Halloween

First off, just a reminder (one of millions I'm sure) Get out and Vote. I sent in my ballot about two months ago, here's hoping that it actually gets counted.

Halloween in Japan: Technically Halloween isn't actually celebrated in japan...but like many other western holidays, (x-mas, valentine's day) it has managed to make its way over here. About a month ago I started seeing Halloween merchandise pop up in the department stores. Nothing quite like it is in America, but there is definatly a market for the products. This year, I celebrated mostly at the elementary school. I did get 2 pumpkins from my parents for carving purposes. (American pumpkins are virtually impossibble to find in Japan...you can order them thru the foreign buyers club, but after shippin and membership fees, they end up costing about $35 a pop...YIKES!) Anyhow the pumpkins that were carved were probably 2 of the most beloved pumpkins ever...I gave one to the pumpkins to the elementary school the other to the middle school. Each class was given a special presentation amongst "oohs and aaahhhs". I was amazed that most kids/teachers had never actually seen an american pumpkin/jack o lantern in real life. I guess I never actually thought of the fact that pumpkins might be native to America.

At the Elementary school, I was in charge of the halloween party for the kids. I was under the impression that it would be one giant party for ALL of the kids...instead it ended up being about 10 individual parties for each class...and the kids that didn't have class with me on friday, had a party today. Just to reiterate the Japanese people really know how to beat a dead horse. I mean, come on...how many times can I do Trick or Treat...or pin the tail on the donkey...or charades....after about 3 parties, i had lost interest in the entire thing but still had to "perform" for 7 more parties. Funny thing about elementary kids' costumes...they are almost always made out of black garbage bags...it was like looking out to a pond of bag people.