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.