Japan: Vacheron Lin (Food in Japan)
Program: Waseda University, Spring
One of my favorite parts about living in Japan has been experiencing the food.
During my time here, I have tried many different dishes, but one type of meal that I have come to rely on is teishoku (定食). A typical teishoku includes a main dish with rice, soup, and several small side dishes. I like it because it is simple, filling, and usually is cheap for a student, around 900 yen. Whenever I am not sure what to eat, I know that I can always get a teishoku and be satisfied. It is something I could eat every day without getting tired of it.
However, my favorite Japanese foods are soba and sashimi. I especially enjoy cold soba because it is light and refreshing, while still being filling. There are also many different ways to eat it with toppings such as tororo, egg, green onions, and wasabi. Sashimi is another food that I have really enjoyed because of how fresh the fish is in Japan.
Food has become an important part of my experience living in Japan. Trying different restaurants and dishes has allowed me to experience Japanese culture through something that is part of everyday life.
Vacheron Lin
Program Name: Waseda University
Major: Economics
Hometown: Greendale, Wisconsin
I look forward to learning about the differences in how Japanese college students go about life versus Americans. My goal is to be able to speak Japanese at a very comfortable level where I can smoothly have day-to-day conversations with locals.