Christmas here

This year is my first Christmas away from home and without my parents.  It feels weird not spending the holidays with them, since we are always together for Christmas time.  Still, I am having good time away from home thanks to my friends and my sister who is also here.  Last night, she invited me and my girlfriend to her house for a little party.  It was a simple affair, but a fun one.  Just the way I like them, nothing too fancy or complicated.  When it comes to food, it was bring something to share with the others, which is always good.  I have to say a had a great time, even do there was one guy who was just bringing down the mood.  Still, I did not let him bother me and kept joking and trying to have a good time.  In the end, he did not win and we all had a good time.

When it comes to my surroundings, it is very different from what I am used to.  Here, Christmas is more of a couples’ thing, then a family event.  Also, there is no day off on Christmas day.  People had a day off on Christmas eve, because the previous day was the Emperor’s birthday and it took place on a Sunday this year.  Because of this, the day off was given on Monday, so people would still have a  break.  Furthermore, here in Tokyo there is no snow and there will be none.  It never gets cold enough for that here, which is sad for me.  I like seeing snow in December, and when there is none it does not feel like winter to me.  Right now, it just feels like a really long autumn.

Still, I am enjoying the experience of seeing Christmas time somewhere else  in the world an comparing it to what I know.

Job interview

Today, I had an interview at a fancy restaurant.  As I could tell it went well and I should know by Wednesday if I will get it or not.  Hopefully, I will get it.  It would be nice to have a job here and they employ gaijins on a regular basis from they said to me.  Which a bonus, since I will be able to communicate with other people just like me if I get the job.  But, we shall see if the answer is positive or not.

Hair cut

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to try one of the many hair salons found in Tokyo.  The decision to do this was not easy for me, since I have always gone to the same person for all my life.  I keep going back to her, because she knows me and I don’t have to explain a lot to get what I want.  Furthermore, I always have a desire to let my hair grow and have it long.  Sadly, I have had the chance to do that in ages, because of a job.  This was the case again, more precisely I had to get hair cut to make a good impression for an interview.  When I found out that a company responded to my application for a position, I had no choice but to go to a hair salon.  This lack of a choice, came from the fact that my hair was getting long and out of control.  Furthermore, the job was a fancy restaurant and you cannot look a person who does not know how to take care of his look.

So, I started looking for a place to trim my hair and that was not too expensive.  I can say that doing this is not easy when you do not know what to look for in a barber shop.  Still, thank god for the internet and people who write about their personal experiences.  By looking on the net, I was able to find a nice place not too far from my home.  In addition, it was not so expensive, just 2,625 yen for a cut and shampoo (around 26,25$).  I have to say that I am happy with my hair do and do not regret going there.  If I ever have to get another haircut during my time here, I will go back to them for sure.

Kano world judo competition

Yesterday, me and my girlfriend went to the Kano competition.  Going there was her present to me for my birthday.  She knew I would like such a gift, since I am a huge fan of judo and a judoka.  Also, it has been my dream for many years to see an competition in Japan, since it is the birthplace of the sport.  I can say that I was not disappointed at all.

When we arrived, I almost had tear in my eyes.  I was simply overjoyed to finally be able to see a big competition.  I have seen a few and aided in some back home, but they were never this big.  Furthermore, here you had to pay to look at the event, which is not something that is done in Canada.  Back home, it is 100% free to watch and the stands are full of people more like barely.  The opposite happens in Japan, here you pay and they can fill an arena size area no problem.  That is why I wanted to see it in Japan.

The people were cheering for their favorite athletes.  You could see kids and adults running to get an autograph from some of the judokas.  It was great to see such passion for a sport that I hold so dear in my heart.  When it comes to the action in itself, there were some good fights and some not as interesting.  Still, I got my money’s worth.  We arrived there around 10 a.m. and the competition ended at around 7h30 p.m.  So, we had a full day of fighting, which was good.

There was one coach who I could not understand at all.  He was the one for Cuba.  Two things bothered me with him, first he was not there for his athletes.  Like at one point he simply left without waiting for the athlete to get off the mat and she had one her fight.  This is incomprehensible for me and stupid.  Secondly, he was very overweight, like somewhere around 400 pounds I would say.  Therefore, I do not see how such a person can be a coach or a good one at that.  It coaches like this that I hate to see at any kind of competitions.  Thankfully, they are not the majority.

In the end, I had a good time and my girlfriend too.  I was so glad to realize one of my dreams finally.  I making so many dreams come true, since I have been there and it is just starting.

Being recognized

To keep myself busy during weekdays, I go to study at the local McDonalds.  I try not to go to the same one two days in a row.  So, the people behind the counter won’t remember me.  Sadly and funnily, this has failed.  There is one clerk at one of the restaurants who knows how I take my coffee.  I usually ask for two sugars with the one cream, but with her I don’t have to say it.  It’s nice to be remembered by someone.  Still, it shows that I go to the same place too many times within a short period of time.  I don’t really mind, but I find it interesting that such a thing has happened to me here.