Year 2007

【Japanese】

明けましておめでとうございます！

年末・年始、スペインに行ってきました。とても楽しかったです。スペインでは、1月6日までクリスマスをお祝いするらしく（1月5日に三賢人がプレゼントを持ってやってくる）、お正月なのに、クリスマスツリーやら、クリスマスソングやらで、クリスマスを2回味わえた気がしました。

大晦日は、マドリードの広場にいき、スペインの風習に従い、12個の鐘の音とともに、12粒のぶどうを食べました（こうすると、幸せになれるらしいけど、花火の音が大きすぎて、鐘の音がよく聞こえなかったので、幸せになれないかも）。

マドリードの後は、バレンシアとバルセロナに行ってきました。ガウディも見たし、昼間っから、タパスとワインやサングリアを暴飲・暴食、スペインを満喫しました。









さて、いつも立てて守らない、New Year's Resolution...2007年は。。。
①新しい、楽しい仕事を見つける　（現在の契約がもうすぐ終わるので。。）
②ベリーダンス再開
③早起き（はっはっは。。。）

今年も宜しくお願いします。


【English】

Happy （Belated)　New Year!!

I have spent my last couple of days of 2006 and first several days of 2007 in Spain! This was not even a business trip, it was a true vacation!!!

Do you know that people celebrate Xmas until January 6th in Spain? There, "Three Magic Kings," that's right, kings, not Santa Clause, bring presents on the night of January 5th. So everywhere you go, even in January, you see Xmas trees, you hear Xmas songs, and people actually say, merry Xmas... interesting.

On New Year's Eve, I and my friend went to Puerta del Sol in Madrid and celebrated accordingly to the Spanish traditional custom; eating 12 grapes, one by one as the clock chimes at midnight. Supposedly you will be happy doing this? But it was so loud there with fireworks and people screaming, I don't think I made it... swallowing 12 grapes in 12 seconds is pretty tough, at least it goes a lot faster than hearing 108 gongs. (* In Japan, you are supposed to hear 108 bells from a Buddhist temple to wash off 108 sins.)

After Madrid, we traveled to Valencia, then to Barcelona. We enjoyed Gaudi's creativity, delicious tapas, and drinking wines (in bottles, not in glasses) at noons. I really really enjoyed it.




Now back to Tokyo, back to work, I really need another vacation soon...


Since I always manage to "forget" my new year's resolution around February, this year, I would like to publicly announce them here to motivate myself!!!

1. Finding an exciting job (I will finish my current contract in March.)
Yes, this is the year of change...

2. Going back to belly-dancing (I do need to lose those extra #weight I picked up in Spain)

3. Getting up early... (Does anyone know any secret to this???)

We'll see how many I will remember ...

I wish that this year will be a fruitful and exciting one for you all....