Well, I hope you're all recovered from your weekend of culinary indulgences! I took the day off on Thanksgiving Day (because, of course, it's not a holiday here!) and went up to the base in Sasebo where I was very fortunate to have dinner with my friends on the USS Guardian. And a big Otsukare sama deshita! to the Guardian chefs/cooks. Gochisou sama deshita! Good job! It was all delicious! I'm still dreaming about the turkey and gravy....mmmmm...
After dinner, one of the guys showed us around the ship. I really missed having my dad and brother there* on the tour, because they're much better at understanding all the stuff our informative guide told us, but I still thought everything was pretty cool! In the picture you can see the mine neutralization vehicle up on the deck. It's a remotely operated submersible used to hunt, identify, and neutralize underwater mines.
Sometimes the concept of war and its um... shall we say... various "accoutremements" is so abstract to me as I sit here safe in my little Japanese academic school. But seeing these men and walking on Guardian's decks, I got a little taste of reality. I mean, come on, how many of you run over & detonate mines all in a day's work? So, thanks again for having me for dinner, and thanks for everything you do, guys!
*but don't get me wrong, I missed you guys at dinner, too!!! In fact, I miss you just in general...can't wait to see you :)

omochi yori/kaeri pa-ty!

So it looks like the winner is...Bernie! Yeah - out of all you who SAID you were going to come visit me here in Japan, this guy is the only one of you lot to actually follow through, yo. ;o I had a really good time showing off my little corner of the world to my American friend here. The night he came down to my place I hosted an "omochi yori" (pot luck) party so B could taste all sorts of Japanese food (and so I wouldn't have to cook ;) ).
OHMIGOODNESS did we ever have lots of food!

And people! I think there were 28 people in the apartment at one point!
I didn't know that I knew that many people!
And, 15 minutes before the end of the party, those amazing creatures - otherwise known as Japanese ladies - were a whirlwind in my kitchen and suddenly everyone had a take home plate, all the rooms were clean, and my kitchen was spotless. They're just brilliant those J-ladies!

Let's do lunch

Yea! I finally got to see the family that hosted me for a night when I visited in 2004. Motoko Honda (center) and her husband live in Konagai, a town part of Isahaya city, about 45 minutes from where I live in Nishi Isahaya (that, of course is my car - it's probably at least 3 hours by bike!). Motoko san's friend, Chieko san and Takako sensei, my JTE from Takaki Bunko, and I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Motoko san's house one Saturday. What feast! We even had some fish that her brother had caught in the bay. Since my Japanese is not even as good as Motoko san's and Chieko san's English, we were very glad Takako san was there - though I'm sure she was tired after translating most of the day!