Christmas Cake

For the Christmas season, it’s very popular for families to do two things:

1) Order in, most likely KFC. Fried chicken is said to be big out here for the holidays.

2) Ordering a Christmas Cake.

 

It’s a bit commercialized. There really is no historical, or cultural tradition. It just became integrated to be part of the family moment.

There are tons of designs, flavors and sizes. Depending on how early you order them from your grocery store, or bakery you can sometimes get deals, discounts or extra points on your point card. They are delicious though.

Vanilla Christmas Cake

Christmas Cake saying: There’s a saying, and hopefully it’s a dying joke…that when girls hit the age 25 they are considered Christmas cakes. In reference to Dec 25, the cake is fresh and ready to eat ~ in metaphorical terms, the girl is ready to be married, and at the age of 25 it is considered the best time to have a child. It’s a terrible reference, but once girls turn 26 (in reference to Dec 26), they are considered old Christmas cakes…as in a cake that’s passed its date.

…although I’m sure no one can resist still eating a cake that’s a day old!

Chocolate Christmas Cake

 

Classroom Christmas Decorating

I haven’t had the best of luck finding Christmas decorations (within a budget), to decorate my classroom with. I really wanted to decorate the class for my “Christmas Special” lesson, and what better way to get the kids into it with a touch of magical visuals?

Christmas decorations on a budget
I needed inspiration, and there’s no better place than the good ol’ Internet. I needed something simple, and while I really wanted to decorate the entire class, I was pressed for time, cash and supplies. I needed something that I could make, and relatively fast while still looking nice.

My inspiration on “decorative garland”.

Decoration supplies…
I dove into my work desk – as I never really had a chance to clean it out from the last teacher before me. But I guess this would probably be the best time to do so. I also borrowed tape from the staffroom. The teachers have no idea what I’m up to, but only know that I’m hogging a tape dispenser and went through 2 rolls of tape. Schools being on a limited budget/stock, I assume I might get a talk after this…but in the name of Christmas Spirit I will endure it!

Potential supplies from my desk…(and office storage).

Naturally, I also contributed materials from what I had at home. I also bought shiny gold and silver garland, wreaths and musical Christmas lights. The garland came at 98yen for a little over 2 meters that I found at the grocery store.

String from home that I loop-knotted

Ahh…memories of home…

Going old-school, I decided to bring back the good ol’days of paper snowflakes and researched the easiest DIY ornaments. Now I just needed people to help me, but who?…

ESS Club to the rescue!
PERFECT! Way to kill two birds with one stone! I was able to teach and share a bit of Christmas decorating experience, which perfectly supports the cultural learning of the club! Usually the club lasts only for an hour after school, but the kids got so into it that we spent a good 3hours together. To the point where the school was shutting down and all students had to be off school grounds.

I taught the girls how to make decorative balls, and two different types of snowflakes. Starting with the easy triangle cut outs, then advancing to 3D. After wards, we used white thread to hang them on the looped twine.

Classroom Christmas decorating on a budget…
Christmas is HERE! 😀 The transformation of our whiteboard.

Before…

After…sorry, it’s blurry. Using my iPhone.

Origami, and old school cut-outs are some of the best ways to go. Especially in a place where they’re not use to making or seeing these things:

3D Snowflake

Christmas wreath I decorated with a ribbon, bells and the “Merry Christmas” sign.

I am now ready to give my “Christmas Special” lesson ^^.

Christmas Decorating in Japan

I have been getting little bits here and there that make me feel a little nostalgic for home. Especially when Christmas is coming soon, times when friends would have Christmas parties, or just fun hangouts. When you’re away from home, being alone for Christmas is probably one of the hardest feelings to have, if you are usually one to celebrate that is.

Subconsciously Thinking…As I walked around the mall, I saw a familiar banner that read, London Drugs. I was so excited, it was like seeing a familiar face…only it’s a store with products I knew they had and I needed. I picked up my pace. Every corner I turned it wasn’t there, but I could still see the store banner off in the distance so I knew I would be there soon enough. Suddenly a sales lady came out and told me the store was having a promotion, two free pairs of shoes just for walking into the store.

“No thanks” I told her, “I have to get to London Drugs”.

“Are you sure? They’re really nice!” From the window, they did look pretty nice.

“Yes! Now excuse me!” With that I walked off.

No to shoes?!?…

That was a dream I had a few nights ago. After pondering over that dream during my periods of boredom, I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be crazy to pass up free shoes for London Drugs! That, and I’m sure my subconscious was hinting something to me…that I’m probably missing home to the extent that I would pass up free merchandise, just to spend money at another store. Wow, if I do say so myself.

Culture Readjustment

When I first got here it was a bit overwhelming since I had a difficult time finding items that would otherwise be easy to find in Canada. I really admire the many foreign friends I met in Vancouver.Not being able to read or recognize products, even though what you need is probably staring at you on the shelf. Or judging by the label, you hope you bought the right thing…only to second guess you didn’t after you bought it, then later (thank god) it was the right product. Yes, this has happened to me on numerous occasions.

Aside from that, I really am enjoying my life here in Japan. I’ve enjoyed decorating my place – which is something that I really shouldn’t be investing so much in. The food is better, pricing is sometimes awkward, but for the majority works in my favor – like quality/nice sweaters on sale for $3. You don’t see that in North America!

Christmas in Japan

Christmas is the Japanese version of Valentine’s Day. It’s only for couples, while New Year’s is spent with family. It’s not that popular here in Japan, and so there is a lack of Christmas decor around the are, making it a tad bit difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. A little bit confusing because my body and mind are going “Woot! Merry Christmas!”, and then my mind will connect with my eyes, which gives me this sudden halting feeling. Like when Wild E. Coyote chases after Road Runner and goes into a skid stop. This ends up creating some sort of confusing dialogue within me:

Right Brain: “Wow, hold up! Something seems…different…”

Eyes: “Well, that store has a tiny tree in the window.”

Left Brain: “Toto, mental note, we are not in Kansas anymore.”

Body: “…So…are we still getting psyched for Christmas or what?…”

On a brighter note, there is a small illumination display downtown (Tenjin).

Illumination in Tenjin

 

Illumination in Tenjin

Christmas in Japan
Having my own place this can only mean one thing, Christmas Party! I plan to invite some of my teachers over for Christmas dinner / festivities. My first little order of business, getting a Christmas tree ^^. Found at Nitori (similar to Ikea), a $10 tree that actually comes with a few ornaments to start. Extra ornaments were added from the dollar store. It’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas…
I was also surprised to find musical Christmas lights at the mall ($25). Something that reminded me of home, because our tree has musical Christmas lights^^. A little big for the tree, but it’s long enough that I can hang it up around the room to decorate, now I just need to find some garland.

Small Tree with ornaments: ¥1000@ Nitori