Day After Christmas Blues

Well, Christmas alone wasn't as bad as I thought - of course, getting to be with my family would have been wonderful, but things were still good. On Christmas Eve, I went with Stacy and Motoki (thanks for driving, Motoki!) to Jichiidai where one of my students, Yoko, attends church. We were met by Moto - one of our brilliant discussion students - outside of the church where the church choir was assembled. They sang carols outside until the service started. The service was really nice and Yoko played piano and sang with the choir. She even typed out the Japanese carol lyrics in Romaji (Romanized letters) so we could sing along. Another one of Stacy's students was there - she brought homemade marmalade for Stacy, Moto, and me - it was wonderful. The one funny thing was the fact that the candlelight service candles were not candlelight service size candles, but instead, birthday candle sized candles with pieces of foil wrapped around the base. Still, the service was much like the Christmas Eve candlelight services i am used to - it was nice.

Also, the students here at AEON have been so generous to me this Christmas. I got,
-2 green hats (from two different students)
-Tea
-Chocolates
-Pottery

On Saturday, some wonderful gifts arrived from my parents, and today I got cards and a package from my sis and one of my brothers. All weekend I have been talking to my family - On Christmas Eve night, I got on iChat with my brother in Houson and watched the kids open presents and even read a children's storybook version of the Christmas story to the kids - my brother held up the book to the video cam and I read it to them. It was the next best thing to being there. Today I talked with Becky while I opened up the stocking stuffers she sent to me.

All of this was great and tomorrow I will chat with the whole family at my folks house, yet today was a bit of a let-down. The weather today was, in a word, gloomy. Heavy rains started last night and got heavier throughout the day. The winds picked up and my shoes got soaked on the way to work. On the way home, I took the bus, but waiting for it, my suit got soaked, my shoes got resoaked, my backpack got soaked, and my umbrella nearly broke. I thought about it and realized that I am glad that I don't normally live in such a climate. In spite of the cold of Minnesota in January, I think I prefer it to the cold, clammy feeling of soaked shoes and socks as I go to work. Hopefully, things will clear up during my days off so I can enjoy the hot springs and the ski slopes.