MIA NEWS 189ed., Feb. (4)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Australia’s Unique Christmas - George Goonan (Miyakonojo City’s Australian CIR)
For the first time in four years, onis always a veritable feast, with roast turkey, roast ham
December 25th, 2022, I joined myor lamb, barbecued meats, roast vegetables, two orfamily in Australia for Christmas.
three salads, and plenty of desserts. We always end up
Australia treat Christmas in a similar
with leftovers, which we eat the following day for lunchmanner to how Japan treats Newand dinner!
Year’s Eve, as a time to be spent atOnce everyone is seated at the dinner table, there’s
home with your loved ones. My famione last thing we do during the course of the meal:ly, however, spends much of theopen bonbons! For those that haven’t seen or used aChristmas holidays going between
bonbon before, here’s a brief explanation. Everyone at
all of our relatives’ homes, even up to New Year’s Day! the table will have a bonbon, which looks like a colourOn Christmas Eve, my brother and sister, as well as
ful cardboard tube with a middle and two side pieces,
their partners and children, make their way to my par- placed next to their dinner plate. You and the person
ents’ home. After eating a modest meal together andsitting next to you pull on either side of the bonbon,
watching Carols By Candlelight, a well-known live show and it opens with a ‘BANG’! In the middle, you will findbroadcast across Australia at Christmas, the children
a hat, a small toy, and a truly terrible joke to share withare put to bed around 9PM. Once all of the children are everyone at the table. No one really knows how thissound asleep, Santa, having partaken of the milk and became a tradition, but it’s a fun way to start the meal!
cookies left on the table, as well as feeding his reinEventually, once the evening meal has concluded, evedeer some of the carrots left for them, places his preryone gradually says their farewells and heads back tosents for everyone under the Christmas tree. Now it’s
their own homes; the household that was just a motime for the parents to go to bed, as you can expect the ment before a bustling, cacophonous hive of activity
children to be up bright and early to check out theirreturns to its usual stillness. Over the course of thepresents!
next week, this repeats a number of times as we visit
Christmas Day begins with preall of our extended family who live in Victoria.
sents from under the Christmas
tree being handed out to everyone, before a generous Christmas
lunch is served. Afterwards, all of
the extended family who live nearby will converge on one house;
this is typically our house, as weEveryone gathered for the Christmas meal, withusually have the most guests present already. If we get all of thesome bonbons (right) to make it festive!
aunts, uncles, cousins and grandPlenty of presents parents together, we have just
I hope that everyone had a wonderfully merry Christshort of 30 people in one housemas and a Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeunder the tree!
for Christmas dinner! This dinner ing you all at our events in 2023!

Information & Notices
Date of move: March 11th (Sat) - 12th (Sun)◇ MIA is moving office on Monday, March 13th!
Miyakonojo City Hall North Annex 1F
Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who has visited Location:
International Exchange Center
us while we were in City Hall on the 2nd floor.
(Former Commerce Chambers)
As of March, we will be moving to the 1st floor of City
Hall’s new North annex along with the Internationalisation Promotion Office staff, which will be known as theInternational Exchange Center. As always, please feelB) New North
Route 10/269free to stop by for a chat after our move on the 13th!
Annex*Please note that our Japanese Practice Sessions will
be held in this building as of April.
A) City HallMIA NEWS 189ed., Feb. (5)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Aussie Bites! (Vegemite & Cheese Shapes, Miyakonojo CIR George Goonan)
It’s Vegemite, but not as you know it!
Australia’s Vegemite has become ratherfamous, or perhaps infamous, for its unique taste
around the world. For those who wish to find out forthemselves what kind of taste this Vegemite has without the fear of being blown away by its potent flavour,
try these Vegemite & Cheese Shapes! Shapes are rather famous in Australia as well, with a number of flavours such as Bacon & Cheese, Barbecue, Chicken,
even Pizza! While you can occasionally find Shapes Left: Packaging for a standard box of Vegemite &online, they are extremely expensive, and very few fla- Cheese flavoured Shapes. Right: Contents of a small
vours are available. Keep an eye out for Shapes if you share pack. They really are shaped like Australia!
ever make your way to Australia!

Information & Notices
The following is a notice from MIF (Miyazaki International Foundation)◇ “Hinata Nihon Navi” is now available!
“Hinata Nihon Navi”, a website designed to provide information for both international Japanese learners andlocal teachers of Japanese, is now available for use.
Information regarding Japanese courses in each local
area, as well as Study Support Volunteer Courses, canbe found on their home page. Scan the QR code on theright to access their page. Please feel free to make useof this website.
Inquiries: MIF
TEL:0985-32-8457*This QR Code links to City Hall’s pageon Okimizu Chiku Kominkan, including alink to Google Maps at the bottom.
◇ Hatsu Haru and “Enjoy the World”
As previously mentioned in the January
edition of MIA NEWS, the Miyakonojo General Culture
Hall hosted “Hatsu Haru - Connecting Our Dreams” onJanuary 15th (Sun). While we had some unfortunate
weather on the day, we were glad to see a great turnout for the event, including plenty of guests for MIA’s
International Corner. Thank you to everyone who cameand joined us on the day!

http://hinatanihongo.mif.or.jp/◇ “Miyazaki-From The Outside Looking In” Exhibition
The art exhibition “Miyazaki-From The Outside LookingIn” held in Miyazaki City is once again coming to Miyakonojo! These art pieces will be on display at Okimizu
Chiku Kominkan for a few short weeks, so please comeand check them out while they’re here!
Date:
February 7th (Tue) - 18th (Sat)
Location:
Okimizu Chiku Kominkan*
For further details, please contact MIA:
TEL:0986-23-2295

Movies info

C-Plaza Cine-port (Tel: 0986-24-2571)

17-9 Nakamachi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Map-Code (GPS): 117 488 540*55●Kin no Kuni Mizu no Kuni (Japanese)●The Legend & Butterfly (Japanese)●Avatar: Way of Water (Japanese Dub)
●Suzume (Japanese)●The First Slam Dunk (Japanese)●One Piece Film: Red (Japanese)*The 1st of every month is ¥1,100 for everyone.
*Every Wednesday is ‘Ladies’ Day’, all ladies ¥1,100.
*The cinema is closed every Tuesday.
*For session times visit: http://movie.walkerplus.com/th286/
schedule.html (Japanese)