Defending Japan!

Ox Tongue Set Meal

I don't mean to offend, but...

Someone posted a video about a women eat Frog Sashumi and said "The Japanese are a sick and twisted community". Now I am going to defend this wonderful country that is my home!

I am not going to link to the actual video, but I feel that people would hate me for it, so google it yourself if you really want to watch it!

Sashumi literally means "prepared alive". Now in Japan, you can get lobster, squid, shrimp, fish and octopus prepared this way. This a delicacy in Japan and can be very expensive to eat. I personally am not a big fan of sushi (raw fish), I have tried it here in and there is some that I like, but the herrings eggs was a little too much for me.  It really boils down to personal preference and no one is really forcing you to eat this kind of food. Its on the menu, you choose to buy it or not!

I feel that someone misunderstand this wonderful country and their taste in food. I have eaten food I never thought I could actually eat. So far I've only really tried Eel, which is made by my wonderful friend Ruri-san, and Ox tongue, which I tried when out friends at a local restaurant. But I will get round to trying Sea Urchin, which is my city's local speciality. Its just that sashumi is quick and easy to prepare and is best served as fresh as possible. The only way to do this with raw food is to kill it when the customer asks for what they want.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong at all with people killing the food and preparing the food there and then. If it means its better, than so be it.  We see it all the world where animals kill their prey and then eat them. How is this any different? We are killing are food with a swift blade before eating it. At the end of the day, its still food.

But its a different country and culture. You might not understand why they do this, yet it doesn't really call for such strong use of words.

I just don't like it when people see a video and then actually make assumptions that every where and everyone does that. I guess I'm just annoyed that people don't fully understand this countries culture and diet but are very quick to judge.  This country I now consider my home and I just want people to have the correct understanding about this country.

Long Awaited Winter Holiday's

The nights are getting colder and I am getting used to all the little maintenance requirements before going to bed and after I wake up in the morning. Even if I do forget to turn on my alarm after having to re-programme it. 

So 2013 has been a roller coaster right for me. From actually leaving a job I hated and felt really under appreciated (which actually made me depressed and contemplate things I never thought I would do) to leaving for Japan to start a new life, in a new job with new friends.

This doesn't at all mean that I don't think any less of my friends back home. Far from it. I love them to pieces for supporting me and some show it more than others as they actually continue to talk to me and cannot wait to see me when I get back home for a short two week holiday in March.

But I love my new life!! Some might have seen me as being brave to leave a country I call home, to a new country where I only know a little of the language. As well as starting a job where I've had very little training but I am aiming to improve and gain some great experience teaching.

I don't think I would be this happy where I am if it wasn't for the friends I have made. Especially to Limor and Annik who have both made me feel welcome and helped me through training and just being there to talk to. 

All thats left to do now is have a quiet Christmas away from the family for the first time, take my Document Driving Test and then travel to Osaka to have a short holiday and then see KAT-TUN with Hoiming!! (I cannot wait to see them live!!)