R.I.P. 2009-2010

Dear Visitors,

I have neglected my blog since I returned to America. Although I ended up revising my blog and publishing it into a book for personal keep-sake. If anyone is traveling to Japan and is curious about anything or has some questions, feel free to email me at jay brown 1020 (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks for all the intresting comments and messages people! I do check this site from time to time, but as far as posts go, I lied (in my last post) this will most likely be my last. Its been fun!

~Jay

[Note: The email address above will most likely cease being my primary in 2011-2012 (college), but until then, it should work]

7-23-09

I woke myself today for my big adventure home. The only problem is on the plane ride I realized that as soon as I get home, that’s it. There will be no and whats about being home. I have been in a care free, grade free, fun country. Now I am going back to my regular life where everything I do affects my remaining years in high school and possibly the rest of my life directly.

The hardest part of waking up was knowing it was going to be my last. I put away my futon and took a shower, like usual. I then went into the family room to find my host father waiting there to say his final goodbye. And then with a handshake and a take care he left for work. To possibly never  been seen again by me. Next to leave way my brother Fuga. Without a goodbye. It just made me laugh though because that was exactly the type of relationship we had. No talking, no interacting, and all will be well.

The last to go was my brother Ryu. He said goodbye and then headed out the door. It was also represented our relationship of little words but never bad. He has always been polite but quite to me. He was a very neutral character to have in the family for me.

After a while my host sister came down and we watched some TV before it was time to load the car with my heavy suitcases and head out. She was acting normal for me, dazed expression with no desire to interact with anyone.

Once my host mother came down, it was pretty much time to head out. We loaded the car and headed out. The ride to the station was not terribly memorable until we got to the station itself. I was trying to avoid all the goodbyes until later because I did not want to sound like a broken record. As we edged up to it and unloaded from the car, I was beginning to real feel the pain of leaving such a beautiful country with wonderful people.

Inside I found my area rep and her grandmother. At this point the day had just flown by and I was really setting into the fact I was leaving in less then thirty minutes. Then out of nowhere I see my teacher coming from a different entrance and then my entire homeroom class followed behind. It was a huge surprise to see all of these people just to see one person head home. After them was my host mothers sister and mother. Everyone (except my host family because we had done it the night before) handed me gifts and little snacks for the ride home. My host mothers family gave me 1 Pepsi NEX (because they know I love it), 1 Green Tea (I don’t know why but it was great), 1 box of tea snacks (because at their house I ate almost an entire box (they are so delicious)), and a metal wind chime (it is a simple but beautiful design with the bell itself in a shape that reminds me of a turtle shell). It was very thoughtful and nice of them to come all the way out here to say goodbye to me. Well actually it was extremely thoughtful of everyone to come out here and say their goodbyes. I was just blown away that my homeroom class even came.

They gave me a present with a one fold book exactly like what I got for my birthday but these one housed pictures of my class and everyone had written me messages in Japanese so I will probably never be able to read it, but that’s okay (its in Kanji and I can’t look up Kanji). They also gave me a puzzle, a tatami mouse pad, a folding fan, and a pouch of green tea bags. Though I still liked the booklet they made me most of all.

There was a lot of thanking everyone for coming (including my host brother (so for the remainder of the time my little sister perched on top of his shoulders and I did not get to talk to again. In all the commotion it was hard to get to my host mother and thank her individually so I hope I did her justice back at the house and the car ride here. When it was about ten minutes before the train left I checked in and everyone followed me because they had visitor tickets or something so they could get threw security. It was really funny to be the only one with a huge posy out of the three or four other passengers that were getting on at that station. When the train came I quickly loaded on because the trains do not stay there for long before they head out. I made a loud announcement thanking everyone and then the doors shut. As the train took off some of the guys tried to run down the platform with the train but it quickly passed them and I was back to viewing beautiful rice fields wising by. It was not until they had all disappeared from sight that I realized I did not see my host mother as I was getting on because so many of the students were clouding in front of her. This was when I got sad, but did not cry (:D). I took my time getting to my seat and then relaxed for a while while the train whizzed by.

Three or four stops down four other YFU kids got on at the Sendai stop. Some of them were crying which almost made me cry but it was okay once the train got started again. We all talked about our awesome experiences and just had a good time sharing funny stories. Some of them opened their lunches because they were hungry. One of them had a weird circular container on the bottom that they said was a heater or something. They had already eaten most of their lunch so they let me see it. I pulled the little string and it instantly began to release really hot steam from the opening the string made. We all were freaking out at this point because it was starting to burn my fingers and none of us knew what to do so we put it under her lunchbox where it was before and it steamed less but was still pretty scary. It is really interesting how it worked though, instant hot lunch wherever you go. Pretty awesome right?

I really don’t want to explain every action we made so I am just going to give the basic details. We arrived at the Tokyo station (underground) and proceeded down three of four flights of escalators. Eventually we found a tunnel (or series of tunnels because I don’t know where else they go) where we loaded onto a train with lots of other YFU kids and in about an hour arrived at the Narita Airport (the train surfaced after we got out of Tokyo but it went back underground in the Narita airport where we unloaded and checked out of the train part of the airport). In the check in line for the airplane I got my itinerary back from the YFU people and then got my tickets, checked my bags, and went threw security. Though right before I was going to go threw security my friend John’s host family’s sister that lived in Tokyo was there with two bags of gifts for him but he had checked in before she was able to find him so I gladly helped her out and took them threw security with me and gave them to John at the gate. In the time in the check in area I got a JAPAN t-shirt for my mother because that’s what she really wanted but it was a good thing I had 2000 Yen on me because it was a lot more then the 1000 I had expected. Anyways we got on the plain and headed to America. The flight was 9 hours but seemed like a lot less because of the people there. Time flies when your having fun right?

Once we landed we went threw customers (if you really want to know about it ask me but I don’t feel like typing all the steps). After that you had to recheck your bags and then go threw security again. I knew I was back in America when I went threw security because everyone was extremely rude. The woman at the metal detector told me (in an angry voice) to take off my shoes but I did not hear her so I started walking and she then yelled at me to take off my shoes. I mean come on, I went threw security for an international flight and I did not have to take off my shoes but in America, all shoes are bombs so they must be taken off. At least she did not notice I was wearing a big belt loop that had a lot of metal on it because she would have probably yelled at me for that one too. Eventually we caught our connecting flight to Chicago (myself and a few other YFU kids (though it was sad to say goodbye to one or two at a time as they went to catch their flights)). That flight was longer (seemingly) but that was mostly because we had been up for a long time by the time we got on the plane. When we got to Chicago we pretty much had to immediately split up except for one person that was in the gate next to mine but had a longer layover. She dropped me at my gate after waited in line with me until I was about to enter the gateway to the plane. The flight home from there was very fast and all I could think about was getting home to my family.

I got out of the gate and went to the waiting area where I found my mother, father, and older brother waiting for me. It was unfortunate that my brother Reid could not make it because he was on the church mission trip but I will see him later tomorrow so it is alright (I am writing this on the 25^th because I have not had a chance to write it yet).

I skipped over the plain rides pretty quickly but there was nothing terribly notable. I talked to a lot of different people about how my stay was and listen to some of their stories. It was just a lot of back and forth information giving, which was nice because I wanted to know what other parts of Japan were like. The funniest part though was we were all replying to short questions in Japanese on accident. Especially when it came to words like excuse me and sorry. I am mostly out of that now but I had to teach my brain to think completely English again which is a little difficult to do.

Anyways at the baggage claim I had no luggage to pick up because apparently when you connect from a flight that the previous one was international, they run your bags threw extra checks for security or something. Because of that, my bags missed my flight and where delivered to me the next day (before I woke up actually, which was nice). The ride home was typical. I got all the stupid questions about Japan and it was not that great because my family had all already read my blog so they knew exactly what had happened the entire time. I don’t leave a lot out on my blog posts so they were pretty much caught up. Now I am heading to bed. You are all pretty much off the hook of reading this ever again! Congratulations and thanks for bearing with me.

7-22-09

Today was doable but right now I feel sick to my stomach that I am leaving tomorrow. Not enough to bring a tear to my eye but it really pains me to be done already. To be completely honest, school has been somewhat of a hassle, but I have enjoyed every minute (good or bad) of home life with my family. Yukiko is a one of a kind person, I am glad to have had such a great host family (even if they don’t have internet (and now I find out not really emails either (so at least I don’t have to worry about reply to an email that gets pointless quickly (snail mail will keep it interesting!)))). I am excited to get to hang out with the other YFU kids on the plane but that will mean I might never see anything that I am looking at right now again. For all I know if I ever come back here my grandmother may not even be here anymore. I hope for her good health so we can play our Othello match (she is still in the hospitable).

At school it started off slow but around 3rd period was where it got a little interesting. I did not look at my schedule closely so I went with my homeroom class upstairs to home EC where they completed their aprons. I was supposed to go to computer class and upload yesterdays post but I am so glad I made that mistake because I got a picture with my entire class and one of my teachers (unfortunately I did not get a picture of everyone with my homeroom teacher (I can photo shop her in I guess (haha))). By the way mom, I want to make a scrap book (though I don’t know how I will fit everything into one, or two, or three, books). So if you could get a few supplies or just scope stuff out so I can buy some good stuff. Oh wait, you will not read this until after I am already home (crap). Oh well I am not going to delete that because in the future I can read that I remember my intentions. That’s going to be weird going home for the first time. All the welcome backs and how was it, but not being able to answer. I hate how I am going to try to explain some of the awesome stuff I did in Japan but no matter how hard they try to understand and take in all that I am saying, it will not be the same as it to me, ever. Most people will probably be like, Oh Jay! How was Japan!? (Ill say like good or excellent or fantastic) That’s great man, welcome back. And that’s it. Oh, and what about my project? Maybe I will just ask Angie (our youth minister) if I can give a presentation to the youth group. Though if I make a cool power point why not make it open to more people? Maybe I will invite the church congregation, and family and friends on face book. I’ll bring punch! That way anyone who actually wants to know about my trip and learn about Japan can come (or if they just really want the damn cookies (Though, that’s okay if they just want cookies, as long as they stay and hear me drone on about Japan they deserve some cookies (mom, can we get some cookies?))).

Fourth period was math. I drew. It was not interesting. I could not have learned something if I wanted to. Forgive me haters (mom (haha)). Next was lunch (everyone gets out their lunch boxes and eats at their desks (or the neighbors)). I got a big box filled with rice with a giant meatball in the center (more like a hamburger then a meatball (because it was flattish and large like a patty)). It was the most delicious meal I have ever had. I chopped it the hamburger into pieces and mixed it with my rice. Sooo delicious. M, m, m, m, m, Hamberoosty (  <=  ya, I don’t get it either). Right after lunch we all headed down to the kitchen building in our aprons. Well everyone but me had one (mine is at home (I gave it to Yukiko tonight because I did not want it, so even if she does not use it she has some new washcloths)). I was put into a group with the two girls that are insuperable. They talk at the same time, and probably breath and swallow at the same time too. It is kinda freaky how they respond so often in unison. Also they hate pictures, if you point a camera at them they will just turn around and walk away as if they forgot the kitchen was on fire or something. Japanese are weird when it comes to hamburgers because they put onions in them (that’s normal but listen to this) and a variety of other things like putting eggs on top, using weird seasonings while they are cooking, putting tempera shrimp on top of the hamburger, and they don’t mind if their patties are cold. I have also seen some people put corn on theirs. Anyways they are still delicious. My teacher cooked the french fries while everyone made their own hamburgers. I pretty much sat back and let the two girls do it because they did not like help. Once everyone had finally finished their burgers and put them on their plate with french fries we sat down in the room next door it has table for eating) and grabbed glasses. The school has like 20 thousand different types and designs of every plate, bowel, coaster, ect. (though not one pitcher) which is really weird. Becuase of this most of the kids used martini glasses or shallow wine glasses to drink one of the four drink selections (green tea, Orange Fanta, Coke Zero, and some orange something or another juice drink). By the time we had taken a picture with everyone holding their hamburger (except my teacher) we dug in. I then looked at the clock to find that it was 3:05! I was supposed to meet Mishina Sensei and Mrs. Nagano (my area representative) at 3 so I rushed out with my hamburgers wrapped in tin foil to my homeroom on the third floor to get my backpack (because it had my thank you notes I made this morning inside (one to Mrs. Nagano saying thank you for everything and get well soon because she is sick in Japanese. The other was to Mishina Sensei in English because I could not write what I wanted to in Japanese. It used many words to say how wonderful she, the staff members, and the building are and to please pass this along becuase a simple thankyou to teachers is not enough to express how I really feel. It also brown noised her a little about how nice she was (because to me she was).). Then down to the library (first floor) because that is where our last meeting was so I assumed it was there. With no one there I went up to the 2nd floor where the teachers room was to look for Mishina Sensei. She was not there but one of my other teachers was so I asked her where Mishina was and she said class 3-1 (on the fourth floor). Once I got there I found Mishina Sensei teaching because she had forgotten just like I had. We then headed down to the first floor where Mrs Nagano was with the principle. I was very hot but apparently it is not polite to use a fan in front of a high athority figure so I just had to get really hot sitting there.

In our little meeting he asked a lot of questions that I had to have my English teacher translate for me because I could not understand his Japanese (it was quietly spoken and some complicated words). When he asked if I would like to stay longer I said that right now I want and need to go home but I have full intentions of returning someday whether that be as a university student or as a vacation sometime. I really do want to return someday so I have to stay in contact with everyone! After the meeting I went with Mishina and Mrs. Nagano to the teachers room where I was to make a goodbye speech on the intercom. With two minutes to prepare I had Mishina help me with some thank you stuff. I still don’t know exactly what I said but I do know it sounded like I was reading because I had a lot of trouble reading her Hirigana (their alphabet (one of two really)). Anyways after that all the kids sad goodbye and shook my hand (which was really funny when one of the secretary did because for like two minutes she was shaking it with both hands back and forth (not up and down). It made me laugh on the inside.

Threw out the day I had gotten presents from teachers. One teacher gave me a pack of highlights in a white box with temple symbolizes that I recognized as good luck studying things. Another teacher gave me a handkerchief and a box of Japanese forchen cookies. I knew the cookies would get crushed if I tried to take them home so I brought them to the hospitable later that night and shared them with everyone (included the other two patients in the same room as my grandmother (they have multiple patients in the same room (it made me feel really good that I may have made their days a little bit with a cookie and a toy))). Anyways after school I got a bag and put my school shoes into them (they are my host family’s so I need to take them home to return them). On the walk home I got pretty sad because the brutal truth is there is a chance I will never see any of the beautiful scenery again. There are no mountains in the distance in Iowa, I will miss seeing them everyday on my ride home.

At home I started packing but I had to wait a little while because not all of my clothes were dry yet (in the other rooms drying). So after the hospitable visit my host father took me to the coin laundry and we got them all nice and dry, and he bought me a soda from the vending machine. It was a nice little time for me to talk to him alone before I left. Anyways I am skipping around a lot so lets start from after I had done a little packing at home my host mother and sister got home. We soon after that went to the hospitable to visit my grandmother. When there my host mothers doctor came in and talked to my family. After that my grandmother got up and used her little walker thing (big wheels on the bottom (pretty funny looking) to go around the floor. (this was also after I shared my snack with them). It was nice to get to see her one last time before I left. She seems a lot better but not fantastic. She was facially acting normal but walking pretty slowly even with her walker. I hope she gets better soon! My last word to her before the elevator door closed was get well soon and goodbye. That is the same thing I am going to do twice tomorrow (once for my brothers and father when they go out of the house and again when I am at the train station and the train doors are closing. I am going to be so sad to see them all fly away even though I am the one moving.

After the laundry I pretty much finished packing besides a few small things like my backpack. Supper tonight was awesome! We had Japanese grapes (they are so delicious (they eat them by sucking out the middle part and throwing away the skin (they slide out easy (unlike American grapes)))), Hamburger (just as delicious as lunch (sorry dad, yours are great but something about them here makes them amazing)), Sashimi (raw fish), rice (the usual), and pizza (Japanese pizza is small but delicious (I don’t know what is so terribly different but it just is better (though it is also more expensive))). Even though I have some Pepsi NEX left I drank ocha (green tea) with the family. During dinner my host mother brought me a bag full of presents so I went and got my little booklet thing inside the bag I had made. She did not know what it was at first but as soon as she saw the outside cover (it was the same type she got me for my birthday present) she started piecing the parts together. I think I did a really good job with it and I think they like it too. Since they don’t have internet I am really happy I choose this as a final present because they can then have some of the awesome pictures I took and remember this for a long time to come. I also gave my little sister a cute animal thing because that was she would not complain the she didn’t get anything. It is a blue animal thing filled with air so you can squeeze it and the parts will inflate to ridiculous proportions.

Inside my beautiful green bag was a calendar with great Japanese scenery pictures, a hanging lantern thing from the old village we visited a long time ago (which I don’t know when she bought because she never left us). And some snacks that look delicious but are nice because then I can eat them tomorrow so I don’t get hungry or have to waste much money. Later that night I noticed that I forgot to give them the cup I made so I just gave it to my host mother right before she went upstairs for the night. She thought it was really pretty (and the design I did is starting to grow on me). Though backing up a little bit I asked her why they hosted a foreign exchange student because I was curious (this is their first time). She told me it was a hard question but she wanted someone to talk to with her English and they wanted to have some awesome experiences [with me (learn about another culture)]. By the way loan, when I first embarked on this journey you gave me some great advice, so thank you, you were right (You can find it yourself but it was about even if I make mistakes its okay because they are all just people and they except you to make mistakes [they want to help you grow]).

She also mentioned the packet I had filled out to get my scholarship an such and mentioned my teachers letter was inside so I asked if I could read it because to turn it in I had to have her put it in an envelope and seal it with her signature so I could not open (and potentially edit) it. It was really funny because, one case in specific, it said I sometimes even lead class discussions (it was talking about how I was such a great student) and I told my host mother it was true, I often ask about things like how was the movie last weekend, or has anyone seen my shoe. She and I laughed for a while. The next line said I like to make jokes and make my friends laugh (that made us both smile).

I took pictures of the packet (each page) because I did not get a copy and this way I can refer to it or if someone wants to see something I can just send them the images. It was a nice surprise at the end because I always wanted to read it!

Now I am all packed in my room typing this up listening to music so I am now going to go and going to try to sleep, wish me luck and I will see you all soon! Whether that be good or bad, I am still trying figure out exactly how I feel, though I will probably never know. Goodnight everyone.

07-21-09

I should probably feel really bad about leaving right now but I just have not really had time. As soon as I got home I started in on my present for my host family (the picture book thing (I am doing it really well so it is taking a long time)). Tomorrow I will be crazily packing (I know they say don’t leave it until the last minute but I don’t have time to tonight). On top of all of that I still have to write this thing. The day after tomorrow is my 30 hours traveling so I might be able to write this on one of the planes but I will probably be busy talking to other YFU students, sleeping, and catching up on my cellphone when I get to the states. Though, I wonder how that works. I have not had my phone on for over six weeks. Does that mean it saved all the messages and missed calls I have gotten while away? I sure hope so! One last thing, mom and dad when I get back I want to see the new Harry Potter movie. And again sorry about not being able to bring home any food for you guys.

I was woken up today at seven o’clock and took my shower and washed up. I was not woken up by the sun today because it was cloudy outside but not raining (yet). After breakfast I got a ride from my host father to school in his car. At school I used the computer until it was almost time to go to home room because I wanted to catch up now and upload the blogs during my computer class so I would have time to spell check them all. I make a lot of spelling errors. It makes me crazy how I have learned to type words like because, because (if you did not notice the error, look closely). I make that mistake so often and I don’t know how to fix it.

I realized in home room that even though I requested my last obento from my host family to be meat balls and rice (nothing else) they have a hamburger cookout planned for my homeroom class tomorrow. Well guess I will just be getting a lot of hamburger tomorrow (hehe, I know a few people that will find that funny (its a joke in my family that I love hamburgers (because I do! (it started on cruises when I would order hamburgers instead of the fancy cruise food)))). First and second periods were calligraphy classes. I don’t know why but today all my work was the worst it has even been. My teacher bought four little boards for me to do some final pieces on (I have seen them at the 100 yen store in packs of two). I did two of the kanji for flower, and two of the kanji for mountain (which the other day I made an amazing looking mountain kanji (not today though). The worst of the two for each my teacher kept but he gave me the nicer of the two of the two as presents. It was really nice of him and I was sure to thank him a lot. I gave one later (as you will read) to my host family. I will probably give the other to my parents (hehe). I wish I had done a better job though because even to someone who can not read it, it does not look good (that is why I am willing to talk about it in here (if it had been for my parents and it looked good I would not tell them so it would be a surprise)).

Third and fourth periods were koto (Japanese harp) classes. We practiced the same song we had been for the entire time I have been here a few times. It is a pretty long song but I think I was finally getting the hang of it. Once we had gone threw all the pages (each individually) my teacher had me come up front and play along with her (as everyone watched). I had to stop a lot but it was still pretty fun and all the girls in there are awesome and funny because they kept shouting out randomly how they loved me (the first time they said that it cough me off guard, but now its just really funny). In the middle of class (backing up a bit) my teacher got out her camera and I helped her set the timer on it so we could get a picture of everyone in the class. I put mine on to so I could get an awesome picture (it turned out really well) too. At the end of class my teacher gave me a folding fan (it is not the nicest I have seen but really pretty with a fun plastic outside that you can see threw (it has flowers inside the plastic). It even came with a cloth case. My favorite part thought is the tassel that is attached to the end of the fan. I can not believe she was so thoughtful to notice that I used my sentsu (Japanese for folding fan) in class a lot and thus got me one as a goodbye present. She is a really nice lady. Though I don’t think I will ever see her again (which makes me sad).

Fifth period was computer class, where I uploaded my four blog posts and had a little extra time to read some interesting articles. Sixth period was home Ed. I finished my bag that came along with my apron. I don’t know what I am going to do with the apron but I have decided I am going to wrap up the gifts in the bag I made so it will be a gift completely from me. I somewhat rushed in making my bag to get it done, but it turned out alright because you flip it inside out (or right side in) at the very end which hides all your mistakes. I hope they will like the few presents I am making for them.

Seventh period was supposed to be English reading class so I went up to my 3-1 homeroom and handed out some of my cards to the kids (I have been doing that all day to the students that I have talked to a lot). Though once my English teacher got there she told me they had counseling section instead so we did not get to listen to high school musical and fill out a worksheet with the lyrics (only it had blanks that you had to fill in). So before I left go to downstairs to my homeroom class I got to give a little goodbye speech. This is the only full class I was sad to say goodbye to. Tomorrow it wont be that bad to say goodbye to my homeroom classmates. My homeroom teacher on the other hand is super nice and I will be sad to say goodbye to her.

The class downstairs was supposed to be world history but I saw the teacher standing outside reading a book while the kids were inside talking or reading manga (Japanese comics). I drew. When the bell rung he entered the classroom and they all stood up and bowed and left because somehow they already retrieved their cellphones. Guess there was no homeroom today.

I walked home today in the rain with my umbrella (so glad my mom bought me one (she is a great woman (I love her to pieces))). The rain was not heavy but not light. It made for an okay walk home but when I got home I found the door locked again so I jumped threw my window (today it sucked because I had an umbrella in my hands and taking off my shoes was hard because I was trying to stay dry and also not hurt the tatami mats inside. Anyways I got in and got changed. I headed to the store to buy a bread (because they are so delicious) and then returned home to eat my bread and drink some of the coke from the 1.5 liter I bought last week. This is when I started working on my host families picture book present. I am going to go finish it now in fact because tomorrow I will be swamped with packing. Well, goodnight everyone (even though there is one more paragraph, I wrote that earlier, so I am going to end here (but keep reading!!)).

As I was writing this I stopped to get my host mothers email and home address. I also gave her one of the two Kanji I had made today as a present. I hope she liked it, though Its okay if not because I have a nice big one planned tomorrow that actually means something. Sometimes the best presents you can give are the ones that may not have cost a lot but mean so much more then words can describe. If there are a thousand words in a good picture, then I have an project for of tens of thousands. Yay me! Though as I was talking to her it finally began to set in that I am leaving so soon. I am now sad to be leaving because I will miss Yukiko most of all. It is to bad that she is always busy and I did not get a lot of time to help her English grow very much. I hope she does well in her future studies.

07-20-09

Today was a holiday so I did not have school but it is not really notable because anything I did do was not that great. Tomorrow I have to spell check and upload four posts, about 12 pages in word in 12 point font. Fun right?

I was woken up at nine, like I asked to be, but I was so tired still I asked if it was okay to sleep for another hour. I was not woken up again so at around 11 (I did not know what time it was) I got up by my own free will (though I had to push myself to do it). When I was grabbing my stuff to go take my shower and get ready for the day I realized I did not have my toothbrush anymore. This sucked because I have enough days left I still really need one did not want to waste the money. It was a nice toothbrush too (it came in a pack of two but I lost the first one the first week I was on my trip (at least I think that’s what I did; I may have left it at home (I don’t remember)). So I got ready without brushing my teeth (which sucked). Anyways once I was up I found my breakfast sitting on the table and then had nothing to do for a while.

Finally my little sister came down and starting being herself. She was completely fine, which was nice. Anyways, my host mother came down and we made tropical snows from a machine they had. It was fun? My little sister started complaining about everything and then popping into a smile and laughing. It only went downhill from here. When the lemon ran out for example she started screaming about how it was so horrible and there was none left, even though she had a bowle in front of her made of 1 part sugar and 1 part ice. I used the very last splash of it in an icy for her mother because she had just told me that her mother liked the lemon. She is a brat but does not have anyone tell her anything sternly. It annoys the crap out of me.

Our next stop was a water thing. That’s all I got from it when Yukiko explained it to me. Anyways it was a small mushroom water thing at one end with a winding ‘river’ leading down to a poll at the end with sprinklers on the top. The river was only a few inches deep at any given point but there were a ton of little kids. There was also a playground and one of the weird bubble jumping things. I don’t know what to call them. It looks like a pimple coming out of the ground and kids are jumping on it. It is full of air but I don’t know how it stays full. From the ground to the peak it was about as tall as I am.

When we first got there she was difficult and would not even get out of the car (we came here because she wanted to). I had to carry her to the little bathrooms next to the poll so she could get changed with her mothers help. Once she came out I tried to take a picture but she started crying because NOW she could not wait to get it. For the next five or so minutes she was crying for absolutely no reason. She kept trying to steal my shoes but the ground was really hot so I wanted them. Eventually I let her use them to float down the river thing but when I took one of her shoes and hid it she did not care. But as soon as I gave it back to her she started crying (for no reason! (seconds before she laughed that I had hid it there)). Then I put on my shoes that were floating down the river and for the rest of the time she was trying to steal my shoes and stuff leaves and stuff in them calling me and idiot and such. She kept chasing after me so I thought it was funny for a while. She was the only kid (of over 40) crying and complaining. She kept laughing when I did something funny but then turned back into tears almost instantly because she didn’t want it to be funny. When I hid she would cry and then stop. But when she saw me again she would chase me and try to take my shoes because I was an idiot or something. Eventually I got sick of it so I gave her my shoe to shove stuff in it (these are my crockes, so I could easily take the stuff out). She filled it up and then chased me around. I would say thank you when she showed me but then run off screaming angrily and add more stuff. When I was finally so sick of her that I could not help it I took my shoe back and emptied it out. She was hitting and yelling at me the whole time. I was weighing my options because I knew if I said anything not jokingly it would ruin the day and put a sour tinge on anything I did but I was so fed up with her I looked her in the eye and grabbed her hands and said stop. This is not okay. Stop. These are my shoes. Yukiko had done virtually nothing the entire time so I just went and got changed (I was in a swim suit so if I got them wet it would be okay). When I came out Marin was still in tears and complaining about everything so while she played on the playground I went to a bench and drew in my notebook. And I was right, it did ruin the rest of the day.

The movie theater is apparently to far away so we did not go there, so we rented a movie instead. There are so many movies I have never heard of in this place. They all look really good too! Anyways I picked out a movie called Pandemic (so me right?) and we headed out. At home I watched the movie while Marin and Yukiko went somewhere. She tried to explain it to me but I could not understand so I just said it was okay and they told me to wait at home. I hate how they go so many places but I don’t get to go along anymore. They don’t let me much by myself so the only times I get to go out is with them. Anyways I get to go home soon so it is all okay.

The rest of the day went by quickly with pizza for supper, I cut out the pictures for my present for the family. Though I have so many pictures I don’t know how I am going to fit them all in there. I thought I had the tea ceremony today because that’s what my teacher had told me but I had forgotten about it anyways so I missed what I thought was the time (Yukiko came home at around 6:30 (the time it is is 6 (she came home and said don’t you have tea ceremony?))). I don’t have any of the teachers cell phone numbers so I could not get a hold of them for a while but eventually Yukiko  found the piece of paper from the trip this weekend and it had it on there. Unforchantly she did not pick up (later she called back and said it was tomorrow (though I am not sure if that means it was moved after I missed it today, or if it was always tomorrow).

Now I am sitting alone while the Tv is on in the family room. Fuga was down here playing a game but he went up stairs. I am tired so I am going to go. Night…

 

 Update: The tea ceremony was planned for the 20th but becuase she is busy today (the 21st) we will not do it. I am really sad and feel horrible becuase I totaly stood her up by accident. Ya just thought I should throw this in here incase I forget later to put it in the next post

07-19-09

Note: I put this under Side Notes as well becuase if you go down to the bolded section at the bottom, the first two of the four are pretty general observations about Purikura and Japanese Electronic Stores. Though they talk about Sendai some, I still beleive they count as an over all general overview.

 

Today had the same ups and downs of yesterday. I hate road trips with large groups because by the end of it I am usually sick of people that I can’t get away from. Though, in Japan it is harder to get sick of them because you need them to help you at almost every turn. On the ride home from Sendai (about 5:50 PM) I felt fine but am about ready to return to America now. Now that I am home I don’t feel as much (mostly because now I am in my comfort zone again) home sick (if that’s what you want to call it).

I have been pondering that home sickness thing since I first arrived in California. I don’t even know why I have not really broke down wanting to go home. I am not that strong of a person but I think that with the help and support from everyone here and all the awesome kids I met at my orientation have kept me going and made everything worth doing. I think I wish I could have been home sick a little more then I have been because then I would know how much I love home, but is being home sick a sign of a strong relationship with your marital life in another place or is a weakness to show just how dependent you are on something you could do without, but are unwilling to. No matter, I have not been for good or bad but that does not change the fact that I love my home, I love my friends, and most of all I love my family. Probably the worst part about being here is I have not had a good hug for weeks (my little sisters hugs don’t count because she is so small). No hugging is a new thing for me (haha).

Well let’s get started with the day, shall we? After finally getting to bed at around 1 or 2 because the kids would just not stop talking and occasionally one of the girls would come over (haha, bad kids). Once, I was getting pretty annoyed (but not angry, I thought it was funny) when one of the girls went to the bed near my feet to one of the guys so I took out my camera and turned the flash on (it was pitch black) and took a picture. I did not even look at what it was until today when I was going threw them, but it was really because they were really startled. At three is I was woken up by one of the two girls that was staring at me yesterday (because of my eyes). She told me she was wasting time. I was really tired but did not want to be rude so I slowly talked to her remarking or making actions to indicate I was tired. Eventually she left and let me sleep but it was pretty funny (and painful because I was so tired). I later found out my teacher (who was in the room next door) heard my voice at 3 AM. Fortunately she did not catch the other voice was a girls because I don’t know how that would have panned out.

Amazingly almost everyone got up over an hour before wake up time (7 o’clock was official wake up time). We did not have anything planned until 8 (breakfast) but they still got up really early (with little sleep too). That is much unlike any camp out or camp thing I have been to like this. Everyone is passed out and does not want to get. Anyways when I finally got up I found everyone already dressed. Most of them were doing their hair and makeup in the next hour (guys do their hair too here (though, somehow it does not just turn into fuzz because it was super humid today)). I had plenty of time to pack up my one backpack and go down for breakfast.

Today was scrambled eggs, rice, some sort of meet in a sauce, miso soup (watery, salty, and little substance in it (you make it from putting a glob of paste in the bottom and adding a small packet of seaweed and small croutons)), and nato (fermented soybeans). I was worried about the meal only being nato yesterday (I don’t like it) so I bought a bread, but I ended up not eating it because I was full by the time I had eaten the rest of the stuff on my plate. I ended up eating that later right before we got to Sendai so I would not be to hungry. I did eat my nato for breakfast, mixed in rice with a sauce, but I was just as bad as I remembered it from my previous encounters. Everyone was impressed that I could eat it though (somehow they all love it).

After we cleaned the rooms, bathrooms, and cooking equipment (kitchen, eating room, and the mess outside from yesterday) we headed out on the bus. The two representatives from the lodge bowed to the bus as we drove away (formal Japanese). It was interesting.

After a few wrong turns we finally arrived at a temple on a small island fifty or so feet out. To get there you had to cross over these bridges that had holes about six inches wide between the beams, but there were planks of wood on two sides so you could have a solid surface to walk on. The little islands that went out to the larger one (not big at all) were all about 15 feet up from the water (they had obviously been carved out from erosion) so it would have sucked if you had fallen over the foot tall railings on either side (the water down below was full of jutting up rocks (no fun)). The temple on the last island out was just one square, wooden building with elaborate designs and carvings, but needs a good new finish because it is obviously really old. I wonder how much longer it will even be there. We then had 30 minutes of free time so a couple of us walked together to a temple inland some more. To get inside the grounds you had to walk down the street with nice shops on either side. At the end of the street was a large gateway leading to a Forest of trees that were all tall but had no branches or anything until they were very tall. All small vegetation had been removed, leaving just moss. From down the street this looked like a gate that teleports you somewhere perfect and far away. When you entered you turned right and walked next to the stone face of a hill. Monks had carved into the stone leaving rooms (only they were missing a wall). Some of them had strange carvings and others had Kanji (Chinese characters) on them. In front of each was a stone statue (somewhat recent (within 50 years) looking) of holy figures. Soon after we shopped a little bit and headed out on our bus.

On the bus ride to Sendai it took us about an hour to go less then ¼ of a mile because there was some parking lot ahead that had one entrance or something and people were waiting for spots (only that backed up traffic for a LONG time because they were in the street). Whoever designed that was the stupidest person ever. It would have taken longer but a bus in the only other lane (going the other way (it was very busy the entire time) stopped and let a ton of cars threw. Our bus driver gave him three large honks on the horn to say thank you. I would have thought it was angry or something but apparently not. Whoever that other bus driver was deserves a medal.

The remaining bus ride to Sendai was okay. Nothing exciting happened really. When we arrived to the downtown part of Sendai, we loaded off and were given five dollars to get lunch (so basically it was a five dollar off coupon because food is expensive and you would never be able to find a meal for under five dollars. We were then told to be back at this 7-11 at five o’clock (ya they have 7-11s here). I went with the guys on this because the girls were just going to go buy clothing. After walking for a while threw the Sendai train station (it was rather large) we went to a restaurant on the seventh floor of some building that connected to the center plaza of these buildings (it was a large open are with a huge slew of wide, high rise walkways that connected to all the surrounding buildings with cars bustling about underneath. I had no intrest in in eating there and once they looked at the menu, neither did they. Though to avoid that awkward moment (I think that is why at least) one of the guys bought a desert (it was a five dollar desert (and really small (and the ingredients were easily identifiable as cheap ones))).

We then walked back to the station and ask an employee if there was a sushi shop somewhere in the station. He gave us directions to a corner of a hallway that had three or four of them all right next to each other. The one we chose was not that nicest of them all (slightly aged interior) but was most likely the cheapest. I got the cheapest plate of sushi they had, 8 dollars for about seven sushi and three little roll things. Oh and hot green tea with miso soup on the side. Before you start eating you use these towels that are preweated and placed in plastic wrapping. They are a lot nicer then wet whips in America because they are actually soft. Although today, they were actual washcloths (which was pretty cool. Anyways after eating our sushi we got up to leave when the waitress came out with little cups of sherbert ice cream (because of me of course (yay!)). It was a nice surprise and it made the guys happy too. It was really nice of her and we were sure to thank everyone (the sushi chefs were behind a little sushi bar to our right). Right when we were done paying and about to leave again the waitress lady asked if I was a home stay student and found it really interesting. She then gave us all these plastic fish (flat plastic fish) with the stores name on them. I think they were sharks actually but for some reason one of the eyes on each of them had been drilled out. I laughed to myself because it almost looked like someone had tortured to shark to get information from it. Anyways, it was a nice meal.

I am tired right now so I am going to finish this up with bullets so I can hit the main events but leave out details of nothings

Mall; the mall we went to was dived into sections and floors. The girls floors (yes, floors, because who do you think spends the most money here?) were full of everything cute and trendy. Lots of bright flashy colors in the decorating and in the clothing themselves. Japanese are super trendy people with a mix of new, cute, a touch of old to give it the tinge we now call trendy. Anything sparkly is good. Anything with cute animated animals is good too. It is hard to explain, but lets leave it at they are like American girls when it comes to wasting money, but here, almost everyone has good tastes. The guys floor (single floor) was really interesting (and expensive) because it was darker then all the other floors (more mooded lights and black tilled floors. Very fashionable for a more serious look). They have a lot of cloths we would call punk but they are not crazy weirdo cloths. They are a strange (to me) mix of the trendy old stuff and the new slightly obnoxious strange colors in the middle of clothing that you would not expect. Japanese guys have a lot of layers to their cloths (like girls) with a minimum of a t-shirt and something on top (weather that be a jacket, a button down, a whatever). The only guy’s store I recognized was Tommy Hilfiger (the only girls store I recognized was juicy (the people that sell girls sweat pants with words like sexy on their asses)). In Japan it is a lot more expensive and a lot more, uh, goth.

Arcade; four parts. One, the claw machines! These are a waste of money because they cost a dollar for each play and the items inside are usually worth less then a dollar. The stuffed animals are not going anywhere either. One of the guys wasted four dollars on one trying to get a pillow thing. I kept telling him it would not work but he didn’t listen. Even if you attach it well, it just released when any weight is put on the claws themselves. Oh well, he wasted his money, not me. Second part, the actual arcade. They have DDR, hand DDR games (one that I saw had like nine buttons, and this kid was playing it in insane speeds). They have shoot um games (with the point and shoot guns). The two most interesting are the taiko drums (you hit the drum when it comes up on the screen (this game is in PsPs, cell phones, DSs’, and I am sure many others (guess they like it (I will admit, it is cute)))). The other interesting one is a DJ game. You have a ton of buttons, sliders, and two turntables. It is the rock band of Japan (though they have rock band too). Some kids are insanely good at this also. The third part is the push the coin machines, slot machines, and pachinko. I have talked about them before so I won’t get into details, but this is so totally gambling (but kids can do it here). Forth is purikura. Read the next section.

Purikura; almost as addicting to Japanese as pachinko (that game ruins lives apparently). All arcades have these things and as long as people go to the arcade there is bound to be full machines at all times. Girls (and guys I am sure) are amazing at these things. So to start, it is a photo booth, but 10x as awesome. There is a green screen in the back that you can turn into just about anything (although my shirt was blending in because it was the same green (haha)). Once you have taken your six pictures you go to one of two stations for each machine. The station has a touch monitor and two pens. You get to customise you pictures (adding lettering and stuff (also intense when a Japanese girl (or guy) does it). It is just a lot of fun to watch them decorate them. They made them really cute with lots of hearts (they love hearts). Once you are all finished with that you finish and get to vote on pictures you think are the cutest for 30 seconds. Then it prints out you pictures for you (you can choose what type of print you want, they choose a little sheet that had all of the pictures printed 6 times really small so everyone could have one). Oh I almost forgot, it cost four dollars to do each one (which is fun while it lasts, but four dollars for a little sheet of pictures?).

Electronics store; These are intense in Japan (and expensive).The first section stop was cellphones. Japanese cell phones are awesome and they have a ton of verities. They had four companies cellphones at this store. The replica phones they have are not attached to a string or anything. They are really cool because they look and feel so real. They have actually running phones of each type attached to strings but I could not read the Japanese on the screens so I did not even bother. Lets just say their cellphones are AWSOME! (some are really super small, others are super advanced, others are somewhat boring but still have 5.2 mega pixel cameras). The only other section I want to comment about is the TV section. These are super advanced, high quality, and THIN! I think we have thin TVs in America now, but in Japan there are more varieties. Though, these TVs are really expensive. I saw one 65″ Tv for 12,000 dollars (or really probably 13,000 dollars). These are intense. Right next to the Tvs were a section of mix tables. I found that intresting (So I added it even though I said I wanted to talk about just one more section).

Arrived to school; My host mother had been waiting for about 30 minutes so I appoligized a ton becuase I felt bad (left her cellphone number at home). When everyone had gotten out of the bus I had to give a thank you speech. I said something about I leave soon (becuase my teacher had just given them all the date I left) and I was sad. This was my summer vacation but I could not have thought of a better way to spend it. Thank you all for an awsome weekend. I had a lot of fun becuase you are all fun, and intresting (said joking again). Kumpai! (cheers (as a joke refering to last night)).

Home; we started supper right when I arrived. It was noodles, letuce, hourse meat (intresing, I didn’t like it to much (I said to my host father, horses are friends, not food (he laughed)). After supper I got a desert thing that my host father’s mother’s sister had brought today when they came to visit her in the hosbitle. They had wanted to meet me but had to leave becuase the rain was bad (or so Yukiko said (who is afraid to drive in the rain? (it was not even bad rain))). Anyways, I then showed my host mom and little sister pictures and printed some off of a printer my host mother brought home. It is sitting next to me alone now so I think I am going to print some more so it is surprising. I don’t she suspects any of this is for her. If she does she isn’t showing it at all.

07-18-09

I sit here on a bus full of chillaxing peoples typing this at around 5:50 PM but I simply do not see a time for me to fully write this later because I am already tired and we are not going to bed until about 12. Don’t get at me anyone for not being social on a bus ride, for I have been all day but most everyone is sleeping anyways or listening to their own music, so shh.

So lets start with the morning. I was woken up at a late 7:40, which at first made me angry and rushed but I brushed it off because there was no point in being angry for I could not change what had already been done and I am leaving in a few days so whats the point. In my rush I did not get to double check what exactly I needed (which I should have done the night before (though I did pack the night before)). Anyways, I had just enough time to get ready and get a ride to school from my host mother.

At school I noticed all the other people had two bags that were all rather large so I instantly knew I had forgotten something. Unforchantly I had removed the one piece of paper that had my mothers cell phone number on it from my backpack this morning because I thought to myself I have not needed it so far so, so I must not need it in the future either (with 5 days left). WRONG! I had forgotten sheets (for the bed at the community center thing (still am not quite sure what it is)) and a towel (which is fine by itself but got even better when a kid gave me a Mr. People and Little Miss towel he had won at the park (he won two). Anyways I guess I am sleeping on top of the dirty sheets tonight but whatever, I will be fine (I have slept in worse (maybe?)).

The bus ride started off fine with me constantly finding myself moving forward into other empty seats at each spot (I don’t know why, but I made the rounds that way). The first stop was about an hour and a half in at a hot spring (like hot water coming out of rocks going into a small stream (not the type you relax in)). There was a geyser there but it was nothing compared to what you would find at Yellowstone. Today was raining (and still is (or actually there is a short break right now, but it has been all day long) so I have not been completely dry all day but to start where things got bad I was at the geyser and I got a little closer (off the path (with some other people)) but I did not know my shoe leaks if you get in more then half an inch of water. That soaked one of my shoes and socks (I hate having wet feet (there is more coming so keep reading!). At they geyser we put eggs in a metal basket and put it into a pool of nearly boiling water. We ate them after (with only the outside layer hard ish). Mine was really hot and nearly dropped it multiple times from almost burning my hands off. Anyways, it was interesting and nice but wet (as I mentioned). About a 5 minute bus ride later we arrived at an onsen (hot spring that you get in) but this was a feet one so the first stop was a skinny (about two feet) but long (12-15 feet or so) that you took off your shoes and put your feet in (sitting on the side with a wooden plank thing under you behind).

In the time I was in this thing (it was very hot) I dropped the other sock into the water (now I have two wet socks (with plenty of re-soaks later (getting there too (but I REALLY hate wet feet, especially on trips where I am not going home that night (this is an overnight trip…))))). I then went with two of the girls to a large pool (not deep though) that was right next door to this thing. It was not as hot but at least it had shelter thing that blocked the rain. In here I nearly got my camera wet (I have nearly dropped it so many times (meaning I am holding it over water and get really scared I am going to drop it (the strap broke on the mountain climbing trip). One of the girls also splashed me so I my clothes were pretty wet (but I am glad I wore these shorts today because they seem to dry nicely (so does my t-shirt (unlike jeans))). I decided not to splash her back though so she would not escalate things (I did not want to be wet).

It was not all that fun of an experience because I was uncomfortable and I was still sick about the forgetting stuff, and they kept stealing my stuff and threatening to drop it in the water (not good). Anyways, on the bus I put my socks near a vent but one of the girls was all like ‘AHHH’ so I had to take them down. It made me angry because she literally had a bag full of half cooked, cracked eggs right in front of her but it was my socks that were smelly. I can understand that she might not want to look at them because the thought of wet socks isn’t one that settles well in peoples stomachs while they are driving on long windy roads, but to say that they smell is stupid. The hot springs we saw today were full of sulfur that smelled horrible but I did not see her cringe once. I folded on this one because I was just so pissed but could not show it. Whatever.

The next stop was the amusement park about an hour away. In that time the rain had increased and it was just not nice weather. The ticket to enter was 15 dollars (part of the 30 we already paid) but totally not worth it because it was not fun at all (most of the rides were closed (like go-carts) and it was miserably raining the entire time. Apparently they do this trip every year for the foreign exchange students but right now I really wish we could have just gone to an onsen (the type you get in) and then shopping the next day because they would have actually been fun and relaxing.

At the park we road the rollercoasters a few time (getting wet each time (but at least they were somewhat worth getting wet)). After a little while I went with two girls to a ‘mystery house’ which cost an extra 3 dollars, but that should mean it is at least okay right? WRONG! It was horrible and stupid and worst horror house I have ever been in. It didn’t even have fun flashing lights. It had really slow and noisy (you could hear the hydraulics)) moving ‘monsters’ and ugly people behind a fence that marked the walkway. For example one of the little sections was an ugly person with big teeth that slowly sat up in bed (painfully slowly) and then a baby (or at least an doll with vampire teeth (it was not well put together)) shook violently back and forth in a small crib on the ground (you could see the hingies where it was pivoting) then it laid down and the lights turned off in the section. Seriously? Ohhh, scary! Not. The only plus side was it was not outside in the rain.

The ferris wheel was nice because it was all enclosed and since no one was here (virtually) we road it twice in a row. We did that a few times for rollercoasters too because we had nothing better to do. After that we headed to the main section (a little valley part with the small rides) and road the tea cups. Japanese tea cups are intense because the centerpiece does not move so you can spin it make you spin faster. I did it twice and was feeling pretty sick after that. We then headed to the rocking boat (same as in the states) and the balloon (spinning balloons). The last small ride we did was a ‘Space Adventure’ ride where you got onto a little ‘Space Adventure Ship’ and it spin around with a lever on it that let you go up and down. Ours was rather slow on the uptake but it went down nice and fast. These were a lot cooler then the dragons at Adventure Land (the amusement park near my home) because they actually worked and they had a button that made blaster sounds (they had little blasters on the front, but they didn’t light up like I think they are meant to do) AND they also spun around if you turned the wheel so you could shoot at both the people in front of you and the ones behind you. All while we were doing this we were getting really wet, but it was fun at least (this was the fun part of the day).

As the last ride of the day we went on a little ‘Rocket Coaster’ that went around the entire park. You had a ‘Ship’ with four seats with the driver in the front left that had a break and a gas. These were lame because they were on a track, so even if though you could stop it, you could not move anywhere. The fun part was stopping and having the car behind me (I was in my own with all three girls and my teacher in the one behind me (yelling at me saying I was a bad driver (it was funny))) hitting me constantly because they were tailgating me so I would slam on the breaks and run into them.

We all headed out then and loaded back onto the bus. Our next stop was a large grocery store with some shops boarding it. One of the boarding shops (in the strip mall) was a 100 Yen store so that was my first stop. I found nothing of interesting (in my 3 or 4 minutes there (it was a small one)) but on my walk back to the grocery store I saw a box outside a store with Crookes (or the equivalent) in it for three dollars. I was really annoyed by my shoes right now so I decided to just solve the problem for the rest of my stay instead of buying new socks that would just get wet instantly. At this time I had really wished I had not gone to the ‘House of Mystery’ and just wasted my three dollars on these shoes. I have a grand total of 27 dollars left (really Yen, but they are pretty equivalent). I was going to buy a box of food for my family, but I am really sorry, they are expensive, not that great, take up a lot of room, and I need all the money I have (except for the 10 for my mom’s shirt that I NEED to get). I have some candy for the trip to Anderson’s lake house that we can eat instead. I am sorry guys but I just can’t.

After that I went to the grocery store and bought a one dollar bread (because it was the delicious one I had eaten yesterday (the eggy one) and because tomorrow is rice and nato (fermented soybeans) for breakfast. I found out later there is meat also, but no one told me so whatever, now I have a bread. I also bought a coke zero (even though it was 50 cents more then Pepsi NEX, it was the only cold one). Though I also found out she bought one for supper tonight already. At Least now this is all mine and I don’t have to worry about being a hog.

I am not typing at night while everyone is in the sink room brushing their teeth. We arrived at a nice lodge with a lot of rooms with some bunk beds and a large loft that looks out onto the hallway. There is two toilet rooms, one sink room, and a shower/big bath room. The kitchen is connected to a room with giant slabs of wood and stumps as chairs all polished with a nice cherry finish. The lodge is nice and cosy but also well constructed and some cool arcituture. Though it is annoying to have to go down stairs or up to get almost anywhere, it is really nice place with a cool entry way (with the shoe taking off area of course). The bathroom is in two parts with lockers in one room and  sowers with small stools on the walls in the other with a large tub in the middle against the wall in the back. The water in the big tub was really hot so for a while we were running cold water into it and I was using a shower head from across the room to spray cold water (it was pretty funny). Anyways, once we arrived we went out and started supper outside. They called it a barbeque but I think of it more as hotplate meat dishes and noodles. You ate by placing met on a flat metal plate with oil on it and let it cook (they were thin slices). When it was ready, you flipped it and then eventually put it in your bowel (that had a sauce in it) and ate it. I have had this at my house but it was still delicious. Once everyone had eaten we got out the marshmallows.

I forgot to mention, before anyone started I had to give a thank you speech in Japanese ending it with kanpai (cheers). I think I said about today was really fun. I found out just how interesting you all are today (jokingly). There was a lot of rain and everyone is now wet, but it was still fun. Thank you all for coming. Cheers! Then I drank a big swig from my 1.5 liter Coka cola (again, sorry dad that I can’t bring home a food (moms T-shirt (if I can find one (I really hope I can)) is more important).

During supper it was a lot of fun because a lot of the first year girls and third years (which is all there was because no 2nd year students came (except for me of course)) were constantly remarking about everything I do. Even though I thought Japanese didn’t do this, some of them fed me (haha). Anyways it was a lot of fun. Now that I am thinking about it though, there are these two first year girls that during the beginning of the day would not stop staring at me. It was great fun. But ya, good supper.

Soon after supper was bath time. First the guys, then the 3rd year girls, then the 2nd year girls, then male teachers, then Mishina (the only female teacher here (but she decided not to because of the time)). Once everyone was all squeaky clean we were told that fireworks were not going to happen because it was so late but I pointed out to my teacher that we bought so little it would take like five minutes and would be fun so she let the ones that wanted to play with fire. I was lighting most of them because most of the people were to scared to light them. I tried to light one at the same time as my teacher but he did not get out of the way (I was speaking loudly for him to) so it fell over and pretty much exploded right next to him but he is 100% okay. I apologize a million times (it was not my fault, but I felt bad). At Least he didn’t get hurt, that’s all that matters.

After fireworks we talked for a little while and now everyone is chilling in the room. I forgot to mention that the sheet situation is going to be fine, the blankets provided are nice so I will sleep nicely. Anyways, I am going to go make my bead so later!

07-17-09

A long but satisfying day. I got a chance to upload my files and sit back and relax. Anyways, I am now typing this as usual.

It all started with the two wake up calls and then a nice warm shower. Breakfast today was fancy looking with a perfectly formed plot of rice with delicious strands of some sort of seaweed on top. Though once I was finished I remembered my bike was still broken and I needed to get to school somehow so Yukiko toke me with Marin by car.

At school I sulked around for a little while and played some piano before heading to home room. The entire day was extremely uneventful with me spending most of my time in basically off periods because I had no real class to go to (First was computer (uploaded everything), Second Chinese (Studied Japanese), Third was P.E. (did the usual), Forth was math (drew (mom, shh)), Lunch (off period time essentially), Fifth was an official off period, Sixth was biology (but because my teacher was not here today, everyone just did a worksheet in Kanji with their textbooks (which I didn’t have) so I just ended up leaving and playing Piano and lounging around near the drinking fountain because it was really hot today but I found you can stay nice and cool by drinking lots of cold fluids (or eating ice cubes)), After that was homeroom (returning cell phones) and walking home (because I got a ride to school today).

After school I visited my English teacher and she made sure I knew what time to be at school tomorrow. A promptly 8:30, no later. After my lovely walk home (though, I took the normal path home today because it was so hot) I tried to see if the sliding doors were locked (because I assumed the front door was locked again (and in the past I have found them open, thus I did not have to jump threw my window) but they were. When I tried the door it was unlocked and I entered the family room to sit in front of the fan. That is when I found Fuga. I felt really funny after that because I wonder what he was thinking when I was sliding the doors to try to get them open (there is a curtain that you can see out of easily but not into if there is not much light inside). Anyways, he was using the fan so I had to sit on the side of it so I did not disturb his fan usage (even though he has simply taken the fan before when I was using it (I don’t think he likes having me here very much when it inconveniences him in anyways (pretty much anything I do that does not get in his was he is fine with, but anything else makes him upset))). After I changed I went to the store near our house, walking. In the store I spent slightly more time then yesterday but still only spent about four dollars (a little high but read on to find out what).

I bought four breads and one 1.5 Liter Pepsi NEX because it was 50 cents cheaper then Coca Cola Zero (they are crazy because literally day they change (almost like the stock market, but these ones actually go up). Three of the breads were on sale in the day old bin for 50 cents a piece (Regularly from 106 Yen (cents) to 156 Yen (equivalent of cents). The last bread was a harmless looking hard loaf of bread (the first I had seen in Japan) so I wanted to try it, but when I got home I realized it was filled with a jelly similar to the stuff you find in those cream filled white powered donuts (that never really taste that good, but you eat it all anyways). Though, with the perfect hard bread it made for a delicious treat. The other breads were a little simpler. One was a super small chocolate loaf (about an inch and a half wide, two and a half long, and 2/3 inches thick. Another looked like a thanksgiving horn but filled with a chocolate jelly instead of plastic fruits (haha). The last was a really heavy cake but not filled with anything. It is the most difficult to describe because I have never had anything like it. The top was a smooth, slightly oily (like from an egg) with a blotch of white batter in the middle. It was an odd texture that I found myself creasing with my finger (and I do NOT mean that sexually, it was just really odd feeling). The interior was similarly odd but tasted like a mix between vanilla cake and flan (an egg and surgery dish (google it)). I believe the majority of what I was tasting was eggy but I am still not sure. I have a picture (smiley face).

At home I sat down with my treats (except my soda, I put that in the fridge and took out my old bottle) and ate and drank them while I watch a movie in the really hot family room (windows closed all day and it gets hit by the sun a lot in the morning (plus, Fuga was hogging the fan)). It was a movie called what doesn’t kill you and I would call it depressing but at least the main character got out of his bad drug and crime habits because of the ones he loved. Anyways, right about the time it finished (6:40ish) my family came home and we had supper soon after that. Though, I was able to eat tonight without feeling like I was going to explode.

My father is now sitting at the table drinking and eating slowly (he is always the last to finish but never does not have a drink in hand (especially on Friday nights)). Though that is not unusual in Japan. It is almost as if drinking is a requirement to be a Japanese father. I feel bad for them though because their everything (beer, fruits, food in general) is so expensive!

Anyways Fuga is playing his boring video game (which I don’t know if it is possible to win because he plays it so much but still has not finished it) and Ryu sulks around because he is tired. At school it is really funny to see Ryu because he always remarks when he sees me ‘Oh, Jay!’ with eyes wide open and a big smile (something you don’t often see at home). He is kinda weird but really entertaining at school (smiley face).

Well I am going to go track Yukiko down because I need to figure out details about tomorrow. Oh, and Grant, if you read this, the answer is 42. Night everyone!

07-16-09

I have never done this before (or even read one for that matter), but I am going to try to recap the baseball game today in my announcer voice.

The mizasawa, well they don’t have a mascot (I think), something or another’s started off strong with a four round stale mate, zero to zero. Though in the fifth inning (is that what they are called?) their luck turned for the worse. With the bases loaded, except first, the odds seemed out of their favor but somehow the brave pitcher, number 1 in fact, was able to get two strikes and three base hits (I don’t know what they are called when the batter doesn’t hit, but on the scoreboard it was marked with a B) and two strikes already. For this nerve pumping pitch it was hard to pay attention to the cheering crowds, for time slowed to watch this ball delicately fly free from his hand towards the batter. It seemed the pressure of this nerve racking pitch caused the pitcher to let go of the ball to lat for it went ricoshaying straight down for the grown in front of the batter and ricoshayed up into his face, giving him a free base. Now, the bases were fully loaded and ready to go. When the next batter came up to the plate everyone was still in shock from the outcome of the last pitch and did not expect the near home run produced from the swift swing from number 22. It went flying straight threw the defences and fumbled in the outfield giving his teammates a grand total of four home runs in one batting.

Pretty much after that it was all downhill with the end score being 9 to 0. It did look promising at the beginning but eventually just dragged on and on until they had to call the game to an end because it was going much over time and we had to get back to the school. Anyways, I will now explain my experience with Japanese baseball games.

To start things off, they love sports. Some kids, like me, could care less, but when it comes to the good old American ball game adopted as their own, there is no slacking in constant encouragement and cheering for players. In fact, the kids behind me were very enthusiastic and used their cones right in my ears the entire game to scream as loud as they could the cheers. That’s right, the cheers. Who needs cheerleaders if you have an entire stand shouting in unison (/singing) with heavy rhythmic beats from shouting cones (don’t know their name) bashing into hands in unison (which sucks, because it never ends and hurts a lot (I made it look like I was hitting hard, but not really (hehe))). When we were walking up to the stadium, it almost sounded like a parade was going on because the drums and brass instruments playing with the singing was overwhelming loud even all the way from the parking lot (it was pretty far away too).

The stadium was in a different place today. This field was much larger and we actually got to sit here. We first arrived at a school that was about four stories tall in the main part and six or seven in what looked like a tower with a gym at the top. This school was massive and new looking. Right next to the school (or all around it really) there was a beautiful park with a track field, baseball field, plenty of well groomed trees, statues, and fountains. My favorite part was when we left I saw a public gym that was massive and brand new (for the architecture was spectacular with beautiful curves and the way the utilized a perfect mix of metal, concrete, and glass to give it a sharp new look was perfect! Kudos to the designer (or designers)). Anyways, the stadium had a wall surrounding it all the way around and large open stands that gave us plenty of room to fit our entire school (everyone filed onto five charger buses and came today (they love sports)).

Before the game and at halftime a group of people with wooden rakes and brooms came out and shuffled the sand around so that it was all fresh looking and ready for the new game. They also repainted (with white powder) the white lines. Every time the sides switched the refs dusted the bases too (I don’t know if they do that in America). Before anything even started the two teams did the routine (I think) ceremony of running at each other and stopping in perfectly straight lines and bowing to the other team and refs. Everything about sports is very formal and ceremonially done.

Throughout the game there was the constant cheering back and forth from the teams with occasional overlaps of both teams cheering at once. They have it set up with girls on one side, boys on the other, with each class together. In the front there is the band (about 8 people) and a group of shouters with the leader that led the cheers by screaming at the top of his lungs into the crowd to lead each cheer. I am sure his voice is sore right now. The two remaining parts consisted of one student (2nd year) in a white, formal, outfit acting as some sort of ceremonial cheering leader (he was the one that led the thank you and fight cheers directed to the other team (almost like an ambassador)) and a student (3rd year) in the back with the flag. The other teams flag bearer was constantly waving it around, but ours just sat there (it was a big flag). Anyways, the cheers were the same practiced in the last two weeks after school lessons. I understood little, but I found it entertaining to sing the English words to We Will Rock You.

After the game we headed home by bus and I continued sharing some photos and music with one of my classmates. We were both pretty tired so we (at least tried to) napped listening to my music. At school it was almost 3:30 so everyone went to their homeroom and picked up their cellphones and headed home., My ride home was uneventful until I was about a block away from home when I noticed my bike was ridding really funny but I could not figure out why the back tire was vibrating funny. It was right in front of the hospital so I finally got off and noticed my back tire was flat! I don’t know how or why, but it was flat. I was an idiot not to have gotten off earlier but, forchenetly, I do not think I damaged the rim. I told my host family but they just kinda shrugged it off, so I don’t know how I am going to get to school tomorrow. There is another bike but it is kinda broken (I think). Anyways, tomorrow I am sure we will figure something out. Oh, tomorrow I get to get up at normal time, but today I got up really early because I thought I had to but when I arrived at school it was almost a ghost town because no one was there. Anyways, it was nice and relaxing because I got to play the piano without putting on the peddle that makes it quite (I don’t like people listening because its not very good (oh, by the way mom and dad I want to play you my songs when I get home though! I have been practicing))).

Also, two things. One, I went to my English teachers room after school and payed my 3000 Yen (30 dollars) for the trip and gave her my permission slip. Though second, I forgot to then get the key to the computer room and upload the blog. I did get on this morning but I did not take my laptop because I only had about twenty minutes and I thought I would get on again after school (so sorry!). My parents do have Internet at the lodge they are at so they can read this while they are away.

Oh ya, I have a little note for my parents:

Mom, I have listened and observed all my classes for over three weeks now and I know how they operate. The ones where I can learn no more (MATH) about anything are the ones I draw in because this a 24 hour job over here and I can’t constantly be hurting my head listening to the word minus. Anyways, don’t tell me what to do on my trip, you did that before I left, and have done it constantly in little side notes while I have been here. I don’t like them because I am independent (obviously) and don’t like other peoples input in things that have no effect on anything and I have already considered my options. Even more so, nothing like that, that you say, ever actually changes the way I acted or will act so why bother making me a little ticked off? Also there was another thing but I forgot what it is right now so ask Reid because I commented on it in the face book message I sent him. Anyways, I am fine and am now going to continue.

When I arrived home with my broken bicycle I had to jump threw my window again, because for the third day in a row the front door was locked. It was hot again so I changed and headed to the store. I spent the smallest amount of time I have ever spent in the store today. I headed over to the breads and found two in the day old bin (discounted (but still delicious)) and then walked to the coffee milk section and found two different drinks about to expire (about 60 cents a piece (in little juice boxes)) that I had wanted to try anyways to eat and drink as a snack. I got an apple pie bread thing that was delicious and a package of four muffins with beautiful swirls of vanilla on top with a coffee center. The drinks I got were a chocolate (essentially) milk and milk with coffee. What better thing to drink with my coffee muffin then Japanese coffee milk. It is more of an espresso flavor then coffee though because it is so creamed out. Anyways, I felt very fat after the snacks, but regardless they were splendid. They made me happy (smiley face).

Until about 6:30 when my family got home I watched a movie (I can’t tell if it was a documentary or not) called ‘The Girlfriend Experience’. It was relaxing and interesting, but sad like Benjamin Button (though, not so good). Anyways, once their were home I ate a small supper and shared the last two muffins with my family as desert because I was so full. After dinner we got a letter from YFU so we opened it and there was an English copy for me to read. It talked about packing and my schedule for my return to America, with my bullet train tickets inside. It was depressing to get but I don’t know if depressing is the right word for it. I don’t even know how I feel about this yet. Anyways, it does not change the fact that by this time next week I will be on an airplane headed home (Should be my flight overseas to San Fransisco).

I then started writing this thing because everyone went and did whatever they do this time of night every day leaving me alone in the family room. Anyways I am going to sign off because I am tired. I have been sulking all day due to how tired I was and tomorrow I will need lots of strength to try my hardest. So I now say adieu, to you and you and you.

07-15-09

What a delightful day! I got some mail from family and friends (mostly becuse my mother promted them to, but still!), ate some dilicous food, road my bike around in the nice cloudy weather (that means it was not raining (at the time)) and studied some Japanese (though, very little today). I sit on the couch (which is never in the same spot because I like to mix things up every once in a while) typing away while my little sister pouts because she feels like it. Just a few minutes earlier she was hitting her mother because she doesn’t like it when she talks in English so I told her to be quite and she thought it was funny. After a little while she didn’t want to play the Jay staring game and started to cry. Even after the phone rang she would not be quite so I carried her out of the room so my host mother could talk in peace. I know all little kids are like this but I hate how she takes everything for granted. At supper I shared my apple with her (it was a two dollar apple). Anyways, I still am enjoying my day and the lingering taste of my delicious (large) apple in my mouth.

 

It all started from a rude awaking by the sun, right on time. Followed by a second awaking (not as unpleasant but not wanted either) that led to a shower and breakfast. Forchenetly I had bought those bread stick thingies the day before because breakfast was very small today (as it occasionally is (meaning the main dish (the stuff other then rice) had little left on the plate from where the rest of the family had eaten)). I was very satisfied after my breakfast though. The peace juice that I drank with it was extraordinarily yummy, given that it cost me less then 40 cents. I do not think I will be drinking them in the future though, because not long after drinking it I got a not so great aftertaste that followed by me eating more bread sticks to get the taste out of my mouth.

 

At school, I had Chinese first. I did my usual glance at a page and then look at the next studying technique. This really only works if you study every day religiously (which I don’t). Though I did finally understand a lesson that I had previously not. I am glad I took good notes. Unforchantly the sentence structure I learned to day is utterly useless and I can not even think of a good example to write for you, so lets just say I learned stuff (yay me!). Second period was gym, but I had no desires to play against impossibly difficult teams in sports I do not play so I skipped. That does make me a horrible person but I really hate PE and today was extraordinarily hot. Anyways, no one even noticed so its all good. Third period was also computer class (which gave me enough time to catch up on everything and update the blog).

 

Fourth period was math but I drew instead of listening to him say the word minus 1000 times (they are doing graphs with (x,y) coordinates (I already know how to do it and I hate math (like math, but usually it is in air conditioning so its fine))) because that was the only word in katakana (their alphabet for foreign words) that he used. Anyways, I like drawing so it made the time fly. During lunch I found a little donut in my lunch which made me smile. The little things are awesome. I am so glad I got such a great host mother.

 

At the end of lunch I heard Mishina Sensei saying something to Saki (my classmate) and pretty soon Saki came in and led me to a room where they were having a meeting about the Sendia trip (school trip this weekend (Sendia is a place)). It was really funny how I could pick out my teachers voice all the way down the hall (and its a pretty long hall). I think they made an announcement about it but I really could not understand. All I caught was 18 and 19 (the dates of the trip). Anyways, during the meeting I understood little (little is relative because even when I picked up nouns and verbs (which I did) I did not catch the rest of the sentence so I don’t know the meaning being the words). Though I had already had my teacher explain, in English, the schedule to me the day before.

 

I then had home ed class again today but I did not feel like making my little bag that comes with the apron (to use the extra fabric really) so I just played with the sowing machine because my teacher was not even in the class today (I don’t know where she was).

 

My last period was long homeroom but for some reason we headed upstairs to the movie room and started a movie about Helen Kellner. It was in English so I understood but they all had to read subtitles. We then returned to our class room about forty minutes in and everyone got their cellphones back and headed home. Today I took the normal route home but that was because I just wanted to drop off my backpack and head out again. The front door was locked so I had to jump threw my window again (which is difficult because you have to take your shoes off outside so you don’t get mud on the tatami mats. I have a technique of balancing on the window sill (it is thick (so my fat ass wont break it (don’t worry))) and take off my shoes so I don’t get my socks dirt either.).

 

As soon as I was changed into my play cloths (shorts and a t-shirt) I headed out to go to the mall. It is a peaceful bike ride there because every day I take a slightly different path. My path today took me threw the big park (to a section I had not seen yet) where I found a beautiful fountain and some more nice statues. The park has really wide roads in it but no entrances for cars. I would expect for parades maybe but they are not terribly long either. Oh well, that’s the way it is I guess. At the mall I sampled some weird Japanese gift box’s treats. These little rectangles of sugar are about a dollar a piece and not very tasty, but apparently people like them. The Japanese love boxed food things like this to give as gifts but they are expensive and big, so I don’t know if I will be able to take one home I bought one. Though at the stand were they had some (with the samples) I talked to the sales lady for a little while (mostly about how bad my Japanese was because I felt bad that I did not understand what she said half the time (even though I should have known some of it (I remembered learning the words but just forgot what they were))). She was really nice but it was awkward to walk away because I had nothing more I could say in Japanese and I would not understand anymore of what she said. Anyways, it was nice to talk to her, she was very nice.

 

Anyways, I headed up to the 100 Yen store but did not buy anything after 30 minutes of browsing (I love browsing, its relaxing) and then headed down to the grocery store for a snack. At the store I started with the breads to see which one I wanted to buy, but they all look so good that I could not choose so I decided to mix things up (and save 200 calories) by getting a instant ramen bowl. We have them in the states (where you open it up and pore the packets of gew into the hard pasta, then add hot water (wait a little while) and enjoy) but not in so many varieties of them as there are in Japan. After I finally picked that out (at least 15 minutes of food browsing) I started looking for a drink. After about ten minutes of frustrating searching over the drinks I just got a 1.5 liter bottle of Pepsi NEX so I could have some for later after. I also bought my two dollar apple because all other Japanese fruits were so good I wondered if apples were as well (it was about the same as American apples but I learned later that there is one that cost 5 dollars a piece and that one is really good (ya, not going to waste the money on that). It was somewhere in the ballpark of 4.50 for the entire purchase. I have some money left but it gets depressingly small after I take in account all the things I still have to buy before I leave. 30 for the Sendia trip, 10 (at least) for a family food, another 12 ish to get a t shirt for my mom at the airport (I hope it does not cost more then that) and then about 25 left for spending (which includes a meal during the Sendia trip).

 

Anyways, when I got home I ate my ramen and drank some Pepsi and started watching ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. I am still not finished with the movie but it is pretty good so far. When my family got home they left soon after to go to the hospital. That left my mother making supper, my little sister playing her Nintendo DS, and me watching a movie. At supper I ate alone for a while until Fuga came home and joined me. It was a rice dish with meat (and I think squid (or octopus) mixed in) on top, decoratively arranged. There were other things on the table but I did not have the desire to eat them for I still had an apple waiting for me and I wanted to try nato (fermented soybeans) again tonight. I took a video of my host mother preparing my nato and me eating it. Not great tasting, but after I added ketchup it was fine (who would have thunk it). Apparently the breakfast on the school trip is strictly nato and rice so I need to man up and get used to the taste that so many Japanese love.

 

After my nato encounter I ate some melon (what we call honey dew, but not (it is sweet here)) and my apple. I shared it with my family because it was so big and I like sharing things. A life not lived for others is not worth living (Einstein or something (not that I really believe it, but it makes me feel like a good person from time to time when I do give (ahahahahahah))). Though, I hate how my little sister whined that she wanted a piece (while I was cutting it) and when I gave her one she didn’t say thank you and went right back to whining. Little kids…

 

Anyways that’s where you find me writing this, alone in the family room. I am going to go finish the movie and head to bed. Good night everyone!