In the past two weeks two friends from Japan came to Seoul and luckily I had time to go meet up with them once or twice. It's been nearly three years (I can hardly believe it) since my semester in Japan. The first to visit me was Aki, one of the first Japanese friends I made. During our week of orientation, there was an Introduction to Japanese Language module and Aki was a volunteer there to help us out. We exchanged phone numbers and she helped me with my Japanese during free time between lectures. I have many dear memories with Aki. Last year when I went back to Japan to visit some friends, we met up again. So much bittersweet nostalgia!
Aki brought Choi and I some omiyage from Hokkaido (our region of Japan). Omiyage (souvenir) is a Japanese custom of bringing food with you whenever you travel. By food I mean cute, pre-packaged boxes of assorted goodies that are sold everywhere. It's a huge part of Japanese culture and any airport in Japan will sell thousands of omiyage on any day (although they can be bought outside the airport). Every time we went on a trip somewhere in Japan, we picked up some local pastries or sweets and brought them back to share with people. It was very kind of Aki to bring me omiyage all the way to Seoul!
Ramen for Choi, chocolate-covered mushroom-shaped biscuits (one Japanese study session together revealed I LOVE these things), and some cookies from a famous local bakery for me. She also brought my souvenirs in the bag of one of my favorite cafes in town - I will have to make something out of it.
The next person to visit me in Seoul was Kyeonghwa, an energetic then 7-year-old that I tutored in Japan. I met her dad at an international party at a bar one time. He is a big businessman in Otaru and is definitely a tiger dad that insists on his daughter going to an Ivy League school some day. Kyeonghwa has been going to English daycare since she was 4 and speaks English perfectly. I would say she is maybe one year behind native speakers in terms of her speaking ability, which at 9 years old is so cool! She wants to be a pediatrician and I've talked with her parents a few times about her living with me in the States when she is a HS student for an exchange program!
Last year when I visited Japan, Aki dropped me off at Kyeonghwa's house for a surprise visit. Imagine someone from halfway across the world showing up on your doorstep one day. It was one of those moments that brings you big smiles and makes you marvel at how awesome traveling can be.
(Kyeonhwa and I last Friday night)
Kyeonghwa is seriously SOO FUNNY, she reminds me a lot of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. The tiniest thing with attract her attention and she will focus on it and show it to everyone in such a random manner that it just makes you laugh.
Kyeonghwa and her dad also brought me some Japanese omiyage - I'm so spoiled these days.
The white stuff is mochi - rice cakes. Kyeonghwa's mom used to always have these ready for us at the start of our lessons. You put them in the toaster oven for a few minute until they are brown. Then put a little soy sauce on it and wrap it in seaweed. A true Japanese snack! Sounds weird until you try the real thing. The other bag is mini packets of spicy crackers and peanuts, Kyeonghwa's favorite snack.
I'm so blessed to have people in my life that come visit me in Korea and bring me lots of yummy Japanese stuff. Thank you Aki & Kyeonghwa. I hope we meet again someday.^^
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