Everyone tells you that exchange flies by really fast, but you don't realize it until you stop and look back. I am having a hard time believing I've already been here a month! So much has happened, I've met so many new people, learned so much more of the language, been to so many beautiful places, and already made so many memories. Every day I love exchange even more. In the words of John Green: " I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend!"
Since my last blog, the main thing I have been doing is school! I've had a couple of difficult days but everyday it gets easier to understand and communicate with my classmates and teachers. Some of them have been especially kind to me by teaching me basic kanji or trying to translating some of the lesson, even when they are not fluent in English! Most of them can't speak any English at all but still manage to help me. Especially my general Japanese teacher. She hasn't said anything in English to me since I arrived and yet everyday in her class she reads the kanji to me so that I can write it down in hiragana and translate it while the others students are reading the textbook. My Japanese history teacher is also very helpful! He speaks a little English, so when he can he tries to explain what he is talking about or just uses very basic Japanese for me to understand. He also change our seating so that I am sitting in between two students who both have pretty good English who can also help me! I am just blown away but how understanding and helpful all of the staff and my classmates are everyday, I am so very lucky.
The next thing that has really been making me happy is badminton club! Everyday we run 2 kilometers and then practice, and though I'm a beginner and not very good, it feels great to exercise and my club mates are awesome! The girls club is only 9 girls, but I like it small. They are teaching me all the techniques and I feel like I've already improved! It also is very nice because we are becoming friends, slowly through our broken communication, and just by having that I feel happier everyday! Friends are hard enough to make in your own language, so I am very glad that my class and club mates are starting to become my friends. Even if it takes a long time.
One thing I would like to mention that I am very proud of, is my slow but steady improving language skills! In the last two weeks I have managed to learn a ton of new vocabulary and even had some decent conversations with strangers in Japanese! Two were adults asking where I came from and about my exchange and one was a child who was sitting next to me at a dance concert. Both were very short conversations, but they were completely in Japanese! I feel very proud. Also I just love talking with kids and this was my first encounter with one since I got here! We talked about how we both liked to dance and I helped him play a game with his hat. It was awesome.
All in all, life in japan just keeps getting better and better! Today I am going to the local mall with my badminton club friends to try Japanese dessert crepes and take purikura. I am very tired from all of tis learning and exercise, but it's a good exhaustion. It's all worth the hard work! Everyday I have here is so special, I am trying to enjoy every second! As I learned in Sado, tea ceremony club, いちの、いちえ。(rough translation: you only have today. Sort of a cooler version of YOLO.)
Until next time, this is Summer: Very tired, but very happy.
Since my last blog, the main thing I have been doing is school! I've had a couple of difficult days but everyday it gets easier to understand and communicate with my classmates and teachers. Some of them have been especially kind to me by teaching me basic kanji or trying to translating some of the lesson, even when they are not fluent in English! Most of them can't speak any English at all but still manage to help me. Especially my general Japanese teacher. She hasn't said anything in English to me since I arrived and yet everyday in her class she reads the kanji to me so that I can write it down in hiragana and translate it while the others students are reading the textbook. My Japanese history teacher is also very helpful! He speaks a little English, so when he can he tries to explain what he is talking about or just uses very basic Japanese for me to understand. He also change our seating so that I am sitting in between two students who both have pretty good English who can also help me! I am just blown away but how understanding and helpful all of the staff and my classmates are everyday, I am so very lucky.
The next thing that has really been making me happy is badminton club! Everyday we run 2 kilometers and then practice, and though I'm a beginner and not very good, it feels great to exercise and my club mates are awesome! The girls club is only 9 girls, but I like it small. They are teaching me all the techniques and I feel like I've already improved! It also is very nice because we are becoming friends, slowly through our broken communication, and just by having that I feel happier everyday! Friends are hard enough to make in your own language, so I am very glad that my class and club mates are starting to become my friends. Even if it takes a long time.
One thing I would like to mention that I am very proud of, is my slow but steady improving language skills! In the last two weeks I have managed to learn a ton of new vocabulary and even had some decent conversations with strangers in Japanese! Two were adults asking where I came from and about my exchange and one was a child who was sitting next to me at a dance concert. Both were very short conversations, but they were completely in Japanese! I feel very proud. Also I just love talking with kids and this was my first encounter with one since I got here! We talked about how we both liked to dance and I helped him play a game with his hat. It was awesome.
All in all, life in japan just keeps getting better and better! Today I am going to the local mall with my badminton club friends to try Japanese dessert crepes and take purikura. I am very tired from all of tis learning and exercise, but it's a good exhaustion. It's all worth the hard work! Everyday I have here is so special, I am trying to enjoy every second! As I learned in Sado, tea ceremony club, いちの、いちえ。(rough translation: you only have today. Sort of a cooler version of YOLO.)
Until next time, this is Summer: Very tired, but very happy.