Welcome Dinner

One of the things that make us feel very far away from home is the unfamiliarity of everything and everyone. As tiny an issue it might seem, it does make a difference to know what kind of environment your partner takes part of – and with who.
Though Barbara did have some brief encounters with Henriks colleagues during our pre-visit in December, it was really appreciated that Sato-san, Henriks manager, had arranged a welcome dinner for us. It gave us both a chance to get to know Henriks closest colleagues better.
The evening took place in a traditional Japanese restaurant and turned out to be a really good – and exciting evening.

A traditional Japanese dinner usually includes between 5-15 different small dishes. They mainly consist of fish, but made with such creativity that the menu seems very varied. Amongst the dishes we enjoyed this evening was jelly cubes filled with flowers and blowfish.
Some people call eating a blowfish the gourmet version of playing Russian roulette. Parts of the blowfish contain an extremely strong paralyzing poison, which is about a thousand times deadlier that cyanide. Due to very strict rules in Japan, blowfish can only be prepared by specialized cooks, therefore the chance of being poisoned is very small, but yet it is with a pinch of excitement you take the bite. Eating blowfish is actually considered too dangerous for the Emperor, to whom it is not allowed to serve blowfish, and one blowfish is said to have enough poison to kill 30 persons.

Blowfish or not, the cubes were delicious, though the flavor of the blowfish is not really strong, but then again, they say it is because of the texture and not the taste, that Blowfish is regarded as a delicacy. You would feel the poison within minutes, so we know we made it this time – and we are....most likely... up for tasting it again if we get the chance.

The evening was pleasant and very relaxed, and everybody was talkative and friendly. We had interesting conversations about Sakura (cherry blossoms), safety in South America, blowfish (!) and wedding traditions.
Henrik also got a nice surprise as he found out almost everybody spoke English, which had not been revealed at work.

P.S.
There is a saying going on here. ”Those who eat fugu soup are stupid. But those who don't eat fugu soup are also stupid.”. Fugu means Blowfish in Japanese…