Winter Vacation Update!

So, I haven't updated in a LONG time and for that, I apologize. I started winter vacation about two weeks ago and it's been really nice but not at all what I expected. I was really looking forward to learning a lot of Japanese over winter vacation because I would be home. I've spent a lot of time at home but I haven't learned any Japanese at all because there's another exchange student living with us because she didn't like her family. She doesn't speak any Japanese and so it's really hard to learn. We also have to share a room which normally I would be fine with, but I just wish she would speak Japanese. New Years was AWESOME! In Japan, New Years is very important and there are many traditions that you do. In the morning, we went to a shrine and prayed. It was really fun going to a temple because it was so beautiful and peaceful. I got to pick a piece of paper out of a box and that was supposed to be what 2013 will be like for me. According to the paper, it should be a good year! You were supposed to tie the paper on a rope, but I didn't have time to tie it and I just wanted to keep it. My host dad bought me a charm that's supposed to keep you safe and bring you good luck so I now keep that in my purse. Once we got home, my family gave me New Years cards that I got in the mail from all of my classmates. I feel bad that I didn't send any out but I'm going to make them all thank you cards. A little later, the rest of my family came over and that's when New Years got really fun and crazy! We ate traditional Japanese food which was really good and we ate on the ground. In Japan, people drink a lot and unfortunately, my dad and brother didn't last long. My dad was sleeping on the ground and my brother was sleeping in the office. I showed everyone my yearbook and they thought it was really interesting. I talked to my grandmother for a while and she told me the sweetest thing! She said "I'M your Japanese grandmother!" She is the sweetest little lady and I love her. After a while, things calmed down and people started to leave. It was such a fun day eating all the food and going to the Temple. My host sister from Tokyo is visiting us right now and so it's been really fun having her around. Today, I went shopping with my host mom and sister which was really fun. I bought a little photo album for about $2.00 which I was happy about because I've accumulated so many photos! Yesterday, my family and I went out to dinner and it was really funny because we had to walk through a department store to get to the restaurant and all the shop owners new my family. We constantly had to stop to talk to people. The food was really good and it was fun because it was one of the restaurants where they have a grill in front of you and you get to watch them make the food. In a few days, I'm going to go out with some friends which I'm of course excited for. It's so beautiful here with all the snow and I can't wait to go skiing with my school. So that's what's been going on. I'll update later!