Day Three
Stayed close to “home” on Day Three. Met Tomoko’s best friend, Kazue as we picked her up at went to lunch in town. Ate at what was a Thai restaurant, but was unlike any Thai restaurant I’d ever been to. It was very much a Japanese Thai restaurant, I guess. We won’t argue over the validity of either this restaurant nor the ones I’m accustomed to; neither are likely that accurate.
Kazue had lived in Seattle for a long time, and her English is pretty good, so it helped with conversation. She was very nice, too. Got to know her some before food arrived. I ordered a spicy pork noodle soup. It was good for sure, but the star of the show was easily the Thai hotdog/hamburger/whatever thing Kazue ordered. It was massive. I mean MASSIVE. Which isn’t to say it was a tremendous amount of food. it covered a plate well, but the proportions seemed very odd. The plate was made up of “bun,” more of a pita then anything and filled with makings of a salad and a spicy dressing. In the middle of this sandwich-type food were curly fries and a very, very thin sausage or hotdog. I’m not sure which.
After lunch, we walked around Fussa, down the main drag, mostly which was lined with small boutiques and shops. Have to say that most the places seemed rather American, which is not too unsurprsing given Yokota Airbase is across the street. The shop that took the cake however was the little brick and wood shop adorned in Che Guevara flags. Inside, as you might suspect the store was run by a caucasian hippie, selling native american goods, ski goggles, jewelry, hemp incense, drug-themed everything and silly clothing. I hate using the term “silly” or “strange” or “stupid” when referring to things of another culture because the term brings with it, more often than not a pre-formed notion. However, I feel fully entitled to use such a term here because I know these stores well and they are most certainly silly. Tomo and Kazu’s reactions to the store verified this.
In a furniture store, there was a vintage hairdrying chair that only cost around $100 dollars. Had it been in the States I would own it. Further along our walk, we found another for sale. I could have had a set, people!
We all were met by Tomo’s sister and taken home for dinner. Kazu spent the whole time translating Japanese into English for me (poor girl) but I appreciated it, and in the meantime got a good sense of who she was and why she got along with Tomoko so well. A simple, yet very fun day.
Apparently, I’ll be having dinner with Tomo, Kazu and her friend on my birthday. It should be fun.
Short post. I could see the rest being just as short though. I’m a few days behind anyway. This blogging stuff is difficult.
