Sorry for the extended lack of posts! I’ve been a busier-than-usual bee the last couple weeks. I mean, of course the whole earthquake/tsunami/power plant situation has been a mess. Fortunately where I am we’re not suffering any direct backlash or fallout. Things have been changed to help deal with the situation. Our farewell party for the teachers retiring/moving to different schools has been postponed indefinitely, and many stores are keeping lights and such off after certain times to save electricity. But life goes on, and due to such I had an extended weekend trip in Kobe last week!
A bit of background: In 2008, I did a study abroad program in Kobe that lasted about 5 weeks. Now, 5 weeks isn’t really all that much, but it was long enough for me to find one of the longest-running friendships with someone who doesn’t live within my immediate vicinity I’ve ever had. It was during that trip that I met Yuri, one of the language partners assigned to me and my classmates by Shoin University, who hosted us.
After the semester in Kobe, Yuri came to visit us in Philadelphia and Delaware. Since then, though, we haven’t been on the same side of the planet. That has changed, however, since I am now living not only in the same hemisphere, but the same country that she is! Ergo, a trip to go visit her was more that warranted (and over-due).
As such, I arrived at the Sannomiya bus terminal around 11 a.m. last Saturday. Yuri was there to meet me, and the girls’ time began! One of the first things we did was head out for a bit of lunch. At my suggestion, we decided to indulge in ramen. If you’re used to the instant, cup noodle-variety of ramen, the real stuff is NOTHING like that. I really dislike instant ramen, but I have a fondness for genuine ramen.
Mine came with shredded daikon and carrot, dried shrimp, chicken meatballs, and half a boiled egg. The broth was spiked with yuzu, a uniquely Japanese citrus fruit.
After lunch, we wandered around Rokkomichi, the neighborhood where we stayed in 2008. So many memories!
The dorm where we stayed oh-so-long ago.
I never ate here, but I was amused by the menu-on-the-window and the fact that one of the gelato flavors was, apparently, "Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!"
Back in 2008, I got many laughs out of "7 and iHoldings." So I deemed it picture-worthy.
It's cherry blossom time right around now! That be the lovely and incomparable Yuri-chan. I snuck the picture while she was preoccupied taking her own picture, haha.
We walked around for hours, just enjoying the wonderful weather and reminiscing. It was fantastic
So, that night we had temaki sushi (hamd rolls) with Yuri's family. 'Twas delicious, but I didn't take pictures because that'd have been a tad awkward. So feel free to use your imagination. Don't worry; there will be plenty of sushi porn on my day three post. That shall come soon, assuming blogspot doesn't get cranky on me and refuse to let me upload pictures (again).
Ja, mata kondo ne.
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