from my windows

The front of my apartment is on an active street. From my living room windows I can watch people coming and going. They are going to market, coming to eat at the sidewalk restaurants, meeting up with each other and who knows what else.



Recently I looked out and saw one of the woman from the businesses in the first floor of our apartment building washing her hair. Cold water in a plastic basin, soap and a towel was all she needed. Warm weather was not required.





Then I looked up and saw the waitresses from the hot pot restaurant watching me! Usually I see them cleaning if they are not serving, but they were taking a moment to watch the street activity too. Hot pot is a way of preparing food. Two broths, one spicy and one not, are placed in the center of the table over fire. You can get vegetables, meats, fruits, tofu....actually about anything... that you cook or heat in the broth yourself. It's quite good. A bit like fondue. The hot pot restaurant is busiest in the evening, but the staff arrives sometime in the morning.


The windows on the back of my apartment face the school grounds and the court between my apartment building and the next. A few weeks ago I looked out and saw radish tops drying on the neatly clipped bushes. The radish tops are made into a relish that is enjoyed on noodles and in sandwiches. The drying tops with their red stems and the circular arrangement looked rather Christmasy!