moshi moshi anone: Spending Christmas and New Year in Japan the second time around

Konti na lang.... konting-konti na lang.... makakapag-post na ko ng para sa year 2016! You know naman my motto: Better late than laterererererer. Olrayt. ^_^

Dec 2015 - Jan 2016

This would be the second time that I spent my Christmas and New Year here in Japan. The first time was in 2012 when I gave birth to Miko. We thought of dining out for our Noche Buena but we cancelled the thought kasi mas masarap kumain sa bahay and mas masarap yung pagkakain e nasa bahay ka lang na. If you're used to Christmas and New Year's celebrations in the Philippines e mamamatay ka sa homesick pagdating sa celebration dito sa Japan. For most Japanese (I think and I observed), Christmas means Christmas cake, roasted chicken and Santa Claus. That's it. At walang magarbong paputok and fireworks display tuwing bagong taon. Kakalungkot 'di ba? Though for sure maraming lugar dito sa Japan kung saan makakapag-enjoy ng bongga ang mga tao for Christmas and New Year celebrations pero iba pa rin siguro pag sa Pinas. Anyhoo as usual idinaan na lang namin sa pagkain lahat.

For Christmas we had nilagang baka, fried chicken, yakitori (skewered grilled chicken), squid rings, baked mac ( Na nagmukhang giant bibingka. Thank you to our faulty oven.), rice (shempre!) and wine. Sa Tita ko (father side) e laging may handang nilaga or anything na may mainit na sabaw pag pasko. Alam ko may meaning yun kasi napanood ko na siya minsan na na-feature sa isang show sa TV. Kaso nakalimutan ko na meaning hehe. Tsaka swak na swak naman dito sa Japan kasi winter kaya masarap ang mainit na sabaw. At dahil hindi kami marunong mag-portion ng mga nilulutong pagkain, mga 1 week naming pagkain yan dahil 3 lang naman kaming kakain.

For New Year we had steamed fish, buttered shrimps, fried pork strips, pansit, fruit salad, mochi/rice cakes and rice. Sa sobrang ganda nung fish na ginawa namin e nag-alangan ako kung masarap ba. And we were surprised that it was delicious as well. Kami na! #ggss

Yung nasa gitna nga pala na orange sa tuktok ay tinatawag na kagami mochi. According to Wikipedia, Kagami mochi, literally mirror rice cake, is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. It usually consists of two round mochi (rice cakes), the smaller placed atop the larger, and adaidai (a Japanese bitter orange) with an attached leaf on top. Since we are in Japan, I have this feeling that we have to have this thing for our new year celebration. Yun lang. hehe

Hanggang ngayon e pakiramdam ko kitang-kita pa rin sa katawan ko ang lahat ng kinain ko noong pasko at bagong taon. Sobrang clingy. Ayaw umalis.

Since dumating si Miko sa buhay namin, every year ay gumagawa ako ng electronic postcard para sa pasko at bagong taon. Pang-post ba sa facebook at instagram. Para minsanang greetings ba. Ganern.