December 21-28: Christmas in America

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I caved. I decided to go home for Christmas, but only for a very brief short week. Even though I didn’t really do all that much, like go out and visit people places, it was nice just to be hanging around the house sometimes. This was the first Christmas since bachan had her stroke and the first Christmas even only having Grandma over to Christmas Eve brunch, so the holidays this year felt different not only because I had been living in a different place, but also because it felt like I had returned to a different place.

But all in all, it was a happy holiday. California was sunny and clear, the food was abundant and I got to see all of my family. Santa came just like every year and Jichan was, like every year, the only one singing Silent Night in tune. It felt really natural being in America and very comfortable being around family again. I ate so much food…

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Photos

San Francisco!!!
Ahhhhh...sunny California!

my room!
reunited with my bedroom...

brent and his homegirl
Christmas shopping with brent

Morgan Hill
the view from my room

new haircut
I decided to get my hair cut at home because I don't want to let the Japanese butchers...oops, I mean barbers, ruin my hair and make it all crazy and teased out and ratted at the bottom and orange....
EW...I just realized I think I kind of look like mom...

Good ol' BART
The Bay Area Rapid Transit system...much more simple than trains in Japan, but much less extensive...

Berkeley
I went up to Berkeley to have lunch and beer with Miwa and Haruka...got all nostalgic and stopped by the campus on the way!

Sather Gate
U.C. Berkeley central campus

...
the stupid fountain is always full of bubbles

awwwwww!
Me, Miwa and Haruka after stuffing our faces with burgers, margaritas and yogurt park on the steps of Sproul Hall.

Wheeler Hall
Biggest lecture hall on campus, seats over 700 students.

Christmas Eve Brunch
Our Christmas Eve brunch where we always have over the Hatakeyama grandparents for ham and scalloped potatoes.

Brent
Behind Brent's huge head is the christmas tree and presents! We all open our family presents on Christmas Eve before we take off for Fresno!

Evan and Grandma
Grandma definitely cashed out this Christmas...she had enough presents that she opened some at our house and then saved some for later...

Fresno!
After Christmas brunch and presents, the eating is briefly halted for 2 hours until we get to Fresno...where we continue to eat...

Comments

[Brent]

sniff sniff
crying because im so happy haha

[elise]

crazy
aly says you look demonic in your new haircut picture oh wait now she's changing her story to alien. she thinks you're an alien. <3