The start of my new year...

New Year's Day I went to an onsen (hot spring) with my family and went to a shrine with them around midnight, where I was shown how to wash your hands before ringing the bell and doing the "bowing and clapping your hands" ritual. I also bought one of those notes where you can read your fortune for the coming year. Mine was "so-so", but second best. And "my wish will come true because all my friends are there to help me"! It was really nice. ^^

The 1st we went to the grandparents house in the evening and ate together with the whole family. My host dad got kind of drunk, so I spent a lot of the 2nd rubbing it in and teasing him. Haha! :P

I've gone to three shrines, so that's supposed to bring luck. ^^ I also bought a o-mamori (protection charm) from a shrine maiden. (Wearing the red and white clothes~). It's a buji kaeru, a "stay safe frog" that'll protect me and make sure I get home to Norway in one piece in the summer. ^^

Since Madoka turned 20 in 08, which is when you come of age in Japan, this January was her 成人の日, seijin no hi - Coming of Age Day. She wore a furisode (a kimono with long sleeves worn by unmarried women) and had her picture taken with all the kids in the family. Including me. ...so guess what? Yes, I got to wear a kimono! The real thing, with all the fastening and all the layers and one huge obi. The camera guy actually took some pictures of just me too. I don't really like having my picture taken, (lcontiniously looking bad in pictures tend to lead to that...) but it was fun! I'll post some pictures when they've been developed.

Location: Japan!
Mood: Starving! I want food~ hungry! XD
Listening to: Eg ve te Bergen - Knutsen og Ludvigsen haha! I started laughing in the back of the car listening to this. My host mom was probably wondering what the heck I was doing. XD
Eating: not yet~ T_T
Drinking: I want food. Not drink. Food~