Sushi - Jan. 12 2007

I was worked up and motivated to try to make sushi today: after my daily Japanese lessons, I returned to Doutombori where they have stores specialized for food preparation. I bought a cutting board, a small mat to roll sushi, a knife and some ingrediants in a nearby grocery. The knives were super expensive! in the 200$ average range. Some went up to 1000$ a knife. There was lots of choice and I was not sure what was better to cut sushi and I also had to consider my budget. I saw a knife that was 25$ that seemed like it could do the job, but I told myself that if I asked a clerk I could be able to find a good knife to cut sushi, at a good price. I told the clerk I wanted to try to make sushi so I am looking for a knife, but I am a student so my budget is limited. He then showed me two knives: 150$ and 125$! Way too expensive... He also thought so because after saying they were good to cut sushi, and mimicking cutting the rolls, he said but.... and had a troubled face... and I finished his sentence.. chotto takai desu ne.. Its a bit expensive! He agreed and then there was nothing else to say... After that, I felt that I had passed over my chance to buy the 25$ knife and went in another store to end up buying a 45$ knife. As for the sushi, well I did some salmon and tuna nigiri, spicy tuna and tempura rolls, avocado and shrimp rolls, egg nigiri and shrimp nigiri... The most difficult part of doing it was rolling the sushi (I guess you get better with practice), and I did not put enough rice vinegar because the Nori taste and smell was very prominent and I did not like the taste. I will try again once I move in the dorms.. (Pictures)