Let's Making Umeshu

Drinking is a huge part of socializing in Japan. In fact, it’s often said that the Japanese really only let their guard down and speak their true feelings in the presence of alcohol-whether or not they are drunk. The portmanteau “nommunication” is a combination of the Japanese verb nomu (“to drink”) and communication. It is well understood by the expat community and fairly well in the Japanese community.

I’ve had my fair share of drunken experiences- from receiving unwanted advances from men who felt they had the right to get a response from me to heartfelt confessions. I’ve become a regular at my local standing bar and made several Japanese friends there. The owner doesn’t care if I come in and just order food or non-alcoholic beverages. That kind of easy-going, laid-back atmosphere is what has kept Sabina and I going back. 

Nommunication at its best!

One of my favorite alcoholic drinks in Japan is umeshu, usually translated as “Plum Wine”. It’s not really a wine, per se, it’s a liqueur. I normally drink it on the rocks, although I have been known to add a bit of tonic water and drink it that way. It’s sweet, but not overpowering if aged properly. 

It’s also incredibly easy (and legal) to make at home!  I completely missed the bottling season last year, and when I saw the plums are being sold in the grocery stores this year I decided that now was the time to act.

So, I acquired a glass jug and supplies from some friends and set off to make my umeshu. Like I said, it’s pretty easy. 

I had to buy the plums-it is essential that they be unripe-some rock sugar and the appropriate alcohol. Technically I could have gone with any brandy or shochu over 35% alcohol, but I chose to buy the specially matched fruit liquor. 

Picking out the stems while listening to mindless J-TV

 Next, I washed and dried the plums and used a skewer to pick out the stems. After that, I layered the sugar and plums in the jug, then poured in the alcohol! I have a little alcohol left over and I am very tempted to try making other fruit liqueurs. There is a kiwi recipe that has me intrigued.

Ready to go. See you in a few months!

After sealing up the jug, I tucked it away in the back of a closet. Some say you can drink it in 3 months, but I think I might wait until the new year. Aging definitely helps the clarity of umeshu. I can’t wait to tell you about it! Keep an eye out for another post in about 6 months!

Leaving Sons

It’s been an interesting past few weeks, to say the least. I have definitely found myself longing for vacation, and at the same time not looking forward to the changes that are going to happen come the end of July.

My roommate is leaving. She’s going back to the UK to go back to school; she got in to her dream Ph.D. program with a full ride. I’m so proud of her. But the apartment will feel empty without her. Less tea will be made. Less Britishisms will be bestowed upon me.

On the business front, it’s going to be weird having 2 new people working in the Board of Education to be the overlords/advisors of all things Saitama. I grew quite fond of the two who are leaving, but their time on JET is up. I’m going to miss them and their guidance.

When I think about it, this whole counting-down-the-days business really reminds me of the end of high school, and the end of my study abroad program. Change is weird. Big changes are really weird. I know, I know, I’m not at all verbose (As an aside, I’m fairly certain living here and using so much simple English on a daily basis has regressed my vocabulary. I don’t think I’m nearly as eloquent as I used to be).

The fact of the matter is, since The Guy and my roommate and so many other JET Program participants I know are handing in their visas and going home this year, I feel the musty, sweaty breath of Time breathing down my own neck as well.

When I came to Japan 2 years ago, I had a very concrete idea of what I thought was supposed to happen-what I expected was going to happen. I was going to stay on JET for 3 years and hopefully be married or at least planning my wedding by now. I didn’t know what I was going to do once my 3 years had passed, but I figured I would be alright being a homemaker for a bit while working on improving myself and cultivating hobbies.

However, that wasn’t to be. I’m obviously seeing a new guy, and while I don’t know if I necessarily want to make a permanent return to the United States anytime soon, I now know for a fact that I don’t want to stay in Japan forever. Luckily, the guy and I seem to be on the same page about this.

It still doesn’t answer the bigger question of what the next plan is. I have no idea! And seeing people around me leaving, going home, moving on to new things, it makes me feel terribly inadequate that I haven’t found my niche yet. JET has been a wonderful, amazing experience, but it’s not a line of work I want to do forever. I’m sure my parents or some wise, sage folks in my life would point out that knowing what you DON’T want to do is just as helpful. They have a point, although it’s still very intimidating to consider that I have 13 months to get my life in order.

A lot of life changes happened within the first 6 months of being back in Japan, and having double that amount of time hypothetically should mean I will be ok. In the meantime, however, I’m distracting myself with all sorts of things!

My fellow Californian Kira-kira and I are going to be taking over as leaders of the Saitama AJET organization. Basically we work to connect our local group of JET participants with each other, with other JETs, and keep them informed of new changes and going ons of the program. The Guy was actually the previous leader of Saitama’s AJET; his enthusiasm is contagious and lord knows I am a meticulous planner and highly organized.

I’m also working out travel plans since I’ve been flooded with “OhmygodIonlyhaveayearleftwheredoIwanttogo?!” anxiety.

I’ve been doing training to become a volunteer for JETs.

I’ve been doing heaps of non-fiction reading, taking pleasure in learning new things and trying to see issues from different viewpoints.

I’m hoping to continue my Japanese study in the fall with a language and pedagogy course (allowing that I pass the test required to take the course).

And I signed up to be a volunteer for this summer’s Saitama Orientation. I’m looking forward to being a Mama Duck again and hopefully helping out some of the new arrivals in any way possible.

Next time I will try not to have a generic post. This one sort of ran away with me. I promise to stay on task!