Thursday, July 15, 2010

Electronic Dictionary at it's Best!

So here in Ishigaki almost all the students have electronic dictionaries to help them understand English.  My friend Ashley's host sister lets her borrow hers so Ashley and I have had a little fun with the electronic dictionary...hehe!  So here are a few words we looked up and the definition given by the handy dandy electronic dictionary:

 (Please Enjoy)




Pudgy- fairly fat


Waddle- to walk with short steps with your body moving from one side to another-used especially about people or birds with fat bodies and short legs.

Poke- to quickly push your finger or other pointed object into something or someone

Squash- to press something into a flatter shape, often breaking or damaging it

Burp- to pass gas loudly from your stomach out through your mouth

haha! so yes, we have been quiet a fun time with the poor little electronic dictionary! >:] haha! 

A little Japan Info.

Differences between Japan and America

When entering a house or sometimes even a classroom one has to take off ones shoes and place them either next to the door or, if in school, a cubby. 
Here in Ishigaki, many kids ride bikes.  They ride them to school, to friends houses, to the store, anywhere.  Most teenagers have bikes and that is their mode of transportation.  No cars for them.  But hey, biking helps you get into shape!  After biking for about 6 weeks I think my legs have gotten stronger! :D

Well, driving, here in Japan, they drive on the opposite side of the road.  I get confused while biking because in America I look left-right-left, but forget about having to do the visversa and almost getting hit by a car...haha xD But yeah, instead of a left turn being hard it's now the right turn that is abunai! (dangerous) haha.  I still haven't gotten the hang of it.  Oh! and because they drive on the opposite side of the road, the drivers seat is on the right of the car, not the left.  And, here in Ishigaki, only the two people up front have to wear seatbelts.  Everyone else is free to be seat-buckle less...yes I know abunai!

Here in Japan there are karaoke!  Yes, karaoke! :D  You and some friends go to the karaoke bar place and reserve a karaoke room.  There you can sing to any song you want whether it be; j-pop, american, korean, etc.  You can order food and get fat while singing.  It's great! Why doesn't America have this??

Money...Yen! yay! So American money is ugly compared to Japanese yen.  The yen are colorful and pretty and have awesome pictures of Mt. Fuji-san!  Awesome I know!  So for yen there's the 1 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen (all in coins).  In the "dollars" there's 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen.   To convert yen into dollars you just take away two zeros.  So 1,000 yen equals about $10.  100 yen equals about $1 and so on an so forth.  Who knew that an equavilant to a five dollar bill could just roll away from you...haha! xD

School
So in school like I've said before, sometimes you have to take off your shoes before a class and place them in a cubby.  It's very nice actually to be able to walk around in your socks! :D

So before everyclass there is a sort of ritual.  One person in the class says these words in japanese.  Everyone stands up and says "onegaishimasu" which means "please", bows and then sits down.  I think that they are saying "please teach us" to the teacher.  After the class is over the same person says something in japanese and the students respond with something about thank you for teaching us...I'll edit this post once I remember...sorry! xD This process happens every time. :]

I've noticed that in my school not that much homework is given. I never see my host siblings slaving away on homework for hours.  They're lucky haha.  All I usually see them do is study for tests...yuck!

In school the students are given a lot of indapence.  For example in gym class one time the gym teacher went somewhere so two kids decided to be in charge.  They "taught" the rest of the class for the remainder of the period.  And students weren't being rude they were listening to what their fellow classmates were saying.  In America there'd be bon-fires being light and people throwing spit balls everywhere...-_- ahh...

Actual classes are mostly lectures.  Not that much discussion.   But the teacher are very nice and very supportive of their students.  Sometimes the teachers do have conversations with their class about random things like the World Cup Soccer Tournament, or their kids.  It's not stict death lectures where students can't make a peep.  Students can talk to each other and talk to their teachers about other material.  It's nice.  Here in Japan the teacher is looked upon very highly.  Sometimes if the student got in trouble the teacher would be notified first instead of the student's actual parents.  If a teacher scolded a student the parents wouldn't freak and call the cops and sue the teacher, they'd be like "what did you do?" yeah.. Teachers are awesome! :D

Here in Ishigaki the temperature can go up into the mid 30 C.  Which translates to the mid 90's in F.  Sometimes the rooms don't have proper air conditioning (a.k.a. fans) so sometimes the classrooms change.  Sometimes if the students have been waiting in a hot classroom before their teacher arrives they can convince their teacher to change to a cooler room.  It's really nice when that happens haha!  Go student power! Whoot!

Sometimes the teacher just doesn't show up to class..HAHA. Yes. So sometimes they leave nothing to do so the students have a free period to do whatever they want.  It's awesome!  Sometimes the teacher leaves some work to be done and the students do it.  Unlike in America where again there'd be bon-fires and spit balls flying all over the place.  Probably if a teacher just didn't show up the kids would be like "see ya later brothah" and just peace out...haaa Americans...  One time we waited for about 15 minutes for our teacher to arrive to our class but he never showed up.  I asked my host sister where he was.  Her reply was: "He's probably busy doing something else"..HAHA.  That would NEVER happen in America! lol.  The teacher would get fired ASAP. lol! Yay Ishigaki! :D

Here in Ishigaki it gets very hot and in school there's really no air conditioned room.  Just fanned rooms.  So it gets very hot and when that happens the body perspires giving off a bad smell... well, I've noticed that here most girls and/or boys don't use deodarant.  They usually just spray this can of "i don't even know" which smells good.  (Maybe it's just sweet smelling water haha) but alas that does not take the place of deodarant. T-T so it can get very smelly some times!  Also, it appears that most girls don't shave their legs regularly.  haha. I've seen some very hairy legs. 

Here in Yayeama the students are very skilled at flipping their pens/pencils with their hands.  I alas cannot but most of them can.  It's just like an average skill.  haha, I suck!

Here in Ishigaki the most popular writing tools are a mechanical pencil or a pen which is able to change colors.  No regular pencil in sight.  Everyone has a mechanical pencil and a multi-color pen.  It's awesome!  :D

Most students are right handed.  Someone told me that they were probably forced to be right handed when they were littler, BUT I do know some left handers.  It's nice to know that youi're unique! :D

In school, the guys are with the guys and the girls are with the girls...if a girl is spotted with the guys "HEAVEN FORBIDE!" haha.  no, it's not that dramatic; it's just rare to see someone mingle with the opposite gender.  I acutally like it that way xD haha!  Even if you're dating one of them you still don't hang on their shoulder every minute.  Usually I only see a couple together once in a blue moon, haha xD  But when I do it's SO cute! :D (Oh, the average dating time here in Ishigaki is about 1 year. yeah I know.  In America it's probably about 1 month.  HAHA) The guys here are all just cute. haha.  xD  BUT they are all still taller than me ^-^ yay for being short! :D

Here in Ishigaki there's P.E. and that involves changing out of ones uniform into ones gym uniform.  But alas there are no changing rooms designated for that sole purpose soooo they just use their classrooms. HAHA.  So I've had to walk into my homeroom class just with my host sister, two girls, who are amoung like 20 guys shirtless just changing like no ones business.  >_< haha.  How embarrassing! So whenever that would happen I'd just grab my swiming gear and run out as fast as my little legs could carry me. haha! 

Oh yes, there are uniforms that students HAVE to wear.  They're so cute!  They're sailor uniforms! <3 I love them, but unfortunately I don't have one T-T I wish I did....oh well....:P

And the rate at which a class goes can be very very fast.  In my host sisters math class about 2 weeks ago we were studying things I learned two years ago and this week we learned about something that I had just finished learning before I left to come to Japan.  0_0 yeah I know.  I would be dead if I was them! xD

Home life
When one leaves the house they say "itekimasu" which means; I'm leaving.  The people who are still in the house reply "iterashi" which means; okay bye bye.  When someone comes back home they say "tadaima" which means; I'm home.  The people who are already in the house reply "okaire" which means; welcome back.  :] 

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tralalalala

so one of the days between my last post and now I made chinsukou with the south eugene students and people.  It was a lot of fun!  My life was complete! 

Friday was a good day in the morning but in the afternoon we were off to Iriomote island!  Along with the south eugene students and the host brothers and sisters we were off on an adventure.  We drove to the port and went on a boat to Iriomote.  It took about 40 minutes.  We got to iriomote and we had to walk 30 minutes to our "house".  It was not fun.  We got there and got introduced and all and then had time to settle in.  We had free time until dinner. We had dinner then had more free time until our night walk. That was not fun...people kept popping out of nowhere...0_0. e-gad!  After our night walk we did fire crackers which were very fun!  Now, the curfew was supposed to be at 10:30pm but most people stayed up until 3:00am.  Ashley and I vowed to have an all-nighter but alas we failed and went to bed at 4:30 am.  We were close.  After about 2 hour of sleep we got up had breakfast (Which as a normal japanese breakfast which I'm not used to...) we had time to pack and then we walked back to port and went on a boat tour of mangrove trees.  It was cool..I was a zombie though so I didn't really take it all in...>_<  After the boat tour we got back on another ferry back to  Ishigaki.  Later that day I really don't remember anything..I was so tired.  I know I slept a lot.

Sunday got up and relaxed, had the morning to myself.  Yumi and Yuto had a soft tennis tournament.  They beasted!  Aimi had a test and Okasan was cheering Yumi and Yuto on meanwhile my otosan was at work. At arouind noon Ashley and I went shopping and it was awesome!  We got cute clothes, I got my very first obento! <3  We did purikura and got music notebooks.  Then after that we went to karaoke. It was Aimi, Maki, Ashley, Charise, Charise's host sister, Matsuyo, and me.  It was so much fun! Then after that Ashley and I went to the Beer Festival.  It was very good, but very crowded.  WE watched some hanabe but alas it wasn't that grea. :(  After I got home I went to sleep.

Today (monday) was the last day for the South Eugene High School kids. We wished them goodbye towards the end of the day.  After school Ashley came over to watch the very last (normal) episode of NOdame Cantabile.  It's amazing! <3333 Then after that I just relaxed with my family.  I put on a fashion show of what I bought the other day.  :]  Now it's 11:49 and I should go to bed.  Good night! <3


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So right now it's tuesday and I was with Yumi's class this morning. nothing special haha :] but there was a guy blasting his trumpet ino our room, so that was pretty funny! lol Well I'll go now and post later!  I can't believe only about a week left! :'(  It's so sad! I don't want to go home!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Life in Ishigaki

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎06, ‎2010

Saturday morning it was just free time so I hung around and watched more Nodame  Cantabile episodes! <3  I LOVE it.  <3  Then in the afternoon I was supposed to go with Yumi and her friend Sakiko shopping but unfortunately Sakiko couldn't go :[  So it was just me and Yumi.   We were driven by our okasan to McDonalds and our okasan and Aimi dropped Yumi and me off for lunch at Mc.  (That's what they call McDondalds)  We ate lunch and it was really good!  Then after that Yumi and I walked to Game Land to play air hockey and do Purikura!  IT was so much fun! :D  After that we walked to a store called Shimamura.  I bought some nice things there! :D  I got a cute pool towel, which are different here than they are in the U.S.. It's prety amazing!  I got a cute little bag to go along with my Yukata and I got a sitting mat that has Totoro on it!  ^-^  After shopping we went to get icecream!  It was scrumptious!  After that we went to the bookstore and looked through books.  Lastly we headed to this cute little resturaunt where we met up with Aimi and our okasan.  I got this yummy thing of fruits on top of cream.  I don't remember what it was called haha!  We laughed alot! :D

We got back in the car and drove places and and then rested at home.  UNTIL I went to a festival.  It was so cute! :D I loved it! I met up with Ashley and Shiho and Maki and Ashley's okasan and otosan. :]  I saw my sensei (Yumi's Japanese teaher) and I held his daughter.  KAWAII! :D  haha!  It was a lot of fun!  I got shaved ice! 0_0 After that Ashley's otosan drove me home and I got home and relaxed. Then went to bed.

Sunday morning I woke up and made myself breakfast and relaxed.  After a while Aimi, Yumi and I went to go bowling with Yumi's friend Kanako and at the bowling alley we met up with Ashley, Shiho, Maki, and Ashley's okasan.  We bowled and it was a lot of fun (minus the fact that our lane was having problems and the poor lady had to fix it about 5 times xD)  After bowling we went to the arcade which was in the same building, right when you walk into the building you had to go through the arcade to get to the bowling, so we went looking at the arcade games.  I found the UFO catcher and Ashley spotted a Nodame Cantabile plushie key chain thing.  So I HAD to get her.  So i tried and tried and FINALLY I got her! :D (She's sitting on my bedside table right now ^-^)  After that Yumi, Aimi, Kanako, and I  went to A&W and ate lunch.  It was very yummy! We dropped Kanako off and then drove home.  There was time to relax before Aimi and I went to the beach with the rest of her classmates.  It was so much fun!  Ashley, Maki, and Shiho went too! :D It was so much fun!  The girls were loving the idea of sitting on a big raft thing and trying not to make it dip on them thus throwing them into the water.  It was a lot of fun!  I tried scanchronized swimming with two girls HAHA It was histarical! :D Aimi and I had to leave earlier than planned because we had dinner with the South Eugene chaparones, Barbara and David. It was nice to be able to hear English :] Aimi performed a dance she knew from a play she was in.  (She was the lead girl 0_0.  She's BUFF)   After they left Aimi, Yumi, and I cleaned up.  Bonding time :]  Then we went to bed. 

Monday was good.  I hadn't been in school for awhile so it was kind of weird.  I went to Aimi's class but Ashley was absent because she wasn't feeling well.  BUT I made new friends! They're all so nice here!  Yui, Nagisa, and the others! :D  haha!  I was with Aimi's class for 1st to 4th period.  After lunch I went with Yumi's class.  I saw Kanako, Chikako, Shirori, Tomoe. :D  It was great! :D I missed them!  Especially Shiori because I hadn't seen her in a long time. After school I went home and lounged around until we had to go to Club Med to celebrate my otosan's birthday! :D 50! whoot!  haha! :D It was: Otosan, Okasan, Barbara, David, Aimi, Maki, Yumi, Yuto, Ashlet and me! It was "VIking" style which is basically buffet style.  It was really good! :D After eating we went to go see a fashion show that Club Med had.  It was awesome! Ther was this ADORABLE little boy that Ashley and I obsessed over the entire time. haha!  After that we went home and relaxed & went to bed.  (I watched more Nodame >_<) 

Today I woke up and went to school . I went with Yumi today and it was fun!  After lunch I went to Aimi's class and talked to Ashley.  :D  Then I went to Yumi's class for LHR. (6th period)  It was fun!  :D  Then I went home with Aimi and I watched the last episode of Nodame the drama and I cried. Yup.  That's right.  I'm a wimp. hehe.  Then I relaxed and around 7:45 I went with Aimi to her piano lesson.  It was fun!  I enjoyed it.  Aimi is really good at the piano! ^-^  haha!  I played one peice for her piano teacher WHICH I butchered haha! BUT I redeemed myself through singing! So now I"m going to be singing at this concert thingy.  I don't know when but I will be singing. :]  Yay! haha!  So now it's 10:54 at night and I should be going to bed soon!  Well oyasuminasai! I"ll try to post pictures soon and blog about daily life here in Ishigaki & Japan in general! :D  Peace out! ^-^

Friday, July 2, 2010

Frolicing on an Island of Paradise :]

So Tuesday was my last day of school for a while because the students had exams.  So I enjoyed my time there.  Many people's classes were basically just to study so Ashley and I chilled.  I was with Aimi's class in the A.M. & in the P.M. I went with Yumi's class.  It was really funny because in Yumi's math class the kids around us heard music and were trying to figure out where it was so they were digging around in people's bags and desks trying to find out the source.  Then one of them pointed to someone who was also looking and he looked in his pocket and it was HIS cellphone which was making the music. LOL It was so funny, meanwhile the teacher was like 0_0.  haha. He didn't seem amused xD!  When I went back to Yumi's class I talked to Kanako, Chikako, Shiori, Tomoi, & others and then I talked to ther guy from South Eugene named Jaydon. He was really nice! Yumi gave me chinsukou! I as so happy! :D I had to say goodbye to them because I wouldn't be seeing them for awhile. Tuesday I stayed up until about 2 a.m. because I was watching the Japanese soccer team with my otosan.  They lost. I stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch them lose by ONE kick thingy to Paraguay. UGH! T-T I felt so bad for them.  They were all crying. So I cried too.

Wednesday, the South Eugene kids, Ashley, and I went to the Mayor's office and talked to him. (We later found out we were on T.V.)  After that we went on a bus tour around Ishigaki.  We went to a Chinese Tomb, Black Sweet shop thing, Kabira Bay, and to a beach where we swam.  I swam with a bunch of cute little fishies!  except I accidentally kicked one xD...poor fish!  It was really nice though! but after swimming we had to change back into our clothes and the changing rooms were wooden and they usually had locks inside but the one I went in had one on the outside instead and when I closed the door the lock outside closed....so I was locked in....haha.  I was like "help, I'm locked in, someone help" as I was like banging on the door...the poor random japanese people who probably thought I was a maniac! HAHA well after about 5 minutes of being a maniac some random man accidentally hit the lock on my door and I was free.  I thanked him ALOT but he was really confused LOL.  Oh! and that same day I got back on the bus and sat down and heard a loud POP and I looked down and my sunglasses were broken. T-T  I was in mourn over my sunglasses...so now I need to get more haha xD But that day was nice but long and I was exhausted. LOL

Thursday I hung out with Ashley and I was introduced to this AMAZING song from Full Metal Alchemist!  It's called Brat'ja and it's in Russian and it's beautiful!  I love it so much!  I've been practicing it on my piano and I've almost gotten it down! YES! :D haha!  Along with that Ashley and I went shopping and went a little obsessive with manga haha xD  We each bought the rest of our manga series, which we had purchased the 1st book a week ago, so 5 books for ashley and 3 books for me. LOL  They're awesome! After that we went for the school picture! It was fun but hot!  After that I went back to Ashley's house and practiced more piano and watched more Nodame Cantabile! <3 GAYBO! <3

Friday we went with the South Eugene high school kids biking around the island to the fishing port and the Peace Museum. Ashley rode in a car because she didn't think she could bike that much.  I was stuck all by myself haha xD The fishing port was disgusting.  I was like x_x.  All the dead carcasses of the poor fish, who probably had families who they were just going to feed when they got cought and slaughtered. T-T It made me sad.  The Peace Museum was also sad.  All the pictures of those who had died in the war. T-T Ugh. Lets say the theme of that day was "Death". Not my favorite theme. haha.

Now it's saturday and I should probably get breakfast because I'm VERY hungry. haha.  They have cupstacking here? who knew haha.  So I'm probably going to ask my okasan about it because I spot 3 cups on our table. 0_0 Well I hope to post again soon!  :D

Monday, June 28, 2010

This is one messed up post...sorry

‎Sunday, ‎June ‎27, ‎2010

soo...i havent blogged in a really long time!  I believe the last time I blogged was last wed. and now it's sunday night! okay...lets see.....where to begin...
so Ashley and I went to go shopping on Wed.!  we went to the mall, near from where she lives.  It's called Ioponi!  Before shopping we had to get money! lol! So my okasan dropped Ashley and me off at the bank so we could transfer our travelers checks.  We were like "YES WE FEEL SO INDEPENDENT!" We were so proud of ourselves....until we got to the desk and the lady handed us a form that required your address and telephone number, and you would need to show the clerk your passport....We both looked at each other and were like "NO!!!!"...it was VERY sad!  So we walked back to Ashley's house and got her information and luckily she got her money.  We went shopping and went to a cute little deli called: Vanilla Deli.  We both got fish n' chips ^-^.  We then headed home.  I was dropped off at my house and we had a good rest the day together! :]
Thursday and Friday were good!  School was good! :D I forget which day it was but one of the days we went out to eat dinner at a resturaunt called ookiya...(i think) It was oishi! <3  Friday, Aimi and I went to her friend Nami's house! It was very yummy and it was really fun!  There were about 14 of us in a small room!  It was awesome!  :D I had a lot of fun!
Saturday was fun!  I went over to Ashleys early in the morning and we hung out and watch T.V.  The program was featuring a segment about different kinds of animal babies! It was so cute!!!! <3333 (i.e. baby: foxes, puppies, monkeys...^-^)  kawaii!! We waited for her host sister Maki to get back from Saturday school so then we could go to Ioponi together...So before she came back we went to the post office.  Both Ashley and I got SUPER DOUPER AWESOME STAMPS!  (Full Metal Alchemist! mwahaha!!)  We both sent out our piles of postcards to our friends and family. And apparently in Japan you don't need to lick your stamps b/c there's a dish thingy that you place your stamp in to get it wet and then voila! It's ready to be stuck on....but Ashley and I thought otherwise and continued to manually lick our stamps. hehe.  After our adventured we then headed back to her house to get Maki, but when we got there she told us she had to study so she couldn't go...so it was just Ashley and me!  We got a lot of presents! It was awesome!  We went to the chacacter store! OMG KAWAII! <3 I love it here!  I got a lot of gifts for everybody! I felt so happy!  After shopping Ashley and I tried to figure out someplace to eat...but alas....there were no restaurants in sight T-T. We wandered and finally found a place to eat.  "It was suave" haha!  I have become a rice addict.  It's crazy! Before I came here I was like "ew rice" but now if anyone even hints about rice I become a little crazy...just a little...haha. >_<  After eating we went to the book store and got some manga! Yay manga! <3 It was fun!
We got home and Ashley and I bonded until my otosan came.  We got home and then had a nice evening together! 
Today (sunday) I got up and had the morning to mosey around.  I went on Facebook and talked to my friend David.  It made me very happy to be able to talk to my friend!  After lunch my otosan and Ashley went to a museum together.  It was awesome!  and after that we went clothes shopping!  I got a YUKATA! <3 :D :D :D and it's PURPLE! ^-^ YIPPEE! :D HAHA! It was expensive but I have it now! After shopping we dropped Ashley off and went back home to get ready for the welcoming party of 10 Americans from Oregon who were going to stay approx. 2 weeks here in Ishigaki.  It was a lot of fun!  I hung out with Ashley and we both watched the boys be boys...yup.  -_- They were like "YES BASKETBALL!! <3" haha!
After the party we came home and now I'm writing this very confusing blog haha.  well it's getting late and I want to finish a manga book that I've begun to read...(not the one I got at Ioponi...another managa about music!)  Well hopefully I'll be able to blog again soon! :]


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[Edit]

So now it's Monday and today was the Oregon people's first day of school! lol they were being swarmed!  One guy was in Aimi's class.  His name is Andre and he's cool.  But yeah....school was cool!  I'll try to post again soon. :]

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Videos and Pictures! :]







   



(From Top to Bottom: Asa, Me and my Asa dude, Hari dancers, Aimi's Class, Me and Tsuyoshi (i think that's his name >_<, Me and my new friends!)

haha I love it here! <3

Fun Times :D

Takitomi was amazing! Unfortunately Maki couldn't go because she had homework she didn't do. My otosan and Ashley and I went to the dock and got onto a ferry which would take us to Takitomi.  It was only about a 10 min. ride.  After we got there we went on a glass bottom boat.  It was sweet!  I saw some little Nemos swimming around.  It was awesome!  After that we took a van into the heart of the island to a bike rental shop.  We got our bikes and then proceeded to bike around the island.  Poor Ashley hadn't biked in like 3 yrs so she was slow at first.  Meanwhile I was like "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE MEDAL!" and I was speeding like a maniac haha xD  The island was beautiful! I caught a little hermit crab and named him Bob.  He was my Bob. :]  We saw water bison and cats haha!  I was lucky enough to swim in the ocean!  It was so awesome!  The water was clear and warm. I was in heaven.  Except I was swimming and looking underwater and I saw a hole in the sand so I went in for a closer look and when I did a little orange and white eel was staring up at me with its little black beady eyes.  I screamed underwater and swam away as fast as I could.  haha xD  After swimming we went for more bike riding.  After getting semi-lost we finally got back to the bike rental shop and took the van back to the Visitors center and took the ferry back to Ishigaki.  After that we went to the Ishigaki Gelatto.  It was delicious!  Then we dropped Ashley off and I went home.  The rest of the day was really nice!
Monday was school again so I saw all my friends again! :]  No swimming that day so I was very sad!  haha 
Tuesday was school again and I had 2 classes of swimming!  One class with Aimi and one with Yumi! It was really awesome! It was test day and we had to swim laps for the teachers.  Most of the kids swam regular laps to see how many they could do without stopping.  The max was 8 laps.  But, for me I had to swim the I.M. (Individual Medley)  I hadn't swam it for SO long!  After I swam it in Aimi's class I was dead! And then for Yumi's I swam it again and I died again! LOL I really need to get back into shape! haha...but even though I was out of shape I beat everyone else by like 1.5 laps. I felt bad xD  After the first 4 periods I went home for lunch with Yumi and Ashley was there.  The school was having meetings for the last 2 periods so Ashley and I didn't have to go. So we stayed at my house, sang, looked up anime that we used to watch when we were tiny and yeah...It was awesome! :D haha Toonami used to be GREAT...but now it's just sad....T-T I want all my anime shows back! lol
Well, now it's Wed. and it's a shopping day for me and Ashley.  I'm very excited!  Aimi, Yumi, and Yuto don't have school because in Ishigaki (only in Okinawa)  today's considered a holiday because it was the "official" end of WWII.  So yeah!  I'm excited for today!  I'll blog again soon! Until then Ja ne! :D

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Another long post....-_-' ah! sorry!

‎Saturday, ‎June ‎19, ‎2010


so....i haven't blogged uin a VERY long time! gomennasai!  I've been so busy over the past few days! I can't really remember the last thing I posted about....haha....oh dear....I think that I was talking about how I would soon go to a boat race.....SO I'll start from there! 
So I woke up and said good-bye to Aimi and Yumi, who had to go to school...haha >_<  I got dressed and ready and otosan and I drove to Ashley's house to pick her up.  We got there and Ashley was awaiting our arrival! :D So she got in the car and we were off! To Hary (i think that's how you spell it)  We got there and found a nice place to sit.  We sat and waited for the event to begin.  It began and it was awesome!  First, before the actual races each team did a dance, they all had elaborate costumes on.  It was pretty beast!  :] Then the actual races started and Ashley and I cheered on the blue team (ao) onto victory!  We watcheda couple more races until we got very hungry.  I had originally spied a little boy with a HUGE bag of cotton candy so I was hoping of getting one for myself.  Ashley volunteered to go and get some food.  She took a while, but she finally came back with the huge cotton candy for me; and for herself she bought shaved ice.  We both enjoyed our snacks.  After awhile Ashley's host mom and sister came.  It was nice to see them.  I then decided to get shaved ice because I was so thirsty and hot.  So I went and waited in a long line to get shaved ice.  When I got back Shiho, Ashley's little host sister , was eating Takoyaki.  She offered one to Ashley and one to me....omg I was about to die! xD haha....well I ate it and it was actually good.  Oh! if you don't know what takoyaki is, it's a ball of octopus...yummy right?  Well after I had finished chewing on that Ashley and I went to get more food.  We got my popcorn and as we were headed for the corn dogs and french fries my otosan called telling us a unique boat race was about to begin.  Sadly and without our food we went back to watch, but I'm very glad we did.  It was awesome!  The boaters had to purposely flip when a flag did something weird.  It was so cool! After we watched that I went to Ashley's house, my otosan had to stay in case of an emergency.   Ashley's house was aweosme!  Unforutnately since I had stuffed my face with food at the boat race I wasn't hungry anymore...so I didn't eat anything at Ashley's house even though her okasan insisted >_< Ah! After that Ashley and I went to my house and hanged.  We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the original one, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  After that we did ultimate Disney Quizzes!  It was INTENSE! :D SHe then had to leave and I had free time.   After free time I went to dinner and so on and so forth.
The next couple of days were just school.  It was really fun! I love that school! :D My new friends are AWESOME!  I finally had swimming! It was awesome!!! :D :D :D I LOVE SWIMMING!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D Everyone was like "you are superman!" or "you are so fast" haha xD  Other than that school was school :]  One day I went shopping with Aimi and my okasan after school! I got shorts and some AWESOME PURPLE SHOES! <3333
Yesterday Ashley and I went shopping at a mall called Ioponi.  It was awesome! I got an adorable Hello Kitty pen :D I got some nice PJ pants that are ACUTALLY long enough haha...and I got some rad postcards! :D  Yuto, Yumi, Aimi, my okasan, and I played card games after dinner! It was alot of fun!
Today was Sat. and Aimi had saturday school.  I went and met up with Ashley and we hung out together during school.  After school we went to Mister Donought! (i know. i know I can't spell...) WELL... It was awesome! After that Ashley and her host sister Maki came over and we did karaoke! :D Shiho and Ashley's okasan came over and did karaoke too! It was so much fun!  After they left it was free time.  I then watched Aimi's favorite T.V. drama! Man it was intense!  After that we watched Japan in the World Soccer Cup thing.  That was intense too!
Now I'm typing this and it's 11:21 pm and I should probably go to sleep.  Tomorrow I'm going to Takitomi Island with Maki and Ashley!! AH!! I'm so excited!!! I'll try to post again soon!! :D

Monday, June 14, 2010

first day of school

This morning I awoke at 7:00 am for school.  Aimi popped her head in and said hello, good morning! :D  I woke up and headed to breakfast.  I got bread, some mango juice (i think), and some yogurt with some cube things in it, haha I don't know what I ate! I then said good-bye to Aimi who had to go to school early.  Yumi and I got ready and then we both headed to school on our bicycles.  I now know that I am not that good at riding in narrow spaces.  I crashed into the wall twice! xD  We got to school and met the teachers. Ashley and I had to introduce ourselves.  She was awesome!  I was..okay xD haha I stank! After that I went with Yumi to her homeroom.  People were eyeballing me! LOL  We got to homeroom and we sat.  The day went like this, first we had homeroom, then geography, math, home economics, lunch, english, japanese.  For lunch we got to come home and eat.  I didn't like the lunch today xD ah!  I felt bad! Englisdh class was cool, I had to stand infront of the class and get questions asked to me...and I could ask them questions too. Someone asked me if I had a boyfriends LOL  She was so cute! :D  I met a lot of new people!  They are so kawaii!!! I LOVE IT!! :D :D :D :D They make me so happy!  I know need to learn their names >-< haha  I feel bad!
I left school by myself because Yumi had to stay after for English.  I was tired.  I got home and went into my room to cool down...i fell asleep for 30 minutes!  I didn't mean to at all! lol!  I then got up and I found that my okasan's mother was there.  She was so cute!!! After that I hung around the house.  I watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! LOL We had dinner and then played cards!
I love it here!
Tomorrow I don't have to go to school because I am going to watch a boat race! I'm so excited!, but I'll miss seeing my new friends! :(  But I'll see them on Wed! :D Oyasuminasai!

Ishigaki!

‎Sunday, ‎June ‎13, ‎2010


Yesterday I arrived in Ishigaki!  I slept basically for the entire flight!  Poor Ashley! The airplane was so empty.  It was crazy! haha.  We got to the tiny Ishigaki Aiprort and departed the plane onto a bus which drove us about 2 minutes away to the main airport where I saw my host family above the door waving a sig, my father, and two sisters, Aimi and Yumi.  It was aweosme! Ashley and I were both freaking out! :D We had to wait awhile for our luggage but it eventually came! :]  We both greeted our host families and took pictures together!  It was awesome!  THen we parted and I went with my host family to their house.  It's so cute!  I love it!  We got there and I met my host mom! :D After giving her a big hug I entered the house and there was a sign welcoming me!  I was so happy! I quickly put my things away and then it was off to a community concert!  It was all music and it was spectacular! The composer like triple-de pecs...i don't remember excatly what it's called haha.  Well, after that I arrived home and I met my host brother Yuka, who was being beast at a tennis match while I had first arrived.  He got 2nd! :D 
We then had dinner and after that we watched some video tapes of Yuka's tennis match! :]  He really was good!  After that I went to bed...I was SO tired....
Today I woke up around 10:00 am.  I was SO tired!  I went in to talk to my host family and their friends were there.  Two Americans who have lived in Japan for 30 yrs!  They were there to help Yumi with ther English Speech!  :] They were really nice!  I was given breakfast and it was toast and it was very good! :] After that Aimi had to go take an examiniation so Yumi and Aimi left.  My host dad, mom, and Yuka went shopping.  IT was so aweosme!! We went to a comic rental shop...it had manga, songs, movies...etc!!  I looked at the #1 aritist and of course...who other than the one and only Lady Gaga -_-....haha  THen we shopped somemore and we finally ate lunch at....McDonalds!! LOL  It was so funny! I loved it!  Japanese McDonald's portions are SO much smaller than us Americans' portions...it's not even funny! After that we went home some friends of the American couple came over from Tokyo.  They were really nice/cute! After that Yumi and I went swimming!  It was so fun! We rode our bicycles there! :] It was so neat!  After that we went home we played cards  and then went out to dinner! It was super aweosme!! :]  I haven't been brave for trying foods before but now I'm al for it! :]  It's awesome to try new foods...wow I can't believe what I'm saying ...*cough* typing *cough*  We then headed for home and relaxed.  I was able to take a Japanese shower which was ultra cool!  I was able to talk to my mom and she was able to see my family!  IT was great!
Now it's time for bed!  I'm tired and I have school tomorrow! >-< haha help!  LOL  Well....oyasuminasai!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Ishigaki here I come!

‎I wrote this yesterday...sorry I was never able to post it

Saturday, ‎June ‎12, ‎2010

So right now I am sitting in the airport with Ashley! :]  This morning I woke up and Jordan, Juliana, and I went for a walk.  It was really nice!  We went to thuis cute park and did radio exercises with some random people.  It was a lot of fun!  Then we went back to the hotel and ate breakfast.  I had a little conversation with a japanese woman who wanted to toast her bread in the same toaster as me.  She was so cute! 
After that went upstairs and packed.  It was fun. haha xD  Then I went down to the lobby with my luggage and waited there until we had to leave.  It took awhile because some people forgot to hand back in their room keys...it was kinda of annoying. xD  Well, after that we boarded our designated bus and headed for Haneda Airport.  I was on bus 2. Yay! haha.  So we drove for about 40 minutes and once we got there I left with a group of about 12 and we waited for our plans. Of course EVERYONE else was on a plane, but poor Ashley and me, we had a different flight.  The other group left before us, leaving Ashley and me to wait it out alone.  It was finally our turn to check in so we did so and now we are sitting in our plan's boarding area awaiting our flight to Ishigaki!  I can't believe this day has come! It seemed to have taken FOREVER, but it's FINALLY here!  It's amazing! :]  I do have to admit I'm nervous, but I'm every excited at the same time! :D  Well, I should get off the computer now haha.....I'm staring at this cute convenient store to my right whifch has a lot of little goodies! LOL okay until later!  :]

P.S. All the Japanese people are so kawaii! :] 

Friday, June 11, 2010

BEWARE: A VERY long post! Gomennasai! xD

Well, I know I haven't written in my blog for AGES, but it's been CRAZY!  So I went to my regional orientation at FIshkill, NY at Camp Mariah, and had a blast!  We got there and after I registered they were like "okay you two (my mom and me), now it's time to say goodbye" and I looked at mymom and I was like 0_0!  We said our goodbyes and hugged and then I went into the "immigration building" where it was a mock of an immigration line..thing.  It was very confusing.  There were people there who spoke different languages with me and I was trying to understand, but I couldn't.  They checked my "fake" passport and all and I went outside where I met a group of people who clapped and hollared when I came out.  We waited for more people and then we made our way of the hill...not just any hill, but a gigantic hill.  WIth me and my large heavy luggage I was dying!  I made it up none the less, but I was sweating and panting luike a dog.  We had time to go and put our stuff in our asigned cabin.  I was in Cabin 2B.  It was pretty sweet.  After that we went back down the large hill, which was much better than coming up, and we hung out with people who were waiting till the actiual orienation began.  I sat down and talked to some awesome people.  One who was  going to Germany for a year.  I waited and eventually another group came down.  I heard them talking about where they were from and then I realized that one of the girls was actually a girl who I knew from Facebook and her blog.  I freaked!  Her name was Jordan and we became friennds instantly.  It was awesome!  After saying our hellos we joined a small group out in the middle of the grass and [ropceeded to try and play the knot game, where everyone held another peson's hand and then tried to get back in a circle.  After our failed game of knot the orientation actually began to began.  They talked, and they were like "remember guys, your fake passport should be treated as your real passport and should be portected with your life"  I then began to realize my passport was missing.  Indeed I had forgotten it and had to walk the walk of shame up to the main dude and get my passport back infront of everything.  After that we got into our groups and went to our specific sessions.  I was in the GREEN group! We went to "Family Living" where we talked about living with a host faimly.  It was cool.  We learned about TOPHAT.  Which were ways that you should behave while in a host family.  I kinda forget what they stand for now....it's 5:14 in the morning over here in Tokyo. -_-'  haha.  Then we went to session #2 which was Meet the Critic.  We were given questions that we would probably be asked about America.  Like why are Americans so nosy? and WHy doesn't America have universal health care? and yadidadida...It was stressful for me.  After that we went to lunch where I met back up with Jordan and we formed a little Japan circle with an Alumni.  It was awesome! Then we went to session #3 where we went to realistic Expetations. We were asked about how our family's reacted to the fact we were going to Japan and what we expected there.  Then we went to session #4 which was Culture/Culture Shock, where we talked about what Culture Shock really was and how we could help ourselves get through it.  After that we went to a thing called "You and YFU & Not WIth Me" where we talked about YFU policies.  Policies which included no marriage, no pregnancy, no drinking and driving and so on and so forth.,  THen we had an Alumni Talk all about Japan.  It was cool, but at the same time it was long and it was VERY hot outside.  We then had dinner, which was really nice.  We had dinner with a Japanese exchange student who taught us all about her culture!  Then after that we met with the  Field Directors which was neat.  The NE region went downstairs and talked about what we're doing and that we are very special because we're the 1% of US students going abroad.  After that we went downstairs into the deep, dark room where we were showed a traditional Albatross welcoming ceromony.  I was lucky enough to participate in it. It was very interesting....After that we were suposed to do other things, but when we came out onto the main field it began to thunder and lightning  and then pour.  it POURED.  We stayed in the main lodge and did a Talent Show, which was the bomb, and then we did karaoke.  It was awesome, but it went late.  Jordan and I said goodbye and went into our cabins.  I was SO tired and fell asleep instantly. 
    Bright and early at around 6 am we woke up and headed for the airport. I fell asleep on the ride there....haha  We watched Stepbrothers, which was funny but very innapropriate.  haha. We got to the airport, but our group was separated into 2 flights and I was on the later one.  So we all arrived and walked to a food market and ate.  I got some nice pancakes and hash browns from McDonalds.  We sat around and took pictures, telling everyone where we were going and how excited we were!  Then the first group went at around 11:30 and left 7 of us for the next flight at 2:30.  ugh!  We waited for a very long time.  It was boring and not fun haha, luckily we got to talk to Marianna.  After waiting for what semed like centuries we began to board.  We stood in a cirlce together waiting to have our ticket scaned when over the announcement my name was called.  I went over to the main desk and the lady was like "are you in a group?" i said yes.  She then asked "are you all together?" and I said no again.  "Do you want a window seat?" I was like "YES!" So I was able to have a window seat for the approx. 7 hour flight from JFK Aipport in NY to the SF Airport in Cali.  It was a long flight.  THe dude next top me was all European and had his iPad and was spazzing over it...that entertained me.  I played Wheel of Fortune 2 and then this game that had to do with Goo blobs and when I was all into it, the netbook died.  I mourned the lose of the cute little netbook!  We finally got to SF where we got on a bus and embarked for UC Berkeley.  We got there and had walk to the campus.  We got there and everyone who got there before us was there.  We dropped off our luggage and went inside the main hall where we gave our name and gave our passports to them.  We got our room keys.  We got assigned a language group. I was begginner of course.  And then we signed up for two activities we'd want to do.  I signed up for Yukata and Karaoke.  I went up to my room where I met my roomate, Ashley.  She was and is SO AWESOME! :]
Our group had missed the DInner with Kumi, but whatevs.  haha.  We had a welcome and Introduction Session and watched a Japanese slideshow.  We had free time and then went to bed.  I was exhausted. 
The next morning we woke up at about 7:00am and were unfortunately late for arriving to breakfast.  We got scolded...>_<.  We went to breakfast with our kumi and then went to our room which was Floor 5 and met our kumis.  BLUE KUMI ALL THE WAY!! The people in my kumi were awesome!  We had our first session which was "Getting to Know Each Other" We'd state our name a where we're going and who our host families were.  Then we had a session which was called "Your Homestay Experience" and we talked about our what we'll do at our host family's houses.  Then we went to "Let's PRactice Japanese/Survival Japanese" , I went do Deutch with my fellow begginners.  The class was VERY nice!  Our teacher was Karla, and our student teacher person was Paige.  She was SO CUTE! :D  Then we headed back u-p to our Kumi rooms and studied about "CUrrent Japan".  Oh! Our Teacher was Danny (who rocks!) and our student teacher person was Andrew (who rocked as well)!.  Okay back onto the subject.  We read an atricle that was really recent and then we had to make a poster and present. My gorups article, Issaac, Julianna and me, had an article about the hidden poverty line. Where people in Japan were basically in denial that they were poor and needed help.  It was a depressing article...haha. Then we had lunch with our kumis and then played a game called Bafa Bafa.  It was EPIC! :D Go Betas!  We had our own "sign language system" and it was awesome!  Then we had volunteers go as representitives to another "group" and learn about their "culture".  People came to us and they were so confusd! it was hilarious! IT was really fun!  After that we went downstairs to the main hall and watched a YouTube video about Japanese HIgh Schools and then went back upstars to our Kumi Rooms and discusses highschool.,  We then had a break (thank goodness) and then went back to our Language class.  Then we went back to our kumi rooms and learned about Culture Shock...again haha.  We were pros at it by the end of it! Then we had dinner with our Kumis and then went to our activites. The Yukata was AWESOME! even though the yukata itself was too big for me xD Then I went to Karaoke where we sang two songs it was pretty cool! :]  Then we had free time, lights out at 10:15.  What a day! X_X
THe next day we woke up at 7:00 am and I got down there on time! It was a good day!  WE had breakfast with our kumis and then did radio exercises.  I failed.  xD  After that we went to Language class.  Yay! So far we learned how to have a conversation and how to count to 10.  Then we had break.  Then we went to our Kumi rooms and had "Japanese Etiquette - Good Gaijin/ Good Gaijin.  We did a skit about good behavior and bad behavior.  In my group I was the bad one. IT was funny.  Then we had break.  Then we played Barnga, which was a card game which required no talking.  There were 6 tables and each table was given different directions (which we didn't know).  It was very stressful.  The game was supposed to represent what we'd feel when we're in Japan and the difficulties of the language barrier.  Then we went ot lunch with the kumis.  Then we went to our last language class.  I had learned so much!  Then we went to our kumi rooms and did the "Not with me!" session. Again, we all were pros.  We had a break and then went to the Alumni panel where we could ask questions to 7 previous exchange students who went ot Japan.  It was really helpful.  Then we had a GEnder-Specific Alumni Panel (LOL).  and followed by Departure information.  WHich was VERY HELPFUL!  THen we had time for packing, which was good!  Then we went into0 the main lawn and did Japanese Bon Dancing.  We first learned a traditional dance.  Then we got into our kumis and made original dances to perfom. It was a competition against the other Kumis.  THe order determined the order we'd get our obento diners.  Blue got 2! :D :D :D :D :D Who are we?! Aoi! :D Blue rocks! (Oh! I never mentioned it but, we stole basically everbody elses flags! >:) haha)  After our obento dinner, we had a Japanese Movie and Game Night.  I did not do either! LOL  Basically I played HIde-and-go-seek and then Ninja the entire night xD   It was SO FUN!! :D Then we went to bed! The next day we'd be flying to Tokyo! :D
THe next day arrived WAY too soon!  6:00 am.  We went down and got our passport and dropped off our luggage and got our boxed breakfasts.  We ate them and then boarded the bus to the airport.  Once there we went through security and such and waited to board.  While waiting we met a cute Japanese couple! kawaii! :D Then we boarded the plane for our 9 hr flight.  THe flight really didn't seem that long! Excpet for the beginning when someon's luggage got stowed away on the plane, but the luggage's owner never showed up. haha I watched 3 out of the 4 movies. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon, and Leap Year.  I didn't watch a movie about Tolstoy...haha xD
 After about 9 hrs we FINALLY ARRIVED IN JAPAN!! IT WAS AWEOSME!! :D :D:D:D  We went through security and customs and immigration.  We got our fingerprints taken and our photos taken.  We got our luggage and went and waited for everyone.  I was on bus 4 which was the last bus to leave.  We drove from Narita to Tokyo.  I became obsessed with taking pictures! LOL  We got to the Keio PLaza Hotel.  We checked in, got obento dinners, roomkeys and such.  I got to my room and got my stuff set and then it was off to wander around town!  It was so fun!! My little gorup ended up in an arcade doing Purikura! :D It was AWEOME!! There were japanese people everywhere! I was in heaven! Then we had to leave because it began to pour.  I got to my room and crashed on the bed.  My roommates were there and were both exhausted as well.  We turned on the T.V. and watched baseball! xD Then we went to bed. 
This morning we all woke up about 4:00 in the morning.  haha Jet Lag xD So basically I've bene up since 4.  Breakfast is at 7 and now it is 6:15.  It's been crazy! I'm so happy! I'm staring out at the Shinjuku skyline right now! I'm so happYy! Well I better get ready for breakfast and for meeting officuials today! I've typed SO much! My wrists and fingers hurt lol! Well I have to go now.  I'll post later xD

I'M IN TOKYO!!! <3333

Friday, June 4, 2010

Orientation Time...well almost! :]

So...this afternoon my mom and I drove to Fishkill, NY for my Regional orientation! I'm very excited! I can't believe that I won't be able to actually see my house until 7 weeks from now! I won't be able to see my cute little cats!....but  I know that this is a once in a lifetime experience, and I'm SO ready!  I can't wait to get to Tokyo and see the wonders of the Japanese society!  And once I get to Ishigaki I"ll be able to see the beauty of the Okinawa Islands!  & I'm so excited to meet my host family!!! I got more information!
Dad - Doctor
Mom- housewife
Host Sisters - Yumi and Aimi
Host brother - I haven't gotten information about his name :(
Host pet - Happy (the dog)

I apologize if some of the information is repetitive haha. I'm currently watching a crazy special on ABC.  I'm getting creeped out..haha xD  Well, that's all I have to say for now! I'll update more later after my PDO!  I'm REALLY excited to meet people going through the same situation I'm going through!  :] haha, well now I'm really done!  Peace out.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Ishigaki, Okinawa here I come!!!! :D

Last night it seemed like EVERYBODY was getting their host family information and I was repeatedly refreshing my e-mail to see if anything came up about my host family,but there was nothing.  I went to bed.  I woke up and whadduh know but I turned on my phone and facebook said "friend request from Yumi Kidokoro" I was like who's this? and then it hit me! Maybe she was a part of my host family! I accepted her request and YES! I have a host sister named Yumi! :D and I'll be staying in Ishigaki, Okinawa! :D :D I'm SO EXCITED!! :D I have a host family & a host sister!!! :D :D!!! If you don't know where Ishigaki, Okinawa, you can turn your attention to the map below. 
I'll be staying where that little red circle is. :D I'm so happy!! Ishigaki looks like paradise!  It has beautiful crystal blue oceans and awesome beaches! I"m so ready! Bring it on Ishigaki! :] 
Unfortunately that's all the information I have about my host family. I'm just happy I know I have one! :D I'll post more about my host family once I get more information! :] 

Oh...and my cat decided to check to make sure the netbook I'll be using passess her inspections. xD

 
=^-^=

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Yen, Camera, Packet, & Party! :]

So this morning I woke bright and early and went to the bank to go get the Yen that had been sent there along with my passport.  My yen came in a little envelope and when I peeked inside I almost died! The yen was beautiful! I loved the little picture of Mt. Fuji - san, and the yen itself was such pretty colors.  Why isn't the US currency as pretty?? After the excitement of getting my Yen, my mom and I went to go buy me a new camera.  We ended up at Cardinal Camera and found a very nice digital camera. It was a touch screen! I was SO pumped! And the thing that made the camera the camera of my dreams was that it was purple! My day, thus far was AMAZING. After spazzing over my yen and purple camera I had to go to work, which I was not too happy about.  Spending three hours in the hot sun watching the ripples of the pool pass you by isn't my cup of tea. haha.  The good news, though was that my mom texted me telling me my packet came in the mail finally! I was so anxious to go home.  Finally 3 o' clock rolled around and I ran to my car where my packet was awaiting me.  I maniaclly ripped it open and read my acceptance letter which filled me with such happiness.  I looked all into the packet when I got home. I was right about one thing...the t-shirt would probably be huge.  It was a large and it is basically a dress on me haha but oh well! I don't care!  (I'm actually wearing it right now)
Right after work my friends and I had decided to get together, so I drove to my one friends house where I was expecting just a nice get together, but I was wrong.  They had planned a surprise going away party.  I was clueless! My friend was like "it's hot out here, lets go down into the basement".  I thought nothing of it, but when I arrived in the basement, its floor was covered in balloons, there was a big sign wishing congratulating me, and food!  Lots of food! I was so surprised! I couldn't beleive it! We had such a wonderful time! It was amazing!  I can't thank them enough!
After the party my mom and I went shopping again to buy more stuff for Japan.  We bought a blue skirt for a uniform.  (I'm so excited to wear a uniform!) We went to Barnes and Nobles and got a present for my host family, a nice picture book of PA.  One for them and another for my future Japanese class.  After all that scrambling I'm exhausted!  It's now 10:45 and I'm ready to pass out.  Today has been such an amazing day!  I can't believe it; I only have 4 more days of school left!  I don't know how I'm going to survive those days, my minds going to be off dreaming about Japan.
I can't believe this is happening.  I feel like I'm dreaming and that soon I'll wake up, but it's not a dream. In a little over a week I'll be in Japan!  I'm so happy! :]





*continues to listen to Becoming a Geisha, from Memoirs of a Geisha*

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Next stop: JAPAN! :]

おはようございます! My name is Emily (Eem) and I am very grateful because I was lucky enough to be be given a scholarship, to Japan for over this summer, from YFU! It's been crazy the past couple of days! Let's see...where should I begin?
It all started in January when I filled in all the application stuff and desperately sent in my application at the last minute. I planned to try to go to Japan on a full ride scholarship only...xD Then I waited for an interview which came in February (I think). I was all ready for my interview, I had on my Hello Kittie dress, with all my Japanese "garb" at my kitchen table. The interviewer was very nice! She basically just asked me questions about why I would want to go abroad and whether I could handle being away from home for that long. The interview itself went very well. Then came more waiting...and more waiting....-_-'
Finally, in the first week of May, scholarship statuses went out. I was very excited and impatient after all the waiting I had done. I called in and they told me that I had been rejected. I was upset, but I knew that I couldn't lose it at school, so I kept to myself. That day I was miserable and not a very happy camper, but soon after my mom told me that I shouldn't be depressed and that I should move on. So I did and planned for a regular summer, lifeguarding, hanging with friends etc. Everything was going according to plan...UNTIL! Last Friday (4 days ago) YFU called out of the blue telling me that I had won a partial scholarship. I wasn't home and my mom was very tired after a hard week of work and told them that we'd talk it over and give them our answer the next Monday. Well, I was absolutely clueless and when Saturday morning came around I was just expecting an average Saturday, but boy was I wrong. My mom woke me up and told me she had something to tell me, but it wasn't that important. I lazily dragged myself downstairs to the kitchen. My mom sat down and told me that YFU had called and that I was eligible for a partial scholarship. 0_0 <---- that was me. I couldn't believe it. I was in shock. I almost started to cry. I was so happy! So my mom and I had lots to discuss over those two days. We made a list of questions and problems concerning me going to Japan. The biggest problem was school. Our school decided to strike, thus pushing back the last day until the end of June. If I went to Japan I'd miss about 2 and 1/2 weeks of school. My mom and I talked all weekend and as every minute passed by, I knew I was growing closer to going to Japan. Finally, my mom and I decided that I could go! I was SO happy! I was like bouncing for joy! I can't even explain my feelings! I was about to explode! I couldn't believe that my dream of going to Japan, a dream I'd had since 6th grade, was actually going to come true! I still can't believe it! I'm so excited!
I'm sorry that this post is super fat, but I'm planning on blogging a lot about my wonderful journey to the Land of the Rising Sun! :]

EEK! :D