furor of the Annin Tofu, I made a trifle with my costello and the annin tofu. That was, like, Nirvana (if there were such a thing). The ladies were quite amazed at the mixture, but I sense that someone will be coming up with a uniquely Japanese trifle one of these days that becomes "traditional Japanese fare". Other than me, that is. I have already been devising ways of blending the two for American taste. MY American taste, anyway.
We ladies talked about life in our two cultures, and concluded that we are all too busy. With fairly inconsequential things. People are just as stressed out in Japan as in the States. Probably more so, because they seem to care a little more. Hero-hubby and I would fit in the Japanese work life very well, because we have both cared about how our employer looks, and giving our 100% to them - while at work, anyway. Hectic lives and fast meals at all hours seem to be epidemic. And being tired, tired, tired.
Everyone was interested in seeing what I had bought so far in Japan. I dragged out my antique fabric that I bought in Moji-ko. They were amazed that I would spend money on old, torn and soiled fabric in such small pieces. Then, I had to bring out my snowman quilts I had brought as gifts, and the "cry of the loon" quilt I had brought too, and then they could see what I do with the fabric. Higa-san, I think, quilts, but she uses all new, cotton fabric as most normal people do. They told me how shibori is made. I love shibori. And chiri-men.
They were still mystified as to why I would want even the tiniest scraps. There were some in the bento that were just 1-inch wide by maybe 6-inches long. I held up the red one and said, "Somewhere, a snowman needs a scarf." Very serio-comically. They all said "Ah, so-ka!" With the indrawn breath that only the Japanese can do. Later, Amy and Stephanie were laughing about how serious I was and how the ladies, sitting on the floor in a horseshoe around me, were so serious. Like I had spoken from God or something. I personally think they were just being polite by not laughing out loud at me.
Or maybe I just scared them.
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