Hey all!
So the craziness of Christmas has settled a bit and there are a few days left until New Year's, it's the perfect time to discuss my christmas holiday.
Where did I leave you last? Hmm....ah, yes my school's end of the year party...
We all had to bring a gift and it was at a really nice hotel by the train station in Mito, so nice and convenient. The dinner was really nice- chinese/japanese/italian. I know weird mix but everything was delish. My table was wonderful. Kato-sensei and Komatsuzaki-sensei were they to translate and the guys all thought they were very suave trying english with me. Very fun.
Then there was the slideshow....everyone had brought in pictures from when they were babies and growing up. Then we guessed who was who. I even got asked to bring in pictures, which I did.
Needless to say, everyone knew who I was right away!! Ha!!
Then we all got numbers and picked our gifts. I had brought a Starbucks mug ( and of course the person who got it is my japanese "lisa werderman"!)(very very long childhood story which those in the know will understand what this means..) I got Chupa Chup bath bombs! Great! I don't take baths! Guess I'll have to...
Anyway, after the first party of course there is a hardcore group that moves on to the 2nd party. I'm always invited along. Usually it is the school secretary, the vice-principal, principal, head master and grounds keeper. And me. I decided that since we were close I would introduce them to my bar- Gen's. But it was closed....so then I thought of the other "gaijin" bar- the drunken duck. So we took a cab and....it was too full and they wouldn't let us in. Wow- 0 for 2- not looking good to my colleagues. it ended up alright because they left me with some friends at the duck and they went to the japanese bar around the corner. All was fine!!
Christmas Eve I had to work in the morning. Which was really pointless because all I did was stand in the gym during closing ceremonies for two hours and then the kids left for break. I would have been able to leave then but they had already ordered my bento lunch- oh joy! So as soon as lunch was over I left!
I met Su and Jessica at Mito station and we went up to the catholic church for Christmas Eve service. I went last year by myself. It was nicer to go with friends. The mass was a little different than I remembered from last year- a slide show to start with, gifts for "baby jesus" and everyone going up to a baby jesus to kneel and pray. Missing this year was the Happy Birthday Jesus cake. I missed it!
Afterwards, we headed back towards the station with plans of calling it a night, but my friend Allie, who is leaving Japan, was still in town for one more night and we decided to go have a drink together. The four ladies had a lovely bottle of wine at Unbalance. Then Su took off to get some sleep and to make mashed potatoes for Christmas. Jess, Allie & I continued to a little japanese bar for another glass of wine. Then we headed to the Duck. Which apparently was the place to be if you were foreign. It was a fun night of many laughs and talk about Christmases back at home.
When Jess & I got back to our apartment building, I hung out at her place for a bit, talking about Christmas and home and Japan. It was a good way to end Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day a group of us headed over to Matt's house for a lovely christmas food fest. Jess & I met up and headed to the 100 yen store and grocery store for some last minute items and then headed over to Matt's. We did have a late start but as it turned out so did some others. When we got to Matt's, Su and Allie were already there. Laurie showed up an hour later. Basically, we had a lot of food: cheese, crackers, bread, chips, rum balls, cheesecake, chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, jell-o. And wine, rum, eggnog, etc.
We ate and talked and laughed and listened to christmas music and drank. And then we played Scattergories and Boggle (courtesy of Mom and Christmas- yea Mom!!). And I learned a very valuable lesson- never play boggle with Su- she's a machine!! Haha!!
It was a very special way to spend Christmas Day. Lots of friends and good food. It was sad though- as Allie left in the evening and we had to say our goodbyes. She will be traveling a bit before heading back to the States. I'm sure I'll see her again, but it is still sad to say goodbye and know that she is just one of the first that I'll be saying goodbye to over the next few months. She is a hilarious, fun fun girl and I will miss her greatly.
OK- after Matt's we headed over to the Duck to see what was going on there. None of us wanting to part and go our separate ways on Christmas night yet. Well, that just turned into a party and.....a very late night.
Getting home, completely exhausted, stuffed and toasty I called the family back home.
And that was Christmas in Japan v. 2008. It was nice, but not exactly how I want to spend my christmas next year.
Now I'm on winter holiday- woohoo! And it's been a bit lazy so far. I've been just laying around and watching episodes of Sex and The City. AND I did get to watch the Badgers' bowl game- I wish I hadn't!! Haa!
New year's will be spent here in Mito. And then after New Year's sale shopping begins!
I hope everyone had a perfect Christmas and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) being able to see everyone in the coming year!!
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