http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/ en Copyright 2009 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:24:55 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I was compiling a list of Thanksgiving menu items when it hit me…it’s almost Thanksgiving! I haven’t written a blog in ages! When did I last post? Oh yes, forever ago. Sorry. I’m sure Nancy’s tales of falling around campus and supply of pictures has kept everyone happy. And Le Reve…Oh. Another meal like that will kill me. I couldn’t move the next morning and couldn’t eat until dinner. They feed you a lot! And it’s nothing you can refuse, so you keep eating and drinking and eating…It really is a shame they’re closing. An update regarding the last posting: I am no longer chasing after distraction – I am aimlessly pursuing it. The aimlessness is not my fault. My interest no longer resides with the smoking underclassman, but the soccer player I had a brief conversation with on Monday. I know, we talked. Big step. When you have an imagination like mine, the littlest things are PLENTY. So yes, talking and smiling and wonderfulness, but he is not in any of my classes and I do not pass by him walking to classes, so it is all such a lost cause. Unless I attend Sunday’s soccer game… I guess college is just a difficult place pin people down. (I have evidence: my sister at UIW is having the same problem. I have considered relationship books for us, but really, I work at the library, how could I ever check such material out?) It's such work being cool. This chance meeting would never have occurred had I not been in the History Department for office hours. Maybe I should visit my professors more often, but then, that would be a good idea in general. They are all so kind and smart. Who doesn’t want to hang out with them? Since I have decided to go to Graduate School (yes, I think of it in capital letters), my life has been devoid of free time. I don’t really read anymore except for classes or unless I’m editing my Personal Statement (another giant task) or The Manuscript. For me, The Manuscript is the most important component of my application since I’m applying for a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. I wrote some years ago about having to write a short story for Spanish and wanting to keep writing it. Well, it's that same story only in English and MUCH longer. And better too. Actually, it's become a very different story and I'm working on the wording the ending and strengthening the beginning. I want someone to read it and be as captivated by Marcel as I was. Such a strange guy, troubled. Victor is a bit more normal and he has become a major character. But your own opinions can never be very objective which makes the whole application process very scary. I’ve never thought this seriously about my writing before. Nancy, of course, is very supportive as are my parents, so I'll do my best since I have plans A-Z if that doesn’t work out. Seriously, every letter of the alphabet. (Joining the Navy is letter 'N.') 'Teacher' was letter 'T,' until recently. I volunteer at an elementary school nearby as a literacy instructor and it may be only one hour a week, but by the end of that hour, I'm done. Really, they are the cutest little people in the world, but that fact doesn't automatically generate a supply of patience. In my mind, there's a set of instructions and it is followed. I don't understand people who don't play by the rules and we all know little boys disregard rules (mostly). My brother is a known offender as are the two I tutor. At least I have patience enough to last me that hour. I guess 'T' will be replaced as 'Trailblazer,' like Pocahontas. I hope that next semester will be a little easier, but it will be a time of waiting. Hoping to get acceptance letters in the mail. We'll see how it all turns out. At least there is a plan and there is an upcoming holiday. Without those, I believe we would all be quite anxiety-ridden. http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/11/college_isconstantly_working_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/11/college_isconstantly_working_1.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:24:55 -0600 Just three very attractive ladies getting ready for a night out. Attractive sisters on the balcony. Waiting for Victoria to bring the car around with Bianca. Mademoiselle Bianca Bear. Our fly ride. All shiny and spacious. Bianca getting out of the car, looking ever so glamorous. Me. Not so glamorous. My mouth is funny because I just was eating a milkyway that Bianca found in Victoria's car. “Le Rêve prides itself on preparing the best food, anywhere. Our approach is simple yet elegant, grounded in the classic techniques. When you dine at Le Rêve, you will come to know that this is a serious place for food.” - Le Reve website When we got to the restaurant, we circled around the area twice. It was so tiny! We tried to get valet parking but the valet was not there. Victoria, who was driving, found her own parking after dropping Bianca and me off. She’s pretty great. The restaurant was small (it seats like 30 people). The tables were kind of crowded. But, as the New York times article said, “not a dollar has been spent on ostentation, as anyone can see — no velvet, no silver cloches, no Sèvres, no Christofle.” It was elegantly simple. We got seated at a small table in the middle of the restaurant. The waiters came by and asked if we had eaten here before. They talked to us about the items on the menu. The sommelier (who was French) asked us about the wines we wanted (we politely declined of course). Another waitress brought two stools for us to put our purses and scarves, etc. To begin the evening, the chef gave us an amuse- bouche (something to amuse our mouths). It was cucumber spaghetti with a poached oyster garnished with a wasabi beurre blanc. I can’t even tell you all the flavors that went in there but those were the distinctive ones. It was my favorite part of the menu actually. The flavors were so wonderful! The dish was served warm. I never knew warm cucumber could taste so good! As soon as we finished, they removed our plates and silverware (even the ones we did not use) and filled up our water. Next up, the butter. We were given two 2-inch rounds of butter. One was sea salt and the other was poppy seed. The rounds sat there, teasing us. After 10 minutes, a waitress came by with a plate full of hot bread straight from the oven. We got a choice of the house roll (cinnamon and rosemary, kind of sweet), a pepper roll (Bianca and I picked this first, my personal favorite), a baguette, and focaccia. The bread was warm on the outside and steaming on the inside. The butter was so smooth (it literally slid off our knives and onto the bread). I could have filled myself up on the bread and that amuse-bouche. We wanted more bread but I am glad they did not put a whole basket in front of us..otherwise we would have filled up on it right away. After that, a lovely hors d’ouvres. I ordered the simply seared foie gras with poached pear. Bianca and Victoria ordered a most beautiful caramelized onion tart with French goat cheese and balsamic drizzle. My foie gras was simply magnificent! I nearly died. So much umami (the fifth sense of taste, next to sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, otherwise known as the “yum factor”)!!!! After the hors d’ouvres, we were already stuffed. I had to go to the bathroom to loosen up my belt. I know it sounds terrible but I was so full. The bathroom was very oddly situated. If the ladies and men’s sides opened up at the same time, there would be an awful accident. Nonetheless, the interior was quite nice. There were plants and soft tissue paper. To dry our hands, warm towels! Because the restaurant only caters to 30 people a night, there was one for each person. Very thoughtful. When I got back to the table, two waiters were standing by my chair, one took my coat to hang and the other helped me push in my chair and explained my salad to me. My salad had warm duck breast with watercress and dried apricots, sultanas and pomegranates and balsamic vinegar dressing. Victoria ordered the Mediterranean octopus salad with lime, mint, endives and chickpeas. Bianca had the roasted lobster salad with crème fraiche, basil, mint and olive oil. Bianca’s lobster was so fresh! My duck breast was warm and tender. And that octopus salad that Victoria had was so beautiful! We were so full by then, we could barely finish our salads. But, we still had 3 more courses to go! Next up, they gave us a palate cleanser. It was a tiny scoop of grapefruit sorbet in vermouth. Oh my gosh! It really cleansed my palate. Who thought of this? What a wonderful idea!! It was a perfect way to transition into our main course. They gave us approximately 20 minutes to settle ourselves into the next course though. The main course (les plats de resistance) was still, of course, way too much to handle at this point. Victoria had the fillet of lemon sole stuffed with lobster and cut chives, and corn. I had pepper crusted beef, chanterelle salad and potato mousseline and Bianca had lamb on cous cous with coconut curry sauce. None of us finished our main courses but we were ever so close. The meats were tender, flavorful, and so rich! My potatoes were so fluffy and buttery. Bianca and I loved how they seared our meats. That was the best part. They cook the meat medium rare to rare to “provide maximum flavor and texture.” After that…we really needed a break. Thankfully, the experienced wait staff did not bother us for 15 minutes. They took away our plates silently, removed our silverware, replaced them (so quickly after every course) and gave us more water. They showed us their cheese after awhile. There were so many! We were quickly overwhelmed. The cheese lady said she could prepare a sample plate and give us all the cheeses. Thank goodness! We waited for a bit and then she came back with another waitress. This other waitress carried a plate with something golden on it. It was a block of honey comb, dripping with honey! That, accompanied by the selection of cheeses made from goat, sheep, and cow’s milk was divine! All of this was accompanied by a soft bread. After that, they again removed our plates and silverware. We got more silverware and more water. By this time, I was prepped for the last course. The sharp cheeses helped my stomach settle after the rich main course. Now, dessert. I ordered coffee and Bianca and Victoria had cappuccinos to accompany our desserts. The chefs prepared miniature crème brûlées as well (delicate, beautiful, creamy, full of flavor, and just plain adorable). We broke into those and finished every last bit. Then our desserts came… Bianca ordered the tapioca, rice pudding, chocolate mousse and raspberry parfait. I got the coconut panna cotta, banana ice cream and mango sorbet and Victoria got the lemon curd tart. Everything was so beautiful! Victoria kept calling my coconut panna cotta “Bob.” It was because of the way it moved. It was shaped like a pear and very jiggly, like it was alive. Victoria’s tart was beautiful. The meringue on top was huge and fluffy. Bianca’s parfait was so elegantly sculpted and the chocolate was dark and rich. Victoria was so full she could not finish her dessert. I finished most of it and so did Bianca. The coffee and cappuccino was also well done. They gave us 4 types of sugar (Splenda, raw brown sugar, vanilla bean sugar, and French sugar cubes) all in these small porcelain sugar containers. After we finished our coffee, we were ready to leave. But, there was more to come. Victoria was horrified when they took away our plates and gave us new silverware. All they gave us was a small silver spoon but it scared us nonetheless. We were so full and anything reminding us of another course was too much. First, they gave us the check. Then they gave us a long, thin tray full of tiny desserts. No complimentary mints but a plate full of the yummiest morsel ended our fine experience. There was a small macaroon, a chocolate truffle, some orange peel chocolate, some gelatin square, and a miniature tiramisu. They were all approximately 1inch cubed but jam packed with flavor! After nibbling on these, we were done. So, we paid our check…the grand total…$362.22. They thanked us for coming and a waiter opened the door for us. It was really late, almost 11:00pm. We were inside this “little dream” for three hours! Everything from the wait staff( so knowledgeable), to the table setting was perfect. I was particularly impressed by the tableware (all Wedgewood), simple white but the pinnacle of elegance. Chef Weismann did not want anything to stand out beyond the food, not even the space. Who knew that in such a small place, juxtaposed between a Bill Miller and a Greyhound bus station, there was this secret garden. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/10/amusebouche.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/10/amusebouche.html Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:12:13 -0600 Olive and sun-dried tomato fougasse (courtesy of Bon Apetit). I think I love working with yeast the most. I love watching dough expand. Ratatouille. This is Thomas Keller's (from the French laundry) version. He made it especially for the movie. This version is more like "Confit Byaldi." Provencal vegetable stew for my sister who is a vegetarian. Bouef Bourguignon for everyone else. I didn't have time to add the pearl onions. So... it looks plain but the broccolini kind of made up for it. I love broccolini. For dessert, we had Coffee-caramel creme brulee with coffee. My creme brulee was delicious but not exceptionally beautiful. I will try again, using a different method to melt the sugar. It looked a little spotty so I was not satisfied but it was probably everyone's favorite part of the meal. Coffee and cream with caramelized sugar? You can't go wrong. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/10/sliding_into_home_base.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/10/sliding_into_home_base.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:01:49 -0600 Rain drops on the esperanza outside of our dorm. Rain boots drying outside. Someone said never to talk about the weather because people only talk about the weather when there is nothing left to talk about. I think the weather in San Antonio is definitely…dynamic. It is unpredictable and fun so I always talk about it. What else is there to talk about? Well, food I guess. Food and the weather. Recently Bianca and I have discovered the quesadillas from Mabee are really wonderful! You can even get wheat tortillas. I can’t believe I have never had them before (in all my years here). I have also yet to try the pasta line. I am always discouraged by the long line (maybe that is a good sign). I am also discouraged by all those options. Whole wheat pasta, variety of pasta, what kind of sauce, meatballs, cheeses, etc, etc. It is too much for my head. I need to try all the combinations at once or I will hold up the whole line trying to think of something potentially delicious! Speaking of delicious, I had frog legs today. My uncle in Vietnam used to make them for dinner. They were kind of crunchy and had this awesome ginseng aroma. I was feeling a bit nostalgic so I ordered some today at a Vietnamese restaurant. I am puzzled as to why Bianca and Victoria declined when I offered them a leg. Oh well, more for me! I also went to Frederick’s Bistro for lunch with my siblings. I had Grilled Beef Tenderloin Bordelaise with frites and a nice ginger crème brulee for dessert. You can definitely eat well around here. Apple crepia dessert that my sister got. My sister's new haircut. Isn't it cute? I am afraid I am getting quite fat from all this food but I try to exercise. Bianca exercises a lot! But when it is rainy and cold, I think it is best to skip the gym and have a tea party instead. Good tea, good book (Alice in Wonderland) and cookies. Out on our balcony. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/09/rain_rain_come_again_tomorrow.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/09/rain_rain_come_again_tomorrow.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:07:51 -0600 What you can’t see is even more interesting. I’ll describe it to you. There were five of the oddest looking people sitting behind them. A man who looked like Kenickie from Grease (black shirt, folded jeans, slicked hair and all), a large, portly gentleman with a cane, a young motorcycle woman, an athletic-looking grandmother, and a Tibetan monk (wearing his orange and red robes). It was flabbergasting. How did they all know each other? The things you see when you leave the campus – they strike fear in your heart. (Not really, I’ve just always wanted to write that). Well, the nice thing to say right now is that I hope everyone isn’t as lost as me, and although I do wish that, I don’t want to be alone in my confusion. Instead, I’ll wish you a productive week, and this I believe is possible. "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." - Harriet Braiker]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/09/an_episode_in_which_embarrassm.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/09/an_episode_in_which_embarrassm.html Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:45:47 -0600 trauma. It must have been out of sheer desperation, but one year when Nancy and I went to the bookstore to get our books I brought no money with me (not near enough money anyway - I think it was a sort of subconscious refusal to pay). My mind fooled me into thinking that the bookstore was as generous as a library - lending out books for a small fee and a rebate reward when you return them in pristine condition. It was completely embarrassing. I had to march right back upstairs and put back all the books. I live in my own world sometimes and things are lost in translation. Anyways, Chegg.com is a place that does actually rent out books. They even plant a tree for every book you rent and pay for return shipping. Finally, one of my ideas made it over to the other side. One of the absolute worst things happened the other day. Of all the things that you worry about when you are trying to neatly compartmentalize your life, you really don’t want to be grieving over a cell phone. I dropped the poor thing and it’s dying. It doesn’t know it yet, it’s still taking calls and ringing and I humor it by picking up the pieces and pretending I’m in the 1920’s holding a candlestick phone (you know, the one with the cone shaped ear piece? I think I saw it in the Mary Poppins movie). Any moment now the film strip holding it together is going to have a panic attack and fall apart on me. Thus persuaded, I called the phone company and told them my sad story. A replacement will arrive hopefully before we take off on Tuesday. It feels like a great betrayal - I had never even heard of or seen this new phone before the customer service man told me about it. Now I’m expected to pick up where I left off, like a phone is just a phone when they’re not even the same brand. Conclusion: loyalty to inanimate objects is pointless - they’ll break and leave you. I probably won’t even need a phone for a while anyway. Almost everyone I know is going to be driving to San Antonio with me. Okay, not really, but TWO cars! My sister, my brother, my grandmother, my mother and me all going together. I already expect to have to make routine stops to exchange passengers. 9 hours is a really long time to have to be nice to the driver. So far, I think I’m winning in the packing contest. I have less than Victoria (I’m sorry to alarm you so soon Nancy). Happy packing! A Funny Quote: "Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." Joe Theismann (a former quarterback)]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/08/im_going_to_miss_the.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/08/im_going_to_miss_the.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:44:36 -0600 Big kitty sleeping Always sleeping...Did you know cats sleep on average about 18 hours a day? I miss you sweet Cocoa Bean!!! Honestly, I had a very good time. You know what is coming next… I had a TON of very delicious dishes. I had the most wonderful sopaipillas in Carlsbad. Then in Albuquerque, the hotel we were staying at (Embassy Suites) served up warm and fluffy omelettes (for free). (Wow, Microsoft Word is saying “omelettes” is spelled incorrectly…and sopaipillas/sopaillas). I had miniature kobe beef burgers with honey ice cream and a chocolate cake meant for two. I walked downtown by myself to find Albuquerque’s number one ranked eatery (according to some online sources), the Artichoke Café. It was quite frightening but I am quite the daredevil when it comes to food. I think McGrath’s at the Hyatt Regency is tastier (the staff and atmosphere are also more friendly). I already miss my server of 3 days, Miss Gina. (See Food Diary at the end of this blog). Other than the food, the actual presentations were very interesting. I caught myself listening and engaging in discussions that were an hour long. Creepy… My freshman year, we were obligated to attend talks given by professors the biology and chemistry departments invite. Almost all of the talks went way (waaaay) over my head. I fell asleep sometimes (after 3 hours of organic lab, a one hour talk about benzenes is hardly the best wake-me-up). This summer there were seminars on campus and I listened to them, understood them, and found them quite interesting. So, after three years of biology and chemistry (and Trinity in general), I can say I learned something. Or I at least learned to pay attention and stay awake. But, a part of my alertness is a result of interest in what I do. “Invasibility reduction by edaphic manipulation” was enlightening because I found the plight of the bay checkerspot butterflies to be quite heart wrenching. “Optimal stomatal behavior” in desert plants was a pleasure to listen to because it changes a fundamental theory about plants that I had to learn only a few years ago. Maybe I am just weird...or I am hanging out with the wrong kind of people (the tree-hugging, earth-tone wearing crazies). FOOD DIARY... Below are a few select pictures from my food blog (Avec du thé) of my last two weeks. If you are hungry right now...stop reading. Go get a good bar of chocolate and then proceed. Miniature coconut cupcakes I baked before leaving on the trip. In case i got hungry. I needed energy. I ate this the day before going to New Mexico. Free chocolate cake is really the best chocolate cake. Eating lunch with my sister at Piatti's. The waiter (named Memphis...who is most likely a super model on his off days) congratulated me and my sister on our job well done of eating by giving us the cake for free. It was huge. First night at the Embassy Hotel's Cyprus Grill. Bacon wrapped filet mignon. They ruined this cut of meat... Cyprus Grill ruined a lot of things... But they got this right. French onion soup. Sorry about the poor quality. A cellphone picture. Mixed Berry Mascarpone Cake at Cyprus Grill. Not fantastic. The fruits were a bit bland and the cake a bit dry. Chocolate cake meant for two...normal people. One for me. Moist but not nearly as good as Piatti's warm chocolate cake. Day 2. Catch of the Day. Salmon from Artichoke Cafe. Very delicious. The couscous was bleh though. I loved the mini cornbreads as appetizers. The soup (coconut milk and corn) was tasty but after my long (dangerous) walk to the restaurant I needed something more hearty... Dessert at the Artichoke. Olive oil orange cake with orange zabaglione and peach Reisling compote. Very good flavor (just as my waiter said) but horrendously dry. I couldn't even finish it. Maybe it was the altitude but a lot of cakes in New Mexico were very dry indeed. Also, the Riesling aroma was way too strong. I have an aversion towards alcohol so this really destroyed the cake for me. Day 3. Went to McGraths. Good choice. This was my absolute favorite in Albuquerque. Miniature Kobe beef burgers with super crispy fries and three different dipping sauces. (From left to right, excluding the obvious ketchup, ancho ketchup, spicy Dijon mustard, and herb aïoli). How can I have gone through 21 years of my life without having aïoli? I need to let other people know it exists. For dessert...honeybee ice cream. Vanilla ice cream on top of seasonal fruits, drizzled with honey and garnished with a crunchy florentine. Tom ordered the same mini burgers and ice cream the following day but could not finish the ice cream. I scoff at his weak stomach. He askes me where I put it all. Naturally in my belly... Day 4. McGrath's again. Fish Tacos. I have never had them prepared this way on a crunchy taco shell. Very good. Day 5. Kobe Wagyu Burger with crisp (really crisp) fries. This burger has a fried egg, provolone cheese and grilled pineapple slices (which I was skeptical about but wow...who knew that pineapples could add so much life to a hamburger). Tea at McGraths. Coffee at McGraths. I am always promoting drinking tea (because it's awesome) but I am learning how to appreciate coffee. A lot of people like it with their desserts. I am doing research to see what is bad, good, and fabulous. It is hard. Harder than my attempt to try all desserts at Piatti's. Chewy chocolate cookies with cherry sauce... made after coming back. I needed it. Tea leaves baked in the cookies. Tea Cookies. What a good idea! Baked for afternoon tea. I woke up one day and realized that I had way too much tea so I started setting up tea tasting parties with my siblings. These cookies barely used any tea though...must make more... ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/08/famous_people_wear_birkenstock.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/08/famous_people_wear_birkenstock.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:40:50 -0600 My current project is not going so well. I worked so hard to set it up but the seeds are not germinating. I will have to try something else. Here is out student intern Gabby (left) and Dr. Lyon's daughter, Aidan on the right. I came to lab at 6am, mixed soils in the wheelbarrow and filled pots. It took days of backbreaking labor. Science can be so rough. To entice people to work for me (carry 512 pots up the stairs to the rooftop), I bake goodies. Raspberry lemon cupcakes, miniature blueberry cupcakes with lemon icing, and raspberry macaroons. I didn't lift a single pot. Last week, I presented my research at the McNair Conference in Niagara Falls, New York. I did not realize how close we would be to Canada (literally, within walking distance) so I did not bother asking for my passport. So, two hours before we flew out, my dad had to drive home to get my passport and bring it to the airport. I felt so guilty! But I bought him some nice souvenirs. Many people say that at Niagara Falls, the Canadian side is much better (our taxi driver, the hotel workers, policemen, just everyone). It’s quite true. We toured the area the first day of the Conference and attended many talks afterwards. During lunch and dinner, we had very nice meals provided by the hotel staff (Crowne Plaza). There were very nice guest speakers. The student presentations blew me away! I loved them all so much. I also enjoyed the food at the casino in front of our hotel. They made desserts so large (think dinner plate size); even I could not finish them! (But believe me, I tried). It is quite pretty. I was tempted to touch the water but was afraid of getting swept up in the currents. There was so much mist so that when it started to rain, everyone was confused about where the source of precipitation was. This was taken on the bridge between America and Canada. Breakfast at the casino. This is the "Two of Everything." Their pancakes are super fluffy. The day before, I ate blue corn pancakes. The sausages are AMAZING!! And that Italian toast on the right....gosh. Yeah, I ate it all. No, really. I did. See...dinner plate size. The waiter said that it takes 15 minutes to make the desserts so we should order early. It was well worth the wait. This is their version of "Strawberry Shortcake." It is the craziest version I have ever seen. Each slab of pound cake was the size of a normal piece of cake. But everything was super delicious. The sauce was not too sweet and the pound cakes not too buttery. Next week, I will be going to New Mexico for another conference. We are making stops in Roswell and Carlsbad I think. I am hoping we will stop in El Paso so I can knock on Bianca’s door and say something weird like “trick or treat” or “Fair Bianca Bear, Let down your hair so I can climb up there.” I have never been to that part of Texas. It will be exciting. Bianca’s sister is coming to San Antonio next year. I can’t believe she is in college already. She will be right next door at Incarnate Word. I want to hear more about that school from her. They are building so many graduate schools within that complex. It intrigues me. They also have a nutrition program, which I am very interested in. Incarnate Word is surrounded by some really amazing places (all within walking distance). Victoria can walk to Central Market (to the right) to get some fresh baked cookies, or in front, Le Madeleine, McDonald's and that new cupcake place (which I didn't like). It is called Cupcake Couture. It is not so good. They have that "made from a box and sitting out for 15 hours" kind of taste. I will give them another shot when they are better established. I wonder if I have ever said anything about my future plans on this blog. It is always so indefinite that I don’t know what to write. I know I am getting a PhD. But where? And in what? I have no clue. Some people know for sure what they really want to do but a lot of people are very nervous coming into senior year. Bianca and I both came in to Trinity wanting to do the same things but we ended doing quite different things. Somehow, (I am told), it all works out in the end. By graduation, we will have part of our lives figured out (or at least for the next few years). My sister did not know exactly what would happen after graduation but two months after graduation, she got the graduate school offer she wanted. I see a lot of tours coming through campus during the summer. Many prospective students are so sure about what they want to do. I didn’t believe it when I came here (I was like, “come on, it’s me we are talking about. I am going to medical school after majoring in neuroscience and conquering the world, etc”), but a liberal arts education will change you. Currently, I just want to cook, finish my presentation, submit my papers, and finish writing my host family a letter. I will worry about the bigger details later (hopefully before May 2010). Below is some more food I made. This is all I want to do for now...be a chef. Lately I have been very concerned about nutrition (even more than usual). So I am making a lot of "low fat" products. I love sweets but overly sweet things do not interest me as much so I am cutting back on sugar. Bianca told me that her aunt told her that the average weight gain for college students is 30 lbs in four years. That frightens me. A lot of prospective students ask about the "freshman 15" but they don't know about the "College 30" apparently. It does happen but careful eating and regular exercise will keep you healthy and slim. Wimbledon tea. Ginger peach iced tea, blueberry scones. Did you guys watch Andy Roddick fight for his life? Poor guy. I made snacks for the game and thank goodness I did. It went on for ages! Because I love caramels. This was the first batch. Very buttery. That is why they cut so nicely. I love making candy. Basil cornbread. So good. Also, very good for you. Cheese puffs. Low fat mozarella. I was kind of nervous about this cheese but they tasted so good! I ate almost all of them! Oatmeal cookies with applesauce base. Very little sugar. But tasty. Peaches and cream inside of a grapefruit biscuit. Refreshing and fun to eat. My brother wanted carrot cake. He texted me while I was in New York complaining about bad carrot cake. I have been looking for an excuse to try this out (thanks Martha Stewart). I made the frosting low fat because no one in my family likes frosting to begin with. We all eat around it. At first the frosting grossed me out (3 bars of cream cheese??) but after being in the fridge for 4 hours (like the recipe said), it tasted fantastic! Proof that we eat around it. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/07/work_in_progress_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/07/work_in_progress_1.html Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:43:35 -0600 HUMID in Orlando! All you do is walk outside and you glisten with an unattractive sheen of sweat. Still, food was good, the people were eerily friendly and the rides were fun, but the things I heard were even funnier... Of course, my father is one of my sources. He called us and said, “Don’t get on that monorail - it has a flat tire.” As we later found out, there had been a crash, not a traffic jam while all the monorail cars stopped to get new tires. You think the word “rail” in the word monorail would have clued him in... “Then we went ‘woaaah!’ and we stopped and then we crankled up the hill again.” My brother, describing a roller coaster ride to my overly cautious mother. I’m assuming here that the adrenaline is overcoming his grasp of the English language. Another stunning example of my brother’s manipulation of the English language: Bro: “I want to go to the arcade again.” Mom: “What happened to the change I gave you?” Bro: “Well, it was baggle-ing around in my pants. Maybe it flew out.” Me: “So what are we going to do about the suitcases?” Sis: “I don’t know! Stop asking me questions. I’m out of my sorts and lost my thought of mind.” While waiting in line we estimated that we heard about 5 identifiable languages and 12 we couldn’t even guess at. But it was while we were walking around this global theme park city that we heard the following: “You know, I don’t remember ever having all this flashy electronic business - we just rode the cowboys for fun.” Some pictures: The Orlando skyline Wow. Outside of the hotel room. We passed these everyday. Here it is! 15 years later! We look the same! A Broadway-like musical we saw. Aren't they cute reading together? Here is the brute Gaston taking Belle's book away from her. No wonder she didn't like him. Epcot. My mom, sister and brother on the left side, staring in awe. A whirly space ride at Epcot. The building structure was breathtaking. The American Idol set at Hollywood Studios. I wasn't brave enough to audition, but we heard some good singers. These animals were at the Animal Kingdom. We saw them during a safari tour. We saw lots of landscaping like this. Everything was trying to be magical. Me and my brother. Where to go next? And to end, a treat: Another Victoria-ism, not from Disney World. Bro: "The black bees don't sting you. It's those yellow and black ones that have the stinger." Sis: "Then why are they called 'bees'?"]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/07/quotes_pictures_and_waking_up_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/07/quotes_pictures_and_waking_up_1.html Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:33:54 -0600 and become the family chef. I’m predicting an overwhelming amount of beef and asparagus on the future menus - ah, boys... Isn’t this the cutest picture? This is from God know how long ago, 1993? I was so adorable (and doesn’t my sister make the funniest faces?). That was the first and last time my sister and I went to Disney World. Since my brother has never gone, we thought it would make a grand summer vacation. We depart in less than a week! And although I would have liked to stay in a Deluxe Villa and languish about in a spa for a day or two, everyone insisted that the Value Resort was the better deal since we’d be so busy running around all the theme parks that we’d never see the room. Oh, how I despaired of that decision and then they wanted me to book the vacation. I know myself and knew that if I booked the vacation, the temptation to order two rooms in the Contemporary Resort would have been irresistible. I had to turn over the booking number to someone more trustworthy. Maybe next time. In any case, I should have some interesting pictures to post of that trip. As if my life couldn’t get any more exciting, I’m going to a perfume shop today! Well, let me back up. Yesterday it was my parent’s wedding anniversary and in addition to exchanging gifts with each other, my father went to his favorite store (Miss Paris Perfumes - he goes there at least every two weeks) and bought everyone a perfume. I hope this becomes a tradition. But anyway, the perfume I received was not quite the one I wanted. I’m a bit obsessed with perfumes myself and I know exactly which one I will add to my collection and what scents I cannot stand. Unfortunately, my anniversary gift was something I have previously owed and fallen out of love with. But, like I said, this means I get to go shop! While the whole perfume-gifts-for-everyone! may not interest many people, I assure you, perfume is one of my dad’s most normal ideas for a gift. His present to my mother was, well, it’s hard to say. It looks to me like a wall decoration since it is so large, but it is actually a necklace in which Jesus appears suspended within a coffin. I don’t remember Jesus ever having a coffin in any part of the bible, but I assume it’s all part of the designer’s artistic license. Or perhaps it is an homage to death. I wouldn’t want to be carrying such (literally) heavy suffering about my neck. It is better than last year’s gift though. My father must go to the same jewelry shop or same designer or something, but anyhow, last year, my poor mother got another giant necklace with Jesus on it. That time Jesus was clinging onto the necklace chain with one hand, poised as if he were hanging on for dear life. So yes, we all much prefer the perfumes. My father seemed as pleased with his gift as we were oddly intrigued with his. In the mall we managed to find a 4ft. Virgin Mary for him to put in the garden. The dogs are afraid of it and he takes this as a good sign. Surely, with Mary there this means the peaches can grow without being pitted by birds first? Seeing as my mind has defuzzed itself (or maybe not since it appears that I have just typed a nonexistent word) from the rigors of schoolwork, I hope to post more regularly and continue the family saga. I promise that, if necessary, I will incorporate plots from soap operas (although since Passions was cancelled and Chloe divorced Brady in Days of Our Lives, I have lost the will to commit to daytime tv) to keep things interesting. Oh by the way, is anyone reading Mountains Beyond Mountains?]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/06/it_struck_me_when_i.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/06/it_struck_me_when_i.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:12:53 -0600 A baby cucumber growing in the garden. My parents waited for me to come home and do our first "harvest" of cucumbers. Isn't this one cute? Flea beetles I found mating in the cucumber flowers. They were so engrossed they did not notice how close I was...hehe. My parents love miniature pineapples. They have these in their shop too. Thin Mints. I have been using up all the mints in the garden in all of my baking. I just love mint! So I decided to make thin mints. The ultimate mint cookie! The girl scouts extort money from me every February. I buy so many boxes of cookies and stockpile in the freezer. So I decided I would be sly and make my own thin mints...with these, I will rule the world someday...MUWAHAHA! But naturally, things do not always turn out that way. So, relax girl scout readers. I have not discovered the secret recipe. As pretty as these look, they were nowhere near as good. I will continually shell out for your precious samoas and thin mints. Discount anyone? I made these for afternoon tea awhile back. Another attempt at something minty. A lovely mint tort with mint chocolate leaves. I was in a rush to garnish these (lunch date) so I did not make the prettiest mint chocolate leaves. It turned out so-so. I just wanted to use up all my mint extract. The garden is such a wonderful paradise for my parents. But lately, my father has been taking a break from it to help me out. For the past month or so my father has been holding off on his projects and taking me on driving lessons. I am relearning how to drive (after 5 years of not putting Drivers Ed to good use...even my younger brother has to shuttle me around). I just hated driving, so when I was in high school, my dad had to drive me back and forth from my school (it was 45 minutes away… on a light traffic day) everyday. Now, on the weekends, my father wakes me up at 6:00am and we go off for an hour. I think anyone willing to get in the car with me deserves praise. I take wide turns, do not pay attention to the road, slow down when I change lanes, go into shock on the freeway, cease to think when I check mirrors, and stop suddenly for squirrels on the road. Actually, the first test I ever failed in my life was my drivers ed test…for not yielding and stopping in the middle of the highway. So now that I am behind the wheel, I have a lot to fear…and so does the person in the passenger’s side. But my dad has been very patient. I have driven to Trinity from my house 4 times now. I called Bianca to brag and she was shocked that I was actually driving. Last Friday, I had to test my father’s patience when I brought home a cat. My friend Tom got this kitten for his girlfriend. The kitten was found behind my parent’s shop and since Tom is going to California for two weeks…I am cat-sitting (again...I don’t know how it happens). Dad likes dogs and he also likes a clean house. When the kitten (a little furball known as Cocoa) had diarrhea and stepped all over the carpet…father breathed a little uneasily but did not blow up. Instead, he attached a nightlight in the bathroom so Cocoa can more gracefully step out of the litter box. When Cocoa was not sleeping in his little basket (he only likes to curl up by the glass door in the sunroom or in our laps) dad gave up his plushy clean towels to give Cocoa a warmer bed. Although Dad is a self-proclaimed dog lover, he feeds the kittens in our backyard, played with the kittens behind his shop, and is prepared to bottle-feed Cocoa. I think Tom will have a hard time taking Cocoa back from my parents. Here he is sleeping in his favorite spot. Papa is also prepared to let me go if I need to go far away for graduate school. He allowed me to go to Tokyo (despite fears of earthquakes and yakuza). When I was little, he used to push me really hard to succeed in school. He still does but I am glad he did. If he did not show me how to construct a beautiful bridge from popsicle sticks and help me discover the magic behind the construction of skyscrapers, would I like math? If he did not show me constellations under the clear sky in Vietnam, would I care for physics? If he didn’t drive me from violin lesson to piano lesson and force me to practice, would I be able to appreciate classical music? If he didn’t show me the joy of gardening, would I be working in a plant lab? So, for Father’s Day, I wanted to thank my dad for helping me define me. I stayed home all weekend (coming back to school early Monday for my GRE prep class). I cooked all of Sunday. I made my dad’s favorites and prepared a wonderful feast for a wonderful person. My siblings all chipped in as well. I think cooking is a good way to show someone you care. Breakfast. Ham and basil omelette (with basil from the garden, heirloom tomatoes, toasted french bread with basil and olive oil, ham and eggs from an organic farm that my parent's friends run). Morning tea. Chewy chocolate chip walnut cookies. I love this cookie jar. It should be filled more often. Afternoon tea. The famous Kouign Aman (Breton Butter cake). This is one of David Lebovitz's favorite snacks. It is butter and sugar caramelized. It took me five hours to make but turned out so beautifully that I would do it again. I actually don't want to share this with anyone. I discovered that this morning when I was with my friend Ima. I was going to give her a whole slice but thought better of it. If I gave her a slice... I would only have two left! So I gave her a bite. Good compromise. I feel so terrible confessing my selfishness on this blog. But I mean...its Kouign Amann!! Unfortunately, mom and dad missed afternoon tea because of work. But when they came back...the house was transformed. So many wonderful smells and beautiful flowers. The centerpiece. Pink spray roses in a round vase. The gift. A new orchid for father's collection. The Appetizer. Blueberry, summer flower honey and bleu cheese on top of toasted french bread. Very tasty. The Soup. Carrot lemongrass with parsley for garnish. (The lemongrass was also from the garden. My mom puts it in everything) The salad. Fresh crisp cucumber salad. We are eating cucumbers everyday. Even my mom's friends are politely refusing them now. The main course. Steak au poivre with baked asparagus and rosemary potatoes. The steak has red wine shallot sauce on top. I picked the rosemary near the poli sci building at Trinity. I love how herbs grow everywhere here. The dessert. Mom and dad's favorite dessert. I just put blueberries on top to make it prettier. Just simple flan, courtesy of my sister, the best flan maker on Earth. So…for my dad who becomes all the wonderful things that I need whether it be chauffeur, gymnast (you try holding onto a steering wheel from the passengers side while keeping your eyes on the road on the freeway), teacher, vet, engineer (for helping me build bridges and helicopters in elementary school), mr. fix-it (dad can fix anything in the home), friend, and super hero, thanks. And thanks for lying to me even if your steak was a bit salty. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/06/super_dad.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/06/super_dad.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:01 -0600 I baked this for Bianca. Strawberry rhubarb pie with a lattice crust. Here it is prebaked. Raspberry lemon cupcakes with raspberry lemon icing garnished with raspberries and mint leaves from my garden. Made for my friends studying for finals. Miniature crepes I made for breakfast with fruit leftover from other baked goods (raspberries, strawberries, apple, mineola that Bianca gave me, etc). My mother demanded rice krispies from me before I started research. She also handed me some coconut cream powder, telling me it would taste fantastic with coconut. My mother grew up with coconuts in Vietnam so they are her favorite. So I made these coconut rice krispies with coconut cream. By far, her favorite of all things I have ever made and they only take 20 minutes. Mango coconut sorbet inside a caramel shell. Oh caramel is so difficult to work with! I need a team of people to help me but of course no one was willing. My dad helped a bit. He eats all my baked goods and says they are good. He is also re-teaching me how to drive this summer. I feel after almost driving into his car twice (pulling out of the driveway is tricky) his driving lessons are getting longer. He likes caramel so I made this for him. Pecan and chocolate biscottis with gyokuro tea from Itoen. Gyokuro is the highest grade of green tea. See how nice the color is. No wonder it is called "Jade Dew." Perfect snack for afternoon tea. Baked coconut plantain chips. My mother used to bake plantains. They are quite good, very different from bananas. I wanted to make sweetened chips because I craved some so I baked some plantains and drizzled this sweet coconut syrup on top of them. Crunchy and sweet. Very tasty. Pecan logs dusted with sugar. I am having this for afternoon tea in lab today. Trinity often serves these when there is a function (like Vespers). Bianca and I are always seeking them out. I found this recipe on Martha Stewart. They are similar to the ones Trinity makes so I am quite pleased with them. Miniature chocolate plant cupcakes. I prepared these for our first lab meeting. Chocolate cupcakes baked inside a miniature terracotta pot. They are then frosted with dense chocolate frosting and sprinkled with crushed cookies (I scraped the cream off of oreos and crushed them to make it). I used a sprig of mint (again from the garden) to make it look like a plant. I thought it was fitting for my lab. Aren't they cute? Sorry for these food pictures. I have promised my family (and dentist) to bake less. My roommate for the summer brought a ton of bake ware to the the room so I am finding it hard to keep my promise. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/bugs.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/bugs.html Tue, 26 May 2009 10:59:11 -0600 Family at Mother’s Day breakfast at Camino Real]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/chicken_and_weasels_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/chicken_and_weasels_1.html Wed, 20 May 2009 17:58:50 -0600 At Disney. At Ueno Zoo. This elephant was so big. In Tokyo, on April 24th, I sat with my host parents and we talked until midnight. We talked about how much we would miss each other and how lucky we were to have met. Honestly, my host family made my experience in Tokyo. If it were not for them, I assure you I would see Tokyo from a completely different perspective. My host mother cried so I cried. Aina, my baby host sister was confused by our tears, but she got up and brought us tissues. I spent my last free weekend almost exclusively with Aina. We played games from when she woke up to before dinner. My host father had overtime work on Friday so he came home at 9:30pm. When the doorbell rang, we all ran outside to meet him. Everyone screaming “PAPA!!” My host father is only 29 years old. He has been working for the Hitachi Company since he graduated from college. He was originally from Yokohama (and still commutes there every morning for work). He remains a loyal supporter of the Yokohama Bay Stars (a baseball team), despite their abysmal rankings. He wanted to quit his job in his early twenties to form a rock band. But he met Misato, my host mother and she convinced him that the prospects of becoming a superstar are poor. She was used to a life of luxury and there was no way she would go along with his life of frugality until he hit it big. My host mother is the youngest child of a producer in Tokyo. Her dad produces movies and her mom produces concerts. Her parents took her traveling every opportunity they had so she has literally been everywhere. Her favorite place in the world is France so she studied there in high school and then studied French literature at a college near Paris. When she came back to Tokyo she got a job at an airline, translating (she is fluent in French after all). She met Shingo, and after two years, they got married at Tokyo Disneyland. When Misato became pregnant with Aina, she quit her job and became a full-time mom. Being a mom in Japan is rough. Misato must have scheduled and attended 40 meetings with instructors from private preschools and language schools in our area while I was there. She takes Aina out when the weather is good, to play with her friends in the park and has to come home in time to make dinner for everyone. Me, Aina, Misato-san near a play area by Tokyo Tower. When I came to live with them her cooking skills dramatically improved because she had to make so many new dishes. I am the first long-term stay study abroad student they have hosted. They have hosted four other students before me. It is quite rare to find host parents in Japan because of the Japanese belief in keeping outsiders outside of the home. I was so afraid that my Japanese skills would stop me from getting into the home stay program but I got in. And then I was paired with the most incredible host family possible. The first and only thing I could say to them for the first 30 minutes was, “hajimemashite” or “nice to meet you.” I repeated it a good 8 times. When we finally got settled in the car (after I cleverly insisted that my host father drive when he was telling me to sit on the left side of the car…yes Japanese people drive on the right…it still confuses me), my host parents asked if I was tired and if I needed to contact my parents in America. They helped me get settled from the start. They bought sweets for me, kept a lookout for anything related to my favorite Korean boy band on TV, and frequently conversed with me. My Japanese greatly improved within the first month so that by the end, I understood everything they said and responded only in Japanese. My high grade in Japanese class is all thanks to my host mother checking over my homework every night and practicing with me. My host mother always asked about my classes and encouraged me to work hard. She cleaned the floor when I spilled paint after a long painting session in the room. She listened when I complained about painting. She magically made all the stains on my clothes disappear whether it was from my oil paints or a chocolate crepe. When I got sick, she took my temperature and prepared tea in a thermos for me so it would stay hot throughout the night. She cheered me on when I had to take this strange powdery green medicine for my stomach. Even though she was exhausted from playing with Aina all day, she realized I did not want to go to the new patisserie on my own so she walked there with me. While we waited for dinner, she often prepared cookies and tea and we would gossip about the neighborhood mamas and discuss the drama going on at school. She never complained about how long my showers were until the mansion repair people came asking if the water pipes were broken (their water bill had somehow tripled since January). Of course my host father did not complain either but he does not usually deal with the bills so I am not sure if he knew. My host father and I always talked about video games and music. Although he does not like my Korean boy band, he often plays their music for me. He shows me cool videos and helps me plan for any trips I am thinking about (he is totally meticulous about that stuff). He drives me everywhere and tells me which places have the best food. Although he does not like sweets so much he eats all the cakes I buy (even this super decadent pure chocolate rose “cake”). A rose cake from Printemps in Ginza. It took us 3 days to finish our individual cakes! So I miss my host parents a lot but I miss my host sister the most. Aina-chan is the cutest toddler in the world. She makes me laugh all the time. When she hears the doorbell ring she comes running to the door to greet me. When I come home early from school we always sit in the kitchen and share cheese and crackers. We watch her favorite cartoons and dance to them on Friday afternoons. When I study she likes to go into my room and lay on my futon. I am going to miss playing with her and talking to her (even though she hardly makes any sense). Having crackers and tea. Looking at fish... At the members lounge in Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi. My host mother said she wants me to think of them as my second family and should I ever need a place to stay, I am always welcome. I will definitely come back to Japan and I will continue to write letters and send pictures to my second family. I learned a lot while I was studying abroad and I gained some incredible experiences. To be honest I was quite afraid of going to Tokyo. I was anxious at the airport but from the moment I saw the streets lights in Shinjuku, I felt quite at home. I was never homesick and I was never lonely. I made a lot of friends and I visited a lot of new places. I tried a bunch of weird things (fish on a stick…raw squid…you get the picture). I got lost and I found my way home countless times. So now I feel braver and more independent. I want to try more things and I feel quite open to having new adventures. I was such a recluse before. Of all the things I did in college, this is by far the best. Studying abroad as an amazing experience and I hope that incoming students consider it during their stay at Trinity. Don’t let fears about cost or class credits dissuade you! Just go for it. I am a double major in two completely different subjects (biology and art history) and I went to Tokyo (one of the most expensive cities in the world) and I completed my study abroad without any problems. I anticipate that I will graduate on time and my loans didn’t increase or anything. Just decide where you want to go and what is best for you. The only hard part is having to leave when you get there. Taking a stroll at Grandberry Mall. I miss them. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/post_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/05/post_1.html Sun, 03 May 2009 19:11:43 -0600 Here I am in Nara…trying to take my biscuit back from a wandering deer at “Deer Park”. The deer in Nara are so typically Japanese; they bow before taking your biscuit. If you bow, they bow and then you have to give them a biscuit. The biscuits taste like oatmeal cookies without sugar and flour. So maybe not actually a cookie… I was on a school trip a few weeks ago to Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. We did not have a Spring Break at Temple University but we did get a rare 4-day weekend. I thought Kyoto’s shrines were beautiful but the city as a whole was too touristy. Osaka was absolutely amazing! Everyone was so kind! It has the cool city feel of Tokyo but the relatively small population of Kyoto. And everything there was so cheap! I did not realize how expensive Tokyo was until I ventured to other cities in Japan. It was shocking when I paid for dinner. A huge meal for four people was the price I normally paid for one person in Tokyo! Surely the waiters had made a mistake. My host parents said that a lot of Tokyo-ites want to go to Kyoto for vacation but I think Tokyo is the best city in Japan. My host father said that it was only because I had a home in Tokyo, which is quite true. My hometown, Machida is really far away from school but I prefer it to central Tokyo. I can jog on the weekends without cars blaring and businessmen running around. I know some of the neighbors and I can enjoy good tea and cake in a small shop without people streaming in constantly. Of course, if I need some noise and activity, I take a 20-minute bus ride to Machida center. Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, you name it and Machida Center has it. I love Machida Center because it is newer and cleaner than hotspots like Shibuya and Shinjuku (both of which are visited by literally millions of people a day). Two weeks ago, there was a Sweets Festival and “Famous Foods in Japan” Festival, both of which were amazing. So, I feel quite lucky to have been selected to live with my family in Machida. My host family is without a doubt, the best one. They are not obligated to, but they take me out every weekend. We go grocery shopping, visit parks, museums, and watch “Lost” together every weekend. Since the Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season started, we have been out every weekend in parks. Cherry blossoms line the streets in my hometown. I can't possibly capture how beautiful it is. And when the wind blows, the petals fall like snow. Sakura blossoms bloom and in about a week, they die. My host father says the lesson of the cherry blossom is that "Life is short." So...I am going to enjoy it as much as possible. Which means I will eat as much as possible. Me and my host father...eating fish on a stick, a popular festival and camping food. Trust me, it's good. I thought this was funny...my bite. Yesterday, we were at one of Tokyo’s Top 100 places to visit; a park conveniently located in Machida. It was beautiful! We had a picnic and then strolled around the enormous park. When we came home, Misato-san (my host mother) started preparing our birthday dinner. Ah, I forgot to tell you that my host mother’s birthday is on the 13th and mine is the 16th. So, naturally we had a dual birthday party. My host mother made my favorite, eel over rice. I love eel! I have not had it in a very long time so my host mother surprised me with it. Afterwards, we had cake with Earl Grey (which I am loving in Japan…I normally drink green or oolong tea. Earl grey is black tea for those of you who don’t know). To top it off…chocolate cake with strawberries. Normally, Japanese people have white shortcake with strawberries for birthdays but because I am such a chocoholic, my host family bought a chocolate cake. As a birthday present, Aina (my 2-year old host sister) bought me a notebook, pencil, and bookmarks with her favorite cartoon characters. My host parents bought me a beautiful lacquered accessory box. I have wanted one for ages, ever since they took me to the museum exhibit in Roppongi that showed famous export lacquerware. It is difficult to make (because the sap is poisonous) so it is actually quite expensive. I was waiting to purchase it so I was really happy to open my box and discover it inside. I wasn’t expecting anything so wonderful. Seriously, I considered the eel a present enough. The chocolate cake and presents really got me wired. I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited about the whole day. How can I leave now? Birthday dinner...eel. :) Me, host sister, and mother blowing candles My gift. A lacquer accessory box. There is so much to do (and eat) in Tokyo. I have yet to visit all the patisseries I have heard about. I went to a place with my friends in Ginza called “Sweets Paradise” on Saturday. It was a buffet…with cakes. All the cake you can eat in 90 minutes. I was overwhelmed by the beautiful cakes and ice cream and wagashi (Japanese sweets). There was even normal food like pasta and sandwiches and even curry. I had two pasta plates and 3 plates piled with beautiful cakes. And of course tea followed. There were like 20 flavors. I did not know what to do so I made 4 cups and tried different teas with my cakes. I was afraid my heart would burst from all the excitement. My third plate at "Sweets Paradise..." My dear roommate pointed out that my blogs are always about food. I reread some and am now giving her credit for her keen observation. It did not start in Tokyo though. It really started ages ago (with my picture of the Won-ton Soup, please refer to my January 2008 blogs). It is ending soon though. A little under 2 weeks. I am currently making a list of patisseries I have to go to before I leave. When I finish...I promise to post all the pictures. Wish me luck! After eating at Sweets Paradise...my friends and I took a 3 hour walk. Surely it helped...Here we are in front of the Imperial Palace. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/04/sweets_paradise.html http://blogs.targetx.com/trinity/Prassel356/2009/04/sweets_paradise.html Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:10:21 -0600