Christmas Cooking Party + Sign Language Club


Well, the end of December came around, and soon Christmas break was right around the corner--but first, I signed Jennifer and I up for an event that promised to be an all-day cooking class extravaganza. So, we were told to come back on Sun, Dec. 20 for the class, and to bring two gifts, as it was a Christmas party.
And what a Christmas party it was! We show up, and we're getting ready to dive head-long into the 'cooking class'. And then we start to meet some of the other women and men in the club... so, our introductions went well, until suddenly we met a short haired woman who wasn't quite getting what we were saying. Then, she started to move her hands as if she was trying to motion to us and figure us out through our muddled Japanese. Then, another woman came up and talked to her with her hands. Then we realized--it wasn't our Japanese. It was that we were speaking. Sure enough, the newcomer woman confirmed it--it wasn't a cooking class we had been invited to persay, it was a party for the hard of hearing club of Saijo, a party that--you guessed it--involved cooking. We still chipped in and had a great time anyway.We were there for the all day affair--we got there at 9 AM to begin setting up, then starting cooking around 10:30-11 or so for the meal, then enjoyed the meal together. Then were games and gifts, until the party officially ended around 3. Long, fun-filled day! For lunch there was a salad, and veggies, a souffle, baked chicken and potatoes, even delicious --and adorable!--Christmas themed cupcakes! Jennifer helped out with the souffle table and I got to help with the cupcake table. We both did the decorations for the board, which is in the background covered with tissue paper flowers and it says 'Christmas Party- Kakehashi club' in Japanese letters....and, of course! We all got to wear the Santa hats...here are pictures of our group leader guiding use through Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in Japanese (with hand motions!) The Christmas Candlelight Vigil, at which Santa made an appearance, Santa with his helpers, and the Kakehashi Christmas Party Crew!