‘Tis the Christmas season. Lights are up, Santa and his reindeer are graced across building tops, and Christmas music streams from store speakers as their consumers, er, I mean shoppers, busily shop. As soon as November 1st arrives, so does consumer Christmas – and I had never really thought about how Christmas affects other countries’ economies, not until now. 
I’ve been quite in the Christmas spirit, as I occasionally give in to the temptation to play a Christmas song or two on my iPod while I’m lazying around my apartment. I don’t want to get sick of it too soon so I try to moderate how much I play. Yet when I visit the larger stores or train stations I am embraced by all things Christmas – trees and lights and ornaments, cute little snowmen that light up… and me oohing and ahhing over them and deciding I want this, and this, and this. Oh and a tree! I want a tree too! I was shopping in Hamamatsu yesterday, debating whether to shell out some major yen for more warm clothes (even though really, I probably have more clothes than I need), looking at baking supplies (I finally found a spatula!) and overall enjoying the feeling of walking around department stores being materialistic. I tend to sing along with the holiday tunes under my breath, as I contemplate the religious implications they have despite being played in a very secular country. Every time I see a tree I break out into a wide grin, and I walk around smiling for what appears to be no particular reason, especially since I am alone. I suppose when you have lived a life of rather constant change and instability, something like Christmas just brings a sense of calm, and homey feelings that I don’t normally feel. It’s also the last exciting time of winter, as January through March is a long, cold, boring stretch.
Since I’ve been in such holiday spirit I decided I wanted to do something Christmasy for the English Club at my school. They’ve been having a rather uneventful time lately and I thought of a fantastic idea to liven things up – gingerbread houses! I avidly drew a sloppy picture on the board as I explained how to make a gingerbread house to the students – they watched me with questioning eyes, probably only understanding half of what I’m saying. Finally, I finished my elaborate presentation, which felt more like a persuasive argument, and finished off by offering a few more holiday ideas we could try. We took a vote and when we said gingerbread house – all their hands shot up instantly. Nothing like candy to motivate teenagers. Anywhere. Works like a charm.
I had to work Saturday as it was open school day, and after a week of locating ingredients to make the gingerbread houses, and spending a tiring 3 hours whipping up batch after batch and pouring into plastic baggies for 30 students, we finally were able to finish off my long week by putting together crackers and decorating. Needless to say, the students all had a lot of fun, gasping when their little cracker roofs collapsed because they were so selfish with their frosting, stuffing their faces with candy and trying to make perfect little houses. After we had finished they all thanked me eagerly and tried to explain (in English) how fun it was. It was the highlight of my week, or maybe I was just high on sugar…How am I doing since I arrived in Japan – well to be honest, I lack motivation to do most everything. The only thing I feel motivated to do lately is bake or sit around and watch TV or movies. I seem to have fluctuating days of stepping out of my comfort zone and then hiding away like a hermit. Could also be the weather, as it has gotten rather cold (40s at night, 50-60s during the day) and I just sit in front of my heater most of the time. Although yesterday when I was in Hamamatsu it was a gorgeous, sunny day, probably just below 70 – felt like perfect Fall to me. I just find that I do a lot of stretching, a lot of compromising, and a lot of mental and emotional work figuring things out that I tend to need more time to hermit. Kind of like a barnacle… how they withdraw and contract when they are out of their comfort zone (or I suppose what would be their survival zone). But they instinctively know when its time to withdraw… and I think in general I have really learned how to follow my instincts so I recover and recharge well.
As I was in Hamamatsu yesterday I tried to find the Immigration office to get my reentry permit. I spent quite a bit of time walking and usually I am excellent with maps and location – however; this time I was truly confused. A police officer randomly stopped me with a “what’s up?”. I looked at him quizzically…. What did he just say? He asks me what country I’m from, I tell him America, thinking perhaps he’s going to ask me to whip out my alien card, when he said “What’s up – Hello greeting.” And I let out of a breath of relief – ooooohhhhh, what’s up…. Oh well not much, just looking for the immigration office.” (As if that was some safe way of playing it… but oh well). He gladly pointed out the way and I did the whole bowing/thanking thing and went on my way. I got lost, turned out they were wrong. I walked in some large random circle thinking I had figured it out when I found an official looking building. I saw what was a “gaikokujin corner” (foreigner corner) and wandered back that way to grab a number. I looked around the room trying to decide who I might be able to ask but everyone looked so busy so I just decided to sit and wait.
Half an hour then turned into 2 hours when some nice Brazilians sitting next to me joked about how long the wait was, after first trying to speak in Japanese to me. I told them what I was waiting for and they both gasped, told me I was in the wrong place, and couldn’t believe I had waited two hours. The woman promptly showed me to the immigration office (I don’t know if its just me but it seems that I am usually walked everywhere). Turned out the building doesn’t look official at all – it resembles more a dark gray, rusting, peeling shack in the middle of houses and apartments between these two streets that are more like alleys. It had also just closed 10 minutes ago. Looks like the re-entry permit will have to wait awhile.
Well I consoled myself with Mister Donut and arrived home to find that one of my futons had fallen into the neighbors yard below. I paced my apartment, formulating the best sentence in my head to ask if they had my futon, and apologize profusely, when a little woman knocked on the door, holding out my futon… Oh, sumimasen…
Speaking of futons – I need a new one. They seem to be quite flat now, or maybe they were but I think they are more flat now than when I first used them. They and the mosquitos contribute to sleepless nights. Mosquitos, you say? In November? The little blood-sucking monsters apparently withstand cold temperatures…or they are drawn to my apartment because I am the inhabitant. Most nights as I am drifting off to sleep I hear a whining buzz above my head, to which I groan and curse the bugs as I throw off the covers, groggily flip on the light, search for the swatter and stalk around the room, praying to find the little disturbance so I can go back to sleep. After about five-ten mintues I usually find it, kill it and return to sleep. However, two nights ago I failed to find the offender, and with the clock steadily blinking towards 12, went back to sleep. I woke up the next morning and spied it sitting on the wall, sleeping. I reached for the swatter and swiftly ended its bloody life. Unfortunately this was all too true as it splattered on the wall, (most of the time they don’t splatter blood) and realized the little sucker had gotten me somewhere. I suddenly saw a bite on my hand the size of Mt. Fuji. Not soon enough. Not soon enough.
Which is the mantra I have been saying for my upcoming weekend to Ishikawa…not soon enough. I’ve also been informed its frightfully cold, at least in Ashley cold standards. Might have to pull out the down jacket. And some of those hand warmers you shake…
