Monday, May 7th   “Airbnb”

There’s a really nice service called “Airbnb”.  Have you heard of it?  It’s really popular all around the world.  It’s a website where you can rent out a house or a room of an apartment.  Regular people who have an extra house or an apartment room put what they have available on Airbnb.  Then, the customers can check out what’s available.  It’s an amazing system and it helps both the house or apartment owner and people who are looking for accommodation.  

Actually, I rented out a house when I went to LA. and San Francisco 3 years ago.  At that time, I went with 3 people so it was much cheaper than staying at a hotel.  This is a great system if you are going somewhere with a family or several friends because you can rent out a whole house cheaply.  The cost will be half of staying at a hotel.  I highly recommend it.   

This Golden week, I decided to go somewhere with my sister’s family so I used Airbnb.  I’ll tell you about it on my next journal entry.  

Website of Airbnb →  https://www.airbnb.jp

available   「利用可能」

accommodation  「宿泊」

Tuesday, May 8th  “My Experience at Airbnb”

This Golden week I had a chance to stay at a house that’s posted by Airbnb.   I’ve stayed at a house by Airbnb in America but it was my first time in Japan.  I stayed there with my sister’s family.  We rented a house with two bedrooms.  It was a bit hard to find but everything else was great.  The name of the host was Akiko and she was friendly and helpful.  

The house had a kitchen with all kitchenware so we were able to make simple dishes there.   Actually, it was my sister and her husband’s birthday so I bought a cake at a nearby bakery and served it at the house.  I was able to use the plates and forks so the birthday party went smoothly.   Later we all played card games and had a great time.  It was really fun because we could all stay under one roof and have a wonderful time.  I hope to keep using this service.  

everything else 「他の全て」

served  「出す」

under one roof 「一つ屋根の下で。」

Wednesday, May 9th   “Ramen Restaurant”

From time to time, I feel like eating Ramen.  A couple of days ago, I decided to go to a new Ramen restaurant called Hanabi.  This Ramen restaurant is famous in Nagoya.  It’s famous for the big line in front of all Hanabi stores.  What I didn’t know was that there was a store in Nishiki and it’s just around the corner from where I work.  As expected, there was a pretty big line in front of the store.  

To tell you the truth, I hate getting in line more than anything.   That’s why I hate amusement parks.  There’s no way I’ll wait 2 hours to get on a 3-minute ride!  It’s just ridiculous!!   The longest I can wait in line is about 20 minute.  Anything more than that I’ll get frustrated.  

Anyway, although there was a big line in front of the store, I decided to get in line to eat this really popular “Taiwan style maze soba”.   I finally got in after 25 minutes and ordered one serving.  The waiter asked if I wanted garlic in it.  I turned it down although I wanted to eat it with garlic.  My garlic day is only Saturday night because I have classes on other days.  I don’t want to be known as a garlic smelling teacher.  My food finally came.  It looked really good.  I tried my first bite. I said to myself, “it’s not as good as I imagined”.   I thought this ramen will blow me away but it tasted pretty average.  I don’t know what all the hype is about.  Then I started to wonder, “is it because there’s no garlic that it tastes pretty average?”.  The people next to me all had garlic in it.  It made me want to say, “Can I taste your ramen??”  Now I feel I need to definitely try it with garlic!   Oh man!  I have to come here again and wait in line!  You can never get what you want in life, can you?

as expected 「思った通り」

ridiculous「馬鹿馬鹿しい。」

bite 「一口」

average 「普通」

hype 「話題性」

Sunday, May 13th “Things I can’t live without”

There are things I can’t live without.  They are food that I eat regularly.  First, I usually eat an apple a day.  I don’t have a big breakfast.  I just eat an apple or some other fruit and some tea.  Some people insist that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but I feel that’s true for them but not for me.  

I always buy apple at a supermarket but I always felt apples are expensive.  Sometimes an apple can cost close to 200 yen.  It’s unbelievable!!!  I looked for cheaper apples online and found a shop that sold it cheaper.  These apples are a bit damaged so they are cheaper but they taste fine so I don’t mind them.   

I used to drink coffee but I realized I like drinking tea better.  I love Early Grey most of all.  I never get tired of drinking it.  I love the smell of Earl Grey more than anything.  Sometimes I like to put honey in my tea.  It brings simple joy to my mornings. 

Secondly, I have been trying out new kinds of supplements.  The best one that I found so far is a powdered vitamin.  It’s really expensive but I feel it helps me not to catch a cold. There’s one more thing that I spend some money on.  It’s flaxseed oil.  It gives me Omega-3 which is supposed to be good for your brain and heart.  I put it on the Natto that I eat every day. 

Lastly but most importantly, the thing I can’t live without is my special Bento.  This Bento is made in Toyama and it’s delivered to my apartment every two weeks.  I eat this for lunch and dinner 5 days a week.  This is the best Bento I could find so far.  It’s organic so there’s no dangerous chemical and all the ingredients are from Japan.  I did a lot of looking around and I finally came across this Bento.  This Bento keeps me healthy and it helps me save time and money.   

Those are the things that keep me healthy.  People say I’m a bit of a health nut.  That might be true.   Even though I’m particular about my health, I recently got sick.  For the first time in my life, my eyes turned bloodshot red!  What the hell!?  I looked like Stimpy from the cartoon if you know what I mean. 

insist  「言い張る」

damaged 「傷付く」

get tired of 「飽きる」

more than anything 「何よりも」

so far 「今のところ」

be supposed to be 「らしい」

Lastly but most importantly 「最後だけど一番大切なこと」

ingredients 「材料」

bloodshot red 「真赤か」

what the hell?! 「なんてこった」