Some more mundane experiences...

I'm learning a lot about Japanese culture.  There is a competitive gift giving culture here.  Someone gives you a gift, you thank them and give them a gift, they thank you and give you a gift.  This goes on until one of the parties finally admits defeat by just writing a nice note to the other. 

I think Russ and I have gotten ourselves into one of these competitions.  Our neighbor down the street is retired, but teaches English part time at the local junior high school.  Wendy and I met him one day on my street when Ayden walked up and said hello to him.  Since then, I see him occasionally.  I finally agreed that once Russ came home, we would go out to dinner together.  So, on Saturday, we met at their house and headed out for a nice Japanese meal.  He chose the Natural Kitchen.  I had been there before, but I was anxious to go again.

Imazato-san had called ahead and reserved us a traditional booth.  Luckily, the Japanese have adopted the regular table. They compensate for this by having a well into which you put your feet, but you still take off your shoes.  For the less adventuresome, there are also regular, western style tables.  Russ and Mrs. Imazato ordered an egg and tofu dish over rice.  Mr. Imazato ordered something soupy with pork.  I had the eel over rice dish, one of my favorites.  Each dish comes as a set on a tray.  I love this aspect of Japanese life, it feeds into my love of dishes and kitchen ware.  Rather than serving a large dinner plate with the meat and sides on it, each dish is served in its own, little plate.  The eel was in a bowl over rice, there were 3 kinds of Japanese pickles (tsukemono, I think) in a 3 sectioned little plate.  I also received a broth of sorts, I never did figure out what to do with it.  Oishikatta desu!  (Delicious!)

After dinner, we went back to their house for tea and a little bit of wrap up conversation.  While we were there, they mentioned that they love instant, flavored coffee.  Now the fun begins.  The next day, Russ and I needed to go on base, so we stopped at the commissary to see if they carry instant, flavored coffee.  They carry Folgers.  The coffee the Imazato's showed us was Nestle.  We got them the Folgers anyway and a tin of the International Cafe mocha.  We put this in a cute bag and walked it down the street.  The Imazato's were so grateful for the gift (they had already taken us to dinner, remember?) that they just HAD to give us something in return.

So, Imazato-san got our his trusty, rickety ladder and climbed up into the plum tree.  What occurred next was the perfect scenario to put into a safety video.  I don't know how many times I had to look away as that ladder wobbled around with him on the tippy top step.  You know, the one that says "NOT A STEP"?  He had a net on a pole with which he pulled on the fruit until it dropped into the net.  He wasn't satisfied until we had at least a dozen succulent plums. 

Now, it's our turn.  How am I supposed to top that?  He risked his life (or it seemed that way to me) to get us some plums.  I think I'll cook them an American style steak dinner.