'Tis the Season
My host family doesn't do much in the way of traditional or commercial Christmas celebrations, it seems. In a way I'm relieved but in a way I'm also disappointed. No matter how much of a bitter and cynical scrooge I used to be, the ironic truth of the matter is that no matter how hard now I try NOT to like Christmas, I just... have that Christmas spirit.

So after sitting until December 12th with no Christmas lights, no Christmas ornaments and no Christmas tree in the house, I finally decided to do a little holiday shopping. Spend money: that's the answer to everything right?

Actually, the truth is that I really do enjoy buying other people gifts. And at $10-$15 a pop, purchasing little things for my family won't bleed dry my wallet and is enough to show them (through American tradition even) that I care. Here's what I picked up/ am planning to pick up:

Host dad: Japanese translation of Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson in two paperback volumes. Am surprised at how much the novels look like manga from the outside. Dad likes Science-Fiction. How cool is that?

Host mom: I'm giving her one of my "tins" Burt's Bees lip balm since I now have enough to last me the next three years. You can't get that stuff here at all and I swear by it. SWEAR!!
Because she's an Elementary school teacher and has to deal with (I'm sure) a fair amount of stress each day, I'm thinking to get her either Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion from The Body Shop or this "instant relaxation" on-the-go, stress-relieving aromatherapy lotion from Origins. Which do you think?

Host sister: I'm burning her one CD of assorted classical tunes and another of Yann Tiersen (composer from Amelie). Picked up a Miyazake Totoro flower pot kit for her. Maybe flowers will brighten her up.

Host brother: I wish I knew him better than I do, but I don't know him well at all. He has a new apartment, so I'm going to get him a mega-poinsettia to brighten up the place.

Lucky (the God-awful Shi-Tzu): I can't believe I'm getting this p.o.s. dog a present... but I know it will make my host mom sooooooo happy. And he's a smart fellow, if belligerent and obnoxious as hell, so the Love & Peace gourmet doggie treats I get him will make him happy too.

To top it all off, I picked up nice wrap and ribbon too. The only problem with buying gifts is that there is no Christmas tree to put them under.

Well, there was no Christmas tree to put them under until marvelous shopping karma-stepped in.

Even after I was lucky enough to find a tin of the German-style Christmas cookies I was looking for in the Takashimaya basement grocery and after I purchased traditional European design wrapping paper, I didn't expect to find my family the perfect, matching Christmas tree!

While in the stationery floor at the top of Odaku department store (so fancy it has people who work the elevator for you!) I chanced upon a shelf full of mineature German wooden, stand-up Christmas trees with ornaments. This sort of tree is a table decoration about 12-inches high. The tree-shape is flat with circles cut out of the inside where you hang the ornaments on tiny hooks. There are also hooks on the ends of the "branches" and pegs on the stand where you place more ornaments and figurines. The ornaments (angels, snowmen, toys) are all painted in a similar, traditional design. If you haven't seen decorations like this, you probably still have no idea what I'm talking about.

I immediately thought to get one for my room, except that I have nowhere to put anything. But I bought one for my family because I know that with the little amount of time they all have, there's a slim-to-none chance of even a mini plastic tree showing up at my place. No one does "Real" trees in the city... and Christmas probably isn't a big enough thing outside the city to merit them either.

With the matching old-style wrapping paper, cookies and tree, we're going to have a German Christmas!

My massive Xmas present has also arrived in Seattle on time... and I eagerly (almost evilly even?) await its dissemination. Teehee.

I like Christmas.

Update on earlier post and work in general: Disney Guy finally got back to me. We're meeting for one hour tomorrow and I also have a first meeting with another client. I still haven't heard from the sculptor lady so I'll assume that won't go through. The stupid modeling agency finally offered me another few potential jobs but I don't have my hopes up at all anymore. In lieu of all this, and that teaching english via to adult men via private lessons still makes me feel weird, I'm looking into another company whose sole purpose is to help foreign college students (like yours truly) find work with English clients. A friend of mine who is doing work through said company gets paid Y3500 for a few hours as a teaching assistant to kids. Sounds about right to me.