Pizza-wow!

You've heard me talk about the Japanese restaurant Pizza-la. Well, my Japanese friends came over for our usual English conversation meeting this month and we served them pizza. "Pizza-wow!" sums up their impression of American pizza.

Yes, indeed, our pizzas are very big! But after we cut the pieces in half, they were very happy to try cheese, pepperoni and/or veggie slices. When they politely declined our offer to wash it down with some beer, we insisted because to drink tea with pizza would be extremely unconventional.

Our topic of English conversation centered around the ubiquitous cherry blossom, which is beginning to reveal itself in Japan and maintain its beauty only for the next two weeks. But its spring symbolism is refreshing and will continue long after the blooms are blown to the ground. Akiko-san (above, right) took advantage of the rare opportunity to wear her mother's cherry blossom kimono and exquisite obi, which of course is only fashionable during cherry blossom season.