Food Exchange at EU-Japane centre

One Sunday our centre staff organized for us Food Exchange. Everybody was supposed to prepare food from his country. Therefore, there were dishes from Spain, Poland, Italy, Romania, Finland, Estonia, Japan..Finally something tasty.. ;)

 

 

Thanks to our Japanese mother Sato-san we could try to prepare on our own Sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes.

 

The most expensive post-stamp I have ever bought. Necessary to receive re-entry permission to Japan.

Christmas Illumination in Roppongi Hills. Nowadays Tokyo is full of Illuminations..

Embassy of Poland in Tokyo..

That day in the morning we were hanging around my neighbourhood taking pictures..

Here is my flat in one of those buildings.

Let's collect some oranges. It is high time!

Park next to my flat.

 

Afterwards we prepared ourself for a Christmas Reception in Embassy of Poland in Ebisu district. Heading there we met many polish people on our way. Finally we arrived to Embassy with Polish priest who has been living in Tokyo for 36 years..

With our ambassador. 

 

With my friends.

 

 

After party in Shibuya:

 

School and Reception..

Holidays "are over". School is back. However, thanks to our centre (EU-Japan) there are many events that we can participate. Lately there was one reception with students from Tokyo, PhDs and previous Vulcanus who stayed in Japan.

 

Okinawa 2009 !

Extending (by myself..) long weekend I have found out 5 days off. So together with my family we decided to go to Okinawa around one week before. Although the weather in Tokyo is really enjoyable (around 20 degrees during a day) the weather in Okinawa is awesome now. Comparing to Europe it is a paradise.. All the pictures I have put like always in Picasa.

First of all, we took a flight from Haneda airport (second biggest airport in Tokyo) to Naha in Okinawa. Naha is a city placed in the south of Okinawa. It is a capitol of the Island. However, before going there all my Japanese friends warned me  that I should leave that place as quick as it is possible. Naha is just a city like many others in Japan. Thus, you can't feel there the real atmosphere of Okinawa. So directly from the airport we went  to the north of Okinawa. Our hotel was close to marina, Nago city and Ocean Expo Park (around 200 meters). Really good location. From the window we had a view on Minna island (small exotic island) and dolphinarium. Anyway, people from Okinawa are the most helpful in the world I could say. First day, when we arrived to the hotel, they took us by car to a restaurant. However, we didn't have any service like that included. The same happened when we ware leaving. Regarding food, it was incredibly tasty thanks to American restaurant..

First whole day we spent in Ocean Expo Park. It is a vast area full of small hidden exotic bitches, picturesque vantage points, botanic parks, various tropical trees, palms and other plants. There is also dolphin show, traditional Okinawa village and the most famous Aquarium with the largest screen in the world (the tank is second largest). It is an amazing place.

 

 

 

Following day we went to Minna island. Minna is a small tropical island in the Chinese see.1,5 hour was totally enough to walk around it. It is shape is like banana with Laguna inside.

 

The next day we spent in Nago city. Most of the time was devoted for sunbathing at the public beach almost in the centre of the city.

 

 

The flight back was a little bit like a nightmare due to weather conditions and turbulences.

Shinjuku and Yokohama..

Having free Friday I decided to join in sightseeing my family (cousin with his wife) that came to visit me. Our first destination was Shinjuku with its all skyscrapers and vantage point at the top of one of them. It is amazing that it is for free. I can't imagine the same in Europe..

 

Tokyo - you can't see its end..

 

Later we went to visit Yokohama by day. Anyway, it is really close from Tokyo centre.

Our final destination was China Town in Yokohama with its all beauty..

Tea ceremony..

Thanks to our Japanese mum and manager of EU-Japan centre Sato-san we were able to participate in a real Japanese tea ceremony. Following all the steps of that ritual was really enjoyable. However, Japanese tea tastes a little bit different than Lipton..

 

And one more thing about Japanese people. The temperature was around 10-12 degrees that day. However, Japanese pupils were having fun in puddle next to their school.. weird. I was freezing.