10 Reason why I love Fall:
- Apples (Apple Orchards, Apple Crisp, Apple Cider, and APPLES themeselves)
- Crisp, colorful leaves (Even prettier living here in the mountains)
- Pumpkin carving (Can’t really comment- since my only experience during childhood was drawing faces on pumpkins with a permanent marker- haha)–hopefully I can experience the real deal this year
- Fall Harvest (Hadn’t truly witnessed until this year when I moved to Japan)
- Sweatshirts
- Cool air+ loads of blankets on my bed+ the Warmlet (yes, my heated toilet seat)
- I don’t sweat while blow-drying my hair
- CORN! I think it tops Iowa Sweet Corn, just maybe
- Anything and everything Pumpkin flavored (Oh Japan, why don’t you have a Pumpkin Spiced Latte- oh wait, Aomori-ken- why don’t you have a Starbucks!?) 😦
- The Fabulous Fall means adding cute accessories to your wardrobe- like my new red-knit hat and scarf! I love feeling cozy!
This morning I came into work and found a special surprise on my desk:
Once again, Mr. eigo sensei has graciously given us teachers yummy snacks. He explained to me that this is a new type of apple called “Toki” apples (Toki means bird- wild goose to be exact…I think) Can’t wait to dive into one of these later!
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Today I taught with the new second grade teacher Ms. ni-nensei, and everything went as smooth as can be. Ms. prego ni-nensei was the second grade teacher, but she’s left on maternity leave, which here in Japan, you get one paid year, but up to three years off and still have a job when you return!
I was supposed to have English Club today, but Ms. san-nensei canceled it, because she had too much work to do. That means, I can go snap some shots of the town this beautiful time of year.
Click here for some of the pictures taken today, and also, here are a few more:
It’s crazy that less than 2 weeks ago, these wheat/soba/rice paddies (something?!) were a dark, rich green, and now they’re almost neon. Gorgeous.
And yes, this man was aware that I was snapping shots of him! Ha. When I first strolled up, I politely said “Sumimasen, and then just got out my camera and tried to use sign language to explain the rest” He came over and I proceeded “Konnichiwa, watashi wa molly desu. Eigo no sensei”…bleh, bleh, bleh…and at first I think he thought I wanted him to take a picture of me in front of his harvest…um no. Finally, once minimal words were exchanged, I was given the go-ahead. I started shooting away.
After my photo sesh, I headed to Max Value (one kid at school calls me Max Value, because he always sees me there) Ha. I had to swing by and get cookie ingredients for the staff (still have yet to give them my Minnesota omiage and what I brought from MN is kind of lame, so I’m adding the cookies. Plus in my house I found these super cute tiny baskets that have American Flags on them. I’ll fill the baskets with the sugar cookies. But since I was at the groc store- I of course checked out all of the deals. Last Sunday, I spent Y98 on one stinkin banana…but tonight- I got 7 flippin’ nana’s for Y107!!! I’m still excited about it. I now have 10-12 frozen bananas to put into my morning oats…for the next month! I also picked up one tenpura shrimp, asparagus, and yummy bread. These would all be used in my hodge-podge dinner. Talk about satisfying cravings!
MMM- Soba (buckwheat noodles. Loaded with protein, and super good for you!)
And my garlic asparagus, toast, and tenpura! Awesome.
I also found PUMPKIN!! I was oh-so-classy, and whipped out my dictionary right in the grocery store, and it got me what I wanted! Thank you patient store clerks for your constant assistance.
***Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure the green skin on this thing means it’s some sort of other squash related to the pumpkin- ah bugger. Oh and this picture got me to thinking, a few days ago in English Club, one of the Japanese students said: People in America have tall noses. Um thanks? Ha…now after taking a look at this not-so-hot angle…they were right. 😛
And lastly, the best part of my evening was baking these easy-peasy Sugar Cookies:
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix and cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix until creamy. Add flour and salt and mix until smooth. Roll in small balls; flatten with glass dipped in sugar. Make very thin. Bake at 350 degrees until edges start to brown.
- Run
- Teach
- Walk at lunch
- Groceries
- Dinner
- Cookies
- Hang Laundry
- Dishes
- Sleep…
Nighty, night!
A few things…
The corn is better than Iowa corn…better than anything.
Even if we had a Starbucks, you would be hard pressed to find the drinks you expect due to regional flavors…pretty much only the coffees are the same.
It may be VERY hard to find a pumpkin, but if one pops up you are going to learn the pleasures of carving.
Now that I think about it…I’m pretty sure I’m holding a squash in that picture. Hmm- but yes- I want to carve a pumpkin for sure!!!…and die Easter eggs. There’s a first time for everything right?!
I also love that I don’t sweat anymore when I dry my hair – speaking of.. yours is getting long!!
Are you sure about the sweet corn?!
Oh yes it is…pure split ends I think…yucky- but I’m too scared to get it cut here. What if they shave my hair off by accident!..or give me a mullet!!! Miss you 🙂