Farewell Party

3 of my best friends gave me a farewell party at one of their house. They prepared many kinds foods and sweets. We drank wine. I really impressed their kindness and was so happy. I have stayed in Albany Almost 3 years and will leave on August 2. Off course, I missed Japan. But I love Albany and my friends in Albany. I will miss all of them.

BBQ Party

Today I had a BBQ party at my adviser's house. This party was for 2 undergraduates students and me. 2 undergraduates students graduate in last May and I will finish my course this summer. It was a potluck party and I enjoyed eating so much!! Drinking beers, eating delicious food and chatting with my lab mates, it was really nice and made me so happy.

Potato croquette

Today I will have a potluck party in my adviser's house. Our lab members will join this party. It is difficult for me to decide which food I will bring every time because some one cannot eat beef, some one can only chicken and vegetables, some one cannot spicy food and seafood. Finally, I made potato croquette think morning. I mixed potato with onion and bacon. Then, I covered with crumb and fried. They look delicious ???

BBQ Party

I had a BBQ party with my friends at my friend's house. I like BBQ because it is symbol of summer for me!! Today was real summer day. Sunshine was strong and it made me suntan. We took food and shared. I took Salmon with vegetable and cooked on BBQ stove. Finally, we gave up to be in such a summer day and went into the house. It was comfortable than outside. How many times will I do BBQ this summer???

International Dinner

I joined "The International Dinner" at "First Assembly of God(http://albanyfirstag.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=25728) with some of JLCC (http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/) members. About 30 people joined this dinner. Each of us took our country food and shared. I made one bite size of 25 "Tonkatsu (Deep fried pork)". Other Japanese took "Sekihan (Red bean rice : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekihan)" and "Fried Chicken". I tried many kinds of food and like vegetable and chicken soup (I did not check which country) and Indian dessert "Ras malai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasmalai)". I asked Indian woman how to make this dessert and it looks easy. But we can get this in Indian glossary store. I will check!
During eating, we did some easy and fun game. Also, we talked with other people and had a good time.

My B-Day #4 "End of Semester Party"

The spring semester will end next week, so we had a party in our teacher's house. Her house has big backyard and comfortable area. We brought some food and did BBQ. Unfortunately, there were around 10 students to join this party. But I met my friends for the first time of these 6 months, so I was so happy to talk with her.
Food was good and talk was continuing....

My B-Day #3 "Fruit Cake"

After eating lunch with my lab-mates, we return to our lab and found that today's meeting will be canceled. I thought we would eat cake in meeting time. Then, we ate cake in the lab (Actually, eating and drinking are prohibited in the lab).
The cake, which were made by my friend and she brought it to my apartment yesterday, was fantastic. Fruits were sweet and cream was soft. My lab-mates love it too.

Spring Picnic Lunch

I have a "Picnic Lunch Party" at Indian Ladder Farm(http://www.indianladderfarms.com/cgi-bin/ilf.cgi) today. There are many apple trees and most of them bloom beautifully. More than 30 Japanese came there and they brought food which we share. Rice ball, Boiled pumpkin, Fried chicken, Onion salad and so on. The weather was soooo nice and we enjoyed eating and talking. Children enjoyed rode the hey ride, saw baby animals and played in the ground. I was really happy to see some of my friends who have not contact for long time. I love these kind of gathering!

Dinner Club at P.F.Chang

I had a dinner with 2 of my friends at "P.F.Chang(http://www.pfchangs.com/)". We ate "Chang's for 2 ($39.95)" and "VIP Duck". As for the "Chang's for 2", we can select 2 cup of soup, 1 starter, 2 entrees and 2 mini desserts. We selected "Hot and sour soup", "Egg drop soup", "Chang's chicken lettuce wrap", "Pepper steak", "Cantonese shrimp", "Tiramisu" and "Strawberry cheese cake". All of them were so good, especially I really love "Chang's chicken lettuce wrap". As for the "VIP Duck", duck was little oily and tasted Chinese spice.

Finally, we could not eat all of the food and took of them to my home.

Japan Night 2009

I went to "Japan Night" in SUNY with my friends.
I heard Japanese food would be served between 7:00pm and 8:00pm, and we rushed in the event at 7:00pm. Food was nice but the amount of food were terrible. Even though I ate my portion but still hungry. Same as my friends.
The show was awesome! The member of JSA(Japanese Student Association) presented some Japanese popular songs and skit which showed Japanese life style. They presented "Fashion Show" last. The show was so interesting for me. They changed to ware Kimono (Japanese traditional clothes) characteristically.
I really enjoyed this event and it was much better last year.

Japan Night in this year

"Japan Night" in SUNY, sponsored by Japanese Student Association in SUNY, will be held in April 23 this year. We can buy a ticket ($5.00 in advanced, $8.00 at the door )from today.
Last year, I joined this event with my Japanese friends and enjoyed very much, so I will go again!

Delmonico's italian Steakhouse (Italian Restaurant)

I went to have a dinner with my friends at "Delmonico's(http://www.delmonicositaliansteakhouse.com/)". At the parking lot, there are so many cars and I could not any space and waited about 15minutes. Inside the restaurant was so clouded and little noisy. At first, we ate 2 kinds of appetizer. One of them was small steak which was cut small size. The sauce was garlic and soy sauce taste. Other was Italian chips with tomato sauce. I ate "Veal Parmigiana" as a main dish. It was Veal with cheese and tomato sauce. It was little heavy for me but veal was so soft and tasty. As a dessert, I ate "Tiramisu". It was delicious and good for black coffee. Finally, I was full and packed more than half my dish. I could not understand why so many people come to this restaurant even if the steak is good.
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Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse
1553 Central Avenue,
Albany, NY 12205
TEL (518)456-5656
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New Years Party

I had a New Year Party with my friends. We brought Japanese traditional New Years food and shared them. All of them were so delicious. Even if I am in Japan, I cannot prepare such a many kinds of foods. I really happy to eat them. Children played New Years games and did a tea ceremony. Some of them wore Kimono (Japanese traditional costume) and took pictures. Today was really Japanese day for me.

Rice Cake

Some of my friends and I did "Mochitsuki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi)" today. "Mochitsuki" is a traditional rice cake-pounding ceremony in New Years day in Japan. But it is rare to see this ceremony even if we are in Japan. One of our friends have tools of ceremony and we landed them. Children tried to make rice cake. After that, adults dipped these rice cakes with many kinds of flavors, such as red bean paste, soy flour with sugar, green soy bean paste and sesame with sugar. All of them were very tasty and children had a hearty appetite. Also, I ate too much.

Lab Party

2 of the member of our lab will finish their course in this semester, so we had a party and celebrated them. The party was held in our adviser's house. Her house is brand new and really clean and beautiful. Also, her son is really cute!
This party is potluck, then we brought foods. I made "Quiche(spinach and bacon)" and "Tonkatsu(Deep fried pork)". I was little afraid because some of my American friends do not try food which they are not familiar. Then, I thought and selected deep fried pork. Many American members ate them and I am so happy. Other members brought dumpling, pan fried beef, chicken wing, salad,.... All of them are delicious and I ate a lot.
In the party, we could got the secret Santa present. I got fragrance set.
I ate good food, had a lively talking and got present. Today was so happy for me.

Dinner Club in this month

Dinner club in this month is in "Sushi-tei(http://www.sushiteialbany.com/index.html)". I like this restaurant these days. I love deep fried pork and ate "Katsu ju(Deep fried pork with egg over the rice)". Most of the members ate Sushi and we ate dessert, too. There were 3 kinds of dessert; Ice creame, Ice cream Tempra and Sherbet. I ate Red bean Ice cream and it was so nice. I love it! I tried Ice cream Tempra which my friend was eating. taste is not good and not bad, but batter of the Tempra is little bit thick and it was difficult to eat. As for the dessert, I recommend to eat Red bean Ice Cream. After eating, we moved to Starbucks coffee at Stuyvsant Plaza and chatted until 10pm. I was so happy to meet Japanese friends and talked a lot.

Apple Picking & Picnic Lunch

I joined "Apple Picking & Picnic Lunch" at Indian Ladder Farm(http://www.indianladderfarms.com/cgi-bin/ilf.cgi). Unfortunately, the weather was bad and it was cloudy and sometimes shower. We bought a bag and put apples in it. We picked "Fuji-apple" and "Mutsu-apple", which are Japanese apple. The ground of apple picking area was wet and apples were on the top of the tree. It was difficult to pick for children and they used the tool for pick.
After picking, we had a potluck party in a hatch because of rain. I enjoyed eating many kinds of food, such as sandwich, potato salad and Tonjiru(Miso soup with pork and many kinds of vegetables). After eating lunch, children went to pumpkin farm and pick own pumpkin. They painted and carved own pumpkin. It was so interesting. Each children enjoyed very much and had a good job!

Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

Carl and Joan invited JLCC(http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/index.htm) to dinner. I went to their house. There were 6members(3 Japanese, 1 Korean, 1 American and 1 Chinese). They prepared many food such as turkey, salad, lasagna and mash potatoes. After eating these food, we ate apple crumble and brownie as a dessert. I was so satisfied these food. We talked about American economy these days, Japanese culture, and our work and study. We chatted a lot and had a good time. I really thank to Carl and Joan!

Fall Gathering

There was a Fall Gathering in my department. It was welcoming party for new graduate students. All graduate students, facilities and other staffs, also their friends and family were invited to this party. At first, this party was held at the courtyard in front of the building but today was rainy day, so we had a party inside the building. The room was little small and some people were in the hallway. I talked with new graduate students and have a many kinds of food, such as Pizza, Samosa, salad, Sushi, Fried fish and so on. Also, I ate fruits and cakes. I made small size Cheese cakes.
During the party, there was a raffle. Some people could got the prize; Towel, T-shirts, Mug, Coffee cup... Then I got !! I got USB memory(500Mb). I was soooo surprise!!

Dinner Club in this month

Every 2 months, my Japanese friends and I have a dinner together. This time we had a dinner at "Buca di Beppo(http://www.bucadibeppo.com/)". There were 8 Japanese women joining this dinner. In this restaurant, each meal is so large and we ordered 1 entree, 1 salad, 2 pastas, 1 pizza and 2 deserts. But still we could not eat all of them. During eating, we talked a lot about our American life, job, children and so on. We could not stop talking. After eating dinner, some of us move to Starbucks coffee and still talk a lot. Finally, I return to my apartment at 11:00pm. It was fun day!