afraid of small animals

ベアリー・メリークリスマス！

It's (not really) beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

My little Christmas corner, with goodies from all over the world.  It's no Christmas tree but it's better than nothing.  :)

Each year, my Christmas in Japan has been very different.  While there's no family tree to admire, no presents to arrange under the tree, no Jack Frost nipping at my nose, no Christmas cookies (a few actually, thanks Mum!) and no big family feasts, it's not really as depressing as it sounds.  Slowly these Christmas musts have been replaced with new ones: picking up a bunch of Christmas packages as they arrive in my school office, writing Christmas cards to my friends in Japanese, and singing "Last Christmas" with my co-workers at karaoke.  I usually do my best to recreate the things I like best about the holiday, and I have been *almost* desensitized to being away from my family (has it really been 4 years?).  I usually get up on Christmas morning just the same as I would at home, I make some coffee and I open a few presents from home with Bing Crosby playing in the background.  With the invention of Skype, it is practially like being at home.

In Japan, Christmas means date night for couples.  The celebration is even more romantically-oriented than Valentine's Day!  I'll never really get why, but this year I am buying into it and Chito and I are going out for an Italian dinner.  It's about as close to my mom's home cooking as I can probably get over here (fingers crossed for lasagna). So for anyone who thinks I am just moping around this year, you don't have to worry.  Just don't have too much fun without me at home!!  Merry Christmas everyone! 

The Noh Festival

Last Saturday, my tea ceremony teacher was performing in a Noh Festival at the nearby cultural center.  She eagerly informed of of the show and gave me a photocopy of the program, hoping that I could make it.  While the idea of a Noh Festival isn't all too exciting to me, anyone who has met my tea ceremony teacher would understand why I did everything I could to make it.  In between meeting a friend for breakfast and heading South for Chito's barbecue, I stopped in at the center to see the performance.  When I got a program at the front desk, I was swarmed by elderly men who were shocked to see a 20-something foreigner there for the show.  I was the youngest person there by about 40 years, at least!  When I went inside, I was saddened to see the meager turnout in the large, noble hall.  There were a handful of old men and women in traditional kimonos scattered through the rows, but it was quite sad.  But when my teacher came out for her 10-minute song and dance, I enjoyed the Noh performance more than I had expected.  Having a personal connection to the performance really makes a difference.  I only wish I could have understood it a little bit more. 

Guess who's 26!

I meant to post this yesterday, but it's still the 14th somewhere in the world, so happy birthday Chito!  We are missing all our friends who've left us and there won't be any bowling this year, but there is always fun to be had.  Getting ready for a mid-December barbecue this afternoon and celebrating with all our friends here, new and old.  Another year gone by! 

But I totally forgot to get a birthday hat.  :(