This is the last blog of 2011.

What a year it has been...

Last week, I wrote about the "Kanji of the Year-BOND."

Today, I want to ask you all the following question:

"What word for you sums up 2011?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111227vf.html

In the interviews in the above article, people cited the words; Change, Nuclear Power, and Vibrancy.

How about you? What sums up 2011 for you? What is your "Word of the Year"?

Mine is resiliency. Resiliency was the theme of the year for most of Japan, including myself.

To change the subject, I will go back to Philly to visit my parents over the New Year's vacation. I am looking forward to seeing them, taking it easy, drinking a variety of micro-beers, and eating a lot of food which I haven't eaten in a while! Maybe I will gain a few pounds, but that is alright.

Hope everyone has a great vacation, Thanks for 2011,

and really hoping for a great 2012!

Happy New Year!!

3-day weekend

What did you do over the 3-day weekend?

On the 23rd was the Emperor's Birthday, so it was a national holiday. He turned 78 years old.

Because I went out on Thursday night, I slept in on Friday. After that I went for a 10k jog, and laid around til around 2pm. Then, with my wife, I went shopping, bought some rice and stuff, and went for a walk along Mukogawa River for about an hour. Then she made hot and spicy yellow curry for dinner, and we watched Lady Gaga, and hit the sack. It was a nice day.

Saturday night was our "Christmas Date". After walking in the "Nakanoshima Christmas Lights Illumination," we had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant in Fukushima.

And then on Sunday, I went out with my friend all day for our "annual event".

All in all, it was a good weekend!

The below photos are courtesy of Ms. e.

She spent Christmas overseas, in Germany, for the first time.

Happy Holidays!

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Well, if you don't, that is OK, but please pretend that you do for a few minutes, and answer this question: What do you want from Santa Claus this year?

Come on...think of something! Me? That's easy. If there was really a Santa Claus, then I would want a...(I'll tell you when I see you!)

Anyway, to everyone, Happy Holidays, Season Greetings, Happy Hannuka, Merry Christmas, or whatever floats your boat!!

Bond (Vocabulary and Expressions Study)

The Japanese Character"Kizuna," which translates to "Bond" in English was selected as the "Kanji of the Year." This is an excerpt from The Japan Times Online:

"Seihan Mori, chief monk of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji "kizuna" (bond) as he unveils the Chinese character of the year on Monday. The kanji was chosen because the word came under the spotlight as the nation strives to rebuild the Tohoku region hit by the March 11 disasters."

Bond has a variety of meanings. Read the below sentences and test yourself! Do you understand all of them?

1a. There is a strong bond between the governments of America and Japan.

*Since this is debatable, please refer to the next sentence for an easier example.

1b. Company A and Company B have a tight bond and have successfully worked together on various projects over the years.

1c. I have a strong bond with my brother.

2. My word is my bond! (This is a proverb.)

3. Recently, because of the financial crisis in Europe, the stock and bond market has crashed.

4. The man, who was arrested for burglary, was released from the police on a $2000 bond.

5. Bond, James Bond! :)

Lit-up Foliage, courtesy of Ms. Y

USJ, Disney Land and See, and Duffy

2012 is winding down. There are only 19 days left. Is there anything that you want to do before the year ends? I have a few things left on my "2011 want to do list," but time is running out, so I better get to it.

Today's topic is related to amusement parks. Many people go to USJ (Universal Studios Japan in Osaka) or Disney Land and Disney Sea (in Tokyo) during the holiday seasons. One reason that people go during this time is there are Christmas Shows or Parades held during this season. I have been to the Christmas Show at USJ once, a few years ago. It was magnificent and literally brought tears to my wife's eyes. However, my eyes were quite dry. And Ms. Y told me today that the Christmas tree at USJ is the biggest in the world!!! (I don't know if that is true or not, but she said that she saw it on tv.) While on this topic, let me ask you all some questions:

1Have you ever been to USJ? How about Disney land?

If yes to both, which one do you like better, and why?

What about Disney Sea? Can you explain the difference between DL and DS?

(FYI, for those of you who don't know, DS and DL stands for Disney Land and Disney Sea. How about that for some hip lingo!!)

What is your favorite attraction or ride or show at these amusement parks? How about some other park?

Speaking of other parks, have you ever been to Disney Land, Disney World, or Universal Studios in America? If yes, what did ya think?

Did you know that I am afraid of roller coasters and hate them!? I can't understand how people let go of the safety bar and put their hands up in the air.

And, Do you know Duffy? If you don't, tell me and I will tell you all about Duffy the next time I see you.

Honeymoon (Blog by Luis)

We finally made up our minds! First it was Canada, then a cruise around the Mediterranean, after that was South America, but at last we booked our tickets to New Zealand just before Xmas.

NZ is widely renowned for its remarkable unspoiled landscapes.

We'll do a short visit to Auckland and Rotorua, famous for mud baths and volcanic hot springs.

Then we'll head to the South Island and do a small road trip. Activities include hike glaciers, get adventurous jet boating in narrow canyons, among others... like admiring the magnificent view of Mildford Sound in the Fiordlands.

Still a lot of preparation to be made, such as rent-a-car, hotels, activities, but we are thrilled and cannot wait to get there.

For those of you who are married, did you go on honeymoon? If yes, where? If not, where would you like to go?

Below are Ms. C's photos from her trip to Spain.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Foliage

Again, I am a little late with the topics. Please forgive me!

Anyway, let's get to it.

The first topic of the day is Thanksgiving, which is a national holiday in America and held on the 4th Thursday of November every year.

From my childhood, I have many good memories of Thanksgiving; family, carving the turkey, stuffing, gravy, football, pumpkin pie... If you want to hear more about each one of them, just ask.

The below link is interesting. It is about other people's thoughts about Thanksgiving. Check it out.

"So what's Thanksgiving all about?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111129vf.html

The next topic is also related to Thanksgiving. Because it "Black Friday," which is held every year the day after Thanksgiving.

I got the following explanation and history of Black Friday from Wikipedia:

"Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing Day sales in many Commonwealth Nations. Black Friday is not actually a holiday, but some non-retail employers give their employees the day off, increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005,^[1] although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate,^[2]have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time.^[3]

The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.^[4] Use of the term started before 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or are "in the black."

And last but not least, Foliage. Have you gone somewhere to see the magnificent foliage yet this year?

I have!!!

Below are photos from Ms. e's "foliage" experience this year.