This Thing Called Independence

So it's been about 5 weeks since I've moved to Takko and I'm still learning how to live on my own. People reading should not be confused with this "living alone" concept; I lived away from home during college, but being constantly surrounded by roommates and not having to worry about fixing the AC unit if it breaks because University Maintenance will take care of it is completely different. Let's just say that I have a certain someone on speed dial in case the water heater gives out ;)

But I guess that besides the sink backing up and the washing machine breaking, there seems to be one common concern among the majority of the people in my life. It isn't a secret that I am no Martha Stewart. Several jokes have been made at my expense regarding my ability to boil water or pour a bowl of cereal. However, those who have lived with me are aware that I am completely capable of following the directions on the back of a Rice-a-Roni box or on the package of Trader Joe's Orange Chicken. It isn't that I can't cook...it's that I'm just completely uninterested. There have been a few nights that I just threw some Ritz crackers and cheese on a plate and called it dinner (which, by the way, is way better than a quart of milk and a package of Oreos). Other nights, I've just added hot water to ramen noodles and was satisfied. But I've come to realize that the nutritional value of my meals must be taken into consideration and I need to reevaluate my eating habits.

The ever-so-sweet previous occupant of the apartment, Patrick, gave me a tour of the local grocery market and a "cooking lesson" (And by cooking lesson, I mean he cooked and I watched...literally). Now on my own, I shy away from the meat section for fear of choosing the wrong meat and eating chicken skin for dinner and gravitate towards the frozen food section (the packages have pictures on them to show what the food should look like and usually a cartoon character of whatever animal the food was made out of). I always make my way down the aisle with the crackers and cookies and I never forget to pick up my milk and cereal.

Now before you freak out and start asking for my address to send care packages (although, that would be awfully sweet of you), I have evolved beyond the cracker and cheese dinner. Due to the incessant pestering, er I mean...loving encouragement from certain someones, I've not only learned how to work my rice cooker (don't judge me...it's all in Japanese), but I've always grown to make fried rice from a convenient little packet from the store and I'm cooking veggies to go along with it. I bought a chicken breast yesterday (still trying to figure out what to do with that) and I'll be making beef curry one of these days (it's come to be one of my favorite meals in Japan).

So I have been making progress in the cooking aspect of my life. While I still enjoy a good cracker and cheese snack from time to time, I don't think I'll be making it a habit to substitute that as a meal. I have been keeping up with my grocery market visits (I only slacked on that once...I ate peanut butter and senbei for dinner that day) and I have to say that besides stocking up on food, the best part of the visits is the walk. I've posted some pictures of my walk to Sun Mall (where the grocery store is) so enjoy :)

If I have learned nothing else about myself during my year here in Japan, it would be that I will forever and always, love apples and peanut butter.