T.G.I. Friday's (American food)

When one of the lab member's birthday is coming, we have a lunch at outside, such as T.G.I. Friday's (http://www.fridays.com/home/welcome.aspx), Panera(http://www.panerabread.com/) or ICHIBAN(http://www.ichibanalbany.com/). Today we had a lunch at T.G.I.Friday's. The foods of this restaurant is cheap and big volume, and most of students are satisfied with these foods. I ate "half sandwich and soup combination" today. The volume is half but it was enough for me
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T.G.I. Friday's
40A Stuyvesant Boulevard #A
Albany, NY 12203
TEL (518)489-1661
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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 ???

Soda or Pop

When I ate lunch with my lab-mate, one of them called "Pop" to soft drinks. I call "Soda". It is so interesting thing for me. Then, I looked for interesting map in web site(http://gigazine.jp/img/2008/09/11/map_what_carbonated_beverage_called/popvssodamap.gif). Half of the area's people call "Pop". Uh... interesting!

Dinner with My Friends

I had a dinner with my friend who will return to Japan next month. We went to "Barcelona(http://www.barcelona-albany.com/)". This restaurant is near SUNY uptown campus but many of my friends do not notice it. Today, I ate "Chicken Paella" and my friends ate "Seafood pasta" and "Pork Mediterranean". As for the Paella, the texture of rice were perfect and Chicken was so nice. As for the seafood pasta, we can choose red or white source. There were many seafood on the pasta and it looked difficult to eat. As for the Pork Mediterranean, Basil and olive oil source were put on the pork, and it make me so hungry.
Some of my Japanese friends graduated this semester and they will return to Japan. I am so sad on this summer...

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 #2 "Hana Japanese Steakhouse"

I went to my lab after interview.
My lab-mates celebrated my B-day and we went to have a lunch at
"Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar(http://hanaalbany.com/#/home)". One of our lab-mates really love this restaurant but I have not gone yet. Inside the restaurant was little dark but good decoration and atmosphere. There are many kinds of lunch menu and I ate "Tonkatsu lunch box". Other members ate "Sashimi Lunch", "Sushi Lunch" and ... In my lunch box, there were Tonkatsu (deep fried pork), 2 dumplings, California roll, vegetable tempura and miso soup. It was lot for me. The taste of my Tonkatsu was so-so but Sushi looked so delicious. Fatty tuna was beautiful and fascinated me.
One of the member told "Today is my B-day" to waiter, so they sang a birthday song and gave me ice cream tempura, but they asked me to dance, dance!! Sorry, I could not dance...
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Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
1620 Western Avenue,
Albany,NY 12203
TEL (518)452-4262
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Crazy students in Fountain Day

Today was "The Fountain Day" in SUNY. I went there with my friends and I saw so many crazy students. However, this event was jump-up.

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!

Merry Christmas !

I love Christmas season. The atmosphere looks really lively and exciting. My friend decorated in our lab and the entrance of my apartment is gorgeous!

Today, I got Christmas cake (http://yuttysr.fc2web.com/)!

Then, I finished preparing Christmas. Only thing I have to do is to wait my Santa Clause!!!!

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.

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!!

Tonight is Japan Night

I joined "Japan Night" organized by JSA(Japanese Student Association；http://albany.edu/~jsa/index.html. I heard there will be Japanese food, so I went there before opened the door but there were many people. I was very surprised to see them. After opening the door, we could eat Japanese food but there were little; Sushi, Fried-noodle, Pan-fried pork and so on. After eating there food, performing was started. 1．Opening band(In this point, I was sooo regret to take my friends)→2.Kendo(It was not Kendo, it was comedy!)→3.Calligraphy(No comment)→4.Japanese Dance(It was great but I did not need to dance a waltz)→5.Karate(It was really good. The people who train in Karate-Dojo(http://www.jka-albany.org/ )near SUNY demonstrated Karate.)→6.Japanese Pop Song(It was good,too.)→7.Fashion Show(It was best, I thing. "Otaku" was really impressed and I bursted into laughter!)→8.Stomp　Dance(It was good)

This Friday

SUNY JSA(Japanese Student Association；http://albany.edu/~jsa/index.html) will have a "Japan Night" in this Friday. This event is held once in a year and JSA introduces Japanese culture and shows some demonstration of calligraphy and Karate. It looks very interesting to me and I will join this event with 2 of my friends. The ticket price is $5.00 before Friday 4:00PM. But After 4:00PM, ticket price will be $8:00.

Boston 1 Day Trip

I went to Boston with my friend yesterday(Sep. 29). We met at 7:30AM on uptown campus and went by bus. We arrived at Boston about 10AM.At first, we went to Harvard University(http://www.harvard.edu/) by subway. Compared with New York City's subway, Boston's subway is cleaner and comfortable and I like it! Harvard University has huge area and a lot of green. There were many people to see campus. We wanted to see a statue of "John Harvard" who founded this university. I heard the story which "touching his left foot makes us happy", so I touched his left foot. After walking the campus, we went to "COOP" and bought some goods.
On lunch time, we went to "Porter Exchange Mall", where is famous Japanese restaurant and Japanese supermarket. We ate Sushi(http://kotobukiyamarket.com/sushi.htm) and it was so delicious, especially row fish was so tasty. After eating, we went to Japanese supermarket(http://kotobukiyamarket.com/tobukiyamarket.com/) and bought some Japanese groceries.

In afternoon, we went around "little Italy" and ate dessert at "Trani(http://tranibrand.com/)".

First we selected our pastry(we selected eclair and cup cake), then they put ice cream in pastry and finished the process by topping with warm chocolate. they were really delicious!!!

After went around "Little Italy", we went to "Qunicy Market(http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/)"　and bought some food for dinner. We bought Lobster's sandwich, boiled shrimp and clam chowder. We shared all of them and were full. We left Boston 7:30AM and arrived Albany about 10:30PM. I was soooo tired.

Final Party @ Dragon Buffet

Today, I had a final party at Dragon Buffet(http://www.dragonbuffet.com/ 1881 Central Ave., Albany NY). In this restaurant, there are many kinds of food, such as Japanese food, Chinese food, American food. I think weekday lunch price is so valuable($5.99). Saturday lunch is $6.99 and Sunday lunch is $10.49. There were a lot of people to eat there! I recommend to go to this restaurant!!!(May 3, 2007 )

Film Festival #4 (@ IELP)

Today and yesterday, we had a Film festival#4 in our class!
We watched "The Pursuit of Happyness ". This story is real story. Chris(main character) faced to difficult life with his son but he tried to be happy and had a chance! (April 26, 2007 )

Fountain Day @SUNY

Today is Fountain day in SUNY. I did not know what they celebrate, but my teacher said it was very fun, so I went there. It was very fun and crazy!!! The person who can join this event is only SUNY student or stuff. Early registration gave me original T-shirt. First, at entrance, I was checked my SUNY card and was given wrist band. Then, I entered the event field. In the field, we could get free drinks(soda, iced tea, water...) and foods(hot dog, potato chips...). At 14:30 we could enter the fountain area and enjoyed playing with water. That was very fun and I got wet!!!(April 22, 2007 )

Film Festival #3 (@ IELP)

Today and yesterday, we had a Film festival#3 in our class!
We watched "Million Dollar Baby". I was so impressed this movie. Even though I watched this movie last semester, I cried same scene. It is shown good relationship between Frankie and Maggie, and also shows many Irish cultures. I strongly recommend to watch this movie!(April 19, 2007 )