That’s what I used to insist when Nate and I first started hanging out (back in 1997).  My friends had noticed that we were hanging out a lot and I was bringing him up in more and more of my conversations.  “Nate and I were doing this” or “Nate helped me fix my computer.” (Actually he still does).

But seriously, we were just friends.  Yes, that summer, we were seeing each other about 5 days a week but it was nothing.  Just coincidence.  He had just quit his job to take another but then the other job fell through.  My summer classes just happened to get canceled.  Both of us had loads of free time.

So, it was just natural that we would hang out.  Going to the movies, practicing for a joint fellowship night for church, going to the Waikiki Zoo to listen to free Hawaiian music, going to YWAM (Youth with a Mission) meetings, meeting at church for worship practice.  It wasn’t that much really.  It’s not like I wasn’t hanging out with my other friends—jogging, doing aerobics and water aerobics, salsa dancing and shopping.  I had lots going on that summer.  I was having fun.  And NO, I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.

Annie with Dragon Boats at Ala Moana Beach

So I was talking about him to my friends because you know, friends share about friends.  But I guess his name was just peppering my conversation more than I thought.  My good friend, Yoneko, then commented to me one day, “Annie, I’m convinced that something is going on, that you and Nate are not just friends!” I laughingly brushed her off.

But you know, my mind got to thinking.  What if?  What if we’re more than friends?

Could we be more than friends?

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Wrapping up our Japan series, here’s some of the stuff we brought back with us to Kuching.

Sake

This pack of boxed sake was very convenient to take  home. We’re gonna use it for cooking mostly, but first you gotta make sure that the sake is not too sweet, not too rancid, but just right!

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After passing on the tonkotsu ramen at the Yokohama Ramen Museum on our first day in Japan, we never got around to having ramen again until the last day in Japan.  Could you blame us? We were caught up with delicious plates at Za-Watami Izakaya in Shonandai, a classy meal at Maimon in Yokohama, and an exquisite kaiseki dinner at Maru in Aoyama. We almost ran out of time!

Tonkotsu Ramen at Hakatakko Ramen Shop, Machida

Our last full day in Japan was the one I most looked forward to because I got to spend the whole day with my friend Yuko, someone who I knew from my school days in Hawaii.  I had told Yuko I was coming and even though she was working in Korea, she happened to be back in Japan at just the right time. So we arranged to meet up on Friday.

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Here is the Muhibbah Malaysian Monday roundup for the month of September.

"Muhibbah" is a Malay word meaning "goodwill" or "harmony". Muhibbah Malaysian Monday is the brainchild of Shaz from Test With a Skewer and Suresh from 3 Hungry Tummies. This is an event where food bloggers post something related to Malaysia and food on a Monday. The host for the month then publishes a roundup of all the dishes collectively posted for that month.

Here are the entries for September, in the order that they were received:

Angku Kueh/Steamed Glutinous Rice Cake with Sweet Filling by Gertrude of “My Kitchen Snippets” in Pennsylvania, USA

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