Christmas in Japan

This year was the 4th annual Christmas Around the World. Kelley and her cousin Alison pick a country and have a Christmas party featuring the foods and customs of that country. It's a great way to experience other cultures and get together with friends and family who can't make it to the Christmas Day celebration. The country this year was Japan, and a lot of people got into the spirit by wearing costumes (although Uncle Dave did not wear a sumo wrestler outfit as promised!).

The evening began with a chopstick lesson. Everyone watched intently as Alison and Kelley demonstrated the use of chopsitcks and explained chopstick etiquette and customs.

Some people needed a little extra help...

Myles really worked hard to use his chopsticks with Faye's encouragement. Carter loves seafood and couldn't be bothered with slow eating methods when there were forks handy.

We had lots of delicious sushi (better than at the Chinese restaurant in Massena) that Kelley and Alison made themselves. There was also soup and chicken and some sort of ravioli-like pasta and Ramen Noodle salad. We drank saki and a unique green tea that Nathaniel got shipped directly from Japan.

After Spain, French-Canada, Italy, and now Japan, the question is where in the world will Christmas Around the World be next year? I'm going to suggest a certain country for two resons: I once spent an actual Christmas there, and I've just read about it in a book that Kelley gave Bryan for Christmas. I comandeered the book from him after he'd started it -- sorry, Bryan (I'm almost done so you'll have it back soon).