December 22, 2004 - Luminaria
This holiday has been different (better) than any other I have experienced. I have been singing Christmas songs with my kindergarten students since mid-November, but the Japanese don't focus on the gift-giving aspect of Christmas. Most kids get only one or two gifts for Christmas and they seem to be grateful for them. While Japan has a culture of incessant gift giving throughout the year, as a foreigner, I do not feel the stress of it. I have enjoyed giving cookies or tea or sending emails with pictures to friends we have made. The focus has been more on spending time together, singing songs, making phone calls and sending emails to friends and family in the states, etc.
Tim messing with my self portrait...	We went with Katie and Mike (and thousands of others) to see the Luminaria display in downtown Kobe (Sannomiya area.) The Luminaria is an annual event intended to cheer up the locals since the 1995 Kobe earthquake. It is a brilliant display of lights for several city blocks that draws tremendous crowds during Christmas week.

Terminus of the Luminaria procession Katie and Mike Tim and I

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