A belated happy new year. 新年にあけましておめでとうございます。今年も宜しくお願いしますね。Another year passed, and another begun. I know this post is quite late, but I’ve had things to do. Just because it’s the new year doesn’t mean that my life slows down. In fact, things are already speeding up as time ticks on, deadlines loom and important decisions await.
I spent Christmas and New Year back in Melbourne, catching up with family and friends. After 8 months away from Australia, I felt myself going through some reverse culture shock for the first few days, then everything was normal and it didn’t seem that this life in Japan is even real. New Years eve was spent at a Western style party on a rooftop deck overlooking the Melbourne skyline (and the lightning storm that came through was even more spectacular than the fireworks). It was exactly the same place I was one year previously, and so much had changed, but so much seemed to have stood still.
A day at the cricket, some kangaroo steaks on the BBQ, some hot weather, and a delicious home cooked Christmas dinner. Then it was back to Tokyo for the final few months in this role.
Although I missed New Year’s Day, some evidence of new years ornaments and decorations were still visible in front of some houses that I passed.
(I found an explanation of the significance at Japan Glimpsed.)
Whatever 2010 brings, let’s hope it’s another good year. No doubt it will be full of activity, twists and turns, and maybe those decisions to be made will all turn out alright.
