RANDOM WRITINGS

So I couldn't think of any huge and monumental thing to write about this week so I decided to write a few random thoughts and happenings around here.  (For those of you who think ALL of my thoughts are random, sorry about that.)

Lost in Translation?:

It is kind of a tradition in Japan to give food to the missionaries.  We have heard that some areas get lots of stuff but we have not been overwhelmed (thankfully).  Anyway, when the people give you something they say, "I want you to have this furuto basketo."  Translation:  fruit basket.  Never mind that they have just handed you a plastic grocery bag with no fruit in it!  And since I know some of you are dying to know what is really in these bags, these are some of the thing we have gotten:  fresh fish, ham (more like bacon around here), Johnsonville hot dogs (really expensive), canned corn and beans, spaghetti and macaroni, and salsa.  I think they are trying to give us American food.  But, nevertheless, we are always grateful because many of these things are foods I don't buy because they are expensive. 

Why We Don't Order Pizza:

This week we got an advertisement in the mail (not all that usual) about a pizza delivery place.  Apparently it is one of the more well-known places for pizza in Japan.  Here is a sample of what you can order (no tax or delivery charge or tip): 
           Thickly sliced bacon with corn pizza        small:  $10.97             large:  $29.66
           Seafood Italian pizza                                                                     large:  $44.49
           Purokogi Potato pizza (teriyaki?)                                                  large:  $33.89
           Tuna Mayo pizza                                                                           large:  $35.33
           Hawaiian                                                    small:  $14.39             large:  $35.33
I converted the prices into US dollars.  Also the Hawaiian is considered a "kids" pizza.

Sickly:

Calvin suffered from a cold much of this week so we didn't get out as much as usual.  Here is his sickly picture:

We went to our branch president's house this past Friday evening and had a family night with his family.  They served us dinner (ham, rice, avacado-mayo-shrimp salad, miso soup, potatoes).  Then we had a lesson on the Parable of the Talents in Matthew and then everyone showed off their talents with a talent show.  It was a fun activity and the boys (ages 10 and 11) actually got into the fun by showing us some of their talents (magic trick and yo yo tricks).  My talent was the dessert.  I made chocolate pudding cake in a rice cooker!  It worked great, especially topped with vanilla ice cream.  For those of you who don't know what chocolate pudding cake is, it is a chocolate cake or almost a brownie which ends up in a pudding sauce on the bottom.  Very yummy.  This is the recipe:

            Chocolate Pudding Cake:
            Butter the rice cooker pan (or 9X13 pan for you less adventurous)
            Mix together in a bowl:  1 c. flour, 3/4 c. sugar, 3 Tbsp cocoa, 2 tsp baking powder,
                    1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 c. milk, 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil.  Pour into pan.
            Sprinkle on top of batter:  3/4 c. brown sugar, 1/4 c. cocoa
            Pour 1 3/4 c. boiling water over all.
            Punch the rice cooker button.  (or cook at 350 till done)
            It should come out with the pudding on the bottom.  Don't overcook or the pudding will
                      absorb too much into the cake.  My rice cooker took about 50 minutes and then I
                      left it for about 10 minutes more to cook a little more.

Everyone loved this!  The Japanese LOVE chocolate and ice cream.  I couldn't go wrong!

Holidays in Japan:

We have seen a few holidays in Japan.  Nothing major. 
            Feb. 2:  Setsubun Day.  You throw beans out of your window or doorway to ward off
                         evil spirits
            Feb. 14:  Valentines Day.  Not nearly as exciting as in the States.  The girls give
                          chocolate to the boys (romantic inclinations, office workers, just friends)
            Mar. 14:  White Day.  Hasn't come yet but apparently the guys now give chocolate
                          back to the girls that gave them chocolate for Valentines Day.  Sounds like a
                          retail scam to me!  The guys are encouraged to outdo the girls.
            Mar. 3:  Girls Day.  The girls display their dolls and are honored.

Weather:

We are tired of winter!  Our new hope is that spring will come soon and we will WALK wherever we can.  Nothing is that far away!

Indulgences:

For me, I bought an ice cream sundae at McDonald's.
For Calvin,  we bought two boxes of Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix which were on clearance ($2.50
      each/10 in a box)

Look forward:

That's about all I have to write about but next Sunday is the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami.  We are doing a service project this Saturday for it and we have been saving our pictures to show all of you what we have seen.  I noticed on the internet (KSL, MSN, etc) that they have been having video clips in remembrance of the tsunami.  Many of the clips are from here in Ishinomaki.
So till next week:  Have a good one!