Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tomato Spinach and Tuna Salad

Tomato and Spinach Salad with Tuna Dressing
(I can't see much tuna in this photo, though)

Mmmmm... I think I like this salad better than the cabbage and tuna salad I posted about before. For this one, lemon juice is the key. The original recipe is here (in Japanese).


I'm feeling a little down today. I started practicing driving at a driving school yesterday because I haven't driven any cars with manual transmission for more than 15 years. My hometown I'm moving into has no public transportation except a few buses a day, thus almost everybody needs to be able to drive there. And yes, my parents' cars have manual transmission. That's all they have. Fine. So I didn't mind going to a driving school at all. There's no way I can practice on my own anyway.

But Gosh! It was amazing how I forgot everything and lost almost all my driving skills! I thought it would come back right away once I started, but I guess that only applies to younger people... AHHHH... The instructor was nice. He tried to find something I was doing right, but the poor guy was obviously trying very hard and I felt almost sorry for him...

Oh well. Maybe I'll do better with the clutch next time. I should be able to do it -- Even my mom can do it. Why not me?


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12 comments:

K and S said...

sorry to hear you had a rough day at driving school. I only drive when I go home to Hawaii but my favorite was manual transmission, I am sure after a couple of times it will all come back to you. ganbatte!

Anonymous said...

Hi Obachan...i had several failures on driving test and after a lot of attempts i finally got it... as they say you just have to try and try until you suceed..:0)

katherine said...

In the UK the vast majority of cars are manual (i've only ever sat in one automatic car in my life!), and i know that in america most are automatic. which way round is it in japan?

tina said...

Gambatte ne. Fighto - it will come back to you eventually.

Katherine - I think it's 50/50 in the UK now, both Hubby and I drive auto cars!

Mi said...

Otsukare~~~

Reading about your day struggling with the manual car reminds me once again that I should not attempt manual driving lessons if I ever want to get my licence.

Ganbatte ne!

obachan said...

K & S;
It must be nice to drive in Hawaii. I bet there's no gentsuki obachans there. ;)
Ganbarimaaaaaaaaaaasu!

Anonymous commenter;
I don't mind trying over and over. But when I think about the fee I would have to pay... AHHHHHHH

Katherine;
Automatic is becoming popular, especially in big cities, I would say. Maybe people still prefer manual in rural or mountainous areas.

Tina;
Thank you. I really hope so.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that auto cars are becoming popular in many countries. It is nice and easy for sure. (But I like manual transmission when I drive uphill.)

Mi;
Well, again, even my mom drives manual car. And she got her driving license when she was 45 y.o. So I think anyone can do it -- it just takes a little time to get used to in the beginning, I think...

Nicole said...

Obachan, do keep at the driving, I am sure that it will come back to you.

The salad looks delicious. I have spinach in the fridge and will try it this evening. Babel Fish translated the recipe page enough for me to understand ot with one exception. At the end is a section that the translation had as "Secret Point" and here is how it translated: "The lowering garlic and the tuna call and become the dressing of feeling and increase" -can't make heads or tails of it. Can you help?

obachan said...

Hi Nicole,
Thanks. I'll keep trying.

Oh, I love BabelFish. Maybe French-English or German-English translation is not so funny, but Japanese-English translation is always so hilarious. When I feel down, either browsing "Engrish.com" or trying J-E translation with BabelFish always gives me a good laugh and cheers me up. :D

Anyway, maybe it's too late to give you this info? but the "secret point" is just saying that the grated garlic and tuna make this dressing taste good or something like that. No big deal. I bet your salad turned out just fine without my trasnslation.
:)

Anonymous said...

Hey Obachan,

Be discouraged not, you'll do fine. Are there any chances of getting one of the vehicles changed to auto-gear? It's a breeze to drive those especially in narrow or steep roads. Get an auto license for that and you'll be pleased to know how much it's helping you.

All the best. By the way, the cherry pie that oozes, is drop dead beautiful.

obachan said...

Hi anonymous commenter,

Thanks for the advice. :) Yeah, auto car is a lot less stressful to drive. I drove an auto car when I was in the U.S. (pontiac, by the way). But here in Japan, especially in a rural area like my hometown, I really need to be able to drive a manual car and I WANT TO. Actually I don't hate manual transmission -- it's just a little hard to get used to in the beginning, but that doesn't mean that I want to avoid it.

Today at the driving school, the instructor said that I was getting better and actually didn't need to practice at school any more. Nevertheless I'm taking just a couple more lessons to experience night-time driving. Then I'll go on my own. ;)

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