I won a ticket to tonight’s Awamori Festival fundraiser from the JCCH.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I was anticipating a learning experience about Awamori, but I learned more beforehand from Wikipedia, since all they had was “Z” and various fruity cocktails made from it.\u00c2\u00a0 I even brought a notebook and pen so I could write stuff down and write a really informative post!\u00c2\u00a0 I got three drinky tickets with my entrance ticket, so the first thing I had was a shot shaken with ice.\u00c2\u00a0 Whatever “Z” was wasn’t top shelf, and the shot was seriously on the short side.\u00c2\u00a0 At\u00c2\u00a0least the Asian sister who poured my second shot on the rocks gave the yellow brother a long pour.\u00c2\u00a0 Mitch came late, so they didn’t give him any drinly tickets, so I gave him my third, although he used it for a soda.\u00c2\u00a0 The food was pedestrain buffet fare, and none of it of a Ryukyu bent.\u00c2\u00a0 WTF?!\u00c2\u00a0 At least there was a good Okinawan dance performance, and I got to hang out with Mitch, Melissa, and a bunch of really nice people.\u00c2\u00a0 The skies were dark and ominous on the way ofer to ATM after work, and sure as shingles, the sky opened up with wind whipped rain and lightning as soon as the event was underway.\u00c2\u00a0 Everyone had to crowd under whatever shelter they could find at the open-air venue.\u00c2\u00a0 I ran into Derrick from the JCCH whose friends were performing. \u00c2\u00a0Sorry – I’d write more, but I’m really tired (Fabio, you didn’t miss much).<\/p>\n