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[00:01.63] Todd: So Megen, we are both teachers, English teachers in Japan, and we both come from countries that have Christmas,

[00:08.88] but Christmas is so different in Japan than in our home countries, so I thought we would talk about that.

[00:15.39] Megen: Yeah, absolutely. It's particularly different to Australia because we have ... we have it in summer.

[00:21.13] Todd: Oh, that's right. So it's a beautiful summer holiday, right?

[00:24.63] Megen: It is, though when it gets hotter here in Japan, I start to feel that it's getting into the Christmas season.

[00:31.63] Todd: Oh, right! So summer is Christmas.

[00:33.38] Megen: Yes, yeah.

[00:34.63] Todd: That's so cool. Do you still do the Christmas tree and the gifts under the tree?

[00:37.88] Megen: We do and we have a lot of the same Christmas traditions, but the food is pretty different.

[00:43.38] We eat a lot of fresh fruits, and we have like fresh prawns. I guess you might call them shrimps.

[00:52.13] Todd: Right, no we call them prawns too. Prawns or shrimp. Wow! That's interesting.

[00:57.63] You know, it's cool that you brought upfood because we're both in Japan and I think it's very interesting that in Japan the Christmas dinner is fried chicken.

[01:04.88] Megen: Yeah! I can't imagine eating KFC or any kind of chicken for Christmas.

[01:09.88] Todd: Now did you know about this before you came to Japan?

[01:11.88] Megen: I didn't actually. I was shocked when I heard about it.

[01:14.88] Todd: Yeah, I didn't believe it at first, and then when I came to Japan, I saw the long lines outside KFC, and I thought, wow, this really is a thing.

[01:22.13] And now in Japan, not only do they have KFC chicken, but everywhere.

[01:26.88] So the supermarkets make fried chicken. The convenience stores have fried chicken.

[01:30.88] Other hamburger stores have fried chicken, all just for Christmas.

[01:34.63] Megen: Yeah, yes, I don't think we usually eat chicken. Maybe some families would eat roast chicken, but usually, we eat cold meats.

[01:44.88] Todd: Oh, right, so Australia is fresh fruit, shrimp, and cold meats.

[01:50.13] Megen: Yeah, we have a few Australian desserts that I haven't seen in any other countries, but I think in Australia there's a lot of variety though, so my family in particular, that's what we eat, but I think every family is different. How about in America?

[02:10.38] Todd: Ah, in America it's very close to Thanksgiving, so usually you have a big bird, so you have turkey or chicken or ham.

[02:20.38] Ham is a big one. So you might have baked ham.

[02:22.38] But you have lots of sweets, lots of cakes, Christmas cakes, pies, cookies. Things like that.

[02:29.63] So everybody gains a lot of weight. Do you eat a lot of sweets for Christmas in Australia?

[02:34.63] Megen: Well, I imagine they eat more baked goods in America, but we eat a lot of cold, like a parfait, kind of desserts.

[02:44.13] With a mix of like sponge cake and jelly and cream, and we do eat cookies and different like chocolate sweets, and yeah, I think we do some baking but, yeah, not so many pies.

[02:59.63] Todd: So in Australia, because it's so warm, do you spend the day at the beach?

[03:02.89] Megen: We do! Yeah, a lot of people have pools. Their own pools, so they will go swimming in their backyard, or they'll go to the beach, or play cricket outside.

[03:13.13] Todd: That's great! So do you barbecue? Is Barbecue a common way?

[03:16.89] Megen: Yeah! Especially for Christmas. It's really great to be outside.

[03:20.38] And there are barbecues you can use near the beach or in the parks, so a lot of people go outside and mingle with the locals. It's great.

[03:31.88] Todd: Oh, that's fantastic. So in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas is often associated with snow, so you have the snowman and things like that.

[03:41.38] Do you have those types of decorations in Australia?

[03:43.63] Megen: We do! Although we don't have any snow, we still have the snow decoration.

[03:48.13] And usually, Santa Claus still wears the long sleeve winter clothing, although we do have our own version of Santa Claus, which wears singlets and shorts.

[03:59.63] Todd: That's nice. So you've lived in a country with a warm Christmas and a country with a cold Christmas.

[04:07.63] Which do you prefer?

[04:09.13] Megen: Well, I think because I've spent so many Christmases in Australia, that I still feel like it's Christmas when it gets warmer, and when I see things like peaches and watermelon in the season I want to celebrate Christmas.

[04:23.88] Todd: That's so cool.

[04:25.13] Megen: Do you want to experience a Christmas in Australia?

[04:28.13] Todd: I do. I do! That is definitely on my bucket list now, to have a warm-weather Christmas.

[04:33.13] Megen: It would be so strange for you!