Guys and facial hair

taken at Enoshima 江の島に撮りました

What's up with all my guy friends and coworkers lately?

Everyone seems to be growing a beard or moustache...

Is it a trend... or they just want to keep warm...?

... and no! it isn't Movember... we still have a long way till then ;)

uni anyone?

uni, sea urchin, ウニ, 雲丹

who can resist uni???

I know the season isn't right... and honestly, I don't know where this uni came from... but it was too delicious looking to resist :D...

for those who are interested... the taste did not disappoint... it was fresh! :D

a Stephanie without sleep can be quite scary...

be warned... when I don't get enough sleep... I can look.... erm... different... 

#randomforthesakeofposting

Today I learned... yogurt drinks in Japan

LG21 and R-1 yogurt drinks

To most of us in the west, yogurts are a healthier option to everything...

for example, frozen yogurt is always better than ice cream, a yogurt-based salad dressing is always a better choice than regular dressing... etc.

But today I learned in Japan, yogurt is much healthier than we think.

Have you ever noticed the weird code names: LG21 and R-1? They are actually different specimens of bacteria contained in the yogurt drink.

LG21 is supposed to help with stomach problems and strengthen it. Some say it even prevents stomach cancer. It is also a type of probiotic yogurt.

R-1 is supposed to help boost your immune system so that you won't get sick during the flu seasons

Yakult

Yakult is supposed to help build your immune system and improve your digestive system (this is also the reason why it is much more expensive compared to other yogurt drinks)... a lot of Japanese swear by this and are willing to pay the extra yen because of its effectiveness.

Some of my students have even claimed that eating yogurt daily has helped them conquer their hay fever. (I wasn't aware of which yogurt it was though).

So the next time you are choosing a yogurt... aside from the taste, think about what health benefits you want :)

letters and gifts

As I am leaving English Village... my students have spoiled me and gave me many gifts. They are very precious to me... but what I find even more precious are the letters and cards attached to them.

When I was younger I couldn't understand why people cared about so much about cards... I use to think they were only there to let the receiver know that the gift was from the gifter.

Slowly did I realize just how these heartfelt messages are and how people pour their hearts out to write out these letters and cards.

gifts are good... and I really like receiving them... flowers too... actually... I don't mind whatever it may be... but cards are like a snapshot of moments when the writer wants to express what is in their hearts and mind.



... I miss my students :'(

UV protection for leather goods?

Kate Spade leather bag

while shielding my eyes and face from the strong sun rays today... I noticed that my leather bag was exposed to the sun... since it was a very sunny day, I actually worried whether there is some kind of treatment or spray to prevent the UV rays from hurting my leather bag... 

leather boots

I'm not a scientist nor leather expert... so it might sound silly or even stupid... but wouldn't the sun discolour your leather goods if you don't take care of them?

If so... does such a spray exist or is this still a new idea?

Today I learned... bears and bells

a bell from Fuji Mountain Fifth Station

I didn't grow up with mountains (mountains are more of a west coast thing) so I don't know much about mountain climbing. But it seems that one advice everyone in Japan keeps giving is if you are planning to climb mountains, bring a bear bell. 

bears

In fact, it is better to bring a bell of any kind to protect yourself from being attacked by one. I didn't know why until today... apparently bears hate the sound of bells when they hear bells they will try to run away. :O

Take a look at my sushi!

one of the things I love about Japan is how convenient and cheaply you can get your sushi! You can say that I'm in Japan so obviously getting sushi shouldn't be a question. True to that... but I'm glad I live here so I can satisfy my sushi craving :P

I had other sushi too... but I was starving so I didn't waste any time taking pictures and gobbled them down 🙊

are you hungry yet?

and here are some of the highlights... seared sushi is DELICIOUS! :P 

end and full :)

Green Tomatoes or Red Tomatoes

岐阜県のトマトTomatoes from Gifu

I found some tomatoes in my local supermarket... they are from Gifu... check out the colour... my brain was very confused. 

岐阜県のトマトTomatoes from Gifu

I only took a picture... I didn't try them... was a bit scared they might be too sour... 

surreal... another era....

Stephanie from Gotanda English Village

well... that's it... I'm actually quite sad when I see this wall... I watched as my profile was slowly and carefully removed... I still remember how proud I was when these two profiles were posted and how excited I got when my students saw my picture and then saw "me"... 

Stephanie from Shibuya Miyamatsuzaka English Village

but this will be my past... filled with great friendships and relationships that will continue. A lot of people don't understand what it is like to work in an Eikaiwa... but I treasured every moment I had with my students. It was always so rewarding hearing their stories and trying to help them solve their problems or even answering some of their difficult questions. It was like meeting friends every day and helping them. I really liked my job.

But despite it all, I have no regrets during my time at English Village.

The season of English teaching ended... now to another exciting season :)

foot bath art in Tokyo Midtown

from afar

I passed by Roppongi Midtown today and saw this happening at the park... I was attracted by the strange blue colours... when I walked up close I discovered... a foot bath!

close view

It is a strange urban art festival... they were having some Ashimizu (アシミズ) event. this event will end on the 26th (tomorrow!), but it sure looks fun (since I was by myself, I felt weird to do this alone and skipped it).

would you try it?

#art x something out of the ordinary

website: http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/events_news/detail.php?id=932

六本木 東京ミッドタウン

Mexican food in Tokyo

Grilled Chicken bowl with mixed beans, rice, sour cream, green salsa, lettuce and cheese

I'm not sure how authentic Frijole's is... but I sure like it... it reminds me of Chipotle... similar and different but I like it.

close up of my bowl

after some mixing... I can't believe I finished a large size 🙊🙈

Toronto... Hong Kong?

Where do you think I am when you look at these pictures? 

I'm not in Toronto, nor Hong Kong... I'm actually still in Tokyo! Toyosu to be exact! This never fails to amaze me just how similar to home it looks (home is Toronto and Hong Kong)

breakthrough!

the result of the half-opened gate

So, we were trapped inside the school because the security people apparently closed the gate too early.... the time was supposed to be 11:00pm but when we got downstairs at 10:59pm it was already closed...

while one of my lovely coworkers was trying to contact the security company, a group of drunk Japanese came to see what happened to us.

They tried to help and figure out what was happening... one of my coworkers suddenly made a joke "use your power to save us" and one of the drunk Japanese guys suddenly took the gate and pulled it up. We were free! We ended up hugging and celebrating.

That was definitely an experience I will never forget! XD

ps. my coworker called the security company and explained everything... they told us we could just leave and we won't be held responsible for the incident :)

Japanese calligraphy!

first attempt

My student decided to teach me some calligraphy as a farewell gift. These were the results :) She thought that '花' or flower was very suitable for me :) - reasons were: easy to learn and very fitting as I'm a girl.

second attempt, すてふぁにー was hard to write

I have done some Chinese calligraphy before and assumed that Japanese calligraphy was going to be similar... not at all!

it would have been perfect if my stroke was longer (one on the left)

I'm going to miss my students :(.....

eel bread

I had to laugh when I saw this bread at my local grocery store!!!! An eel made out of bread :D I wonder if it is edible though...

Eel or Unagi/鰻/うなぎ is an important summer food in Japan as it is supposed to boost your immune system (until you have had the summer cold... you won't know how desperate you should be to boost your immune system during summer)

Slides

rainbow from TeamLab Borderless 

It has been a long time since I have been on a slide and I was on one today (after some encouragement from Rachel)... I felt like a kid having to not worry about falling off... it is interesting how I can have the same feeling as a grown up. 😀 I was able to laugh during and after :D

big eyed fish

This fish's eye is huge... it doesn't look that big in this picture, but I can assure you its eye is the size of my fist.... :O

Today I learned... NA and summer

perhaps it was because Toronto is too cold... and our summers were never hot enough... or... whatever it may be... I had no idea salt was so important during summer.

Today I found the reason why Japanese summer drinks tend to have some salt in them, and why sugar is so important...

it is to keep your body well balanced so that your cells can work properly in the heat. 

If all you do is drink water (ice or warm) your Sodium decreases causing your cells to not work properly... 

Countdown

Olympic Building at Toyosu... taken a few too many days ago

While I am well aware the counter on the building is counting down to the Tokyo Olympics... I am also aware it might also be a countdown for me... 

The Olympic building at Toyosu

who knows what the future holds? (except God... but He doesn't count) I wonder when this countdown hits 555 or 222 or even 0 where will I be, what would be my experiences?

At 777 I am definitely happy. Happy that I have lots of new beginnings, happy that I finally have a sort of a dream job, sad that I will be leaving my students... but overall, I am happy :)

Bluetooth Earphones

 I finally went wireless! Not EarPod type of wireless... that is too bold 😅but wireless to the point I can put my phone in my bag and still enjoy music :D

Today I learned... Music Festivals in Japan

Yokohoma Minato Mirai nightview

Today I learned that Japan is obsessed with Rock Music Festivals to the point there are rock music festivals in every prefecture in Japan.

Fuji Rock Festival is one of the biggest ones in Japan which invite people like Bob Dylan and Kendrick Lamar to perform.

Fuji Rock Festival is nowhere near Mount Fuji though... it is all the way in Niigata...

Today I learned... doors and earthquakes

inside Mitsubishi ichigokan museum (三菱一号館美術館)

Have you ever experienced an earthquake in Japan? If you have, you must be wondering why do most Japanese run to the front door and open it first (even before thinking of protecting themselves).

I was very curious when it happened the first few times and today I found out it is to make sure the door wouldn't be stuck (as the frame might be shifted and we won't be able to run away if there will be a fire in the building or the building collapses or the rescue team won't be able to get us out.)

Tonight's dinner: Pesto

Pesto shrimp and broccoli fusilli

bought this at my local grocery store... it was good! :D

I'm surprised as to how popular pesto sauce seems to be in Japan. I thought it was a western sauce and nobody other than Italians and North Americans truly liked it... but when I came to Japan, I found that they found many ways to use pesto sauce: as a cheese sauce (as in you have mozzarella cheese drizzled with pesto sauce) and as a rice sauce (yes, they exist! :O).

Nonetheless, I really like Pesto sauce and am glad that I can find it almost anywhere in Tokyo :)

Today I learned... Thumbs and Funerals

so I realized I don't have good thumb pictures... so this will do.

Today I learned that your thumbs represent your parents in Japan.

In Japan, when you see a funeral car passing by, you have to cover your thumbs with your other fingers or your parents will meet death soon... :O

humidity!!

I love humidity... but... my eyeliner became an eyeshadow today... HAHAHAHAHA

am I weird to be possibly the only person to like this heat? :O

Pizza All you Can eat!!

I binged on pizza!! want to know what this is all about? head on over to my reviews blog for more 

continue below to read about my adventures!

My friend suggested we go to this place to eat... it is a pizza all you can eat... for most people in Tokyo, we know that Shakey's is known for its cheap but good quality all you can eat pizza!

I never thought I would have liked "dessert" pizza which is essentially sweet... but one bite changed my mind... they seemed to use a different crust... so the sweetness was a good match with the "pizza crust"

If you still want to know more... head on over to my reviews blog!

Truffes Au Chocolat

some fancy chocolate from Shiseido Parlour :)

who knew Shiseido could be associated with chocolate? Makeup brands continue to surprise me every day...

Delicious!

a mixture of Korean goodness

This is by far one of my most favourite Korean dishes! <3

what is inside:

• rice
• seaweed
• kimchi
• cheese
• chicken

I'm not sure whether I can replicate it... will keep you updated :D