I Finally Got It

COVID Positive.

Well, after two years of avoiding it (kind of), I’ve finally contracted COVID-19. It started this Sunday when I woke up with a slightly sore throat. I didn’t think much of it, I had already been vaccinated and it could have been my poor sleeping schedule or stress, and I went on with my day. But, by the end of the night, before I went to bed, the soreness hadn’t gone away and I realized that I would probably have to stay home from school on Monday. I woke up in worse condition, so I attended online and my mom picked up a rapid COVID test for me. After going through the process of swabbing my nose, the little COVID tester immediately showed one pink line and one blue line. That meant I was positive. I was put on a 10 day quarantine and relegated to an online student. 

The troubles COVID has caused me are not too severe. On Monday I actually felt sick. I had a 100 °F fever and a sore throat. By the next day, my sore throat had abated and I had no fever. Writing this on Wednesday, I only have a slight dry cough and nothing else. 

COVID had more effect on my school life. This is the week before a round of IB uploads, so the timing is particularly annoying. Also, we were supposed to have our IB art exhibition on the 17th, when I am still in quarantine. Luckily my teacher has rescheduled it, but it would have been simpler if I had just never gotten ill. 

The COIVD Cough.

The upside is, I am now fully inoculated against COVID! Obviously my vaccine didn’t stop me from getting the virus, and its effect on the severity of the virus for me is unknown, but getting the virus provides stronger protection and less chance of reinfection compared to the vaccine. This study of over 90,000 Israelis is linked below, focusing on Pfizer (the vaccine I got) and the Delta variant when it was prominent last year. 

It's only been three days and I’m almost fully recovered. I should be in school and back to normal by the 18th! 

 

My Top Five Favorite Japanese Foods

Growing up, food has been one of the ways I’ve stayed connected to my culture; my mom is from Japan and my dad is American. Living in Fresno, there weren’t too many connections to Japan, so my mom’s cooking was an important way to experience her culture, which I was lucky enough to experience when visiting family in Japan. Although my mom’s cooking is a good replication of Japanese cuisine, the authenticity of ingredients in Japan makes the food there outclass anything available in America. During my visits I’ve tried many different foods and have thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the different dishes. Whether it’s homemade recipes, traditional family restaurants, or national chains, Japan’s cuisine rarely disappoints. That being said, I wanted to share my top five favorite foods from Japan which are must haves when visiting. 

 
 

5. Onigiri from 7-Eleven 

Onigiri are rice balls, typically served with seaweed and a filling. They provide a perfect snack to boost your energy if you’re on the go or need a quick meal. When visiting Japan, personally, I believe there is nothing better than arriving on your first day, getting off the plane after a 9-hour flight, and enjoying an ikura (salmon roe) rice ball from a 7-eleven. If the idea of convenience store fish makes you hesitant, know that Japanese convenience stores are extremely clean and high quality compared to their American counterparts. Of course, you can also get high quality onigiri from restaurants, but combini onigiri are convenient and delicious, and you also have access to a wide selection of other food and drink. I recommend trying Oronamin C, a popular energy drink 

 
 

4. Tempura 

Tempura are foods breaded in panko bread crumbs, and deep fried for a light and crispy crust. With its origins in foods brought to Japan by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century, Tempura has long been a part of Japanese culture, and is one of my personal favorite foods. I enjoy shrimp tempura the best, which goes great with soba noodles. 

 
 

3. Tonkotsu Ramen 
Tonkotsu Ramen has a broth made with pork bones and is my favorite kind of ramen. It has a rich flavor, and some of my favorite memories are eating Tonkotsu Ramen with Chashu (pork) and gyoza (dumplings) with my cousins. This is a must have, and a classic of Japanese cuisine. 

 
 

2. Sushi 

Likely the most well-known dish from Japan, sushi can be found in every town. Although you can go to an expensive restaurant to get high quality sushi, my fondest memories of the dish are going to conveyor belt sushi restaurants with my family. Even the cheapest restaurants in Japan are better than the expensive restaurants of America, so I would recommend trying it if you get the chance.  

 
 

1.Sukiyaki 

Sukiyaki is my #1 food of all time but is not well known outside of Japan. Sukiyaki is thinly sliced beef and vegetables, cooked in front of you in a little pot. The cooked food is then dipped in a beaten egg (which tastes far better than it sounds). My grandma would make this whenever we would visit her, so it gives me a feeling of nostalgia when I eat it. It goes great with rice and miso soup as well and is a Japanese dish that is underappreciated in the West! If you want to learn more about this dish, including its origins and a recipe, check out this article by savorjapan.com:

 
 

All of these foods can be found in Japanese chains and supermarkets, will taste extremely good, and be relatively cheap. If you are willing to pay a bit more for quality, local restaurants will take these recipes to the next level and are worth the extra price. Either way, I hope you are able to try some of these and make just as fond memories as I have.