Eat to Live

Since coming here I've been thinking about food all the time. It's not that I constantly feel like eating, I'm just thinking about what I can eat for lunch and dinner, and what I should and shouldn't eat. It's not as easy to be healthy over here as I thought it would be. With all the unhealthy food they serve at the restaurants and sell in the convenience stores it's a wonder that japanese people still are so skinny! My friend Akiko told me that most skinny girls doesn't eat much at all, only small portions if they do eat. That's not good.

I know they cook healthier food at home too, but I'm still surpised they don't have better options when you choose to go out and eat. It's all fried food, white bread, mayonnaise and sugar in everything, and not so much vegetables. I'm always having a hard time finding something good to eat for lunch. They do sell small caesar salads at the supermarket close to my guesthouse, but I don't always feel like eating my salads in school.

When it comes to dinner it's easier to make something healthy, it's just the question if I feel like spending a longer time on cooking than it takes to cook pasta. Because that is usually what I end up eating. But I'm proud to say I've been pretty good this week! On monday I ate chicken salad, chicken with fruity couscous on tuesday and then I made salmon with green curry and potatoes yesterday. Everything with veggies of course!

No, this is not what I eat every day.

No Reason

And again another person will be kicked out of this guesthouse for no reason at all. Mark can't renew his contract and has to move out in december. The manager told him he'd broken a rule but when asked what rule that was he gave no reply and just walked away.
What is wrong with that manager? Why is he even working here if he can't handle people? All he can do is make up new rules about this place. Everyone would be so happy to have Kawabe-san back as manager of the house, but he's off on a boat somewhere, discovering the world. Kawabe-san was a fun, cool guy who made everyone feel welcome here, whereas the current manager makes everyone miserable. Good job.

I wish he was slapped by a monkey or eaten by the Flying Spaghetti Monster...

Oneesan no Tanjoubi!

Today is middle sisters birthday! Today is the day I miss being home the most, not being able to give my beloved sister a hug. Wish I could play with her today...
We just talked on the phone for 30 mins and then I ran out of money on my cell. I've got to load it up with more cash tomorrow. Maybe I'd better buy a 5000 yen card next time so I can call home more often. 3000 yen is not enough if you want to call up Sweden.

Today has been an unusually busy saturday for me. Went to Lalaport (big shopping mall) in Toyosu and looked around there for a bit before I met up with Akiko. Together we set out for IKEA Funabashi. The first thing we did was to go to the restaurant and to eat some yummy meatballs. After that we walked around the different sections, but the only thing I bought from the items section was measuring tools. From the food section I bought a lot more. Pickeled herring, gingerbread cookies, lingonberry drink, elderfruit drink, meatballs, cream sauce for the meatballs... Wanted to buy more but it felt like too much so I didn't.

Omelette for lunch. Funny text on the menu.

Decorations and entertainment outside the mall.

Christmas tree.

IKEA!

Meatballs and daim cake. Yuuuum.

Cookies

Yesterday was cookie baking day with Laura from class. We didn't follow any special recipe but decided to improvise a bit. Making the base dough was a bit messy and we had some egg accidents, but it all turned out well in the end. While I was making Baileys and chocolate chip cookies, Laura made marshmallow chocolate chip ones that she later had trouble getting out of her heart shaped pan.
Must say that baking cookies in a microwave is not the best way to do it, but what else to do when there is no real oven?

Baileys Chocolate Chip cookies.

Marshmallow and Marshmallow Chocolate Chip cookies. A bit scarylooking.

Christmas Decorations

They've already started putting up Christmas decorations. Why do they always insist on doing it so early, can't they wait until december? I guess NK in Sweden has decorated their shop windows too. Everything to sell more. It's all about the money.

Cute snowflakes at Starbucks.

The view from my favourite Starbucks cafe. A man is taking a nap in his car while his dog is yapping at people passing by or licking the car window. In the backround there are people standing around in the Corner of Shame. In other words, the smoking spot in the area.

Earthquake

It's november already. Hate thinking about that I have to leave soon. I only get depressed.

Getting colder and colder here in Tokyo. I've started wearing my jacket and my scarf, and I think I've got to find some warmer clothes soon. Only I can't seem to find any that I like... *sigh*

Got the ac running now everyday since it gets so cold in the room. They don't use double glass windows here.

Condensation.

Yesterday evening there was an earthquake. The walls were shaking slightly, but it only lasted for a few seconds. Since I'm not used to earthquakes I didn't realize what was going on at first. My first thought was actually: Big truck?

There have been other earthquakes while I've been here, but this is the first one I've noticed. Now I can cross this off of my list of things to experience.