AnarchyDice
2mo ago
Have you tried making your own paste? I take a basket of tomatoes, cut off bad parts, quarter, squeeze out the seeds, and place on a baking sheet with a bit of olive oil. I roast them at 350 until they start browning a bit. Then I run them through a grinder with strainer attachment to get rid of the skin.
The strained pulp is poured back on the baking sheet and roasted at 350 until it thickens down to your desired thickness. I stir occasionally and push it together as it thins to minimize the amount burned at the edges. Let it cool, and scoop in tablespoon sized hemispheres on a parchment paper lined tray. Freeze. When solid, you can pop them into a freezer bag for instant use at any time in helpful tablespoon portions.
Best part of frozen paste is you can use it directly for recipes or add it with water where recipes call for sauce. I also like it as an easy way to make a pseudo-marinara by combining it 1 to 1 with ketchup and spices (garlic, onion, bit of sriracha, basil, and oregano).
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
Amazon has practice tests for the various levels that I found really helpful to focus in on the types of questions that will be asked. The one I used came with a CD for the audio portion, so you may need to get a USB-CD drive if you PC doesn't have one. They're shorter versions, so they take about an hour or so to do, but doing the N5 and N4 tests at the start of this year is why I had the confidence to push myself for the N3.
What does your tutoring entail?
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
I might do that for my blueberry plants that keep getting chomped down during the winter...
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
On my own using Renshuu, reading manga, listening to japanese youtubers, and (recently) reading web serials. The reading is slow going, but I like to think I can get 60-80% of the meaning before looking things up.
I do have an ace up my sleeve though, I was an exchange student to Japan over a decade ago so I have a lot of memories of how things are supposed to be pronounced or the contexts they are said in. Learning the actual reading/writing/kanji has had a lot of "oh, that's where that word comes from".
Have you tried any of the practice exams yet? I took a practice N4 a couple months ago and it ended up being both easier in the multiple choice and harder during the listening section than I expected.
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
Yeah all the rain this summer has been hitting me in the only plant doing well, my tomatoes. I can usually keep the recurrent septoria down with regular spraying but the wetness this year is keeping the tomatoes really weak.
Should still get a bumper jalapeno crop at least, maybe make some jalapeno pineapple tequila again. Also got a great basil harvest to make and freeze pesto.
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
What level JLPT? I am looking to take on the N3 this year.
AnarchyDice
3mo ago
I just turned a can of bad spray polyacrylic into some fake spider webbing for D&D scatter terrain. https://anarchydice.wordpress.com/2024/08/11/spider-webs/
I am also unsuccessfully fighting against rabbit hordes. I've tried coffee grounds, dog hair, rabbit spray, lemons, and companion planting garlic. I already trapped 3 but my bell peppers have been devoured and I didn't get any lettuce to grow larger than 3". Any home-remedies or suggestions I can try?
AnarchyDice
6mo ago
I was an exchange student to the Tokyo area, so I can recommend some food an activities iconic to Japan: Food: Yoshinoya beef bowls are quintessential japanese comfort food. Unagidon at a fancier place is worth the price. You'll typically get a full set of food to go with the delicious eel. Okonomiyaki a savory pancake that your make yourself on a griddle in the center of the table. Gyoza places make for a great mid-day or after dinner snack. Natto, fermented soy beans. This one is very hit or miss with people, but like Chicago and Malort, you have to try it at least once. Sushi, make sure to try at least one Uni (sea urchin). Good flavor and texture but can be pricy to eat a lot. Zenzai/Oshiruko, sweet bean paste soup with toasted mochi rice cakes. Best after a day of skiiing, delicious like a warm mug of hot cocoa Western Fast Food, hear me out. They have some really interesting twists and Japan-only items at McDonalds, KFC, Denny's, donuts, etc. Melonpan/Onigiri/Katsu Sandwich are all found at any convenience stores. Yakiniku, restaurant with a grill in the table, you order and cook what you like to dip in sauces. Great for relaxing after a long day. Shabu-Shabu, basically hot pot, see yakiniku. Vending machines for the experience get some corn soup, coffee, or something else fun. Careful, some of them come out quite hot. Don't wander and eat/drink though. Stand around the vending machine to finish it or take it with you to your destination to drink/eat there. Umeshu, plum-liqueur, is one of my favorites. Get it on the rocks, a sweet, smooth drink with just enough plum bitterness to round it out. Try raw egg on something at least once, because you can, salmonella free.
Activities: Fuji is a good climb but outside of the summer climbing season, climbing is not usually allowed. Random street festivals are worth stopping at for fun carnival type games and food (common foods: takoyaki, balls of dough with octopus. dorayaki, fish shaped dough with sweet bean paste. Yakisoba, fried noodles with sauce). Karaoke can be fun if you find a good group, although might not work if it just the two of you unless you find a group of other tourists or locals to join Tokyo Tower is a good place to see Tokyo from The trains are both an experience and very convenient in the Tokyo area. Especially to go to places like Akihabara. Cars in the Tokyo area are going to be a huge hassle with very narrow streets and difficulties parking. New Years is big, so you might be able to see some parades, festivals, or events. If you can, try for one to see them make mochi the traditional way (team of guys hitting cooked rice with wooden mallets) Visit at least one temple and one shrine. Just copy the Japanese people for the customs of how to wash hands, enter the spaces, etc. Buy an Omamori or luck talisman(temple) and Omikuji, paper fortune (shrine). You keep the Omamori but the fortune you only keep if it is good, otherwise you tie it to the provided area to let the shrine hold it for you. Ok, technically, you donate and they give you those things.
Something to keep in mind for that impulse against being setup or referred. You chose to associate and build relationships with the people that set you up or referred you.
Secondarily, do you ever recommend, encourage, and create opportunities for others? Do you do it because those recipients are lesser? Take the longer view that they are creating opportunities for you as well.
All except the worst sinecures still require the recipient to perform after they get the foot in the door. They still have to convince the blind date for another, still have to make friends under their own power at a meetup, and still meet performance quotas at a job.
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