~ Somewhere in the World ~

This semester ended in this week, and then we are going to go Christmas holidays. Because we had big marathon games, “Honolulu Marathon”, this Sunday, Waikiki areas should be lively with many visitors who’ll join the race. The people, who visit Hawaii many times, might be troubled to select souvenirs for their friends and colleagues. Sometimes they can guess the price of the souvenirs, which we gave them, ‘cause they’ve also visited Hawaii many times. How about this sheet of stamps as sort of different souvenir?

The theme is “Pacific Coral Reef” and ten different stamps are embedded in the sheet. In my case, because I’m studying at coral reefs and most of my friends and colleagues are interested in the marine life, it could be good souvenir. It’s nice to put on the wall at the side of the desk. But, consider well. Most of usual people might like sweets, after all.

In Japan, “Loco Moko” (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonybojo/64583726/) is most popular Hawaiian food, but, I’ve never seen it in my usual life before. I think that “Lomi”, “Kailua Pig” and “Poki” are more popular local food. Someday, I wanna go to “ONO Hawaiian Foods”, which is popular Hawaiian food restaurant located in Kapahulu Avenue. ”Yama’s fish market”, which is located 1 minute walk away from my apartment, is my favorite “Bento” shop, because I can enjoy many Hawaiian foods there in economic prices. This “Bento” shop is nice supporter for single guy! Taste is good, although it's very simple compared with Japanese bento (http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/bento/top.html). Kyle, who is Hawaiian nature guide, also said that he loved the taste of their Bentos, and often eat them. Presumably because “Bento” is Japanese popular culture, such shops seem to be usually managed by Japanese-Americans.

On the day after my birthday, I got a parcel from Japan. Birthday present? Nope. It’s from me. I sent books and some glass wares for my study. This time I used sea mail, because it cost just 100 dollars, nearly half of air mail. It took 1 month, but I’m satisfied it. After the September 11, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in USA ruled the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, which mean we need to get permission from FDA, when we send any food and drug into USA from foreign countries ( http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html). It was very inconvenient low for us. But now this low does not seem to be so severe for ordinary residents. If such foods in parcel are private one and safe one, they don’t stop and dump them without formal permission. This time, actually, my baggage including some foods was safe.

Skype (http://www.skype.com/) is really good communication service! It costs just only 0.019€（= \ 2.66, $ 0.025）per 1 minute, when call from me (Skype user) in Hawaii to someone in Japan (Non-Skype user). Besides, it’s free on the communication between the Skype users, dependently of the places in the world. I must inform this to my friends.