ukaru snack = to pass an exam snack

It was cold today, but the sun was out the whole day, which really upped my mood a whole lot (yeah, plus it is a friday~ TGIF!).

being a cold cold week, my achy achy back is just getting achier n achier n achier.

funnier thing, only in the right side, so i am trying hard not to walk like a duck. i wish there was yoga class everyday.

in the beginning, i never thought going for class would be interesting since i can do my stretches with my guidebook. But ever since i met this loving teacher who really takes time to check on everyone, i really get stretched out really well.

and with class, i sleep like a tired duck every night. double thumbs up.

cant wait to for the next class!

I felt like having stew tonight.

chicken & shitake shoyu based potato stew

Broccolli & smooth beancurd skins salad with creamy ume sauce

burdock simmered in red miso & black sesame paste

vanilla caramel pudding

homemade for the first time

And with the exam season around, i couldnt resist getting one of those limited edition snacks from the supermart.

the usual snack name is curl (karu)

but in this exam version, it is ucurl (ukaru), and ukaru means to pass the exam

In Japan, you can have the same snack all year round but in so many different packaging.

and at times, limited edition flavours come out too, according to the flowers/fruit/vegetable in season.

so perhaps in winter, u get pumpkin version, in sakura season, you get sakura flower flavoured version, etc.

In exam season, the names of the snacks are played around with. and of course, u get TO PASS packaging with all the snacks. I first read about kit kat (kitto katsu) which means definite win in the english newspapers outside of Japan, but after moving here, there really is so much more than just kit kat! and as for kit kat, the post office has a special edition, where the box itself has a stamp, and u just write the address on, and send it to anyone sitting for an entrance exam. how cute is that?!

ahh... the power of competition in the snack industry here is just amazing!