Missing Fingers and the Japanese Driver's Test

das Feuer!

Still on my quest to attain a Japanese driver's license via the conversion route, I attempted the test a 2nd time today. 
The preparation
Today I successfully made it past the starting line, a feat I could not boast from my 1st attempt. In fact, today I got to see the entire course from the driver's seat. Stand back! I think a button just busted off this vest. 

As I rounded the final corner into the home stretch, I saw the evaluator had already filled out my "FAIL" slip and was waiting until I stopped the car before handing it to me. Probably a good idea, in theory. But next time buddy, why not keep it hidden until I stop the car. I mean, there is still a lot of horse power behind the wheel, not to mention the little bit the car had to offer and you wouldn't want that power unleashed on your sorry rear-ender now would you?

In any case, dear readers, I will strike out again in three weeks for my 3rd attempt at the driving test.
One good thing happened today, I took the new used scooter I bought (@25,000 yen and worth every penny) 1 hour through the heart of Tokyo in peak rush hour traffic to get to the Driver's License Center in Fuchu (pronounced Foo-choo). Fantastic ride, scary as hell, but thoroughly thrilling. I can't wait to go again...sort of.

On my way back I past my old University. So I hit up my old lunching spot, Bambi's restaurant. By Japanese standards, Bambi's is probably the equivalent of a local mom and pop diner back in the States with slightly greasy everything on the menu. But I love Bambi's, seasoned hamburger patty on a plate with some pasta, fried croquet of creamed corn, white rice, and chicken stock soup.  I want a picture of the meal to share with you but my camera broke when I sat on it in the Yamanote. So I gleaned a few from Tabelog which is a Japanese site for searching for good food in Japan. Thanks to hopkins  for posting these on Tabelog. Just picture a very happy white guy (or a very white happy guy) on a very tiny bar stool, seated at the bar which creates a semicircle around the cooks area. Now picture that crowded into half the size you are imagining and you might have a faint glimpse of what it was like for me today.

The food :-D

The shop :-l

das Feuer!

My main man!*see note below*

The entire ordering and payment system! Insert a 1000 yen bill and press your pick, let the Old Guy take it from here. 

Pay attention, because this is the remarkable thing about this whole day. The 65 year old cook who used to serve me 5 years ago (pictured above) when I was an exchange student, is now older and grayer but still serving. Spectacular coincidence, probably not. But how about the fact that he was now operating with a stub for a right thumb and the first knuckle removed from his right index finger. Figure that one out! My first thought was possibly trouble paying up with the local yakuza? What do you think?

Imperial Palace: Serendipity in Tokyo; Palácio Imperial em Tóquio; القصر الإمبراطوري في طوكيو; 皇居東京

An international blogging collaboration.  (See English entry below, 以下に日本語) 

Rodrigo Silva writes:  OLÁ HOJE O DIA FOI MUITO BOM JONATHAN ME FALO SOBRE O PALÁCIO IMPERIAL EM TOKYO. AI CHAMEI UM AMIGO "YASSER" DO EGITO... FOI UM POUCO DIFÍCIL POIS EU NÃO FALO INGLÊS E MUITO MENOS EGÍPCIO! HAHAH MAIS CONSEGUI EXPLICA QUE EU ESTAVA CHAMANDO ELE PARA IR COMIGO AO PALÁCIO IMPERIAL! ENTÃO FOMOS ANDANDO E TIRANDO FOTOS ATÉ ENCONTRARMOS "JONATHAN" COM UMA AMIGA JAPONESA FOI MUITO ENGRAÇADO POQUE NÃO ESPERÁVAMOS.VER ELE LÁ NO PALÁCIO MAIS FOI MUITO BOM!! FICAMOS TODOS JUNTOS POR ALGUNS MINUTOS E NOS SEPARAMOS DE NOVO. E POR CONHECIDÊNCIA NOS ENCONTRAMOS DE NOVO NA HORA QUE ESTÁVAMOS INDO EMBORA. AI TIRAMOS FOTOS JUNTOS E JONATHAN FOI ACOMPANHA SUA AMIGA E EU E YESSER VOLTAMOS PARA SAKURA HAUSE!!!
ver fotos abaixo

Yasser Kamal writes of the day: النهاردة قمت بزيارة الي القصر الامبراطوري بطوكيو وكان معايا رودريكو من البرازيل والجميل في الرحلة أني قابلت واحد من أفضل أصدقائي بالصدفة اسمه جوناثان من أمريكا وهو مقيم معايا في نفس الغرفة وأتصورنا سوا في وسط مجموعة من الأشجار والجميل أنه كان في احتفال عاملينه مجموعة من البنات اليابانيين وشاركت معاهم لأنهم كانوا بيعملوا عروض للزوار وأتمني البقاء لفترة طويلة، وزيارة أماكن أكثر.

انظر الصور أدناه

Hiromi writes: こんにちは！今日は朝から良い天気！春の気配！
今日は楽しみにしていた英会話のレッスンの日！Facebookに英会話に行ってくると書き残し、先生に会いに待ち合わせ場所へ。今日のレッスンの場所は皇居。なんだかピクニックみたいでウキウキ！
レッスンに丁度良い静かなベンチを探していると、なんと！先生のルームメイトに偶然、遭遇！
前回のレッスンのときに聞いていたエジプト人のルームメイトYasser。そしてベンチを探しながら聞いていた新しいルームメイト、ブラジル人のRodrigo。素晴らしいサプライズ！二人ともそして先生も笑顔が素敵。優しさが笑顔から伝わってくる！日本人も見習わなければ！！！
すぐに二人と別れレッスン開始。英語の発音は、、む、難しい、、。TH？？R？舌がもつれる！！もっと練習しないと、、。そして楽しいレッスンが終わり駅へと歩いていると、なんと向こうからさっき別れたYasserとRodrigoが！嬉しいサプライズがもう一度！彼らの国の言葉を教わったり、皇居の掃除に来ていたボランティアの女子学生と写真を撮ったり、短い時間だったけどとっても素晴らしい時間でした！！1年ぶりの皇居は変わらず素敵な場所でした。おとずれる度に心が穏やかになる神聖な雰囲気の場所です。そして新しい想い出が出来てさらに特別な場所になりました。

下の写真をご覧ください。

J. writes: Finally, a warm day in Tokyo, full of adventure with friends new and old. After my morning English lessons (teacher, not student: for all you wisenheimers out there), I hurried over to meet my student, Hiromi, for a private English lesson. This week, depending on the weather, we had decided to meet at the Imperial Palace and find a quiet place to sit down and have a lesson. The weather cooperated. Beautiful, sunny, and just enough flowers blooming to remind us that spring is near. During our hunt for the ever elusive free-roaming park bench, Hiromi and I happened to find a pair of dear friends along the way. My new Brazilian roommate Rodrigo, and my dear friend and good roommate, Yasser of Egypt. We all had a good laugh over the good fortune and impossible odds of actually meeting serendipitously midday in midtown Tokyo. I introduced Yasser and Rodrigo to Hiromi then sent them on their way to enjoy a nap on the Imperial lawn while Hiromi and I tracked down an open bench on a quiet footpath and had a pleasant hour-long lesson.

 

From Left to Right: Yasser (Egypt), Hiromi (Japan), Jonathan (USA), Rodrigo (Brazil). In front of the Imperial Palace on a sunny Spring afternoon in Tokyo.

After Hiromi and I finished our lesson, not even 30 seconds later, we ran into these "good-for-nothings" again. The four of us rounded the corner at the same moment like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. I was so completely flabbergasted by such random luck that I ran and gave Yasser a giant bear-hug. (Yeah it was THAT crazy of a day). On our way out of the park we ran into a group of volunteers who had finished raking up the Imperial lawn. A group of teenage girls was elected to entertain 100 or so other volunteers. We happened upon this wonderment and Yasser was asked to join in, to the delight of everyone including ourselves.

I can't think of a better ending to a phenomenal day. :-D

P.S. After work tonight, we have all agreed to share Rodrigo's bottle of 51, Brazilian 80 proof rum (cachaça) which we are to drink with fresh lemons and sugar. My last lesson of the night can't finish soon enough!!

Wisconsin Cheese in Tokyo: "MJ Toastie the Profound"

Aeon (イオン), a giant super market chain in Japan, now carries Crystal Farms Cheese from Lake Mills, Wisconsin, my hometown.

I happened to drop by again today to re-stock my fridge after taking two blocks of Cheddar to work this week. I prepared two cheese platters for my co-workers.  Neither made it to the lunch break and everyone was asking, "Where can I get some of that cheese?"

Needless to say, my plan to boast Wisconsin Pride is a tremendous success. If I wore cheaper suits, I am sure I would have busted a button or two.

This week's culinary tribute to bachelor living:  "MJ Toastie the Profound."

Similar to last weeks "TK Cheddar Dog", the MJ Toastie's most important ingredient is Crystal Farms Cheese. And in keeping with its namesake, is actually quite profound. I dare say this is the best bachelor's food this side of the Pacific.

I used Crystal Farms Monterey Jack this time. I had my buddy Caesar slice it up, place the slices on bread, and throw it all in the toaster oven.

Next, I grilled up some ham slices.

I also threw on some fried eggs.

Finally, top it off with some Mucho Aloha sauce and behold: MJ Toastie the Profound.

Caesar and I discovered this key equation when preparing anything with fried eggs: the runniness of the egg is proportional to its tastiness but is inversely proportional to its ease of edibility. In other words, the tastier, runnier egg is a complete mess to eat! Enjoy! Mucho Aloha! Much Love!