Happy New Year

Happy New Years!

From Japan

Fire, fire!  Hahahahahahaha!  (They're all drunk)

In Japan, New Years is considered a more important day than Christmas.  It's pretty strange to do more for New Years than for Christmas, trust me.  Especially if you grew up in a western society.

- - -

Word of the Post:

忘 年会 (Bounenkai) - New years is important in Japan for a reason.  To end a year means to forget the mistakes and the sad times of the year and to start over.  For that reason, Japanese often have a party called the "bounenkai".  It means a party to forget.

新年会 (Shinnenkai) - On the other hand, the Japanese also party at the start of the year.  This is to celebrate the beginning of the year and to hope for a good one.

- - -

Christmas Parties and Dinners

Christmas and New Years in Japan Part 2:  The Rifa Party, and Christmas.

Since the last post was so flipping long, I decided to make a new post for this party.  I'll also try to add in the little Christmas party that took place on Christmas day.

- - -

Japanese Word of the Post:

踊り (odori) - Dance.

Short and simple, I know... but because the Rifa party was all a stage based celebration, and one of the most memorable parts was when one group busted out in dance moves, it makes it a logical choice...

鈴 (suzu) - Bell

I only chose to put this in because during our Christmas Bingo during the Rifa party, we were told to put any words we think of on our sheet as our bingo board.  I put bell, but they said it had to specifically be "suzu".

- - -

THE RIFA PARTY

Christmas in the Dorms

And they made me the tree...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

- - -

Word of the Post:
良いお年を (Yoi otoshi wo)- Have a good year~!
あけましておめでとうございます!　(akemashite omedetou gozaimasu)－ Happy New Year!

They are both said during the time of the New Years holiday.  The difference? The first is said before New Years, the second is said After the day.  So before we went on break, everyone I saw greeted me with a "良いお年を！"
Afterwords, ”あけましておめでとう～！”

The more you know. Hehe.

- - -

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is fast approaching huh...  It doesn't feel like anywhere close to Christmas.  Maybe its because I didn't celebrate turkey day with family this year.

Have a Christmas Cake.  <3
- - -

Japanese Word of the Post:
Maneku - to beckon or invite.  The cat who has it's paw up is often called a maneki neko because it "beckons" customers into a shop, which is why the cat is often set out in front of stores.

Now that that little tidbit is done, on with the meat of this post.

Reitaku University

As I promised, I'm here to bring a small tour of my current (for 1 year) campus.  This is the not very attractive back entrance of Reitaku University.  The actual entrance is much nicer, just to tell you, this is the way I usually come and go from though and I figured it would be best to show you what I see.


 

That wonderful building looming in the distance is my dorm room...  I'm somewhere on the far left, behind the gate.

Japanese Dorm Rooms, and the View

So, I just received my memory card reader and am really, really happy.  Of course, I'm happy about all the other stuff that came in that wonderful wonderful box, but having a memory card reader really makes my day.

So for today's post, I've decided to give a bit of a layout on just what my campus of Reitaku University looks like.

Starting from my room...

Ikumen Report

Well, I just decided to pop back online to write in this poor, neglected, pictureless(dagnabbit!) blog, and I realize that it's nearly been a month since I wrote anything in here!  And no doubt I've experienced plenty of new things during my trip abroad.  I apologize, my poor, poor empty blog!

Anyways, as I really do not have the time to post any lengthy posts about how the last month has been in Japan, (ehehehe.  I'll try to do more when I get my camera card reader, geez! -_-) I decided to share my report on Ikumen with you. (whoever "you" may be, if there's anyone actually bored enough to go on my blog...)

As a way to interest some potential readers:

IKUMEN - Sexy beasts who actually care about helping raise a family.


Come onnnnnnn~!!!  You can't deny the cute that is a man and his love for his children!

Anyways.  Continue to read for the report, Kay?