Public Spark

Happy 2008 everyone! Hope this year will be filled with much happiness and prosperity for you. How do you start off the first day of 2008?
These are ways that I kick off the new year.

• Japanese style:

  I enjoy helping my parents prepare the osechi ryori (new years food). This is comprised of many ingredients, each symbolizing good health, good harvest, happiness, and nature. My job mostly entails packing them in a jubako (which is a 3 layered lacquered box)- as pictured here:



My dad is the executive chef and does most of the cooking. He also makes ozouni (fish and vegetable soup with rice cakes) and later cooks lobster. We have this all throughout the day. In the morning, we also have Otoso (New years sake).

• American style:

  We usually have the television on showing Rose parade at our house, while we cook and do other things. It is beautiful to see the floats even on television. Then there is the infamous Rose Bowl for football fans! I am not missing it especially today since my alma mater USC will be playing! Go Trojans! Lastly, in the evening, my family likes to play poker. We usually bet on free dinner.