2013年10月25日金曜日

Culture and rituals of eating

This video introduce us a few rituals about foods.
For example, there are different rules using implements in Europe. In Germany, Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, people never cut their potatoes with  knives. They use only forks.
 And there are another rules about numbers. For example, In Christian countries,thirteen is unlucky number because it replicates the last supper. And then, in Japan and China, four is bad number because the pronunciation of  four is "shi"―which means death. So people don't like that number.
By the way, this video also tells us that eating food together make solidarity and alliances. Before I watched this video, I have never thought  so. BUT now I really think so.
I think that the eating foods together cements our relationship more tight!




This is the URL of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyVPfFKp7SI

The first impression of my book

I chose the book―Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat. But this is the first time foe me to read a non-fiction English book.
I was interested in this book because the author of this book is Japanese woman-Naomi MORIYAMA. For long time, I am interested in Japanese food culture and Japanese diet very much. Naomi wrote about Japanese diet in this book, so I chose this book.And Amazon's review also attracted my interest so much.
On the introduction, this book explains why Japanese women have the lowest obesity rate in the developed world 3% versus 11% for French women and 34% for American women, Japanese women are the world champions of longevity-and healthy longevity and the American Dietetic Association calls Japanese style eating a "passport to health" and suggests we " take a lesson today from the Japanese table". Those are very interesting for me and those attracts me so much. So I really look forward to reading this book!!


2013年10月18日金曜日

Food aphorisms

This time, I  introduce two food aphorisms which I agree with and disagree with.

"Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate."
―Alan D. Wolfelt
 
I agree with this aphorism because I have experienced like this. When I was a child, I was often scolded by my mother. I am very very obstinate person, so I couldn't apologize to her though I understood I was wrong. Then I often had a quarrel with my mother. The chance of reconciliation between us is always the time when we have a meal. My mother understands my character and she realizes that I want to be reconciled with her. At that time, she serves a meal. My mother and I shore the dishes and we became friendly than before we ate them. When I looked this aphorism, these things reminds me.

On the other hand I couldn't agree with this aphorism.

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."
―Kate Moss

I know about her because she is very famous fashion model. I like her but I could't agree with this aphorism. She is a fashion model so she must keep her skinny and perfect style. So I think she said like this. But I love eating foods.In my opinion,Whenever we eat something, we become happy. I think eating is living. But this aphorism denies that. So I disagree with this aphorism.

Picnic at Yoyogi Park

 On 4th October, we went on a picnic at Yoyogi park! This is the second time for me to go to Yoyogi park. And this is the first time to go on a picnic with my friends and my teacher. So I was very very looking forward to going on a picnic. And it was very fun and we could spend wonderful time!!
For this picnic, students made and brought their own cooking. There are Nori-maki, Inarizushi and so on. I cooked ground meat rolled in cabbage. I asked my mother to tell recipe the day before this picnic and I got up early and made it. It was very easy than I expected, so I recommend you to try to cook it! I can teach you. I was very happy to hear the words― "Delicious!" "Did YOU cook it by yourself?" Thanks to this picnic, I realized the pleasure of making dishes by hand. 
By the way, unfortunately, it was rainy on that day... But we could enjoy this picnic. It was the first time for me to go on a picnic on rainy day, so this picnic was so fresh for me! And then Mr.Dias taught us how to juggle some balls ans pins. I didn't know Mr.Dias could juggle them, I was surprised at that sight.
I felt that this picnic made us friendlier than before the first class. So I thank Mr.Dias for making this opportunity of going on a picnic.