Christmas in a Pagan Land

Yesterday was my first time to celebrate Christmas outside the Philippines, and away from my family.

Christmas here in Japan is not a national holiday as I used to back home. Most Japanese I know don't have a religion. They practice sometimes Buddhism/Taoism  rituals as they are accustomed of but they usually use Christian (Catholic) rites when marrying.

They did celebrate Christmas though, but only the pageantry of the commercialism the western culture had brought here 150 years ago. Christmas here is just Santa Claus and lights.

On the eve just before the sunset, all of Minato Mirai's buildings (including our office building) raised their blinds. This is the yearly tradition of the complex they call Illumination. At first I taught that is because they want us, inside the buildings, to see the lights surrounding the city, but the main purpose of that is for the audience outside will see bright lights coming from the inside of the building. And because of that, the whole complex is full of visitors flashing their cameras here and there. Suddenly, it feels like home. Feels like the shopping districts of Manila on Christmas eve full of busy last minute Christmas shoppers. But then again, they celebrate Christmas yet not understanding what to celebrate about.

But fortunately, the Catholic faithfuls here celebrate Christmas. Not as festive as it is back in the Philippines but at least they have all the essentials in our spiritual needs.

We attended the bi-lingual (Japanese/English) Christmas Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Maur International School which is presided by no less than Diocese of Yokohama Bishop Raphael Masahiro Umemura and the priests serving the Sacred Heart Cathedral. There, carols are sung prior to the mass, including Filipino Christmas songs. Many Japanese who are not yet baptized Catholics joined the mass. A clear picture that spreading of the Word is in full action here. (It has been a tradition here, I think, that those who are not yet baptized can still attend mass, queue on the communion line but instead of receiving the Holy Sacrament, they bow their heads and the priest/minister bless they by laying of hands
on them)

My batchmates then celebrated the traditional Noche Buena at Fred's apartment few moments after the mass. A simple meal.

My key person and my immediate group leader allowed me to have an A.M. leave on Christmas day so I had a chance to attend the English Christmas mass at the cathedral.

After office, my closest friends in the office (Anna, Alfons, Cess, and Ate Cathie) and I went to World Porters to have our Christmas Dinner at Festa Garden, and eat-all you-can restaurant. Sulit ang pagkain, masakit nga lang sa bulsa.


Overall, this is one experience I will never forget. Not the usual merry making, simple yet full of hope, joy and true friendship. Christmas back home will always be the merriest. But one thing is for sure, here or home, we celebrate Christmas because of  a sole reason: The One True Love offered to us by Our One True God.

Goodbyes

Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." 

- Juliet Capulet (Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare)

I had received a lot of goodbye mails a while ago. Many are coming back home to the Philippines for good. 


I envy them because they can celebrate Christmas in the Philippines. 


Suddenly, I felt sadness. Not because they are leaving. I don't know. Probably because goodbyes always are sad feelings. Sabi nga ni Juliet, parting is such a sweet sorrow.


In these two months that I have been living here, I got a chance to meet them and somehow be close to them, even for a short period of time. I wish them all a safe trip back home and a merry holidays in the Philippines.


Bon Voyage my friends! No "goodbyes", just "until we meet again".

Happy Hour Japan

I just came home from my department's bonankai (don't know if this is correct, lol). It is the year-end party. Another uniquely Japanese.

Japanese parties are usually a drinking session, and this is not an exemption. But what's so unique about this party is that everyone will have a chance to say thank you to everyone who he wishes to say thank you. A sort of saying it has been a good year for me and that is because I have you guys with me.

A totally new experience since you will never see often these people (my officemates) on a lighter side.Japanese are very much concentrated on work that they forgot sometimes to unwind. This party is their opportunity to do so.

After party is what's even cooler. Japanese people love after parties. And yes, after parties are just the same - drinking sessions. But this time you treat everyone as friends and not as officemates. You get along with them and they can share you interesting stories about them. This is a nice time to bond with your officemates.

I had a nice time tonight. The bonankai, the after party and the walking around and chatting in between the two are awesome experience here in Japan. Looking forward to more parties, and after parties, bonding with the HSE department.

Kanpai!

PS: I recently bumped into this fan page on fb. It's for a video blog of two American guys about Japanese culture, the title of their videos is the title I used for this post.

Train

I recently (over the weekend) experience boarding and exploring the very complicated train network of Japan. It must have been the world's largest (i guess) train network (wala sa kalinkingan ang Strong Republic Transit System ng Pinas)


I am used to travelling here by Yokohama Municipal Subway. My accommodation is 4 station away from my office (and it takes about 6 minutes). But this weekend, I tried to board the other trains. Yesterday, we went to Angel's (my SFC household leader) dorm at Komaba for our rehearsal for next week's CFC-Yokohama Christmas Party. We agreed to meet up at Yokohama Station (this station is a central station for 5 lines). So from Yoshinocho I took the subway to Yokohama (that means additional ¥200 because my train pass is upto Sacuragicho only). This is my first time to go to Yokohama alone, although I am familiar with the place. At the Yokohama Station we board the Toyoko Line to Shibuya. We choose to board the Rapid train (meaning express lane). And from Shibuya we transferred to Keio Line to Komaba (this time we take the local train because Komaba is jus 2 stations away from Shibuya).


A while ago, after the mass, we went to Shinagawa (at Angel's school the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology also for the rehearsal). So after eating out with my batchmates, I took the Negeshi Line (Rapid) from Kannai. This is my first time to be in Shinagawa but I even have guts to travel alone (rose, mei and glenda took Osogo line). After the rehearsal, we went back to Shinagawa Station, but this time we took the rapid Tokaido line to Yokohama then transfered to Negeshi line and again transfer to Yokohama Subway from Sacuragicho to Bandobashi where I bought my food supply for this week.


It is indeed a tiring weekend for me, but one thing is for sure, I j¥enjoyed travelling here in Jaoan, iit seems complicated but not.


I can't wait for next weekend. I am again to board other train lines (I guess) because the Christmas Party will be held in Tokyo.