Hi, everybody! It’s Chris, again.

It’s autumn, now. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler, our beds and futons are becoming more comfortable, and for Americans the Thanksgiving holiday has come!

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the US. The first Thanksgiving was in 1621. It was a meal enjoyed by the Native people and the British settlers that had first come to America, to celebrate their first successful harvest*. Now many Americans come together with their family, friends, and loved ones to eat, and enjoy being together. Many families talk about things that they are thankful for, and for entertainment there is a big American Football game, and many different parades that people go to or watch on TV.

Traditional Thanksgiving foods include turkey, pumpkin pie and seasonal vegetables. However, many Americans are from different countries so customs change from family to family.

My family doesn’t eat a big turkey for Thanksgiving but we eat other things like chicken, pork, beef, and many different types of fish and seafood. Afterwards we play card games or talk to other family members. This is a picture of my family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

So, what are you thankful for?

*収穫

Hi! It’s me, Chris, back from a long relaxing vacation in New York and Virginia.

My flight to America was not direct. I had a layover in Shanghai. So it took me 20 hours to get home, and the trip back was even longer!

I went home to visit family and for my cousin’s wedding. The ceremony was outside, in the morning, on a beautiful sunny day. At noon we had the reception (food, drinks, dancing, bouquet toss, speeches) inside.

Afterwards, she and her husband (I’m still not used to saying that) went to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Of course, my aunts and uncles were asking me and my other cousins who will be getting married next.

My cousin’s wedding was one of the highlights of my trip back to America. Now I want to go to different weddings and see how people from different countries celebrate!

Here are some pictures that I took at the wedding, enjoy!

These are the bridesmaids and groomsmen – special friends and family of the bride and groom that stand together with them during the ceremony. My sister was a bridesmaid; it was her job to help my cousin make preparations for the wedding and get ready on the wedding day.

Here is my cousin and her husband just after they got married. Look how happy they are! This is their wedding cake.

This is me, my mom, dad and sister at the reception.

Here is my cousin tossing her bouquet. It is said that the woman that catches the bouquet will be the next person to get married.

Hello everyone! I’m Chris and I’m from New York City. Pleased to meet you!

I have been living in the Kansai area of Japan for 3 years in total. I first came to Japan in 2006. At that time, I was an exchange student at Kansai Gaidai University, and I lived with a host family in Hirakata city for one year. In 2012, I came back to Japan to find work and continue studying and practicing Japanese as well as my other hobbies.

I have many different hobbies and interests that are sports and art-related. Some of the things that I like to do are play basketball, billiards, dance, and do Japanese calligraphy.

I started Japanese calligraphy (Shodou) when I went to Kansai Gaidai, but I have always been interested in different writing styles; English cursive and Old English (a style used on official documents like diplomas) are just two examples. I am very interested in Japanese calligraphy because it is also seen as a type of art, and there are many different styles. I one day hope to improve my skill and get a ranking.

When you see me around imagine* I hope that you’ll introduce yourself. I look forward to meeting everyone!