This is what is does look like. March 2010.

But I’m not complaining really. Apart from a minor storm going on outside I can work comfortably from my room and then take the shuttle to the mall. And hey. I’m in Vancouver and this is the place I feel the most Japanese I possible can outside of Japan.

It’s when you know someone put heart and soul into creating an atmosphere that’s there not to dress and impress but to remind the guests of history. And do so with care, respect and a smile.

This hotel, regardless of nothing being my personal taste, gets all that “it”-credit for being creative, thoughtful and consistent.

More about the hotel.

Classic Seattle skyline.

Sunset over the Olympic mountains.

It looks as if I’m in Richland, WA. Because I woke up to this view 06.30 today and noticed how still the Columbia River was outside.

We’re here to visit a partner, the company’s technician and I. Get a tour around their facilities with the other international distributors. And tonight my very first all American…wait for it….charity dinner! I suppose I can die comfortably now. Knowing I’ve done it all.

The ever so fascinating thing about Washington state is the transformation of scenery after crossing the Cascade mountains. It’s spectacular to leave the busy city, drive through the snowy top Cascades and suddenly exit in desertlike steppe landscape where wine farms are all around. Less than 2,5 hours from Emerald City.

I did this by myself last summer in an old Volvo 940 Automatic. Hanging out of the window like a happy dog I cruised Yakima valley for the great red gold.

Tomorrow we leave for some days in Seattle and I’m really looking forward to visiting one of my favorite cities again.

Take care.

I think this means I’m growing up. I also know it means that for the first time in my life I’ll have a place to truly call my own. I don’t have to settle with someone else’s bad taste and not be able to choose where to live.

Obviously eliminating someone else’s bad taste or poorly carried out reconditioning needs a bit of work. For the first time I can imagine what house owners must be going through and this is just a smaller apartment.

But yet. I’m looking forward to tearing out the kitchen, floors and making this place work.

And the best part is that I’m privileged to share all of it with a truly awesome and cool person. The boyfriend of course.

I can so live with growing up.

Hmm. It looks as if this bag reflects not only my origin but also its own.

Almost everyone, including me, have our own meat sauce, lasagne, and carbonara recipe and our own idea of what Chinese cuisine tastes like. Since ethnic food has become such a natural part of our lives we accquire new customs and/or we modify and adapt to fit our own habits, tastebuds and availability.

Here are some statements based on things I ‘ve picked up over the years and it was a lot of fun trying to figure out what’s what.

- Pouring soy sauce on clean white rice is considered a big no no (yes and plainly unsophisticated).
- Italians never use grated cheese on top of fish or seafood dishes. (see 3*)
- Generally in Chinese and Japanese cuisine a basic meal consists of a minimum of 5-6 smaller dishes (in general yes but refers to traditional set meals, both at restaurants and at home).
- Bolognese is rarely called that in Italy (rather ragu or ragu Bolognese and is not tomato sauce based) *
- There’s no such thing as dish called Indian curry (curry is a mix of spices and there are hundreds of variations) *1
- Ceasar salad has nothing to do with Julius Ceasar and is an American/Mexican invention. 2*
- Sushi is a healthy lunch option. (not really, but sashimi however…)
- Eating spaghetti with a spoon is an American manner. 3*
- French don’t eat crackers with their cheese (unsure but traditionally it’s bread or nothing, source missing)

I have my own doubts: Should or should you not rub your wooden disposable chopsticks against each other to smoothen them before using? And in Thailand, do they mostly eat with fork and spoon?

This post made me hungry. And it also made me realize that I’m much more protective with the food from my own origin than others. I guess Swedes would find it weird to have strawberry jam with their meatballs instead of lingonberries. We protect our own food but don’t mind mending with others. Good, if not we’d never have all the delicious varieties of food around!

And do let me know if I’m wrong - I’ll always admit to my mistakes and misunderstandings! :)

Bonus:  How to make real carbonara. Prego! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iERZIRQEIJk

* http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/ragu-bolognese-recipe2/index.html
1* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry
2* http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/SaladHistory.htm
3* http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/19/garden/the-spoon-question-or-how-to-eat-pasta-like-an-expert.html?sec=health

So John Rabe was simply a title of just another film I thought I should see as it was filed partly under “China” and I needed a Chinese film for my final list.

The problem with this film is that I can’t review it. All I felt initially was that this must be pretty good because Ulrik Tukur is starring. Afterwards it felt as if I had somehow lost my breath during the film. The otherwise talkative boyfriend didn’t say anything either so I knew it wasn’t just me.

All I can say is this. Know nothing and see the movie.

The next film is brilliant and Norweigan. Not only is Max Manus a cinematic slap in Swedish film industry’s face (credit to the boyfriend for that phrase) showing that little brother actually can produce films with a budget and do it extremely well .It’s also a piece of war history from an angle seldom told. The right actors, plot and cinematic moves with great photo and high class edge really makes it worth seeing.

Some nice bonuses: If you liked The life of others and/or Inglorious Basterds you’ll see some familiar faces here and there ;)

First, Like You Know It All, a Korean movie. I’ve seen only good Korean films during the past festivals. Tough, hard, but always good. Ironically this was about a film director who was chosen to judge at a film festival. For the first 30 minutes I thought that I probably have very limited understanding of Korean culture because people acted rude, unnatural and irrational. I started to get annoyed with all the characters. And the script (or translation) was awful making the lead role say nothing but “Really? Thanks.” For about one hour.

And that’s when I looked at my buddy Mathias for support. He whispered: “I’ve never left a movie before. But I think I have to.” Mathias is a very polite and smart guy. If he didn’t understand it either AND wanted to get out of there I truly trusted his instincts.

We laughed all the way out of the little movie theatre and wondered “What the heck was that?!“. Later I found out that we could have suffered for one more hour had we stayed.

And now to the most confusing movie all times.

About Elly. Four shows - completely sold out. Iran’s contribution to the Oscars. Won prices at Berlin Film Festival. It looked pretty good.

Reality? Two hours of excruciating boredom completely liberated from intensity, drama, depth, and intrigue, which, reading afterwards, the introduction had promised. And no music, just two hours of women half crying, half complaining, men yelling and the waves of the sea to accompany that.

Irans Oscar contribution. What did I not get?

n. Informal. An implausible, boastful story.

And yes. The world is supposed to go under in 2012 and supposedly the punk song Fish Story will safe the world. But we’re in Tokyo, Japan, and everything is possible. The film takes us back and forth through time between 1975 to 2012 where we meet different people. Slowly a pattern arises and we start to see the connections. But only until the very end do we get the real “aha” experience.

The company consisting of my mother, the boyfriend, the K and yours truly all agreed that is was a good story, told with wit, humor and nostalgia topped up with a twist of judgement day scepticism/belief.

Worth seeing because of the warmth, the absolutely fascinating characters, and the evolving plot.

To generalize I believe the Germans are very good at making films. I haven’t seen one even slightly rubbish German movie so far in my life. Die Welle, Das leben der anderen, Nordwand, Keinohrhasen and now Soul Kitchen. A fun, warm drama with an appealing plot. A worn down restaurant needs to shape up - for both clients and the IRS. The owner hires a recently unemployed gourmet chef for the task while he tries to find out what to do with his girlfriend who just moved to Shanghai. Lots of laugh, fun and music this one.

Worth seeing because of the transformation in atmosphere, the IRS lady and the “just-outta-jail” brother who predictively adds some twist and turns to the story.