Happy Holidays, Friends

It's cold, there's no central heating or insulation here (cold rant coming sometime soon, I promise), rain/snow comes down without warning, but I had a great Christmas nonetheless.

Christmas in Japan is more a holiday for couples, interestingly.  Kids do get presents sometimes (although only one, on Christmas morning) but it's not a family/spiritual holiday in any way.  That's New Year's here.
 

One of my students poses with the Santa hat in front of the red, white, and green paper chain that was a class activity for Christmas.  Kids had to write three nice things about people in class on the pieces before attaching them to the chain.

 

Still, everyone knows about Christmas, there are Japanese versions of many Christmas carols, and "Santa-san" is well-known.  (PS, regardless of your religious affiliation, read this again and try to keep the goosebumps away)  I came in with a Santa hat to work on Christmas and the kids went nuts.  Still, I had to make my own celebration for the most part.  I had a good nabe dinner with some friends still around (this is a big time to travel or go home for JETs) and then Skyped Christmas morning with my parents at 10 PM sitting next to my little origami tree.  Definitely the most unique and in some ways the most touching Christmas I've had.

 

 

 Looking fairly ghoulish, the Colonel Sanders statue outside my nearby KFC/Pizza Hut combination dressed as Santa-san.  KFC has in fact been a Japanese Christmas tradition since the mid 70's.  Lines form and they frequently sell out. 

 

While junior highs went until the 25th, I don't have to work again until January 7th.  My friend Jonathan from college and his friend Carrie will be coming into Tokyo on Monday, and I'll meet him there before we go to Kyoto for New Year's.  It will be packed with people and I've heard it's an unforgettable experience to be in Japan's spiritual center for the holiday.  I'm sure I'll have lots of stories and pictures to relate after that.

For now, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  I think of you often and miss you all.