Time flies. It’s hard to believe that it’s already December. The collab project between the local free paper “Naradewa” and Sasebo E Channel features the year-end and New Year’s holidays. Rie-sensei interviewed foreign residents about their plans for this coming holiday season. Yuki-sensei also visited 2 US themed bars and interviewed the American customers there.
『月刊ならでわ！』とSasebo E Channelのコラボ企画、12月号のテーマは年末年始！ EチャンのRie 先生が外国人さんへのインタビューを担当。またYuki先生は外国人バー２件をめぐり、アメリカ人のお客さんにインタビューしています。
How do you spend the holiday season? |年末年始どう過ごす？
In this article, we’ll be introducing you on how Japanese people and foreign residents spend their year-end and New Year’s holidays. Are there any differences depending on their nationalities? Let’s find out.
まずは、「年末年始の過ごし方」のインタビューからお届けします。外国人と日本人ではどう違うのでしょうか？早速、見てみましょう。
Comments from Foreign Residents|外国人さんの声
Sarah is planning to return to the U.S. for the first time in three years in December. After that, she will spend her New Year’s holidays by eating baked rice cakes. Since she has lived in Japan for many years, it seems she can’t resist the New Years holidays without Japanese traditional rice cakes.
サラさんは、３年ぶりにアメリカに帰る予定とのこと。お正月はお餅を焼くなどして過ごすそうです。日本に長く住むサラさんは、すでにお餅が定番になっているようです。
Dee is going to stay active during her winter vacation.
“I’m planning to visit northern Japan to see the beautiful snow and atmosphere it has to offer. I want to welcome in the new year by trying new hobbies like Taiko and dancing. I look forward to meeting new friends and making great memories. Thank you!”
ディーさんは、お正月もアクティブに過ごしたい様子。
「今年の年末年始は、雪を見に日本の北部を旅行する予定です。お正月は新しく始めた太鼓やダンスを楽しみたいです。たくさん友達を作って、ステキな思い出にしたいです」
Jason from Australia is looking forward to enjoying a “cold”winter.
“For New Years, I will be working hard on my studies, exercising, playing music and writing a new journal. I also want to go somewhere where I can see snow. I have only seen snow 3 times during my lifetime because it doesn’t snow very often in my home country, Australia. In fact, our new year is very hot. So this year, I hope I can make a big snowman.”
オーストラリア出身のジェイソンさんは、”寒い”冬を楽しみにしているそう。
「年末年始は、勉強や運動、音楽、そして日記の執筆などを頑張る予定です。人生で３回しか雪を見たことがないので、雪を見に行きたい。母国のオーストラリアは雪があまり降らない、というか、年末年始は暑い！ だから今年の正月は雪だるまを作れるといいな」
Scott from Canada needs snow in winter.
“My year-end plans are exploring Japan by going to Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture. I’ve always wanted to see traditional buildings with snow in the winter. Since I am from Canada, living in Kyusyu has been nice but, I really miss the snow.”
カナダ出身のスコットさんにとって、冬といえば雪！
「年末は岐阜県の白川郷に行く予定です。雪景色の合掌造りを見るのが楽しみ！カナダ出身なので、九州での生活は楽しいけど、雪が恋しくなるんだ（笑）」
How about Locals? |日本人の皆さんは？
Matchan-san has his own standard way of spending his New Year’s holidays.
“I have to work hard until December 31. As soon as my last business day is over, I will prepare stewed diced pork (buta-no-kakuni). After I let the pork and boiled eggs soak up the soy-based sauce well until the next day, I’ll bring it to my parent’s home. I’ll stay relaxed there watching a long-distance road relay (ekiden) on TV, drinking alcohol and eating foods.”
まっちゃんさんには、お決まりの過ごし方があるとか。
「大みそかまではみっちり仕事！それが終わり次第、豚の角煮を仕込みます。翌日、しっかり味が染み込んだ玉子入りのそれを手土産に実家へ帰り、駅伝を見ながら飲んだり食べたりゴロゴロするのが自分流の正月です。」
ならでわ！12月号
Takanyan-san is looking forward to going back his home town.
“I am currently working as an intern in Sasebo. During the year-end and New Year’s holidays, I would like to go back to my home town, Nagasaki City, and enjoy drinking with my friends.”
たかにゃんは、実家に帰るそう。
「今はインターン生として活動しています。年末年始は実家のある長崎市内へ帰って、友人たちと飲み歩きを楽しみたいですね！」
ならでわ！12月号
Tsuriyama-san will absorb herself in her hobby.
“I will be starting work on New Year’s Day since the New Year’s Sale starts. So working very hard is my way to start New Year. I love fishing so much that I moved here with my husband from Iwate Prefecture to enjoy fishing. Every time I have a day off, we are on a fishing spree. I will aim for large blue-backed fish this coming season.”
つりやまさんはお仕事と趣味に没頭予定！
「元旦から初売りでお仕事始めになるので、がっつり頑張りたいと思います。釣りが大好きすぎて岩手から夫婦で移住してきたほどなので、休みがあれば釣り三昧ですね（笑）今からのシーズンは大型の青物を狙います！！」
ならでわ！12月号
Akemin-san can’t want to see her daughter and grandchildren. Wait. Does she have grandchildren? She looks young!
“I am very much looking forward to seeing my daughter and grandchildren coming back from outside Nagasaki! It is also a regular event to keep in touch with friends who are going back to Sasebo and go out for a drink!”
あけみんさんは、娘さんとお孫さんに会うのが楽しみとか！ん？おばあちゃんには見えない～！お若いですね。
「他県から娘と孫が来るのでとっても楽しみ！地元に帰省する友人たちと連絡を取り合い、飲み会を開くのも恒例行事です」
ならでわ！12月号
What’s your plan for this holiday season? Next time, we will introduce two friendly American-style bars in Sasebo that even first-timers will feel comfortable entering. Please look forward to it.
いかがでしたか？ 皆さんはどんな年末年始を過ごしますか？ 次回はパート２として、初めての人でも通いやすい佐世保の外国人バー２件をご紹介します。お楽しみに～！
