Welcoming the New Year, Slowly

Winter vacation has come to an end once again. The Christmas lights have dimmed, the holiday gatherings have wrapped up, and the whirlwind of gifts, travel, and celebrations has quietly faded. I was fortunate enough to enjoy three full weeks of personal vacation—a rare pause that didn’t come without its setbacks or unfinished goals. Still, what lingers most are the smiles. The slow, restful days spent savoring time for myself, with friends, and with family here in Japan reminded me of the simple joy of being present. Before I step back into routine and reality, I want to take a moment to look back and appreciate the good moments that made this break meaningful—so here’s a little recap.

Free Food!

On Christmas Eve, I excitedly used my coupons to put together a special holiday menu—chicken pot pie, fruit salad, wine and beer, and a couple of Christmas cakes for dessert. But just as I was getting ready to cook, my husband surprised me by coming home with a Japanese-style hors d'oeuvre set, generously paid for by his company. Suddenly, our table was overflowing! With so much food to enjoy, we decided to feast on the catered spread that evening and save our homemade meal for the next day. The holidays, indeed, were filled with plenty—and delicious—food.

Japanese-style hors d'oeuvre in celebration of Christmas at our apartment. 

Special Gatherings

Shingo and I also hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration at our place with our fellow Filipino ALT friends from Sapporo and Horonobe Town. They even brought along a Japanese friend we were meeting for the first time. Despite the rough weather that night, we were able to celebrate warmly and safely at home. The evening was filled with yakiniku, sushi, drinks, endless stories, and, of course, karaoke—a perfect way to welcome the new year surrounded by laughter and good company.

Quiet Days

After a lively weekend spent with friends and a shrine visit the following day, my husband and I visited his family to welcome the new year together. When Shingo returned to his regular work schedule the week after, the house grew quiet, and I found myself spending more time alone at home. My days were simple and unhurried—catching up on chores, unwinding with Netflix, junk journaling, writing letters to my pen pals, and doing a bit of video editing.

I’ll admit that I didn’t accomplish as many goals as I had hoped, especially when it came to video editing and studying Japanese. But instead of stressing over unfinished plans, I allowed myself to slow down and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of those days—free from work deadlines and daily pressures. That three-week break became exactly what I needed: a gentle reset and a chance to recharge. Now, as I return to my routine, I feel ready to start fresh and thoughtfully re-plan my hobbies for the year ahead.