Bounenkai on Saturday December 13th

Now is your chance to RSVP for the annual Gifu AJET "Bounenkai & JLPT Otsukaresama Super Happy Fun Party" Saturday Dec. 13th!

This enkai, thrown by the same folks who brought you the wild and wacky Halloween Costume Extravaganza, is a Japanese cultural mainstay. Friends, family, and colleagues gather at the Bounenkai to welcome the new year afresh, and to celebrate the passing of the previous year. It's the perfect time to say otsukaresamadeshita to your friends before the holidays, catch up with old friends you haven't seen in a while, and to make new friends for the coming winter months. As the meritorious Matsunami-san says, we do this, "with lots of FOOD, DRINK, and SMILES!"

In addition to celebrating the new year in traditional Japanese style, we would like to inject a bit of the holiday spirit into the party. Many of us are far from family and friends and won't have the chance to give or receive holiday gifts this year. So, we are going to try a gift exchange. If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift that costs about 1,000 yen. Be creative and think of something that others might enjoy. The gift exchange will be run "white elephant" style, so when you bring your gift you will be given a number. Then, later in the party people will start to choose gifts based on their order. For example, the person with #1 will start by choosing a gift and opening it. Then the person with #2 will have an opportunity to pick a new gift from the pile or steal a gift that has been previously opened. The game continues until all the presents are claimed. It's a lot of fun and a great way to spread some holiday cheer, but it isn't mandatory.

We want this party to be a big one! We can have up to 80 people! Not only do we hope all you JETs can come, but we'd love love for any former JETs, Japanese, and non-JETs to join us. This party is a great chance to meet new friends. As with every AJET event, anyone and everyone is welcome. Bring your friends, spread the word, and RSVP early.

WHEN: Saturday, December 13th, 7:30pm (We will meet at LOFT starting at 7:00pm)
WHERE: Kabe no Kabe - Map Here
COST: 4,000 yen (2 hour tabe/nomihoudai)

RSVP by Wednesday DEC 10th to gifu_ajet@yahoo.com:

NAME
KEITAI #
FOOD PREFERENCES (Vegetarian, etc.)
GIFT EXCHANGE: Yes, No or Maybe

***NOTE: Wed, Dec 10th is the RSVP and cancellation deadline. We need exact numbers for the party since we pay for the number of RSVPs we submit. If something comes up after Wednesday, please find someone to replace you. If you do not find a replacement and are a no show/last minute cancellation/missed your train/whatever, you will still have to pay in full.***

Your Gifu AJET Family

[Brian, Chisako, Chris, Danielle, Emi, Erin, Ernest, Joel, Kuni, Mami, Matsunami, Misako, Nicole, Rachel, Robert, and Steve]