So, You Wanna Eat Like an Okinawan?

Most people think of sushi and ramen when they think of Japanese food, but what of Okinawan cuisine? With a vast difference in climate, culture, and history, there must be a difference in their cuisines, right? Below, I highlight some of the staple meals, drinks and sweets in Okinawan cuisine that are a must when visiting! Enjoy the food porn!

Main Dishes

Taco Rice - Not to be confused with Tako or Octopus, this Okinawan dish consists of taco-flavored ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato and salsa, served on a bed of rice. It is a very common meal and you can find Taco Rice almost anywhere in Okinawa. As a pescatarian, I haven't had the opportunity of taste-testing Taco Rice, but my boyfriend became a bit obsessed during his visit here. Try this Oki-Mex meal during your visit!

Click the picture for a link to a recipe 

Champuru - meaning "something mixed" in Okinawan, is a stir-fry dish and consists of either Tofu or Goya (bitter gourd) mixed with vegetables and ham, or spam. Goya is an extremely bitter vegetable that looks like Gozilla's skin. I've had Goya Champuru as a bento, in school lunches, and at restaurants but it's not my favorite dish. I prefer the Tofu Champuru over Goya Champuru, but I know people who swear by Goya. I encourage everyone to at try Goya Champuru least once, but I can't guarantee that you'll like it. Sorry!

Click the picture for a link to a recipe 

Okinawa Soba - is a noodle soup that consists of wheat noodles, instead of buckwheat noodles, that resemble udon, with ramen-esque soup. The usual toppings includes a fish mutton cake, pork slices, and ginger, with other ingredients added depending on the restaurant. Due to the ramen-like soup, this dish is not pescatarian friendly, but I've had it, sans the pork, at a local restaurant. Since then, I buy Okinawa soba noodles and cook it in vegetable stock with my own  special ingredients. 

Click the picture for a link to a recipe 

Drinks

Shikuwasa Juice - is a Okinawan common lime that is made into a sour drink packed with Vitamin C. Although it's considered a common lime and can be used for cooking, this is not lime juice. It actually taste nothing like lime juice. I should know, because I hate anything lime or lemon flavored, but I can drink Shikuwasa Juice. Some foreigners, even those with a high level of Japanese, are put off by the name since it always referred to in katakana (script used for foreign words). If you're ever in Okinawa, try some!

Orion Beer - Japan's 5th largest brewery, Orion Beer, commands more than 50% of the beer market in Okinawa. Sadly, this 5% alcohol-content drink only has a 1% penetration in mainland Japan. Therefore, Orion Beer is not readily available in mainland Japan, and you may have to search for a bit to find some. Unfortunately, I can't give a review on Orion Beer, but I found a helpful video to do it for me! Watch below!

Fun Fact! One of my friends here in Okinawa was Miss Orion Beer! I see her posters all the time around the island! 

The lovely lady on the right

Awamori - is an alcoholic beverage unique to Okinawa that is made from distilled, not brewed, rice.  Awamori has a 30-40% alcohol content and because of such high demands, modern Awamori is made from Thai rice instead of Japanese rice. The most common way to drink Awamori is mixed with water or on the rocks. The taste is nothing short of rubbing alcohol, but it's a popular drink for the brave.

Sweets

Chinsuko - or as I like to call them "Okinawan Crack Cookies," are a type of short bread cookie/biscuit. If you want a similar taste, head to your local supermarket and pick up a pack of Keebler Sandies. Chinsuko are popular souvenir foods, but you can find them at local supermarkets in Okinawa. My only warning is that they are really addicting! Eat with responsibility!

Sata Andaagi - are deep-fried Okinawan donuts! Sata means "sugar", anda mean "oil," and agi means "fried" in Okinawan. The Japanese equivalent to name would be sato (or "sugar") abura (or "oil") age (or "fried"). The taste of Sata Andaagi isn't unfamiliar to those who have eaten carnival food but be sure to have a glass of milk ready, because they can be a bit dry.

Click the picture for a link to a recipe 

Ben-imo - According to the famous Dr. Oz, Okinawan Sweet Potatoes or Ben-imo are a super food, rich in beta-carotene, that have "150% more antioxidants than blueberries." Is this the secret to Okinawa's longevity? Who knows! But you will find Beni-mo and Beni-mo-flavored sweets everywhere! The color may be a bid daunting, but do yourself a favor and try everything  Beni-mo. You won't regret it!!

Ben-imo Kitkat!

Eisa: An Okinawan Performance

The Japanese holiday of Obon is a day where families reunite to commemorate the dead by visiting and cleaning ancestors' graves. During this time, festivals are held to transport portable Shinto shrines or Mikoshi  to a temporary Shinto site. For an example, watch the video below!

Although this festival is common throughout Japan, Okinawa is and is not Japan and this mikoshi festival does not exist in Okinawa. Instead, Okinawa has it's own traditional festival and performance called Eisa. Eisa is a combination of Okinawan traditional music performed on a sanshin using Uchinaguchi lyrics along with taiko drums and Okinawan dancing. It's mostly performed during the summer and fall, but the Eisa chant "Haiya iya sasa" can be heard all year round on commercials and on the radio. The largest Eisa festival is held in Okinawa City, where a massive street performance shuts down the entire city! However, even small towns like mine will have Eisa performances during the summer! Most students also perform Eisa during their Sport's Day! It's a very moving performance and it is essential for the preservation of Okinawan culture. Think of it this way: Eisa is to Okinawa what Hula Dancing is to Hawaii! 

Check out some videos (and pictures too!) below, and try to see if you can hear the "Haiya iya sasa" chant! 

Here are some of my videos! 

(Sorry about the quality)

The mascots of Okinawa City are Eisa Performers! 

Reverse Culture Shock (Update)!

I'm heading home by the end of this week and although I am excited to see my family and friends, a part of me is worried about reverse culture shock. I've grown accostumed to my life in Okinawa, and I know I'll be a bit shocked when I return to Miami. Here's why:

No So Home Alone

Although my parents will do everything in their power to make me comfortable, I have experienced the freedom of walking stark naked through my apartment. That's freedom! I also had a chat with my mom about her overprotective ways. I know she loves me, but the point is to have me come back home and not run back to Japan. Love you mom!

(Update) I am happy to report that I had plenty moments for stark nakedness since my parents worked during the day! Haha! Ok, I know that's not important. It felt very natural being home, and I relished the moments when my pets took up most of the bed. It was nice to see everyone, but it was also nice to have moments alone to run errands or just do mundane things around the house. 

Street Harassment

Street harrassment isn't exclusive to the United States, but I have yet to experience street harassment in Okinawa. I can run around my town without being honked or hollared at. This will probably be the biggest shock since I really love the safe environment that Japan provides. Sayonara safety, and hello pepper spray.

(Update) I wonder if I was too harsh about my hometown. Maybe my city has changed, but it's probably more logical to consider that I have changed. I didn't experience any harassment or uneasiness.  Gas stations for me were always the worst and even though I attracted a few glances, I wasn't leered into discomfort. Everywhere I went, people struck up a conversation or went out of their way to help me. I was kind of taken aback by the unexpected acts of kindness. 

Too Busy, Sorry

I don't expect my friends to drop everything because I am visiting, so I know that there will be a few of my sucias and sucios that I won't see during my stay. #sad

(Update) Two weeks goes by in a flash and unfortunately I couldn't hang out with everyone or see some of my favorites more than once. However, I loved the moments spent with the ones I did see. It helped me remember the concept of true friendship and not the ones forged by convenience through the JET Program. 

Crazy Drivers

I am a pro at driving on the left - the fact I passed the driving test the first time confirms this - so I know it'll be odd driving on the right.

I drove on the left one in a parking lot. Luckily, it was only a parking lot! It was also nice to drive a car that had horse power. 

The Point

The best thing anyone can do is understand that reverse culture shock is normal, and to keep busy. And if it's one thing I've learned about myself is that...

Birthday Challenge: 28 Weird Facts About Me

I complied a list of the most random facts I could think of! Some of my close friends and family members will my know most of these, but I hope a few eyebrows are raised! Enjoy!

1. I have mini panic attacks on express elevators.

2. I Wikipedia most movies before watching them. 

3. I flipped to the back of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just to check whether or not Harry lived. Spoiler Alert: He lived!

4. My fantasy is to have a full body chiropractic adjustment. 

5. My vice is make up and I spend too much money on it. Double the amount if it's Korean make up! 

6. I'm not a full vegetarian because the shrimp at Samurai is too good to give up. 

7. I used eye glue to fix my left eyelid crease. 

8. I ordered my wedding cake topper at 19. 

9. I was bullied badly in middle school and it changed everything about my personality. 

10. I went to a dermatologist for adult acne. 

11. I began to walk with an exaggerated sway to prevent my hips from popping. Now, I pop my hips in the morning, but I keep the sway out of habit. 

12. I was anemic as a baby and during high school, but it wouldn't surprise me if I have become anemic once more in Japan. 

13. If a doctor or a nurse touches the inside of my elbow or places a turnacate when taking blood, my blood pressure drops and I come close to fainting. 

14. Yoga music stresses me out. 

15. I can tell how close of a friend I am with someone on whether or not they spell my nickname correctly. #Judgement

16. I've had plastic surgery. Well, technically surgery done by a plastic surgeon. 

17. I'm good at a lot of things, but I'm great at nothing. #Truth

18. I have Tokophobia, and therefore most of my pregnant friends (and mothers) are hidden from my Facebook newsfeed. 

19. Bananas are my favorite fruit, but I can't eat them because they make my stomache ache. 

20. Although I have had a questionable mole removed, I still love sunbathe. I just use SPF 30 instead of SPF 4.
21. During senior year of high school, I stole my science teacher's rat, which was meant to feed his snake, and set it free. Sorry (not sorry)!

22. I also took our senior mascot, a hand puppet named Pierre, because some classmates were planning to throw him away during our senior trip in Germany. 
23. The extra estrogen in birth control drove me insane.
24. For some strange reason, when I'm drunk it's difficult for me to hear music.
25. Because I have a hard time swallowing pills, I avoid most medicines unless it's absolutely necessary.
26. I was held back a grade in elementary due to illiteracy cause by ESOL classes. I didn't even need ESOL classes because I was bilingual!

27. I am very guarded and I've put this wall up that even I can't tear down. I'm working on it though. 
28. I saw a doctor for for about a year and a half to combat depression.

Random enough? 

Summer Vacation: The Art of Looking Busy While Doing Nothing

My main job during the summer is to give off the appearance of looking busy while doing absolutely nothing. In actuality, I do this all year but my efforts are doubled during the summer. This is also a great time to catch up with teachers who are otherwise too busy to talk to during the school year. Although every situation is different, work rules are typically thrown out the window during summer vacation.

• Go to Work Late
• I make it a point to come to work late everyday. There is nothing for me to do and thus there is no reason for me to be on time. I am usually expected at work at 8:15 but during summer vacation I casually stroll in at 9:30.
• Forget the Dress Code
• Sleeveless shirts, tanks and spaghetti-strapped tops are a big NO in the Japanese workplace - except during summer vacation. No one has said anything about my attire besides a few comments of how cute and summery I look; something that they expressed as "refreshing."
• Extend Lunchtime
• Whether I head home for lunch or bring a bento, I extend my lunch break to atleast two hours. If I eat at school, I use that opportunity to gossip talk with teachers.
• Catch up on Hobbies
• Summer vacation is a great time to catch up on varied interests. In preparation for my Mount Fuji trip, I knitted a scarf in the middle of work. Aside from the comments of amazement, my coworkers couldn't care less. I blog at work, watch movies at work, gossip at work, and spend too much time on my phone at work. Hell, I could change into sweats and workout at work - they just don't care.
• Go Home
• The great part about teaching at multiple schools is that no one knows where I am even though I've had the same schedule for a year. On days where I switch schools, I leave one school early to relax at home for a bit, and then drive to the other school. I do this during the school year, but my time at home is extended for a few hours during summer vacation. No one seems to notice or care. 

Now, before come at me with your judgment, know that when the situation arises I will drop what I'm doing and help my coworkers. They wouldn't love me if I wasn't eager to help in any way possible, right? So go forth my fellow English teachers, and get paid to do nothing!