Baby Shower!

Hello class!

How are you doing?

When I took a walking with Kojiro around my neighborhood in this morning, I looked many trees which is breaking buds. Spring comes soon!

Last Sunday we were invited "Baby Shower". I knew lately that people in America celebrate birth of baby before delivery as " Baby Shower". I was very surprised to hear that, because we celebrate birth of baby after delivery in Japan.
My friend Chiharu who joined Brittani's class party at my house last June 9th is expecting a baby soon. Then Chiharu's friend who is American had "Baby Shower" for Chiharu at her house. There were many fancy goods and foods such as balloons, paper dishes, plastic cutleries, chocolates and candies. I think they express happiness of birth.

Now I remember, there was "Baby Shower Cake" and "Diaper Cake"! We can eat "Baby Shower Cake", but we can't eat "Diaper Cake". Because it was made by many diapers. It's very funny! What big and gorgeous cake they were!

We enjoyed playing many party games. Chiharu and her husband were deeply impressed with our celebration. We had amazing experience.

Osechi & Cake

Hi Class,

It has been a long time no update.
We finally got some sunshine today. I haven't felt so fine in a long time.

I'm going to explain about "Osechi".

The New Year is one of the most important holidays for the Japanese. In Japan, people traditionally eats a special section of dishes called "Osechi" during the New Year's holidays.

"Osechi" are gorgeous and necessary dishes for the New Year's holidays. Each of the dishes has some auspicious meaning which reflects people's wishes.

There are wishes for a rich harvest, the safety of the families, fertility, health and longevity.

On New Year's day, I had fifteen guests. We celebrated the start of the New Year eating "Osechi".

I prepared "Osechi" for two days. It was very hard, but I patted myself on the back. Hahaha・・・・・

My favorite season

Hi class!

Are you enjoying the Autumn weather up there?
Now is the time when we are getting deeper into Autumn.

I heard that the leaves turn yellow and red around Gilman Blvd. at Issaquah from my friend. So I went there on this weekend with my husband and my pet. It was very beautiful and fantastic!
The scene reminds me of Japan.


We went the Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island, too.
There was a nip of Autumn in the air. It's very comfortable outside this time of the season.

Enjoy this Autumn!!!

My failure story

Last November I took the test for driving license at Bellevue. I was very nervous. My instructor is a Hispanic-American woman. Fortunately she seemed to be kind-looking.
As soon as the test started, I made a mistake. The instructor said me to turn on the blinker, but I turned on the wipers by mistake. She said "Oh, my goodness!" I felt ashamed. But the test started in a relaxed atmosphere because of my failure.
While taking a test, she said unexpectedly " My brother is studying Japanese, so I know Japanese song "SAKURA" a little".
Then I said her to sing "SAKURA" So she said, "No, you are working on license test now!" I said, " I'm so sorry"
But after a while, she asked me to sing "SAKURA". I said at that time " No, I'm working on license test now!".
Then she said," It's OK! Please sing!". Strangely I took the test singing a song loudly.
Needless to say, I could pass the test. I had a good time.

I love Seattle!

Hello, Class!

My favorite places are ・・・・・

1) Lake Boren Park : There are many beautiful parks in Seattle. Especially I like Lake Boren Park. This park is located at my neighborhood. I enjoy taking a walk with my pet almost every day. The park impressive at any time of the year as each season. The leaves colors become brighter in spring, blackberries grow in summer, the leaves turn red in autumn, the leaves fall in winter.

2) Gas Works Park : I and my husband like going to this park with my pet in clear day. There is a hill with fine view where we can see Seattle downtown over Lake Union. I usually take my friends who visiting to Seattle to this park.

3) Green Lake Park : I think this is best park for walking, joging and cycling ；as well as Hena. I feel as if I were an American when I am walking in this park.

4) Cafe Vivace: The Cafe is near R.E.I. in Seattle downtown. We often enjoy to have many variety of beverages. I'm glad that the customers with dog are allowed at cafe.

5) Banff (I'm sorry it isn't in Washington・・・): Last summer I went to Banff with my family(of course, with Kojiro). I and my husband went to Banff on our honeymoon twenty-seven years ago. We are deeply happy that we traveled a place of memories for us with our children.

There are my favorite places! Thank you so much for reading!

I like action movies!

Until now I had seen many action movies. Especially I like "True Lies"(1994) and "Air Force One"(1997) of them.
In "True Lies", Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a starring role. But I prefer Jamie Lee Curtis who plays his wife rather than Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is pretty funny and interesting!
In "Air Force One", Harrison Ford plays a starring role as President of United States of America. But I prefer Glenn Close who plays Vice-President rather than Harrison Ford. She always calm down and judge a situation. I deeply impressed her signature line "Do it!!!". She is very cool.
Please watch the movies when you have a chance!

American Kitchen

Hello, class
In my free time, I like baking too.

I'm glad that the ingredients of baking are cheaper and my kitchen is wide.
I'm afraid that the kitchen in Japan is not so wide.

I think it is very comfortable to use American style kitchen. So I often make cakes. It's fabulous! I'd like to have a large repertoire of baking from now.