[meme] 5 Questions

[talisa_ahn]

snowqueenofhoth  asked me...

1.  What do you think about surfing?
Hmm… I’ve never actually been surfing. I suppose my feelings about surfing are similar to snowboarding and skiing. I think it looks cool and I know a lot of people really enjoy it, but it’s not really something I feel like I’d want to do myself.

2.  What was a bad experience having to do with weather?
There are, unfortunately, 2 that come to mind and both have to do with rain. When I was in high school, I dated a huge asshole. Of course, at the time, I didn’t realize he was an asshole, but it was pouring rain one day and he made a huge deal about me coming to see him. It was always ME that had to go see HIM and that day was no different. Anyway, because of the rain, the bus was 2 hours late… and then when I finally got to his house (more than 3 hours after leaving mine), he complained that it took me so long. Oh well. He’s getting married to a Japanese cougar who probably just wants a green card.  She's 15 years older than him.  HA! on him *stomps*

The second was when I got in a car accident last year. Car hydroplaned and I’m very thankful to be alive… cause the car sure didn’t make it through.

3.  What’s one of your favorite books from you childhood?
Ah. There are a few that I loved, but if I had to choose… well, Momotaro (song and all) and Make Way For Ducklings are close, but I gotta say that East of the Sun, West of the Moon is the winner. My dad bought it for me for Christmas one year and that particular version had BEAUTIFUL illustrations. Just imagining it now makes me smile.

When I was little, I had a lot of books that had really nice illustrations. Used to tell my mom that I wanted to illustrated childrens books when I grew up. I asked my dad about it recently, but he couldn’t find it, so he bought me a new copy. Unfortunately, it’s no longer sold in hardback. Sad day.

4.  Which do you like better, bed or futon?
Futon over an actual bed, but I wouldn’t mind just the bed mattress. Never had a proper bed until I came to Japan (but it was huge and in the way, so I got rid of it). Forgot that I had a bed in Seattle 'cause of dorms and then again when I switched rooms with my roommate.  ^^; Oops...  The Japan bed was still too big.  Maybe someday I’ll just buy a single size mattress, but for now, a futon works fine.

5.  What is your favorite thing to cook for other people?
Spicy Grilled Tofu. It’s basically pan-fried tofu with a sweet and spicy sauce poured over it. I LOVE to eat it, but it’s good to make for other people since it’s such an uncommon dish. Never gotten a complaint about it before either. *proud* Takes a little time to prepare, but it’s SO WORTH IT.



From murasaki_anna  this time

1. What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten and how was it?
I've eaten a lot of strange things.  Raw horse, sea cucumber, raw cow liver, fried chicken liver... yeah...  Since I had no control over most of that, I'll talk about the raw horse.  It was a dish that my friend ordered at an izakaya and she doesn't really know Japanese... to the rest of us, it was just raw marinated meat and raw egg over a bed of lettuce.  And then a few days later, one of my friends happened to go again... and was handed an English menu that clearly called the dish horse meat.  A little horrified at myself for eating Seabiscuit... but it was good.  Wouldn't order it again though.

2. If you saw someone being groped on a train in Japan, would you do anything or stay quiet?
Hm... it would matter how far away it was, although I don't really look around on the trains so if it doesn't happen right next to me, I probably wouldn't notice in the first place.  If it was happening right next to me, I'd probably glare at them and if it didn't stop, I'd say, "チカンは犯罪です！" in a really loud voice so that other people look.

It's only happened to me once and I stomped on his foot.  And then I wrote fic about it. 

3. Do you have any clothing that has specific sentimental memories attached to it?
Clothing...  I have this blue Burberry scarf that was given to me as a high school graduation present.  It was from my English teacher (well, I guess technically I should say family friend) but I didn't want to use it while I was in Seattle, so my dad used it.  Then when I came to Japan, I asked for it back and he didn't want to, but I kept insisting that it was mine, so he gave it to me.  A little regretful when I think about it, but it's a really warm scarf and I'm making good use of it, so... yeah.

4. What is one part of your life you'd like to do over again?
I can't really say that it was just 'one part' that I'd like to do over... more like one aspect of my life that I wish I had done differently.  A lot of things have been happening with my family lately.  Both my grandpas are sick, grandmas are getting older, my grandma's brother is trying to take advantage of her aging mind, turns out that my uncle married a real witch and my cousins are a huge mess.  I wish I had treasured my family more when it was still whole.

5. If you didn't follow Johnny's, what would you do with all the money that you'd otherwise spend on concerts, goods, CDs etc.?
Anime.  Or K-pop.  If it weren't Johnny's it would be another fandom.  I do suppose I'd spend more money on clothes too, but my first instinct is anime considering the collection I accumulated before getting into Asian music.  Rachel asked me why I was so good at drawing (well, I don't think I am), but I've been drawing for such a long time.  I used to want to be a manga artist so I have a ton of drawing materials too.


And now from kira_shadow 

1. What's one thing you miss from back home?
Surprisingly, I miss being surrounded by water.  Not that I did it very often, but sometimes going to the beach and being able to hear the waves was really comforting.

2. What do you say is the most peculiar thing you adopted ever since you moved to Japan? (referring to your list of "You know you've been in Japan for too long...")
Ah.  Hm...  I would maybe say that its the boots and shorts/skirts thing.  In the winter, I'll wear shorts with knee-high boots.  In the summer, I'll wear shorts with knee-high boots.  Both are a little absurd.

3. What's your favorite fruit?
I don't think I have one... but I do like bananas a lot.

4. Beach person or mountain person for the summer?
Beach.  Going into the mountain is more effort.

5. Do you have a favorite anime/manga series from your childhood and if so, which one?
I would say that the first anime/manga I ever really got into as a kid was Ranma 1/2.  My brother and I really liked it.  We had all the manga, all the videos... but it all started cause we had the Ranma Super Nintendo game.  haha...  I liked a lot of manga/anime growing up, but this was definitely the first fandom.


From shimizumiki 

1. Who's your favorite JE boy of all time and why?
Kitayama.  There's really no competition.  I don't even know where to start and I don't think there's any way for me to explain how much I like him, much less explain WHY... hm...  You've seen the way Rachel looks when she's thinking/talking/watching Nika, right?  I'm close to that.  I'm still hoping (possibly in vain) that I'm not as bad, but I'm not that much better.  I don't know how to answer your question.

2. What's your favorite Osakan/Kansai food?
Ah... hmm... I don't know about Osaka/Kansai food, but there's this type of fish that's really specific to the Senshu region of Osaka called gaccho (がっちょ) and it's usually prepared by frying it.  I really like it but there are a lot of people who've never eaten it before.  I don't think it's even a fish that they sell in the super markets.

I like okonomiyaki and takoyaki on occasion... they're just not something I can eat often.  Too heavy.

3. What's your favorite animal and why?
Ooo.... that's a little difficult.  I don't have a favorite animal... but I like the cat family a lot cause I think they're really graceful and elegant.  And I suppose if I were to be more specific, within that I love white tigers and bengal tigers the most.  It might have a little to do with the fact that I'm born year of the tiger.

4. If you only had one day to live, what would you do?
Spend it with my family doing something we don't normally do... like maybe eat at the beach or have a picnic in the park.  Definitely something around food.

5. What's one TV show you can't/couldn't stand? Why?
Jackass and anything like that.  I can't stand that kind of humor and I don't think it's ok.


If you want me to ask you questions, reply with "Okoshi ni tsuketa kibidango~!  Hitotsu watashi ni kudasai na~"  And points to those of you who know what that's from.  ^_^