So there is this place by my house that I have been coming to frequently. It's not just because their food is delicious. But it's also because their food is awesome.
Peppers is as close to a Mexican restaurant with a side of George the Greek I can get (George is a delicious burger place by my old high school).
Peppers has an amazing rice and chicken combo, an amazing chili cheese fries (with actual chili in the chili! None of that Del Taco chili), and awesome fajitas wrapped in a tortilla.
My mission while in Japan, other than learning the language and holding a conversation in Japanese with a Japanese native, is to try everything once in Peppers menu.
Yes, my wallet is gonna go broke (not really, their combos are as much as a Carl's Jr. combo) but my stomach is going to be ecstatic to have Mexican wannabe dishes.
That's all for now. じゃね
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Where are you from?
I normally get asked this question back in the States because I often have people confuse me with being of an Asian decent due to a last name dubbed "Zinzun." I always end up telling them the whole history of my last name. Now, granted, I have never heard the story myself, this was something that I looked up in the good ol' internet. According to Google, I have Mexican Indian blood in me because my father's father (which is just my grandpa) was a Mexican Indian from a tribe called TzinTzunTzan. I suppose they got bored with the long last name and deleted the T's because they were just place holders and dubbed the new last name Zinzun. Now, there are some cousins (Very distant cousins) that still have that T, but I will be going on a tangent if I get into that side of the family.
Well, now that I am in Japan, I don't get into the whole speel about my family's last name. Yes, one of the reasons is because I don't speak fluent Japanese, but the other reason is because I don't speak fluent Japanese. Yup, both in the same ball park. Keeps it frustrating because I want to tell people that no, although I look Asian I am one hundred percent Mexican.
I suppose the reason that I am instilled with Mexican pride is because I am the only Mexican in Okazaki, unless someone out there wants to prove me wrong and come outside and play... because seeing another Mexican out here would be peachy. I'm not joking.
Well, the reason that I am talking about my last names and Mexican innuendo is because I recently went to a culture festival that had Indians, Philippines, Brazilians, and of course Japanese. I went walking through the food section, which all looked as good as the next, and stumbled on the Brazilian food cart. They had premium sausage (actual sausage not a sex reference) and this pulled pork sandwich. I pointed with my index finger and asked how much.
"Hyaku go ju en," she said. One hundred and fifty yen, which is like a dollar fifty, depending on the exchange rate.
I grabbed my change and she knew that I wasn't Japanese, so she asked if I was Brazilian. I have the tan skin, a little bit of a pointed nose, bigger eyes than she does, so I could have passed as a Brazilian girl, with a sexy Portuguese accent.
"No, Mexican," I said.
I have been saying that a lot. I don't say I'm American. I say I am Mexican.
Not only that, but I have around 5,000 songs, some of which I did not pay for. I will not say the other way, lets just say I have found ways of finding old CDs around the house. Anyways, so 5,000 songs, and the majority of the time I am listening to Adan Chalino Sanchez, Alejandro Fernandez, Jesse y Joy, and much more beaner and Spanish songs.
I think one of the reasons that I do this is because I miss Mexico, but this place does remind me a lot of Mexico. It's foreign ground to me, it holds that essence of translucent objectivity that brings me back to when I was a little girl walking down my street corners and visiting my cousins who were just a walk away. The houses are the same, just the colors are not as extravagant or garishly eye appealing, like you are forced to look at them. The drivers here are just as ballsy, but the cars look small as if they already crashed and that is why they have no front or back.
But more than that I do miss home. I miss my family and such, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, honestly. I do believe that a year will pass like a loop over my head. As if I woke up in my futon one day and close my eyes and wake up in my bed back in Riverside.
That's all I can say for now. Before I start getting nostalgic of home.
Well, now that I am in Japan, I don't get into the whole speel about my family's last name. Yes, one of the reasons is because I don't speak fluent Japanese, but the other reason is because I don't speak fluent Japanese. Yup, both in the same ball park. Keeps it frustrating because I want to tell people that no, although I look Asian I am one hundred percent Mexican.
I suppose the reason that I am instilled with Mexican pride is because I am the only Mexican in Okazaki, unless someone out there wants to prove me wrong and come outside and play... because seeing another Mexican out here would be peachy. I'm not joking.
Well, the reason that I am talking about my last names and Mexican innuendo is because I recently went to a culture festival that had Indians, Philippines, Brazilians, and of course Japanese. I went walking through the food section, which all looked as good as the next, and stumbled on the Brazilian food cart. They had premium sausage (actual sausage not a sex reference) and this pulled pork sandwich. I pointed with my index finger and asked how much.
"Hyaku go ju en," she said. One hundred and fifty yen, which is like a dollar fifty, depending on the exchange rate.
I grabbed my change and she knew that I wasn't Japanese, so she asked if I was Brazilian. I have the tan skin, a little bit of a pointed nose, bigger eyes than she does, so I could have passed as a Brazilian girl, with a sexy Portuguese accent.
"No, Mexican," I said.
I have been saying that a lot. I don't say I'm American. I say I am Mexican.
Not only that, but I have around 5,000 songs, some of which I did not pay for. I will not say the other way, lets just say I have found ways of finding old CDs around the house. Anyways, so 5,000 songs, and the majority of the time I am listening to Adan Chalino Sanchez, Alejandro Fernandez, Jesse y Joy, and much more beaner and Spanish songs.
I think one of the reasons that I do this is because I miss Mexico, but this place does remind me a lot of Mexico. It's foreign ground to me, it holds that essence of translucent objectivity that brings me back to when I was a little girl walking down my street corners and visiting my cousins who were just a walk away. The houses are the same, just the colors are not as extravagant or garishly eye appealing, like you are forced to look at them. The drivers here are just as ballsy, but the cars look small as if they already crashed and that is why they have no front or back.
But more than that I do miss home. I miss my family and such, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, honestly. I do believe that a year will pass like a loop over my head. As if I woke up in my futon one day and close my eyes and wake up in my bed back in Riverside.
That's all I can say for now. Before I start getting nostalgic of home.
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