This year I celebrated Christmas... Japanese style!
No.. there was no cozy fireplace or any pretty trees to put presents under, but there were fireworks! I guess listening to Christmas music (weather its English or the good old Japanese versions of Christmas carols) from stacks of large speakers while watching 花火 is the way they do it here.
So, its my first holiday season away from my usual friends and family, but I think us international students are holding up alright. This year we went to Beppu's firework show. Although Christmas isn't an official holiday here, people still like to put up lights all over downtown and open up booths to sell food, making the occasion very festive. Right on the beach several stacks of speakers were set up. You could hear everything from a Japanese version of Jingle Bells to Jackson 5's Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
For this Christmas occasion, most of still in Oita decided to take it easy. We threw a Secret Santa Party in the Kaikan lobby complete with a few games of 7/11 double. Nobody had to go bankrupt buying presents, but everyone still got something cool. On Christmas Eve we spent the evening eating dinner together at a nearby Izakaya. Later going to McDonald's and Family Mart for ice cream and cinnamon rolls!
Also, for Christmas Day some of us headed to Jun & Jesse's for another evening of fine dining and another game of 7/11 double. Honestly, not a bad holiday experience so far in Japan!
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