Banana-rama
...written on 2001-01-28, @ 01:20:42
Tales of Kim's Life in Japan
Sat January 27, 2001
Wednesday I went to the Sobutsu branch at 3:00 with Iwamoto-sensei. I had spent some time with him, his wife and two year old son around New Years. His wife, Kaori, had taken 7 hours to prepare some traditional Japanese New Year food. That day as we sat around munching on the many colorful and unique tasting treats, I mentioned a childhood snack that my mom always made for my brother and me, banana sandwiches.
I explained that this was merely two slices of bread spread with mayonnaise and covered with sliced banana. I laughed as the Iwamotos crinkled their noses in disgust. After a little chiding on my part (afterall, wasn't I being a sport and eating some new-to-me things?), Kaori volunteered her husband to try this strange- to-them combination.
Now at the office, I prepared my surprise.
"Yasuhisa-san, I've got something for yoooou!", I said in a sing-song voice as I pulled my purple lunch box out of my shoulder bag, flashing first the bottle of mayonnaise, the bread, and then the banana.
It took a few seconds, but the significance of these items finally sunk in and Iwamoto-sensei, crinkled his nose like before, shook his head and said that while he was afraid, he would eat the sandwich.
I fixed the sandwich on the thick Japanese bread, cut it diagonally, arranged it on a plate and presented it to Yasuhisa.
He took one half in both hands, rolled his eyes, sighed and then took a big bite.
"Oishii!" (delicious) he exclaimed, eagerly finishing the first half and lunging for the rest. I smiled, relieved that he liked it so well.
I only had the one banana, so I went to the store to buy more so I could fix a banana sandwich for myself and the other teacher there as well. The sandwiches were a hit. I told them that this was a very southern U.S. snack and that it was Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich (or was it peanut butter and banana?).
Gosh, I'm hungry and I wish I had the fixin's right now.