Saisho wa...

Well, hello everyone! 久しぶりだね！　This first post marks the new beginning of my blogging ventures! I neglected my previous blog SOOOOOOO much. And at the encouragement of a fellow blogger (see YOSHI!) I decided it was time to start a new blog.

The theme of my first blog was set around my initial impressions of life in Japan. Well, I'm currently in my second year, and have come a long way since I first arrived. Therefore, my blog has a all-around new theme and new look. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure how to explain the explain, but the look is pretty straight-forward. I'm a "Super Hero." Now, this doesn't mean I've come to save Japan or anything. I don't think Japan is in trouble. The Super Hero-ness just looks cute, ne?

It's Monday night. I'm sitting on the tatami in my lounge, simply trying to put off doing the dishes. I just had a couple of teachers over for dinner. Last week, I finished a two-and-a-half week stint at a junior high school. It was a lot of fun! The teachers and students were amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed it. (And it didn't hurt that one of the young male teachers was very attractive!) Anyway, I invited 3 of the young female teachers for Mexican food over at my place. It went really well. I just got kinda tired towards the end of the night, so it became a little more difficult for me to stay in Japanese. I'm gonna steal my friend Taka's line and adapt it to my situation. It got to a certain point in the evening where "Only English Time" was in my head. (In Taka's case, it was "Only Japanese Time.")

Did I mention that it's Christmas time in Japan? If you've grown up celebrating Christmas or any other traditional holiday, and then go to another country, the celebration seems to change. Whereas at home, the holiday seems to start without any extra help needed from you. In a foreign country that doesn't celebrate the same holiday, the occasion requires more effort. You almost find yourself trying to recreate the specialness that you expect to be attached to such an occasion. It's quite a difficult thing, honestly. This will be my second year that I've been away from home for Christmas. I had a very nice Christmas holiday last year. A few of us ALTs and mutual friends came together and formed our own holiday gathering. We were all away from home, so we sought each other to help create that special feeling. However, like last year, my actual Christmas evening will be spent with my fellow teachers from my base junior high school. Now, in America and many other countries, that would be unheard of. But, hey, we're in Japan, ne? Christmas isn't necessarily a religious holiday here. Japanese people have other traditions during this time of year, which can be equally fun. So, anyway, I'm going to a big work party. I'm excited about it. I think it'll be more fun this year, because I've gotten to know the teachers better (and I can speak more Japanese than I could last year).

Ok, I better wrap this up for now. This is just the first blog. So, hopefully, future blogs will more interesting! Apologies! See ya!