Vegips

God have I ever found my new favorite side for lunch: Vegips. This newly-found delight is all sealed up in a pretty green package that boasts a picture of its yummy contents proudly.

In the package there are pleasingly crisp potato chips, airy, dissolve-in-your-mouth onions, and Japanese pumpkin with a subtle sweetness that really compliments the saltiness of the potato chips and onions.

Unfortunately they run about 138 yen a bag, which is a bit pricey considering the size. I can't lie and say I won't be buying them often, though! Have you found any new treats lately?

What the Heck is that Noise?

Last night we were watching a movie when suddenly we heard a loud whistling tone. It kept getting louder and louder, leading us to run around to different windows to figure out where -- and what! -- the noise was coming from. I began to get a bit more frantic in my search, wondering if a factory was going to blow up or if it was some kind of earth quake warning I hadn't heard about.

In the end, it turned out to be nothing of the sort. It was a yakiimo truck selling roasted sweet potatoes! I ran down and took the video above (which is very poor quality, but can give you an idea of the sound we'd been hearing), and then bought a sweet potato for Chad and I--a whopping 500 yen!

The price was worth the experience I guess--it was cool to be able to take a picture of the guy's truck and get a sweet potato randomly at 10:00 at night. The guy even whistled to his dog to come to the front window! Then again, Chad pointed out that by buying a sweet potato from loud truck-on-the-move, I had also encouraged the guy to repeat his sales on other nights. 

 This is the back of the truck where the roasting is done--and where all the noise comes from!

Our great, big sweet potato

 Delicious as the sweet potato turned out to be, I sure hope Chad isn't right about that noisy business coming up our little mountain again!

Slippers, Sweets, and a bit of the Strange

 I used to get really offended when Japanese people commented on the way Americans never take off their shoes when they get home because I always had to when I was growing up (then again, that was after we got new carpet). When such a conversation occurred, I was always sure to defend myself and say that each family is different, but that my family...well, you get the idea. In any event, what I couldn't say is that we have to take off our shoes anywhere else. In Japan, you take off your shoes and change into inside shoes/slippers as soon as you enter someone's home, but also when you enter a school, a gym, or sometimes even a restaurant. That, to my knowledge, is not at all an American custom.

We've gotten pretty used to wearing slippers indoors everywhere, to the point that my slippers had gotten worn out to an embarrassing degree. I finally got around to buying new ones the other day--one pair for home, and one for school.

What do you think? I got them at one of my favorite stores, Loft. 

When I was searching for slippers, I couldn't help but notice some more Valentine sweets that I have to share with you! Rather than being kind of strange like the other ones I posted, these ones are just cool! 

 Isn't this turtle pretty? 

Cute little piggies! 

 

 This detailed crocodile is too cool! 

 Darling Rilakkuma chocolates!

I would just like to drop a subtle hint to Chad about the chocolate turtle and Rilakkuma. As in they would be good for Valentine's Day. For me. 

And before I go, since I did mention those unusual Valentine's gifts earlier, I'd like to point out these pet snacks. Is it strange to anyone else how similar these look to the fish bought for Valentine's Day that I showed you in my last post?

                       

Interesting and Strange Finds for Valentine's Day

By the beginning of January, most Japanese supermarkets had already set up displays full of sweet goods and loving intentions in preparation for Valentine's Day.

 

One of many rows full of fancy chocolates available to purchase for Valentine's Day

Some goods I've never seen (and might be surprised to see) at a supermarket in America:

A Macaroon-Making Kit

 

Dried Fish

Bottles Filled with Breast-Shaped Milk Chocolate

Sake-Flavored Chocolate

...and a Giant Meiji Chocolate Bar

Which do you wish you could purchase the most?

My Broken Boy

Well, now that his momma has been informed, it's safe to let everyone know: Chad broke his foot last Wednesday playing futsal. Apparently breaking his collar bone in November playing Aussie Rules Football wasn't enough to make him take it easy!

 

I do feel sorry for him though. Not only does he have to deal with all of the things anyone with a broken foot would, but he also has to deal with living on a mountain. Anyone who has visited our apartment knows that getting to and from it is no no joke. We live up several flights of steep stairs and hills, and after all that, our apartment is on the 3rd floor of our building. Getting down from our apartment to the subway the other day took about 30 minutes (when it usually takes less than 10!). In the picture above, you can see Chad, dripping with sweat, wiping his face with my Totoro hand towel. That wasn't even to the bottom of the subway yet! (I told him he could just go ahead and hang on to the towel for now.) He physically cannot make it up to our apartment when he's coming home, so he has to take a taxi. That's right! CHAD IS TAKING TAXIS! The man who hates taking taxis.


...Not that he has a choice.

Anyway, the thing that I find most notable about this situation is Chad's amazing good humor. He can't play sports, he has to hop to get around unless using crutches (which is also pretty tough), and can't even get home without a taxi. But through it all he has been so positive and --mostly-- cheerful. That's one of the many things I love about him.

Amaou Strawberry KitKat

One of my friends went to Kyushu and brought back a sweet souvenir for us! Amaou Strawberry KitKats!

 

I looked up Amaou in a really useful (and free!) iPhone app called iTranslate, and the app said it meant, "Getting too much." Upon trying the KitKats for myself, I wouldn't say that at all. But you know I can never get enough when it comes to sweets ;-)


Immediately after opening one of the KitKats, I was greeted with a very powerful smell that reminded me of the Nesquick Pink Milk mix. The KitKat tasted a lot like pink milk, too, except with a KitKat texture.

 

I took a bite before remembering to snap a quick picture. (And yes, those are my sweatpants that I set the bars on...because, what else would you wear while doing KitKat tastings in your bedroom at home?).

It's always fun trying all of the different flavors KitKat comes out with in Japan. Have you ever heard of or tried any crazy flavors (in or out of Japan)?

Tin Tin

One of my favorite traditions growing up was getting books from my parents every Christmas Eve, and then toys and other kinds of presents from Santa on Christmas day. One year for Christmas Eve, I got a collection of The Adventures of Tin Tin, and I loved it. (Looking forward to seeing if the movie is any good.) Today we had a walk around Kitano and went in a few of the shops with our friend Yasu. In one of the shops I found a Tin Tin book! I was really excited to see that inside the book it showed the original comics in French, with Japanese subtitles.


I'll be interested to see if (and how) Tin Tin will get more popular in Japanese culture. I'll also be interested to see if Tin Tin will live up to the amazing standards Beard Papa has set for us.