Last few weeks in Sendai

I'm safely snuggled back at home, with central heating, brown bread, language I can understand, parents to look after me and cheese. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I certainly did; it was lovely to relax with friends and family. Now the busy laziness of Christmas is over, I'm hoping to catch up with myself. The next few months are a mixture of Social Work interviews, learning to sew, baking, catching up with friends, learning to drive, eating far more than is good for me and hopefully getting back into my blogging swing. 

For the time being, here are a few photos from my last few weeks in Japan

My origami Christmas cards

John desperately wanted this, but wasn't sure he'd get away with wearing it in England! 

One of my favourite students made this in our last lesson!

Only in Japan would businessmen sit and play this game while drinking at a bar.

Warning: Evil snowmen have set traps to trip you up

John and Eric get involved with kareoke at our leaving party!

The girls were obviously much more tuneful though!

Snows over Rikuzen Ochiai

Cross-stitch made to say thank you to my Japanese tutor. I was very impressed that I managed to embroider readable kanji and hiragana!

A sweet snowman decoration in Sendai

Ideal presents for a Japanese Christmastime

When I spoke to Mum a while before Christmas, I told her there were only 3 things I wanted for Christmas...

Blu-tack, stock cubes and a reflective jacket for cycling!

None of it cool or trendy but all things I really need and can't find anywhere! The blu-tack and stock cubes are self explanitory and I asked for the jacket since bikes in Japan only come with one dynamo front light and no back one, I feel a little unsafe biking up my road at night with a black coat on! I always refuse to wear one at home (I may not be very stylish but I have limits!), but I'd rather look stupid than be hit by a car!!! 

There are only 2 other things that I really can't find here - a decent tea-towel and stuffing mix! The tea-towel is on it's way thanks to John's mum, and I have some stuffing mix that I brought with me! It'll have to be saved for a special occasion! 

Luckily, my Mum read between the lines, and realised that there were a few other bits that would be greatly appreciated! As well as lots of chocolate bits, Christmassy bits and a few (very) random stocking fillers, these arrived through the post this week...

A super snuggly pair of slippers and a lovely warm pair of gloves that she crocheted for me

I'm a very happy girl :D 

Christmas, Japan style!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! It's Boxing Day here (the 26th for those crazy non-Brits), and we were planning to go skiing but unfortunately the weather has decreed otherwise. So we've put that off until wednesday and we're going to have a lazy day instead!

Yesterday started off slowly...not surprising since John didn't get in until 7am! Oh well, I'll let him off since it;s his birthday as well as Christmas! Then we woke up and had presents, thanks to Mum, Terry, Stacey, Aunty Alison and John's Aunty June and Uncle John! :D

John in his new t-shirt!

We then headed out and got lunch.

This is Soup Curry, a Sapporo speciality. Most importantly, it had roast chicken, roast potatoes and roast vegetables in it. Almost a traditional Christmas Day lunch!

We then decided to make the most of all the snow and went to a park in central Sapporo. We visited a shrine, got our fortunes and prayed for good luck, and then played in the snow.

"I'm a big tree". It's a Peppy thing.

Pretty river

Walking to the shrine

Praying for good luck

Making snow angels

Ridiculous icicle

Winner of a kids Christmas tree decorating competition

After a short relax(and a skype chat with lovely lovely Stacey :D ), we headed out for tasty tasty sushi...what could be a better dinner for Christmas in Japan? Well KFC actually as that's what they eat here for Christmas (apparently due to a successful advertising campaign in the 1970's!). But we decided sushi was a better option!

The only thing better than sushi? Shinkansen sushi!

John ate crab innards. Gross.

Yes, that is burger sushi.

Yum yum yum! The whole idea of Christmas is to stuff yourself stupid, right???

We then headed to central Sapporo, and did some more highly traditional Christmas things....

Playing air hockey

Trip on a Ferris Wheel (according to Andrew on the phone "just what Baby Jesus did on the first Christmas"!). This is actually on top of a building. I'll take a photo another day!

How pretty in the snow!

We met a random girl who was dressed like this!

I'm being Japanese!!

Christmas was almost over, just one thing missing....cake!

Yummy Japanese Christmas Cake.

We had candles and sung Happy Birthday :D

A very different but very fun Christmas day!

Post goodies!

Stacey and Mum, I love you!! Bringing Christmas cheer to my little apartment! Thank you :D