My first Christmas and New Year in summer

Nico : For me, like person who came from Northern Hemisphere hard to feel the atmosphere of Christmas and New Year in the hot weather. If you just stay these holidays in Australia, it's might be just an experience as a trip. You can feel the rest of that after you come back home. It would be still cold and the sight is in winter. I asked to MJ how she felt about it while she lived in Japan because I realized it's opposite for her. Her answer was same as mine. I didn't think about it about it while we were together in Japan. Anyway, it would be usual thing after some years. Maybe.

Christmas in Perth was really busy. I noticed it at first. People went shopping for Christmas a lot. Me and MJ helped MJ's mum shopping and cooking for Christmas and parties. Her mum and dad had some parties at their friend's home and their own. MJ was thinking hard about Christmas presents. She complained about how hard to park her car for shopping all the time. It is also busy in Japan around Christmas and New Year. But it's different. Japanese people usually go shopping for presents and cakes. The presents are usually only for their partner, kids, boy/girlfriends. Cakes are for Christmas day or eve. Lots of Japanese don't have strong beliefs in religion and Christmas became like an event for couples or family(especially who have little kids). There are lots of different types and variety cakes selling at department stores and patisseries. You have to reserve the cake which you want to buy usually. Until around a few years ago, I did it, too. 
     

Back to Christmas in Perth.

I decorated a Christmas tree with MJ. The tree was huge! ( I couldn't reach the top of it.)  And the ornaments were so cute. MJ's family played Christmas music on CD player while we were decorating it. I have never seen such a huge Christmas tree. When I was a child, my parents decorated small one. But I didn't have it long time so I felt it like `real Christmas'.  Oh, I noticed the tree had no fake snow on it. 

From 22th Dec to 27th Dec, I went to the Rottnestt Island with MJ's family. According to MJ, her grandma wanted to leave from stressful Christmas. She can't stop prepare a lot for Christmas if she stayed at home. But MJ's dad said, `It takes two weeks for  preparing for a week holiday and takes a week to clear stuffs for it.' Even though, they came to the Rottnestt Island every year. The Rottnestt Island is so beautiful and completely relaxing. I'm really glad to come there. I couldn't believe I could swim in the sea and just spending time to watch the ocean and lots of boats from the balcony in Summer.  

And I didn't expect to meet these pelicans.

But I have known I could meet him.

This is my first Christmas ham. Someone just picking bits. It was sooooo yummy!!! 











After we came back home with my `Issual Tuberocities' ( I got sore bum because of riding bike at the Rottnestt Island. MJ's mum taught me its official name.), we went to the New Year Eve party at MJ's parent's friend's home. We played volley ball in the pool and counted down for New Year together. It was really fun. I enjoyed a lot. But still felt funny it's in the hot weather. 

Some of my friends said to me ` It's really cold in Japan. I'd like to go there!'. Hm. I'd like to go back Japan for getting feel that cold weather a little bit.