Never Ending New Year's Celebration I

It's as if January is still a month to celebrate New Year. The day I got back from ski trip (Jan 8), I had a celebration with my host family (Amanuma Family) with other foreign students. I brought Thai Tom Yum. My host cooked Sushi rice. And the Chinese made Sui-Gyoza (water dumpling). So yummy ;-)

Thai, Chinese and Japanese food for dinner
Amanuma Family: Otosan, Okasan, Hibiki-kun and Haruka-san
Doing origami (paper folding) with Kou-kun

Then today (Jan 11), a day after my thesis submission, we had a new year party (Shinnenkai) with my professor and labmates at our usual Yamakuchi restaurant in Gion. The life after thesis submission is really a relaxed one. (Not to mention about thesis defending for now... haha) Ellen (O-san) is also back from Stanford for this year. So glad we have more member in our lab!! yeah!! Btw, it's so weird talking to you in Japanese instead of our usual English conversation!! =) I also had great talks with a lot of senpais and friends during the meal. What a great time. Then, a few friends and I went further for Karaoke afterward. Fun night indeed. ^^

Cho-san, O-san (Ellen), Prof.Hioki and Mishima-san
my senpai: Mishima-san, Pak-san (Korean) and Ito-san

the 3 chinese!

O-San and Sho-San (both are Chinese as well)

My Karaoke pals (a Thai among 4 Chinese!!)