what are your plans for the holidays?

[dogsbody70]

Originally Posted by RealJames

I'll be staying here in Japan, probably visiting my gf's parents' house on new years day to eat osechi and ozoni etc, maybe watch the highlights of that crazy marathon and play the lamest board game in history with her grandparents ><

On new years eve maybe hitting Kyoto, Kawaramachi, that place is always good for a new years eve party!

what marathon is that James?

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by Suki

LOL you are an ass...

But hey, I deserve to have some cooking done every once in a while. I cook lunch and dinner every day (that kinda makes me a housewife lol) and it's the one thing I hate about living by myself, so it's okay to have my mom and DAD cook for me, just like it's ok to spend New Year's kicking your girlfriend's granny's butt at some kiddie game, you manly man, you

lol I'm sorry I couldn't resist after that rant you went off on the other day

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

what marathon is that James?

Hakone ekiden I think it's called, a 5x40km marathon with university students from tokyo to hakone (near fuji), strangely popular

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

what about the game "GO"? any experience playing that.

Its grand to eat without all the preparation.

I love go, and reversi / othelo, great games, rivaling chess

[Sangetsu]

I'm flying back to America to visit my family. It will be nice to drive a car on the right side of the road again (I have rented a big American luxury car for my stay) and to eat real pizza.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

I'm flying back to America to visit my family. It will be nice to drive a car on the right side of the road again (I have rented a big American luxury car for my stay) and to eat real pizza.

Quiznos and the pizza joint near my friends place are where I spent a lot of time last trip back home lol
oh and I love rootbeer so i loaded up on barqs lol

[Nyororin]

I plan to linger around my house up until a few days after Christmas, then head up to the in-laws for New Years. Christmas is a normal workday in Japan, so my husband doesn`t have the day off.

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

I believe that NEW YEAR is special for the Japanese-- with much exchanging of GIFTS?

No gifts - money in little envelopes for children instead. Otherwise though, it has a family oriented feeling quite similar to Christmas in the west... Families gather and spend the time at home together. My husband`s parents` house is the main house (本家) for their family, so relatives will come from all over Japan to spend the New Year there.

[dogsbody70]

oh right Nyrororin,

So wrong information re exchanging gifts.

quite nice idea to give children some money.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

oh right Nyrororin,

So wrong information re exchanging gifts.

quite nice idea to give children some money.

Usually the money is promptly taken by parents and put into a savings account - a lot of children have their high school education paid for by the money they receive at New Year. (Of course a small amount is used to buy a gift of choice, but most is saved.)

[Umihito]

I'm probably just gonna do a LOT of sleeping to make up for all the times I have to get up early for college and work.
I'll probably sit around playing my Xbox for a while too with my limited free time XD

On a sadder note, I have to do a ton of revising for January exams in Geography.
I also have to do location scouting and filming for Film Studies as well as an essay on CGI in film.

[Suki]

Originally Posted by Umihito

On a sadder note, I have to do a ton of revising for January exams in Geography.
I also have to do location scouting and filming for Film Studies as well as an essay on CGI in film.

What are you studying?

[GoNative]

I don't get holidays at this time of year. It's the busiest period of the year for us at the ski resort so there's no chance any of us get any time off. As Christmas is on a Saturday this year I do have the day off though and will be having some friends around for dinner. Went and bought a nice big turkey and some pork (with plenty of fat on it for crackling) today for the dinner. Can't wait!

Always have a video skype call with family back in Aus as well.