And So This is Christmas...

• First day at work, right after coming back from the Philippines.
• We're currently living in the new apartment in Kasukabe, wherein we still don't have a refrigerator, washing machine, air con (but we're using electronic carbon heaters), tv, etc. Appliances are yet to be delivered on the 29th.
  
• Christmas Party tomorrow at the head office but we can't attend because we're 2 hours away via train (Kasukabe --> Shin Yokohama) and we still have work at the client company till 6pm. (Party starts at 5pm and ends at about 9pm).
• I am still having these dry coughs courtesy of the sore throat I got the night before my flight to Japan.

Anyway, enough of the ranting. For those curious, Christmas (Kurismasu) here in Japan is also quite known although in a different sense. It's actually more of a commercial ploy that invites more people to spend during this season. The Japanese are mostly agnostic anyway so all they know about Christmas is something related to gift-giving, winter, sweets, food, etc. Food establishments like KFC gain a lot of orders during this time of year in preparation for the noche buena.

In most countries, Christmas Day is ideally spent with your family. Sometimes, it also becomes an unofficial family reunion gathering up to the nth degree. But here in Japan, I guess they took 'being with your loved one' literally. Christmas Day in Japan is to be with your girlfriend/boyfriend, if none, then at least with your closest friends/ barkada. That should be Valentines' to most countries, but Valentines Day in Japan is also different (It's the girls who do the initiative of giving! sweet! hahaha!).

I know, I know I seem to have a very sad Christmas here in Japan; but it's really not a big deal for me. The night before Christmas (noche buena) is basically a mini-reunion for us and that's what I particularly missed this year (also for All Saints' Day which is also a family mini-reunion). At least by next year, I would definitely use my leaves to be in the Philippines and celebrate Xmas and New Year with my family.

One thing to look forward to would be the winter break, at the least. It's a yasumi for all of us from December 29 to January 7.

Happy Holidays Everyone!