So I started my New Year right, I think. A New Year with a new country and new cultural experiences. Of course I have been here since March, but the reality of it all finally set in. Last post was dedicated more so to all of us just sitting down and thinking about the course of events of 2009 and what’s to come in the next year. This post will be more about those oh so fathomed experiences we get to have when living abroad.

The end of 2009, to be entirely honest, was nothing like I expected. The obvious differences in culture weren’t so boldfaced anymore. When everything is written or placed into words the perception of meaning can be twisted based upon the experiences that an individual has. Call it “Experiential Referencing.” To be frank, I knew the differences between Japan and the US but didn’t fully realize them till January 1st hit.

In the US, it’s common for families to get together for Christmas and have a huge dinner. Then come New Year’s Eve and many of us get together with friends to drink, be merry, and revel in that New Year. Here in the better part of Asia, these customs are quite contrary to our practice. Christmas is more of a hallmark holiday for Japanese people. Originally, I had the understanding it was a time for friends to have dinner or parties. It turns out that it’s more of a couple thing and friends are generally excluded. For those who are single, it could be a bit “kanashii,” or sad, if all your friends are coupled. The New Year on the other hand is often rung in by the immediate family who will eat dinner and numerous traditional foods. For example, zouni which is soup with mochi (a form of balled rice) or kuromame which is sweet soy beans. Sometimes during that first week of the year, the extended family will get together to enjoy the fact that another year is yet to come with hopes for good fortune.

Indeed things were distinctly different from my sheltered life back home. Regardless, I did my best to join in the Japanese traditions. During New Year’s Eve I visited three shrines in Fukuoka and prayed for good fortune as well as health in the coming year. For Japanese this is a fun tradition and each region has different ways to bring about that New Year, such as having a small race where the winner is honored with rice, sake and possible prosperous good luck in the year to come!

We also do such traditional things such as haunted hayrides during Halloween or going to church on Christmas Eve. Although the traditions for our various holidays between the two countries may vary, the idea remains the same. It’s all about celebrating what we as people hold important to us.