Final Draft

Tyler Shimogawa
                            August 15,2012

Shimogawa's New Years Tradition

     It was New Years Eve when everyone was gathered as a big Ohana. But this New Year celebration was different. My soccer team came over. After a hard years work of soccer and school my family wanted to bring everyone together that was special to us. We anxiously waited until the clock turned to 12 a.m. when it was going to be a New Year. Every second was dreadful and felt like eternity. When I would play with fireworks I would feel like a little kid playing on the playground having the time of my life. 5,4,3,2,1! "Happy New Years!" I lit the 10,000 firecracker. On this cold New Years Eve the fireworks gave us warmth and made us feel nice and cozy.  It felt like sitting by a campfire while snuggling in a soft blanket."Sizzle,Pack,Boom!" As the noises of fireworks echo in our neighborhood and as the noises ring in our ears, the fireworks lit up the sky just like the bright glistening sun

     The time has come. We all ran into the house. As we dashed in, boom! It punched me right in my face. The savory smell of my families "Traditional New Years Soba." Soba is a type of Japanese noodles. As we all got a steaming hot bowl, well dug in. First I took a spoonful of the broth. Sluuurp! The broth was a savory mouthful of joy. My throat was a little bit sore from all of the smoke and powder inhaled, so the broth soothed my throat to the dearest perfection.

     After we demolished the whole ginormous pot of the soba, I couldn't get over how delicious and mouth watering it was. Something about the amazing combination of charsiu, siamin noodles, soba noodles, fish cake, and the delightful broth comes together so well to make a delicious tradition. Even if it's not New Years I still crave this dish throughout the whole year. I can just imagine the steam roaming through the air and the savory broth satisfying my taste buds. The most amazing dish ever.

     This dish was not only special to me but to my whole family. This dish goes way back from my dads Japanese heritage. When he was a kid he always ate this dish on New Years with his family. Soon later when my dad and my mom got married, my mom adapted to this tradition and never missed one New years. My dad ate this because he believed this dish gave you good luck and a longer life.

     As the party wrapped up and everyone was saying their goodbyes, I was pooped and exhausted I took a bath and knocked out. I fell asleep like a baby. But boy did I have fun. That was the best New Years ever because I got to spend it with the people I love and my friends and neighbors. Something I will never forget. Hopefully we can do it again next year.