In which I extol on the flavor of Japanese apples, and other immediate thoughts
As far back as I can remember, at least since the age of four, I remember hating apples. I adored apple juice, had seasonal affairs with apple cider, but Mott's apple sauce was the closest I coulde come to liking a solid apple. Carmel apples, no. I even refused to try apple pie until uni, believing I'd just hate that too (though I as biased against all pies, even pumpkin and pecan).
I reason I hated apples was two fold. First, I didn't like the texture. The first crunch bite was tolerable, but after four or five chews, the pulpy texture sickening; I just couldn't swallow it. Then there was the taste. Apples always tasted profoundly different from apple sauce and juice. They were never as sweet, or if they were, it was only for the first bite.
But Japanese apples! The harvest has just ended, and the last of the Great Apples are being sold at ungodly cost. Who in the States would pay $4-5 for a single apple? These are twice the size of an apple back home, but are otherwise unassuming. Even when you cut into it, nothing is different. But once that knife finishes the first stroke and the apple falls in half, there is a circle of gold inside surrounded by a soft honey color. And that golden center is what all apples should be like: crunchy, but so full of flavor and natural sugars that its like having apple cider is solid form. Even the honey colored part, less sweet, is more flavorful than any I had back home.
In the spring, the farmers who grow the apples go into the orchard and select the finest, healthiest blossom in each flower cluster, the others are discarded. This way, all the tree's energy is focused into a sixth of its potential, allowing them to grow larger and sweeter. True, they do not have as many to sell, but the taste is so superior to mass grown apples they can sell them for much higher prices.
Someone, please tell me we have the same apples back in the States. I have gained quite a fondness for Japanese fruits... strawberries, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, apples, watermelon... but when I go home to visit, they never taste as good.
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In other news, on friday I return to the States. I'm trying to pack, but the urgency to get it done asap isn't there this time 'round. Far less stress than usual. Trans-pacific flights just aren't a big deal anymore I guess. And this time I'll get to see Jeanne and Emily. Driving to Akron to pick Jeanne up, then Em, then visit the ol' campus and got to Jeets, see Andy and Jules... so excited. It'll be the highlight of my trip, aside from Christmas day.
And it came up in a conversation the other week, about Obama... we english teachers here really want him to write a new speech, with another catchy simple slogan, so our students will continue to learn them. Something with present progressive participles would be nice. "Yes we can" was good, but they have mastered it, and I'm ready for them to shout something else in the halls.
It occured to me this morning: I've been slightly lamenting the fact I wasn't home for the election and the celebrations and excitment I'm sure it generated. But I'm witnessing a different excitment, a kind State-siders only get a glimps of maybe. Everyone knows Obama. Every student, every teacher, even a 6 year old I met the other day knew Obama. The other international teachers support Obama. It's crazy to see the world wanting to support Obama, and awaiting his appointment to office. I hope he holds up under the pressure.
Lastly, I'm going to a Christmas party tonight, hosted by a private English teacher (wife to a teacher here). I'm looking forward to it and dreading it. I want to make connections with people, but it means not returning home until 10:00pm. With a body thats starting to catch a cold, after a weekend of late nights, and with prepartions for my trip to finish... it just annoying, and I shouldn't have agreed to it. But too late now.
4 days til home!
I reason I hated apples was two fold. First, I didn't like the texture. The first crunch bite was tolerable, but after four or five chews, the pulpy texture sickening; I just couldn't swallow it. Then there was the taste. Apples always tasted profoundly different from apple sauce and juice. They were never as sweet, or if they were, it was only for the first bite.
But Japanese apples! The harvest has just ended, and the last of the Great Apples are being sold at ungodly cost. Who in the States would pay $4-5 for a single apple? These are twice the size of an apple back home, but are otherwise unassuming. Even when you cut into it, nothing is different. But once that knife finishes the first stroke and the apple falls in half, there is a circle of gold inside surrounded by a soft honey color. And that golden center is what all apples should be like: crunchy, but so full of flavor and natural sugars that its like having apple cider is solid form. Even the honey colored part, less sweet, is more flavorful than any I had back home.
In the spring, the farmers who grow the apples go into the orchard and select the finest, healthiest blossom in each flower cluster, the others are discarded. This way, all the tree's energy is focused into a sixth of its potential, allowing them to grow larger and sweeter. True, they do not have as many to sell, but the taste is so superior to mass grown apples they can sell them for much higher prices.
Someone, please tell me we have the same apples back in the States. I have gained quite a fondness for Japanese fruits... strawberries, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, apples, watermelon... but when I go home to visit, they never taste as good.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news, on friday I return to the States. I'm trying to pack, but the urgency to get it done asap isn't there this time 'round. Far less stress than usual. Trans-pacific flights just aren't a big deal anymore I guess. And this time I'll get to see Jeanne and Emily. Driving to Akron to pick Jeanne up, then Em, then visit the ol' campus and got to Jeets, see Andy and Jules... so excited. It'll be the highlight of my trip, aside from Christmas day.
And it came up in a conversation the other week, about Obama... we english teachers here really want him to write a new speech, with another catchy simple slogan, so our students will continue to learn them. Something with present progressive participles would be nice. "Yes we can" was good, but they have mastered it, and I'm ready for them to shout something else in the halls.
It occured to me this morning: I've been slightly lamenting the fact I wasn't home for the election and the celebrations and excitment I'm sure it generated. But I'm witnessing a different excitment, a kind State-siders only get a glimps of maybe. Everyone knows Obama. Every student, every teacher, even a 6 year old I met the other day knew Obama. The other international teachers support Obama. It's crazy to see the world wanting to support Obama, and awaiting his appointment to office. I hope he holds up under the pressure.
Lastly, I'm going to a Christmas party tonight, hosted by a private English teacher (wife to a teacher here). I'm looking forward to it and dreading it. I want to make connections with people, but it means not returning home until 10:00pm. With a body thats starting to catch a cold, after a weekend of late nights, and with prepartions for my trip to finish... it just annoying, and I shouldn't have agreed to it. But too late now.
4 days til home!