ChanomiTalk

Today, I learned how to type in kanji using the space bar after typing in Hiragana. It is very fun to type because it helps me learn each sound. Also, there are special ways of typing specific Hiragana. I am beginning to recognize each character as I read. Michiko-san is very patient and provides numerous opportunities for practice & repetition.

鍋物をはじめとして、ねぎは日本料理にかかせません。ところが、米本土ではそのねぎが手に入らず、細ねぎの白い部分を使ってなんとかしのいでいました。

このところ、マーケットで、細ねぎにくらべると根元が太い、つまり白い部分が大きいねぎを見かけるようになり、ひょっとしたら日本のねぎの代用品になるかもと試しに買いました。お味は日本ねぎと全く同じとはいえませんが、白い部分をけちけちせずに使えるのはうれしいことです。

かなり以前のことですが、サンフランシスコの博物館で見た仏像がBuddhaではなくBodhisattvaとよばれているのに、「えー、仏像は皆仏陀ではない？」と、日本の最大の宗教は仏教です、といいながら、肝心の仏教についてはまったくの無知であることを思い知らされました。その後、本屋でDictionary of Buddhismをみかけ、難しそうだなとは思いましたが購入しました。仏教の教義や中国に伝来後の歴史の説明となるといささか持て余しますが、お釈迦様は本来シャカではなくSakya　（サキャ）の発音であったこと、釈迦牟仁聖尊はSakyamuni (Sakya 族の聖者）に聖尊を付け加えたなど、興味深い発見もあります。

Kapiolani is an extremely busy street with lots of traffic all the time. With so many vehicles converging from all different directions and the sheer number of pedestrians it is always a hassle. At night, it is even more complicated to navigate due to reduced lighting and the utter lack of lighting in some places. Frequently, pedestrians will dash across the street in unmarked areas in the dark creating dangerous situations. However, what really was upsetting the other night was a situation created by a bicyclist. Having just broken away from a traffic jam, seemingly free of traffic, and apparently with a clear road in front of me, I finally began to relax driving along Kapiolani because I was almost at my destination. Then, I suddenly saw a shadowy figure dart in front of me. In the dark, it was impossible to identify what happened but I assumed it was someone that ran across the street. An instant later it became clear what happened and I had to slam on my brakes. A man on a bicycle with no light and no reflectors that were visible had pulled out hurriedly into the left lane of the street right in front of me in order to then make a left turn. The difference in our relative speeds was needless to say considerable and due to the darkness I couldn’t see him until he was almost on my front bumper. I understand the need to share the road but for a bicyclist to take this action in the middle of the night on an extremely busy street is lunacy in my opinion.

During our courtship Rika and I ate at many different restaurants in Waikiki. During that time we discovered Marukame Udon. It’s a small restaurant on Kuhio in Waikiki. How we came to finally picking it was because we had passed by it several times and there was always a long line. And Lots of Japanese in line as well. So we figured, if the Japanese are willing to wait then it must be good. And it was. :)and Now we go anytime we’re in the area. But if you don’t wanna take my word for it. They were also recently listed in Honolulu Magazine as one of the top 47 Japanese Restaurants on Oahu. 🙂 Just look for the long line.