How to Make Friends in a Foreign Country

Adobo- Philippine's Unoffical National Dish
credit: http://philnews.ph/2014/02/28/adobo-proposed-as-philippines-national-food/

Question: How can you make friends in a foreign place?

Answer; Food!

Seriously. But not just food, like the one you find in Mc Donalds. (I don't even think it's proper food.) It has to be a foreign dish, preferably from your country, that you personally prepared.

This is what I've been doing since I started living in Japan. I'm making friends by making food.

How to Make a Japanese Hot Pot or Nabe

Steaming Nabe
photo credit: https://sg.sushiandsake.net/special/food/detail_15

Before the winter chill totally disappear, don't miss eating nabe. Nabe is the perfect Japanese winter food. It's a hotpot where any type of meat, seafood or vegetables can be used. (Well, as long as they compliment each other's taste.)

It's really easy to make. Slice some meat or seafood, and some vegetables. Boil them in water. Add some seasoning. Sip the soup and eat the rest. That easy!

Don't believe me? 

Here are some more websites talking about this food. 

1. Japanese Food 101: Let's Eat Nabe (from Gaijinpot)

You'll find the basics of cooking nabe in this site. 

2. Nabe- Japan's Answer to Winter Chill is Hot Pot Cooking (from Japan Info Swap)

Not only does this site have a "how-to-cook-nabe" but it also has helpful information on where to buy the ingredients, what to buy and what to do with leftovers. It also gave an overview of the different kinds of nabe.

3. Tori Nabe: Japanese Chicken and Vegetable Hot Pot (from Just Hungry)

Check this site for the simplest Nabe you can make. You can also make this nabe even if you're not in Japan. 

4. Yose-Nabe: Simple Japanese Hot Pot (from Kanako's Chicken)

If you'd like nabe with lots of seafood, you better check this site. 

5. How to cook Chanko-nabe (from Must Love Japan)

Do you want to know what sumo wrestlers eat? Then you have to try this chanko-nabe recipe.  

6. Nabe- A Love Letter to Japan's Most Underrated Food

To get a better idea of the "powers" of nabe, take time to read a foreigner's interesting perspective on nabe. 

So go and make your nabe now! (yum, yum, yum)

Why You Should Travel to Japan Now

Wisteria Tunnel at Fuji Garden
photo credit: http://inspired-tour.blogspot.jp/

No introductions needed on this post. Let's just get to the main point. 

Here are the "whys" you should visit Japan now. As in N-O-W. 

1. The yen is weak. 

This is the most practical reason why you should visit Japan now. Yen is hitting a 7-year low which means your currency has more value here now. You'll be spending less compared with others who visited the previous years. (In 2012, the exchange rate was 1 USD = 83 Yen. Now it's a whooping 1 USD- 121 Yen.) Some predicted that the Yen will get stronger before the year end so before that happens, visit Japan now.