I’m writing to you all from my school desk. It’s winter break and the kids aren’t here but I still have work. In the program I am doing there is a name for it….desk warming. We were told about this even at our orientation in Tokyo. There would be time when we would just have to sit at our desk even though we have no class. Yes I can plan for English class and make the English board….but how much time does that actually take? Anyways….it’s annoying but I am making the most of it by writing to you here and studying Japanese. It’s all perspective, I guess!
On Monday it was Christmas. Meri Kuri! Last Friday I had my end of year party, the bonenkai. Bonenkai are kind of a big deal in Japan. It’s common to drink and go out with your coworkers here. While in America that might be seen as unprofessional here it is encouraged. It’s also considered respectful for pour drinks for your superiors. My bonenkai was pretty elaborate as it was at a banquet hall in downtown Osaka. It was also all you can eat (tabehoudai) and all you can drink (nomihoudai)……with endless plates of fried chicken, fish, curry and rice, pasta….and nonstop refills of beer, wine…whatever my little heart desired. As soon as my glass was empty a server would come to refill it.
The other English teacher at my school was well known for singing at the last bonenkai….with teachers even mentioning in class to their students how she sang Japanese idol karaoke. So first thing first….she had to sing a Japanese song in front of the entire staff. Then I got dragged into it and we sang Last Christmas together. Maybe Japan is the place where I can fulfill my secret popstar dreams. They delight in the antics of over the top, dramatic foreigners here.
One of the teachers I was seated next to immediately wanted to know what I was doing for Christmas. When I told him I was hanging out with friends he asked a man? Boyfriend??
Ummmmm no….I responded…just friends. I was initially confused by this somewhat intrusive question…yet not surprised. I get asked invansive questions here often….Do you live alone? Where do you live?, Have you shot a gun before? Are you married? So I am used to being an object of mild curiosity. But this question actually had a basis, in Japan people usually hang out with their partner for Christmas and Christmas Eve.
So if you’re nursing a broken heart or feeling sad over a cutie, probably just don’t even go outside on the 24th. Cute well dressed couples swarm the streets, so you might feel that single-ness extra strongly.
I went to a Christmas market on Christmas Eve and I felt like I could barely break through the chains of arms holding hands. It was omnipresent. Luckily, my friend Amber came with and we ice skated while holding hands. We got to have our domestic partnership moment!
Christmas itself is pretty low key here. People usually work and go about the normal day to day activities and then eat Christmas cake (yes an entire cake) and fried chicken. I didn’t mind having a quiet Christmas here because it really took the pressure off. Perhaps if I was abroad in a more Christian country, I would feel the pangs of being away from home more deeply. But since people don’t really hang out with there family on Christmas (that’s considered soooo American) I could comfortably spend the day mostly alone or with some friends.
I ended up having the Japanese Christmas of cake and fried chicken with said domestic partner friend Amber. We got Korean fried chicken, salad and the cutest vegan cake called Teddy Bear Vanilla. When (or if??? Gotta get y’all guessing), I got back to the US, I want to continuing eating a cake for Christmas. Cause that rocks. Any excuse to eat a cake, I’ll take it.
Other things of note in Japan: last weekend I went and saw the Japanese idol group Sexy Zone. When I tell you that I was not prepared for what I was about to witness……I swear it has more theatrics than the Super Bowl halftime show. Sexy zone is an extremely popular music group in Japan (they only play in Japan) and they played at the biggest venue in Osaka, Kyocera dome. We got amazing seats super close to the stage too. On the stage they had built a mini version of the Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo. I initially assumed that the stage was the only place they were going to perform, but it was much more interactive than that. There was a stage in the center of the dome that they started out on and there were even went out on platforms that went above the crowd, like a building crane. There was singing, choreographed dancers with 20 plus backup dancers, fireworks, and literally fire coming out of the stage, 10 plus wardrobe changes…..the list goes on. America could never. The concert with just this one band was two hours, by the end the performers were exhausted and sweaty, yet each one of the four performers gave a speech about how grateful they were to perform at the Kyocera dome.
I also went to a “takoyaki party” at my coworkers house, which was incredibly sweet. Takoyaki is the Osaka soul food, a fried mix of egg, flour and octopus. It’s cooked into small spheres shapes (I’m not saying balls you can’t make me) on a frying pan that had sphere indents in it, similar to a waffle maker. It’s pretty common for people in Osaka to have takoyaki parties. I met my coworkers husband and her two university aged sons and it was so nice to have a real family home cooked meal. Also a great way to learn Japanese and a fun look into a Japanese household.
That’s all for now. Sayonara and see you!
Erika
Oh yeah I also saw the giant Japanese salamander at the Kyoto aquarium!
Hi Erika, have you been affected by the earthquake?
I want to wrap gifts like the Japanese. It’s nice to hear your stories:)