H is for.... Happy 100th Post!

H is for...

Happy 100th Post!
Thank you to my friends and family (and anyone else!) who have been reading and keeping up with my adventures! I've been here over 2 years now, but knowing you keep up with what I've been up to makes me feel less lonely.. don't forget to keep me updated with your gossip too!!



H is for...
Happy Christmas!

December 23rd is a National Holiday, as it is the Emperor's Birthday, and as per tradition, Jen and I celebrated 'Early Christmas'.
１２月２３日はいつも祝日だから毎年友達と「早いクリスマス」を祝います。

First, we greeted the Emperor at the Imperial Palace, which was open especially on this day. He had been ill recently, but was well enough to wave enthusiastically and give a meaningful speech about the trouble this year and how we have to work together.
まず、皇居で天皇様を見ました.

 Next, a shameful visit to McDonald's.. followed by Christmas Karaoke

Lots of waving Japanese Santas!

Christmas dinner!!!!!!

December 25th was spent with Toshi. Santa brought me a keyboard, so despite 8 years of rustiness, we decided to play 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'
サンタトシは電気ピアノをくれたからこの歌を一緒に'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'を弾いた　（けど８年以上弾いていないから下手くそでした（・・；）

 Afterwards, we enjoyed tapioca tea and a crêpe, followed by Christmas karaoke

'Twas Christmas Eve..

Yoko and Richard learn about advent calendars..



December 22nd For all you astronomy fans out there, this year's Winter Solstice (冬至) coincided with a rare lunar eclipse (月食). Regrettably, Tokyo was being treated to pouring rain at the time, so I was unable to see the moon :'( But to celebrate the Winter Solstice, I had pumpkin salad for lunch with Fumiko, my student, and that night, I took a yuzu bath (an orange citrus fruit)- a combination which is said to prevent one from catching a cold the following year!

December 23rd National holiday- fake-early-Christmas day!!!

The itinerary was:

Watching Tron Legacy  ..

Listening to the Salvation Army play ..

Christmas Karaoke ..

 Christmas dinner..

and ..

Christmas Dinner Posing with Illuminations

A lovely day with lovely people :D

 

December 24th Merry Christmas Eve!

Quote of the day: 

Me: What will you be eating for Christmas tomorrow?

10 year old student: Hamburger!

A Christmas message and an apology..

 

December 25th I worked a full day at AEON..

..followed by meeting Branwen (my school friend) and her friends at a British pub.

 Dipping nachos into cranberry sauce!

The night ended at a club, where I got to speak to my favourite Japanese DJ, Shinichi Osawa. Christmas magic!

F is for..

Festive

Happy December everyone! I've heard it's been severely cold back in the UK so please take care everyone!  After enduring the hottest summer in Tokyo ever, I'm glad I didn't go through the coldest November in 17 years! 

As it's the 1st of December, I've put up my decorations and I'm playing christmas music. We've also been giving christmas-themed kids lessons at Aeon too.

Thank you to my Grandma for the surprise advent calendar:





Of course Japan isn't a Christian country, so there are bound to be a few differences...

A christmas cake in Japan is a white sponge with strawberries and cream:

Only £23.76!!

Santa is Japanese and has bad teeth:

Christmas tree decorations can be a little different...

But I'm very happy they put up a Coca-Cola advert on my way to work!!

 "Let's unwrap happiness"

F is for..
Fall

Ginkgo trees (which smell awful but look lovely) in Hikarigaoka and trees in Nerima

F is for..
Food

Giant apples @ £3.04 each!!

Yakitori,  a photo of my very first meal in Japan, and raw duck

Natto, fermented soybeans (I wasn't smiling after trying it!) and making takoyaki (octopus balls)

 Sushi at a 'train sushi' restaurant and grilled tuna head!

メッリクリスマスみんなさん！！

8 Things that can be done on Christmas Day in Japan

Santa Claus is Coming to Tokyo!

A Mameshiba Christmas setting in Ikebukuro...

Mecha Kawaii!!

Christmas in Hikarigaoka's main mall- kids get a free train ride!

 

The first of two Christmas Karaokes!! I am wearing antlers ^_^

The playlist included:

Jackson 5- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Mariah Carey- All I want for Christmas

Wham- Last Christmas

The Pogues- Fairytale of New York

and a Japanese Christmas song called Speed- "White Love"

I was disappointed that many golden oldies such as Wizzard and Slade had not managed to reach Japan's karaoke boxes (nor America for that matter).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for Christmas, I am celebrating on the 23rd as it is a National Holiday, so I have the day off. I will start the day by watching Avatar before heading into Tokyo to search for a Christmas dinner, karaoke and various Christmas things. So for me, Christmas is tomorrow hurray!!! ^_^

An Update

This week was Parents' Observation week, so I've been really busy all week designing super genki lessons for the kids to impress their mums. Lots of paperwork.

It's getting really cold in Japan, but snowfall is not expeted until February-time.

Tomorrow I have follow up training, so I'm making the most of my one-day weekend... preparing lessons!

I must say my grandparents were totally spot on- the last two weeks really have flown by! It's insane! Even when I notice how fast the time goes, its continues. I'm not complaining, because I want the warm weather back! But I'm happy and having fun :D

Finally, thank you to my grandparents who sent me parcels- I enjoyed catching up on the choccies on my advent calendar! And thank you for the Christmas card Auntie Glenys anad Uncle Eric :)

My Apartment- Christmas Edition

I may be in Japan, and I may be working on Christmas Day, but I'm not ready to forget about Christmas!!

Thank you for the presents mum, dad, Grandad, Grandma and Val!

I bought the flashing light-up Rudolph-Snowman hybrid thing for my solo Xmas disco!