Christmas and other happenings

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
This is Christmas Japan style. Kirsty and I are at an onsen, wearing yukata and about to enjoy a lovely Christmas Eve meal. Not anything that we'd be used to at home of course... but really very delicious all the same!






And here's the food... There's some shabu-shabu (hot-pot soup), tempura, sashimi, grilled fish, pickled veggies... it was delicious!! Much better than anything I've had in Japan since I came back. :-) Yum-O!!!







LOVE BEER??? You bet I do! And this was some really nice micro-brew from a local brewery. It was blueberry flavor... a nice mix of hopsy flavor and a bit of sweetness. Really delicious beer... though I was apprehensive at first. :-)










We had to go searching for some snow on Christmas Day because there wasn't any near where we were staying. So we drove up to the Naruko Gorge (a great spot for looking at fall leaves in October) and found some snow!! Here I am in my nice new hat, courtesy of Melissa. You rock girl!!!











Watch out!! Unlike Fairbanks, we can make snowballs in Japan!! And we did... ;-) But because we're nice we didn't actually throw them at each other. :-)



SO... there are some Christmas pictures. Just because I was having a good time here in Japan doesn't mean that I didn't miss Christmas at home. I'm becoming a firm believer in Christmases spent at home, in Alaska, with my family. :-)

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year!!

love,

A

things that make me smile...

Ok... most of you that know me pretty well, know that I'm generally a smiley person. Well... being in Japan is really interesting because I tend to smile here even more than in other locations. And here are some of the reasons why...

- Every day I see a dad and his son walking to school (probably pre-school/kindergarten). Now what makes me smile about them is that the dad is about 6' tall or even a bit taller and the little boy barely hits above his dad's knees. That picture is cute in and of itself... but then the little boy is so full of energy and spunk that it makes me smile.

- Little kids walking to school make me smile as well... they are so wrapped up in their own little worlds...

- A guy walking down the street today was wearing the coolest blazer... it was a checked blazer... and it showed that he was not conforming to Japanese boring black because it was a little darker than royal blue with light blue checks... he was definitely fighting the metrosexuals of Japan.

- Songs that I like to sing to. I generally put my ipod on shuffle... and sometimes even in the middle of being squashed amongst all the commuters on the train I smile when certain songs come on.

- The genki guys who serve up the coffee at Starbucks. I used to go to other coffee shops in Takadanobaba, but have recently started going to Starbucks because the staff is so nice! They just make me smile to go in there.

- Funny things that are green. As you all probably know, I'm a bit of a green freak. Maybe it's the fact that my hair is a bit reddish and my eyes are greenish, but I just like the color. So, whenever I spot something really cool and green - I grin!;-)

- Shinbo-kun (kun is a term attached to male names in Japan, used for people younger than yourself). At kendo, we are all supposed to cheer faito when we're not actually sparring ourselves. Well, Shinbo-kun has the loudest, most recognizable and consistent faito of anyone in the group. It's cute and makes me smile.

- The Iida's. They are a family that I was introduced to right when I came to Japan in September. They are amazing. The two sons played hockey, Yuto just finished his last season as a senior this week. They are so normal. AndI mean that as a compliment because they are normal by American standards and not Japanese standards. And I love going to their house because it's like I have a couple more brothers and a sister... and another set of Japanese parents. They are always SO amazing that I am always smiley and in a good mood when I'm around them.

Anyway... that's a "things that make me smile" list... hope some of them make you smile... or at least make you think of me! ;-)

love,

a