It's been almost one week since I arrived in Japan and I have experienced so much already, its crazy to think that I will be here for a whole year. Being an exchange student is very tiring, I must admit. In the best way though! It just takes a lot out of you to learn a new language, make impromptu speeches, and remember a ton of names. I now really understand why exchange is really a hard job. I do love it though!
Since the Monster Bash concert I have participated in many new things that are commonplace here in Japan. For example, purikura.
A typical past time for teenagers is to go take purikura, photos where they enhance your features and you can add backgrounds and stickers. My host sister Hikari invited me to go with her to take some with her and her boyfriend at Youme, an awesome department store in Kanonji. It was really fun! We stood in the both and posed and when we were finished we could add stickers to the pictures and write on them. I look very funny in my opinion, but it was very fun and as they say "when in Japan..." The left side picture below is the result. We also went to the famous sand coin of Kanonji and I got to take some pictures with the beautiful temple next to it! The temples and shrines here are so beautiful and peaceful, I could stay in them forever.
Since the Monster Bash concert I have participated in many new things that are commonplace here in Japan. For example, purikura.
A typical past time for teenagers is to go take purikura, photos where they enhance your features and you can add backgrounds and stickers. My host sister Hikari invited me to go with her to take some with her and her boyfriend at Youme, an awesome department store in Kanonji. It was really fun! We stood in the both and posed and when we were finished we could add stickers to the pictures and write on them. I look very funny in my opinion, but it was very fun and as they say "when in Japan..." The left side picture below is the result. We also went to the famous sand coin of Kanonji and I got to take some pictures with the beautiful temple next to it! The temples and shrines here are so beautiful and peaceful, I could stay in them forever.
Through the time I have spent with my host family, we have learned a lot about each other's cultures and I have had a lot of fun sharing simple things like tortellini and teaching them what puns are. (the first pun they learned is in the photo above.) They have helped already helped me so much with my Japanese, little things like vocabulary and important phrases to prepare me for when school comes in three days.
Speaking of school, I have already made a name for myself at my school! The other day I was able to visit it and meet some of my teachers and classmates. Whilst introducing myself I became so nervous that I said that I was 70 years old instead of 17. They all laughed and I was super embarrassed, but I kept going with my introduction. Two days later at my rotary meeting one of the rotarians came to me and told me that their daughter thought my japanese was good and loved how I said I was seventy. Lesson learned: messing up can be a good thing. Anyway, being known as the 70 year old teen doesn't sound two bad! I kind of hope they turn that into a nickname for me. =)
Probably the most important part of this week was delivering my introduction speech at my host Rotary club. I was so nervous about doing my speech, I was doing the entire thing in Japanese, that I messed up the beginning twice and had to start again. They were very kind though and as I continued I got more confident and finished strong. They said my Japanese was good even though I messed up, which was very kind. Pretty much everyone I have met here has been beyond generous to me here. I am so grateful.
I start school in three days so I have a lot of studying to do, but I plan to blog more later! Until next time, this is Summer the exhaustedly happy exchange student.
Speaking of school, I have already made a name for myself at my school! The other day I was able to visit it and meet some of my teachers and classmates. Whilst introducing myself I became so nervous that I said that I was 70 years old instead of 17. They all laughed and I was super embarrassed, but I kept going with my introduction. Two days later at my rotary meeting one of the rotarians came to me and told me that their daughter thought my japanese was good and loved how I said I was seventy. Lesson learned: messing up can be a good thing. Anyway, being known as the 70 year old teen doesn't sound two bad! I kind of hope they turn that into a nickname for me. =)
Probably the most important part of this week was delivering my introduction speech at my host Rotary club. I was so nervous about doing my speech, I was doing the entire thing in Japanese, that I messed up the beginning twice and had to start again. They were very kind though and as I continued I got more confident and finished strong. They said my Japanese was good even though I messed up, which was very kind. Pretty much everyone I have met here has been beyond generous to me here. I am so grateful.
I start school in three days so I have a lot of studying to do, but I plan to blog more later! Until next time, this is Summer the exhaustedly happy exchange student.