Living away from home can be difficult during holidays and special occasions. I always find my first birthday in a new place to be one in which I try to tell myself that it doesn’t matter what happens, I’m new and of course I’ve only known these people a little while so have zero expectations and for crying out loud.. who cares!?! it’s just a day! Anyway.. wow! Tokyo sure outdid itself! As I sat on Friday night, filled with amazing food, ordering unlimited amounts of alcohol and surrounded by people belting out their favourite karaoke hits.. well I was happy. It’s hard to believe I didn’t know any of them at the beginning of August and there we were.. celebrating my birthday in the loudest, most Japanese way possible!
My birthday was Thursday.. which was ideal as I could make it stretch out over the weekend. On the Wednesday night one of my friends took me to the Onsen… a Japanese bath. Yes it’s a big naked event but it’s all kinds of amazing. Especially sitting in hot springs under the night stars. So we did that and she also bought me a massage.. I feel sooo good and clean now!
The actual day was lovely.. I was blown away by all the little gifts and kind words and wishes from people. At night another friend took me out for dinner. We went to this amazing new restaurant on the top of a building overlooking the whole city. It was amazing!
Then my birthday party started with dinner and drinks at this incredible Indian restaurant. We ordered the party package.. so unlimited curry and rice and naan as well as unlimited drinks for 2 hours.. Then we went for a drink somewhere else until our Karaoke room opened. And then we sang.. from midnight til 5am.. It was a good time and I was really blown away by all of the people who came out for the whole night or parts of it.
Last night a few of us went to see A Kabuki Christmas Carol… it was.. interesting. Dickens with a Japanese twist. I feel it added a certain level of culture to the whole weekend.
Anyway I’m sitting here feeling very loved and grateful and thankful that even though I live far from many of my loved ones.. the new people in my life are pretty great too.
