Happy Thanksgiving!

The Japanese don't celebrate Thanksgiving, seeing as how the land of the rising sun has never actually been colonized* by anyone except the Japanese, back in the mists of time. This Monday is actually a national holiday, however - something to do with children's sports at school, though I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. In any case, as a Canadian expat, I'm celebrating it in my own way: this morning, I Skyped for about two hours with the family as they had their pumpkin pie and played monopoly (on my end I did laundry and ate pancakes), and I've decided to draw up a list here of things I'm thankful for here in Japan.



I'm thankful for the weather; today is sunny and gorgeous, with clear air and a healthy breeze that's absolutely beautiful.
I'm thankful for the little dry cleaners' that I frequent: they're a cheap, family business, and the little old woman this morning gave me a Japanese pear bigger than my fist.
I'm thankful for Fromage: le choix, because I am able to zip around my neighbourhood to do errands in the lovely weather.
I'm thankful that my apartment is clean, modern, and not bug-infested (knock on wood).
I'm thankful that Miyaka is teaching me Japanese, even if I do have quite a load of homework this time around.
I'm thankful for all my wonderful students who make teaching enjoyable.
I'm thankful that I'm finally getting the hang of this whole eikaiwa schtick.
I'm thankful for my awesome family.
I'm thankful for all my great friends back home.
I'm thankful for all the new friends I've made here in Japan.
I'm thankful for a steady paycheque.
I'm thankful that I have the chance to travel and sightsee around this country.

And a lot more besides, but the list will get kind of exhausting to read, so I'll just think about the rest. Happy Thanksgiving everyone; take a moment to think about what you're thankful for - it'll cheer you up, I promise!


*I really hate the fact that a holiday for giving thanks for things is rooted in the brutality of North American colonization, and I really think that we should just separate the whole thing from its historical roots, and make a separate day for remembering and celebrating Native Canadian heritage or something. The current mixup is terrible.