henlo friends happy holidays! hope you're staying warm during this season~

# TLDR
- **big update**: we may still have a chance to purchase the original house!
- **other updates**: working on concepting a pilot pop-up art installation, home akiya renovations in preparation for winter, experiencing xmas in rural japan

*as always, if you're curious about details, see below the discussion questions for more info*

## discussion questions for weekly meeting
- brainstorming ideas for an art installation pop up in komoro
- is anyone interested in collaborating here?
- does anyone have a connection to a japanese translator, or would like to help out in live-translation during our real estate contract date (jan 10)?

# house announcement
- with the help of Masahiko's negotiations, and a few additional conversations, the **seller of the original house has agreed to move forward and sell us the property** (without restrictions of use)!
- so the house may be revived -- but again, nothing is sure until we put it in writing
- **updated timeline**: the initial contract date is scheduled to be **jan 10**, with the final purchase of the home finished by **end of feb**
- **we'll also need to get an official translator to be on-site for the contract signing. if anyone has any leads, let us know!**
- we'll be **working with the local scrivener**, and i'm currently drafting a few supporting documents, including the **power of attorney affidavit**, which we'll have to get notarized again
- made an **appointment at the US embassy** for next month just in case

# other updates
- we had **an awesome meeting with the oshare project**, a collective of business owners and people who want to help revitalize komoro. website [here](https://sy5253.wixsite.com/oshare-inaka-komoro)
- they're excited to help us, and are aligned to the kind of efforts we want to bring. **they're helping us find a space for a pilot art installation pop-up in the new year!**
- also, we've been invited to a **x-mas party in komoro**! i've been working on creating a **small-scale art installation** to showcase + gift to the host
- **celebrating xmas in rural japan**
- *fun fact: did you know it's a common tradition in japan to get KFC for xmas? that's what i'll be celebrating with this year. read more about it [here](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/kfc-christmas-tradition-japan/index.html)*
- i'm also working on making a few **xmas gifts for the neighbors** (people love handicrafts here); i'll be crocheting a few items~
- **komoro rental property renovations** in preparation for winter: new drying rack, motion-sensor night lights, installed insulation in the bathroom, built a spice cabinet, among some other things

| renovation | picture |
| -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| over-sink drying rack |  |
| spice rack wooden build |  |
| motion-sensor night light |  |
| bathroom insulation |  |
- **QA'd the bank connection** we have from our financial platform (wecash): wise -- this means that we should be able to make large international wires now, and should be ready to send our first deposit for the house anytime
- we got a lovely shipment of kiwis from bitsii; she's done some incredible work documenting the inaka life in japan; check out her youtube channel [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAyncHv2RnBDpUuHawijuQg)
- she also wrote about how to stay warm in japan, check it out [here](https://www.inakalifestyle.com/how-to-be-warm-in-japan-winters/)