what I've been up to (the picture edition)

Sorry to abandon the blog and leave you all holding your breath! ;) I won't make excuses of being busy because that goes without saying for everyone, right? The truth is I HATE updating photos on Blogger! It's slow and tedious. Anyone have any pointers for me? Okay, enough venting...

I was unable to host a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner for my students as I had hoped because of a nasty cold. Instead, I had a smaller group over for dessert. I made brownies (Thanks, Kendra!) and Pumpkin Pie. Everything tasted great and it was a good chance to get to know some of my students in a different way. I know they were curious to see how this American lives. I think the big, American size coffee mugs and the variety of teas and coffees left a big impression. I went to Tokyo in November for the Fall Staff Meeting and for an American Thanksgiving dinner. It was a great time for me to be formally introduced to everyone on staff in Japan. This picture is from the day after the meeting when the staff was joined with others needing a taste of American Thanksgiving. It was a great day filled with food and games. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! Gramma Mazie’s cranberry salad turned out great!

My face isn’t very clear, but Mt. Fuji wasn’t shy and made an appearance on my return trip from Tokyo. This was a rare sighting, I’m told, because usually it is too cloudy to see the full thing. I was mesmerized and wasn’t ashamed to take a picture.

I love asking strangers to take pictures of me! It's a good way to practice Japanese (even if all I say is "Please"!).

This tree really suprised me. After I took this picture, the lights started changing colors. Leave it to Japan to have a high-tech Christmas tree...

Here's my not so high-tech Christmas tree. I love it because it's tiny and precious. It brings a smile to my face and peace in my heart everytime I plug it in.

thoughts on Mary

Mary’s reply to the Angel about the news that turned her world topsy-turvy has been ringing in my ears for a while. I am amazed by her faith and courage to face certain uncertainties. In some of my English classes, we have been studying the Nativity Story in small chunks over the last month. I’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like to hear this story for the first time; it’s a beautiful story. It’s a story that becomes more and more real to me as I experience life in all its fullness-joy, sadness, doubt, fear, anxiety. It’s a story that I can’t explain. It’s a mystery that makes me shake my head in wonderment of a God who would choose humility as a tiny baby born under strange circumstances and eventual humiliation on a cross. It’s a mystery. I don’t understand it, but I lift up my head and agree that, Yes, nothing is impossible with God.

Japanese Christmas culture

Many of you have asked me what Christmas is like in Japan. Well, sadly Christmas in Japan is probably even more consumeristic than it is in the states. Japanese people are really interested in knowing about American Christmas traditions, so it 's a good opportunity to tell them the true meaning.

One of the unique ways that Japan celebrates Christmas is with a Christmas Cake. They would be shocked to know that this isn't an American tradition! The cake is usually a sponge cake with white icing and strawberries. Bakeries stock up on this cake and families will gobble it up on Christmas Eve. I've read that the price goes down considerably on the 25th, and what is leftover after that is considered old and I imagine is tossed out. A cultural note I learned today. Unmarried women are referred to as unsold and outdated Christmas cakes.... ergh!

Another Japanese Christmas custom has to do with Kentucky Fried Chicken! I took this picture of Colonel Sanders (who looks a bit Japanese, by the way) wearing a Santa costume. There's a really cute commercial on TV right now for KFC with a little girl and her Snoopy cup and plate that's available now for the Christmas season. People can make reservations with KFC for the Christmas Chicken Dinner, and I've heard that people line up to pick up their chicken like they were waiting for the final Harry Potter book!

The focus at this time of year is actually more on the New Year. It's probably one of the biggest holidays for the Japanese. Gifts are given to bosses, customers and teachers to show appreciation. Actually, many Japanese would say that this is an obligation and passing on it would be certain public disgrace. The stores have special ordering stations, where you can choose a box of apples or a box of beer (or pretty much anything that can be boxed up) to be sent to the person. It's really convenient because they wrap it and send it for you. It saves a lot of time and work. Children receive a special gift of money from parents and other relatives. Greeting cards are sent to relatives, friends, business acquaintances (just like our Christmas cards).