I'm Back

Sorry for the low updates.

Before I left Japan I was so stressed out. Why? Well.. a lot of school work that needed to be done, packing to go back to Sweden (had no clue what to bring back), but also needed to pack my stuff that was gonna be moved to the apartment. Now I feel like a rock has fallen off my chest. Pheww. I've filled out most of the visa application (a bit early.. but I like to do stuff like this so that there won't be any last minute stress). And I also went to register our marriage here in Sweden. I guess it will take a bit longer time, since they need to translate the paper from japanese to swedish.

- I thought that we'd get a marriage certificate from Sweden as well. But I was wrong. Since we already got it from the japanese government. -

Honey will start fixing the COE ("certificate of eligibility"), which more or less, is the hard part of applying for a visa (at least when it comes to spousal visa). For example you have to tell story, dates, places. But also attach a couple of photos where you clearly can see that the two actually are a couple. But that's just some of it. COE is so much more than that. After submitting the COE, all you can do is wait. Time and patience will now be your best friend (COE takes about 1-3 months to be processed). After receiving the COE, the applicant of visa needs to obtain it from their spouse. Send it in together with a filled out visa application form, passport, photo etc to the Embassy of Japan (unless you're already in Japan). And again, wait some time. Either, you will be accepted, or not. But hopefully will be. Then the fun part comes. Purchasing the flight ticket. And off you go to Japan. And hopefully there won't be any problems at the immigration bureau. 

I just hope I have filled out the visa correctly. But while I was talking to the Embassy of Japan it seemed like they are not TOO specific about things. As long as the stuff you write down is accurate.

Really want to go home now. I often catch myself thinking 'what on earth am I doing here?', I should be with my husband. I mean, we've only been married for like two weeks. I miss eating dinner with him. I love having lunch, dinner, together with bby. Don't know why. But for me sharing a good meal together is gold worth. He's my favourite diningpartner person. Lol.

With my mother though... Nooo.. just no! It's not because I don't enjoy her company. It's because I am WAY TOO sensitive when it comes to noises. I seriously can not stand people who can't eat without making noise. It doesn't matter if it is loud, or not. Makes my blood boil. I've even told her to eat quietly. But she thinks she's already eating quietly. Uhh no you don't :(

A few years ago I found out that I suffer with tinnitus. But the doctor also told me that my ears probably are quite sensitive. Which make it hard for me to stand some noise. Well.. the noises that I've got problems with, is the noises related to eating.

If you haven't been to Japan, you might get a shock when entering a ramen shop. Everyone slurps their noodles. Everyone. Here in Sweden it's called bad manners. There, in Japan it's called "showing appreciation to the chef, and cool down the hot noodles". Bbys mum even slurps her salad. Oh god.. If you are sensitive to different eating noises, but really wanna go to Japan, I suggest you to get used to those kind of noises now already.

If you are not sensitive to those kind of noises, I'd say slurp away lol :) 

How slurping sounds etc makes me feel. Lol!!!

Anyway... I'm still happy to spend some time with my mother. I often feel guilty about leaving her all alone. I know that my mother will feel, or already feels very lonely. And to be honest, we don't have a great relationship. Because of many reasons it is hard for me to build up a good relationship again. I will always love her. But things in the past are hard to forget. And it might seem crazy. But we have the best relationship, when it's on a distance. For some relationships, distance is key.

Lol I'm so sorry for making a kind of useless post. Anyway, now you know I'm alive. And I haven't forgotten about the blog. I'll try to post a bunch of pictures later as well.

I hope that you are all enjoying the weekend to the fullest.
Xo Amanda ^^

03.03.14 Hinamatsuri

Hello!

How are you!?
I am fine. 

Today in Japan, it is "Hinamatsuri" as some of you might know. Hinamatsuri (doll festival/girl's festival) is always celebrated on 3rd of March. Families with daughters will during this day, pray for them to have a happy and successful life. It is also tradition to display dolls, together with peach blossoms in the homes here, during Hinamatsuri. Eating chirashi sushi is another tradition of Hinamatsuri (if you haven't tried it, you should, I really love it. Absolutely delicious). And I read somewhere that you also drink sweet sake today. But I don't know about that.

Honey's mum also gave me some Hinamatsuri origami that her colleague had made. Her colleague told her to give it to me. Very nice thought. I've always liked origami. And a couple of years ago I spent a lot of my time folding origami. Have you ever tried it out? There's a lot of guides online where you can learn to fold different kinds of origami.

Aren't they adorable!? Really cute. Origami always fascinates me a lot.

What else!? Hmm... well.. yesterday, me and honey met up with one of his friends. We went to a local tempura restaurant to eat. It was delicious. And I could enjoy having lunch together with his friend. All of us ordered the same. A set menu for 2000¥ each.

Don't have any good pictures of yesterday's lunch. But here's some of the food that were included in the set menu.

At the restaurant yesterday. To be honest I've felt uncomfortable with the thought of uploading pictures of me,
 or other people around me here at the blog. But I'll try to change it.
I guess it won't hurt to upload a picture every now and then ^^

Weekend Plans

Saturday: Go to Kichijoji and meet up with honey to eat lunch then walk around in the neighbourhood, and then have dinner. After that pick up rental car. Kichijoji is a quite cozy, and interesting neighbourhood with a lot of cafes and restaurants. Big + for that.

Sunday: Go and look at some other apartments. Hopefully we'll find one this time. Please let us find one this time. If not, I give up, kinda, sorta.. Blaah. Or at least I'll stop care and say yes to anything haha. I hope we'll get a good view of Mt. Fuji this time. It's so, so beautiful!

Monday: Disney Sea! Yaay (^o^) Really look forward to it. Last winter we went to Disneyland. loved it. Disney Sea, I heard, is more mature, and perhaps more popular for couples!?

I've been feeling like I'm catching a cold these recent days. It is just too freaking cold in this apartment. Central heating does NOT exist in Japan. And the ceiling here just sucks. Kotatsu is almost always occupied, and the oil heater sucks anyway. Blah blah.. should stop complain. Just started to feel even worse today. So I do feel a bit irritated. Have stuff to do you know. No time for a heavy cold. Seriously I'll stop complaining now.

Today I found this cute Rilakkuma latte while I was out. Bought it because it was just simply too cute. I was surprised that it didn't taste bad at all. Usually I don't like these kind of coffees. They are always too sweet. I like strong, unsweetened coffee normally.

Super kawaii or what!? lol

Häagen Dazs 20.02.14

So in Japan, recently Häagen Dazs released two new, seasonal flavours for their "30th anniversary".

One I am a fan of myself.. the other one!? Not so much. The flavours are: sakura (cherry blossom), and rose. Can you guess which one that I do not find desirable? The rose flavoured one of course. Although I have not tried it out myself, I am also just as sure that I will not. I think that rose is something you either love, or hate. As much as I love the flower itself.. I absolutely do not like rose fragrances, flavours.. or anything similar to that. Blehhh.

Sakura, anyhow, I really like. It reminds me of bubblegum taste. When I've eaten, or been drinking something with sakura flavour, I immediately become reminded of my childhood. Every now and then, my mother would buy me this pink, soft bubblegum in a tube, that I always loved to chew. With a taste so sweet.

But I won't lie. Sakura is a complicated flavour. You can easily go wrong with it. For example, I've eaten sakura softcream, that wasn't a big hit. Häagen Dazs sakura ice cream is however awesome, . Starbucks Sakura Latte isn't that good either. Way too milky. It takes a pro to master the flavour of sakura.

Anyhoo, back to the topic, me and sweetie bought both sakura and rose. His sister wanted to try out both flavours. So I've taken a couple of pictures of both the ice creams.

If you're in Japan, take this opportunity to buy any of these ice creams, while they're still available. I recommend sakura one. If you're a fan of cherry blossoms, you'll be a fan of this ice cream too. The price is around 180¥ if I remember correctly :)

Which one of these would you like to try out!?

Alla Hjärtans Dag

- Happy Valentine's Day - Glad Alla Hjärtans Dag - Afterwards 

Did you have a good day yesterday!? 
I know a lot of people feel pressure during Valentine's day.  I try not to. But sometimes it's hard.
Actually, I've never really celebrated Valentine's day to be honest. Well.. two Valentine's ago, I made a special "cake" for Ryo. And this year I made him some chocolate. And I also made kinda home made wrapping to go with it. But we didn't celebrate Valentine's even a tiny bit. As usual.

In Japan, during Valentine's day, the girls here make chocolate for the guys. Not just the guys that they love. But it can also be for colleagues, school friends, and so on.
There are two different types of chocolate that you can give to the guys. One is for the person that you more or less love "honmei choco". And the other one is just generally for everyone that you usually meet every day "giri choco". But the girls can also exchange choco with their other female friends "tomo choco


A month later, during "White day", the guys will return the favour by giving the girls a gift back.
I find it a little bit odd. Why wait a month later to return the gift!? Ahh.. Japan is Japan. That's why.

I couldn't snap any good photo of the giftbos I made. It didn't turn out well. But it had to do. lol

Cold Day

Hejsan! 
Today the weather here in Saitama is not so fine. From the warm, spring weather yesterday, to raw, wet, cold weather today. Although, it did not stop me from taking a power walk earlier today. I went up at 6am since I was already awake and couldn't fall back to sleep. It was nice to spend some time together with my honey before he left for school. Around 8 I finally went out to get some fresh air. Met a really cute dog while being outside. Aww. Do want!


I don't really have anything special, or interesting to write about right now. But still I felt like write a post. Lol!
Today I ate potato & leek soup, and a crisp bread with beetroot salad, for lunch. This soup was perfect to become a bit warmer in this cold weather. Brrr.