The Amazing Race - Nippon Day 1 (Monday): Osaka

Day One (Monday): Osaka

When we were arranging our itinerary, it was very imperative that each person chose one place they would like to see.
Osaka was my choice because of Universal Studios.



I didn't want to go to Kansai region again without visiting this amusement park.
Thus, it was the first thing in our itinerary.

We arrived early morning; even before the park opened (it wasn't so obvious that I was excited, right).
So, we checked in early at the hotel.
I just would like to mention that we got a great deal on the hotel room we booked.

Just imagine, I reserved a family room.
When we went up to the 10th floor where our room was located, the grand view of the harbor greeted us.



Next thing I noticed was how big the room was. (Well, maybe I just got so used to staying in a 1K apartment.)
It was really spacious!
They gave us four beds, sofa, table and side tables, plus all the amenities that you get from a resort hotel.
The other thing that excited me was the size of the tub.
It was Western style and size! Sweet, right? (The moment I saw it I was already planning to use it after a day of enjoying the park.)
You would never guess how much we paid for that room.
All I can say is use Hotels.com when you would like to book a hotel for your recreational trips.

We went around the park and tried to ride all the attractions that looked and sounded good.
My sisters and I decided to start with the easy and fun ones, thinking that we might not enjoy the other rides if we were already dizzy.
Mind you, I am not the thrill seeker kind of gal.
I don't thrive on neck-breaking rides and the adrenaline rush it gives us.
Thus, the Hollywood Dream ride was the second to the last one and Jurassic Park was voted to be the last one since we were expecting to get soaked during the ride. (But we didn't.)

Before heading back to our hotel, we waited for the "Magical Starlight Parade."



Seeing floats lighted with hundreds of LED lights made me feel warm inside. (It made me think of the energy shortage we are experiencing in Kanto area.)
As the parade ceased, the last float caught my attention.



It said, "May All Your Wishes Come True."
For my family, it already did.

The Amazing Race - Nippon

As we approach the last leg of our journey, let me share with you what happened during the whole time my whole family was here. I call it the "The Amazing Race - Nippon." To those of you who are familiar with this American reality TV show, you would understand why. But to those who are not so familiar with this show, here's a little clip for you.



Ever since everyone arrived last May 15, we all felt that we were participating in the contest. Each day we had to stick to an itinerary that was so hectic. Why? We wanted to make the most of their trip, that's why. They only had a week so we had to cramp all the things they wanted to see in that duration. Thus, we visited6 prefectures in 6 days. For the next 6 posting, allow me to share with you some of the memorable things that transpired.

Keep your day job

Characters: N - Nicole Eu - Euneece　E - Emery U - Umi S - Shima

It was Golden Week and the DCEC staff were at a farm
in Chichibu having lunch.

E: That was a very satiating meal.
Eu: Oh yes! We even smell like our food.(sniffing her clothes)
S: Now, we're off to make some buckwheat noodles.

At the soba making class, the teacher gave his instructions
in Japanese. Shima and Umi translated them for the others.

N: So, I'm supposed to mix this flour and water just like
when I shampoo my hair? (moving her hands in circles)
U: That's correct. You do that until he says
(pointing to the teacher) you're done.
N: Sounds easy.

After a while...

S: How are you doing there, Nicole?
(looking at Nicole's big steel basin)
N: I have no idea if I'm getting anywhere.
But if this continues longer, I think I would need
to get a back massage later.
Eu: I know! It just looks easy but it's not.

Soba teacher came and told them the dough was good and that
it was ready for rolling.

Eu: Emery, you roll and we will make the sound, "Tan tan tan tan!"
(grinning at Emery)
E: No fair!

As Emery rolled the dough, she created a hole in the dough.

N: Emery! Look at what you did. (pointing at the big hole)

Everyone laughed heartily at the scene.

U/E: Oh no!
S: Here comes the teacher...
Eu: Quick! Patch it up.
(desperately trying to patch up the hole in the dough)

The soba teacher looked at the dough, then to the group and
finally talked to Shima.

N: Was he angry?
E: What did he say? (looking worried)
S: He said it didn't matter how the dough looked like.
It would still taste good.
Eu: Ha ha ha! Such a nice man!

Finally, the teacher demonstrated how to cut the dough.
Nicole, Emery, Umi and Euneece tried their hand at cutting the dough.
As a result, they produced different sizes of noodles.

N: Shima, what do you think? (showing off her well-cut noodles)
S: That's soba! (making Nicole beam)
U: How about mine?
S: Hmmm... let us wait for the teacher's judgement. (teasing Umi)
E: Speak of the devil (stepping aside so that the teacher
could see the noodles the group made)
Soba teacher: Udon desu ka?
Eu: (shaking her head) Fettucine desu!

The soba teacher with the DCEC group laughed their heads off.

N: I guess we have to keep our day jobs.
Eu: And just buy the commercially available soba.
E: Ditto!



●Vocabulary

★keep your day job - 仕事を続ける
★satiating - 満腹の
★sniff - 嗅ぐ
★off to - ～へ出かける
★No fair! - ずるい！
★laugh heartily - 心から笑う
★Quick! - 速く！
★patch it up - 繕う
★demonstrate - 実演する
★tried their hand - やろうとする、挑戦する
★show off - 目立とうとする
★well-cut - 仕立てのよい
★beam - 顔を輝かせる
★judgement - 判断
★speak of the devil - 噂をすれば影
★step aside - 脇へ退く
★laugh their heads off - 爆笑する
★commercially available - 市販の
★Ditto! - 同じく





■「今の仕事を続ける」

登場人物：　N - ニコル　Eu - ユニース　E - エメリー　
　　　　　　U - ウミ　S - 島

ゴールデンウィーク、DCECのスタッフが秩父の農場で昼食をとって
いる。

E: お腹いっぱいになる食事だったわ。
Eu: ほんとそうね！　食べ物のにおいがするくらい。（自分の服を
　　嗅ぐ）
S: さて、これから蕎麦を打ちに行くよ。

蕎麦打ち教室で、先生が日本語で教えている。
島とウミが皆に通訳する。

N: それで、この粉と水をシャンプーする時みたいに混ぜればいい
　　のね？
（円を描きながら手を動かしている）
U: そういうこと。彼がいいって言うまで（先生を示して）やるのよ。
N: 簡単そうじゃない。

しばらくして...

S: ニコル、そっちの様子はどうだい？（ニコルのボールを見る）
N: どのくらいやったかわかんない。でもこれ以上続けたら、
あとで肩もみしてもらわないといけなくなるわ。
Eu: ほんとよ！　簡単そうに見えるけどそうじゃないのよね。

蕎麦作りの先生が来て、生地は充分なので次は伸ばすという。

Eu: エメリー、あなたが生地を伸ばして、私たちが「タンタンタン！」
って言うから。（ニッと笑う）
E: ずるーい！

エメリーが生地を伸ばすしたら、生地に穴ができてしまう。

N: エメリー！　ちょっと見てみなさいよ。（大きい穴を指し示す）

皆がそれを見て心から笑った。

U/E: あーあ！
S: 先生が来た...
Eu: 早く！　直して。（生地の穴を必死に直そうとする）

蕎麦作りの先生は生地を見て、全員に、そして最後に島に話しかけた。

N: 先生怒ってた？
E: 何て言ったの？（心配そうに聞く）
S: 生地は見た目がどうでも問題ないって。味には変わりないから。
Eu: ハハハ！　いい先生ね！

最後に、先生が生地を切るところを実演してみせた。
ニコル、エメリー、ウミとユニースは生地を切るのに挑戦してみる。
結果として、太さの違う麺ができあがった。

N: 島さん、どう思う？（うまく切られた麺を見せびらかす）
S: これは蕎麦だね！（ニコルが笑顔になる）
U: 私のはどう？
S: ふーむ。先生の判断を待とう。（ウミをからかう）
E: 噂をすれば影よ。（先生にみんなで作った麺が見えるように、
一歩よける）
Soba teacher:（日本語で）うどんですか？
Eu:（首を横に振って）フェットチーネ（パスタの一種）、デス！

蕎麦作りの先生はDCECのみんなと一緒に爆笑した。

N: 今の仕事を続けたほうがよさそうね。
Eu: そして売っている蕎麦を買う、と。
E: 同じく！