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Christmas in Japan

In my previous post I wrote about how I was grateful to be surrounded by my “second family” during the holidays. While this is true, at the same time this is also the time of the year that I feel the most homesick and often think “why do I live so far away from home?!”.

Christmas in Japan is… different. They don’t really celebrate it but it is prevalent, at least in the stores. Couples go on dates, people eat KFC for dinner, make cakes instead of baking pies, and give one store-prewrapped gift to their loved ones. It’s a thoughtful holiday here but not a thought-filled holiday. It’s easy.

But back in America, Christmas is a lot of work and up until now I don’t think I’ve really appreciated it. So much work and love put into the dinner, the presents, and even down to the wrapping. I miss that. You hear people in America complain that Christmas is just consumerism but I think it’s different. The family connection is still there although it may be fading.  In Japan, it’s definitely consumerism but I feel that some Japanese are trying to make it more about the family… it’s hard though when most people still work on Christmas. It’s not even just Christmas day that I miss. I miss the build-up to the Christmas season. The store decorations and the music playing in the background. They do that all here but the heart isn’t behind it. No one hears the music and feels warm because Christmas is near. That’s what I miss.

So while I’m still an amateur-compared to my family- I decided to put my heart into the cheap little Secret Santa gift that I will be giving a fellow housemate on Christmas. Not too bad, right?

christmasjapan

Earthquake Aftermath

As I sat at my computer pondering the idea of starting back up with my blog entries I thought to myself, “Where do you find the words to continue on after what has happened in Northern Japan?” Everything that I came up with seems so trivial compared to the fact that hundreds of thousands of people lost everything and over ten thousand people lost their lives.  But in the wake of this horrible tragedy I have been witness to an amazing amount of community benevolence.  From the people in Japan courageously trying to grasp on to any kind of normalcy in their everyday lives to the funding raising events around the world, I now know that they can and will overcome this.

After a three week hiatus in Colorado, I look forward to heading back to Tokyo.  Sure, I am a little weary of the Fukushima plant ordeal but my life is there.  I can’t wait to see my friends, students and neighborhood.  We will continue onward stronger albeit cautious into our new future.

For further information on the earthquake and all it’s subsequent tribulations as well as organizations that you can donate to, click the link below for more information.

http://www.thetokyopost.com/tag/earthquake/

Souvenirs

In America, souvenirs are meant for the person who has traveled (except for perhaps your family) and with the price of vacations these days that seems pretty fair to me.  However, in Japan souvenirs seem to be mainly for the people around you, family, friends, co-workers and the list goes on.  It’s a nice thought but unfortunately I’ve seen more often than not people ask for souvenirs before even asking about the trip!  Sometimes I wonder if those people even wonder where their acquaintances went!   In Japan, shopping for these souvenirs is made pretty simple with a variety of packaged edibles (most Japanese souvenirs seems to be food) but returning to America I found it quite difficult.  What do I bring back?  A big bag of Cheetos?  They do have boxes of chocolates at the airport with “America” written across the top along with pictures of the American Flag, Mt. Rushmore and eagles.  Really?  This is America?  Saying all this, I’m still relatively a newbie at what is appropriate and who I definitely need to buy for but I must admit, I have become quite the good at receiving!  Living in a guest house allows for many little treats from many different places.  I wonder what’s next?!