I lived in Sendai, Japan in 1996-1997 and taught English for the JET Programme. This was/is a programme that was sponsored by the Japanese and American governments to help with Japanese students learning English. Working with a Japanese trained English teacher, who taught all the grammar, structure and difficult language lessons, I would just talk to the students and play games with them. Not a bad gig.
Sendai, Japan, by the way, was the city hit by the huge Tsunami in 2012. I never learned if anyone I knew died or was injured and I don’t think I really want to know. Maybe if I visit it when I go to Japan and I’ll find out.
Since this is Day 20 in Beijing, you, Dear Reader, are probably wondering why I’m telling you about Japan.
Great question.
Hopefully, great answer coming.
Living in Japan, I got used to eating lots of sushi. 7-11 was big in Japan and just as easy to shop at as it is in the United States of America. They are everywhere, in fact. 7-11 has sushi in pre-packaged rolls and also in these interesting triangle shaped packages that I have never seen in the U.S.
I once had a conversation with a Japanese teacher of English, when I lived there, and they were certain that Japan had actually started the original 7-11 and that it was a Japanese company. I begged to differ. I did, however, ask why they believed that. Their reasoning was 7-11s in Japan were only open from 7 am to 11 pm and therefore, they must be a Japanese company. My mind boggled at that thought and reasoning. That being said, i could have been wrong so I checked it out. 7-11 started as a different company in 1928 in Dallas, Texas.
The teacher was correct in that 7-11 was, at that time, and still is, owned by a Japanese corporation and the world headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan.
Which brings us, meanderingly, back to sushi and How to Unwrap Your Sushi in Beijing on day 20.
Step 1. Buy your sushi at 7-11. Then take it to your desk. Lay it flat and peruse it and hope you bought the filling you want as there is no English on it and no picture to help you decipher it.
The original sushi in wrapper. Sitting peacefully in repose.
Step 2: Notice that each of the three corners has numbers and little arrows pointing outward. Look at the top of the sushi and notice a small “1” and a red arrow.
Grasping the sushi. Notice the hidden dragon. Oh wait, he’s hidden.
Step 3: Start to pull the little tag down towards the bottom of the triangle. Make sure to hold the sushi with your other hand or it will just lift up and dangle in the air.
Pulling the sushi tag. No Crouching Tiger either.
Step 4: Pulling the tag with one hand and showing it as it lifts off the sushi. Simplicity hiding sushi. Is that a Koan?
About 1/3 of the way there. Just keep reminding yourself how delicious it will be!
Step 5: Pull the tag all the way around the sushi so it tears the wrapper in half on front and in back.
The wrapper is torn in half with the tail underneath. Almost there!
Step 6: pull the right corner, labeled number “2”, and the right sided cellophane cover will fall off.
Just a few more steps to go!
Step 7: Pull the left side of the sushi wrapper, labeled number “3”, to the side and the rest of the cellophane cover will fall off.
Almost ready to eat it! Just one more step to go!
Step 8: You’ve successfully completed the required steps to be fully certified in the art of “How To Unwrap Your Sushi.”
You are now ready to eat your wonderful sushi, that is Japanese corporation owned, made and served in China, by an entity that was previously brought into existence as a 100% American company.
Note: I should have a picture of what the inside of this sushi looks like but I was so hungry by the time I finished this I just ate it without waiting anymore. Maybe next time.
