Hiromi Usagi!

That was a long vacation for me–10 days. My friend, Yurie came to the States. As I wrote the previous blog, we met up in NYC and stayed at John’s fancy apartment and enjoyed the 4th of July fire works and his and his twin brother’s b-day.

I had a horrible stomachache, so I wasn’t able to enjoy entirely, but NYC is always fun and full of interesting people and things.

After I came back to Chicago with her, I basically spent 5 days just doing something that I would do on my day off. She is into organic and healthful foods, so we cooked a few times. I made breakfast every morning! Tofu scrumble, pancakes, fruits and etc… We decided that we needed to take a long time in the morning before we go outside. It is good for digestion, you know..

She had a long list of souvenir that she had to buy. It is sort of fun, but sometimes very painful to think about it. She got T-shirts, Aveda products, Chewing gums, and herbal teas for her friends and family. She has been to Chicago before, but only a few days in down town, so she said that she enjoyed a real life here.

We influenced? each other as far as shopping goes. I went to pick up my shoes that I ordered since the store didn’t have my size (my feet are small….). It is a pair of Naot. They are very comfortable and pretty cute, I think. Dansko, which is my favorite shoes ever, was on sale. Of course, there was no small ones that I can wear, but they did have her size! She bought a pair of Dansko sandal and loved it.

She took me an Italian leather shop called Henry Beguelin and I bought a leather arm band and purple cashmere sweater which were on sale (otherwise I won’t be able to buy any of it). very fancy, but very good stuff…

When we went to Border’s to use a bathroom, she was getting bookmarks and I bought 3 books for the price of 2. I got Memoir of Geisha, War Trash, and Curious Incidents of the Dog in Night-Time.

So I did some shopping too. Oh well, it was fun though.

She is a great cook and made a yummy portabello mushroom dish and shrimp salad. We both enjoy similar foods, so she really liked the food we ate. Her favorite was a lentil soup from Taste of Lebanon in Anderson vill.

We ate a lot, haha…many Meditarrenean and MiddleEastern foods. Reza’s, Sultan market, Ethiopean diamonds. We also went to Alice’s restaurant (Vegetarian restaurant), Irazu (Costa Rican), and Lula cafe.

Here is what we ate during our vacation:

7/2 Lunch: Thai food at Queens with John
Dinner: Conghee village in China town in NYC

7/3 breakfast: Lox with tofu scallion cream cheese at Dave’s
Lunch: Vegetarian paradise by Washington sqr. great corn chowder.
Dinner: Conghee (again!)

7/4 breakfast: oatmeal at some cafe by John’s
Lunch: at Dojo in East village with Matt, Dave, and Julia.
Dinner: BBQ at John’s (tofurky vege dog)

7/5 breakfast: cinnamon raison bagel with tofu c cheese at NY hearts Bagel.
Lunch: Sultan market in Wicker park (back in Chicago)
Dinner: at my house. Sauteed Portabello, BBQ tofu, and Kale

7/6 breakfast: vegan pancake with fresh berries and peaches at my house
lunch: reza’s buffet
dinner: alice’s restaurant

7/7 breakfast: pancake (again!)
Lunch: Taste of lebanon (Yurie loved Fatush salad, lentil soup, spinich pie and baklaba. So did I…haha)
Dinner: Yummy herb salad with sauteed shrimp. a half bottle of Veuve in our pretty backyard.

7/8 breakfast: tofu scrumble, yogurt with fresh fruits, and Ami de Fromage (yummy bread with walnuts, dried cherries, and raison).
lunch: reza’s (yummy pomgranate sauce!)
Dinner: Ethiopean diamonds

7/9 breakfast: rice dish with many yummy veges, yogurt.
lunch: Irazu…yummm
dinner: lula….a glass of wine too…

OMG…we ate a lot! we walked a lot and did yoga too. Yurie loved my friends and roommates. She didn’t want to go back to Japan…

We decided to get together often in Yamanashi, my hometown. I am hoping to get a job in Tokyo. I need you guys’ help….. If you know good job sites or anything, please let me know… I will make you a yummy food!

During her visit, I again realized that I am very lucky to have good friends. It is sad that I had to leave, but I am very excited that my friends here want to visit me in Japan! All of my friends should come to visit me in Japan.

Last night, Harper and Matiss juggled for us since it was Yurie’s last night here. It was so much fun! Harper and Matiss are like my family here. I will miss them a lot. To be honest, I have no idea how I live without them…..

As usual, I had a lot to say….I have only one month left….