Perfect opposite side of Hometown in Nara, Japan and New York
The other side of glove and charm..., where I can find the each charm.
I think we all have a secret comfortable place where we can be ourselves, relax, and recharge…, maybe it’s in the your bad room, kitchen table, or a tearoom.
Being out of my cozy rooms in NJ ( and NY) for 8 weeks and dealing with countless of both bitter and sweets events in Nara, I questioned myself.., did I miss any, beside my dear shiba Genki, Happy Cat? To be honest. I missed something.
If you have a chance to visit Nara, Japan, you can easily find a peace, deap Japanese culture, countless shrine and temple, real traditional Japanese foods. In addition, perfect public transportation systems, clean public bathrooms are everywhere. People are so polite, really see trashes in public space. Sund perfect place, right? Even, my all family, relative and old friends are there…, then…, why did I miss my cozy, crazy, expansive place in NJ/NY?
As a nature of human-being, we tend to oversight what we have “right now.” ”知足” (know you have enough ), a Zen word, my motto, still so hard to follow.., we forget the beauty and abundance of present moment…, something familiar with you, also?
During my Japan stay, I was a one of typical Japanese…, no walking on the escalator, waiting at the traffic right even there were no car.., and writing Japanese style email and postcard with textbook seasonal greeting, following deep traditional and religious customs especially for related to my late mother’s memorial service.
And at my spare time, I tirelessly , visited historical places, like temples, shurines, galleres , musiuns, park, local papa-mama owned stores, farmer’s market…, just name it. Some temple…, like Yakushiji, Toshodiji, walking distance from my house…, the first visit since my school years. I cooked and ate only so called local Japanese dishes, treated me with wagashi ( Japanese sweets), matcha, and world famous Nara strawberries. I even felt guilty not cooking since it was too easy to get my dream ingredients and and tea with very very reasonable prices.
A little bit sad was to discover, many prestigious tea maker promote buttery cookies, ice-cream, matcha shake, chocolate over simple wagashi.
I am back to my New York and New Jersey life. After fighting with my jetlag…, my real life started. At Subway…, no time table, dating over forty minutes to get my car at a garage in Manhattan, bus schedules canceled without notice, paying triple prices with grocery at Whole Foods and my new discovery Suzuki Farm’s Japanese vegetables delivery. Supposingly, I was not upset at all, it’s a life.
No complaint, but gratitude, I truly feel it. I still make daily miso soup, natto, fish, tofu.., and seasenable green and roots vegetables.
I can be creative and flexible…, own natto, miso, nukazuke, wakashi, and so.
In conclusion…, having two opposite side of hometown help me to discover, challenge, and learn hidden charm of each places where I love. If I have asked where is your hometown, my answer is Nara and NJ (plus Manhattan)
How about you?
Cook Well, Eat Well, Love Yourself
