The Duck's Nest

As part of a project at my school, my students are preparing a presentation on Sugamo, which is an area of Tokyo with a famous shopping street. This area is known for being popular particularly among the elderly. Consequently, there are a lot of drug stores and shops selling everything from hot water bottles to traditional snack foods and...red underwear. (More on that later.) One of the students in my class is also a professional photographer, so she gracefully volunteered her time and talents and came with us to take some pictures. The first two images here are from her. Take a look:

• Left: In Maruji, one of the shops famous for selling the red underwear. Red underwear is supposed to be lucky and also keep you warmer (but why or how is beyond me...). This is me trying to show my excitement about my first trip to the shop.
• Right: Some of my students were even more excited than I was...

• Left: One of the traditional snacks available in Sugamo is grasshoppers. It took me a few minutes, but I eventually worked up enough nerve to try it. But a VERY small piece only. All of the other students in my group had tried it before and really enjoy it. My opinion: not as bad as I was afraid it would be, but not a particular texture that I care to ever have in my mouth again.
• Right: (Most of) my students outside Maruji. I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all. Even Elmo. :)

Another autumn in Tokyo

I'm long overdue for an update! Here are some photos of events over the last month:


Last year I went back to the States for Thanksgiving, but this year I returned to my tradition from my first year in Tokyo and hosted a Thanksgiving dinner party at my house in Haneda. As luck would have it, nearly all my guests had to cancel the night before. I was still able to celebrate with my host family, though.

• Left: Since I am not a great cook, a large portion of the meal was purchased at Costco. (I couldn't have made a pumpkin pie that good myself, anyways...). I did, however, make "smashed" potatoes entirely on my own for the first time, though.
• Right: After dinner we all played a rousing game of Skip-bo.

• Left: The head teacher at my school is leaving and this past Saturday I joined him and about 20 of our students for a Farewell party in Ginza. (One of my students called it a "welfare" party by accident!) Here is a shot of the dinner that was held in an izakaya, which is a traditional type of Japanese restaurant.
• Right: Another year of Christmas lights near Roppongi Hills (see this post for last year's lights). I go to this spot every year, and every year it's still beautiful.

• Left: Down the street from Roppongi Hills is another major shopping area, called Tokyo Midtown. These trucks are always parked outside selling things to shoppers (the first one sells souvenirs and the other one sells snacks), and the signs on the trucks never fail to make me laugh!
• Right: Once again, the lawn at Tokyo Midtown was beautifully lit. You can't tell from the picture but the lights here were actually changing colors and shapes and they even included advertisements for the sponsors!