It's been three months and a week since I left America and came to my beautiful host town of Kanonji. How did that even happen? Three months of two new families, a new school, lifestyle, and all of it has gone past in the blink of an eye! Because I have not blogged in so long I have a lot to cover. So before discussing the present, I must cover the past couple of weeks.
If you keep up with me on facebook, you will know that three weeks ago I embarrassed myself in front of around 2000 people in an interview spoken entirely in Japanese. If not, let me explain. Three weeks prior to the event, one of my English teachers told me that I would be going to Takamatsu for a culture festival at which I was going to be interviewed in Japanese. I knew this would be a great challenge for me, but in a good way. So as she requested, I wrote my answers to the prepared questions and started to study my answers. The day of the event I was informed that my answers were much longer than the exchange students before me and I should have taken this as a hint: SUMMER YOU BIT OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW. But no, my brain said "You got this!". Upon arriving I was extremely surprised to discover that we would have an audience of around 2000 PEOPLE. I was expecting something more like 500, 600 tops! The performances before me included traditional Japanese Koto, an Orchestra, and a student made film. I knew all of my answers by heart, but when I got out there I began to stumble. I almost made it all the way through without any huge mistakes, and then my interviewer asked me a question way too fast. Thus, I gave him the wrong answer. He asked me what I was having trouble with in Japan and I told him where I want to go during my exchange! The audience laughed pretty hard, even harder when I started laughing! Thank god my sense of humor kicked in. I saved myself by saying I was sorry for my mistake and then told him the obvious answer to his question: the language is the hardest part. After that, everything went smoothly! But I will never forget that day and I am very proud that I didn't speak a single word of English for the entire interview.
Next big thing in the last few weeks: OSAKA AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN! As a sort of last hurrah with my first host family and a great reason to hang out with my host sister, my host parents got us fast pass tickets to the Universal Studios Theme park in Osaka. Which just so happened to have opened a Harry Potter section of the park this summer. (If you don't know I am a huge HP fan!) So for two days my host family went sighting seeing in Osaka and at USJ. It was fantastic! The frustrating there I got to go to Osaka's castle, which was amazing, and try some of the city's famous takoyaki (octopus dumplings, surprisingly delicious!).
Day two we were off to USJ! Sadly it was raining the whole day but it wasn't too bad. We went on so many rides!! Spider-Man, back to the future, two Harry Potter rides, a ride that took you throughout space, Jurassic park, and, best of all, the Hollywood dream roller coaster. It's the parks biggest and most popular ride! I don't think I have ever been so scared in my entire life! Although I think there's something bonding about fearing for you life with your host family. Overall, it was a fantastic trip and I am so lucky I was able to go!
Another great trip I made recently was to kochi. Technically it was two trips to different parts of the prefecture, but both were amazing! The first was with a rotarian from my club, his wife, and a friend of theirs to a famous area for its autumn leaves. We missed the best week but it was still gorgeous. There were still many gorgeous red and gold trees. It was about a two hour drive so I got to practice a lot of my Japanese! It felt amazing to be able to talk about my state, family, and other things about my life in the US using Japanese.
Second trip: I spent the day with Kochi's exchange student from California! We went to the mall (got very lost on the way there) and talked about our lives as exchange students. It felt great to have someone to talk to who is currently going through the same things I am!
(Saving school-life details for next blog)
This week I moved to my second host family and though I was very excited, I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I have been so lucky to live with the Fujimura family, they are so kind and we've had so much fun together! I've loved practicing my language with them, helping them with their English, going to Osaka and other places with them, and riding my bike to and from their house to school. I could not have asked for a better first host family! I am only living ten minutes away, so I know we will be able to visit very often but still, I am moving on to a new chapter of my life in Japan. Which is a little terrifying. In a good way of course.
Because I took so long to write this, it's a lot to cover. So I will write another blog very soon to cover the most recent events of moving, getting to know a new part of kanonji, and karaoke with my classmates. I apologize for the lateness, but now I can get back on track! Until next time, this is Summer: I do not like eating squid. I will explain why next time.
If you keep up with me on facebook, you will know that three weeks ago I embarrassed myself in front of around 2000 people in an interview spoken entirely in Japanese. If not, let me explain. Three weeks prior to the event, one of my English teachers told me that I would be going to Takamatsu for a culture festival at which I was going to be interviewed in Japanese. I knew this would be a great challenge for me, but in a good way. So as she requested, I wrote my answers to the prepared questions and started to study my answers. The day of the event I was informed that my answers were much longer than the exchange students before me and I should have taken this as a hint: SUMMER YOU BIT OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW. But no, my brain said "You got this!". Upon arriving I was extremely surprised to discover that we would have an audience of around 2000 PEOPLE. I was expecting something more like 500, 600 tops! The performances before me included traditional Japanese Koto, an Orchestra, and a student made film. I knew all of my answers by heart, but when I got out there I began to stumble. I almost made it all the way through without any huge mistakes, and then my interviewer asked me a question way too fast. Thus, I gave him the wrong answer. He asked me what I was having trouble with in Japan and I told him where I want to go during my exchange! The audience laughed pretty hard, even harder when I started laughing! Thank god my sense of humor kicked in. I saved myself by saying I was sorry for my mistake and then told him the obvious answer to his question: the language is the hardest part. After that, everything went smoothly! But I will never forget that day and I am very proud that I didn't speak a single word of English for the entire interview.
Next big thing in the last few weeks: OSAKA AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN! As a sort of last hurrah with my first host family and a great reason to hang out with my host sister, my host parents got us fast pass tickets to the Universal Studios Theme park in Osaka. Which just so happened to have opened a Harry Potter section of the park this summer. (If you don't know I am a huge HP fan!) So for two days my host family went sighting seeing in Osaka and at USJ. It was fantastic! The frustrating there I got to go to Osaka's castle, which was amazing, and try some of the city's famous takoyaki (octopus dumplings, surprisingly delicious!).
Day two we were off to USJ! Sadly it was raining the whole day but it wasn't too bad. We went on so many rides!! Spider-Man, back to the future, two Harry Potter rides, a ride that took you throughout space, Jurassic park, and, best of all, the Hollywood dream roller coaster. It's the parks biggest and most popular ride! I don't think I have ever been so scared in my entire life! Although I think there's something bonding about fearing for you life with your host family. Overall, it was a fantastic trip and I am so lucky I was able to go!
Another great trip I made recently was to kochi. Technically it was two trips to different parts of the prefecture, but both were amazing! The first was with a rotarian from my club, his wife, and a friend of theirs to a famous area for its autumn leaves. We missed the best week but it was still gorgeous. There were still many gorgeous red and gold trees. It was about a two hour drive so I got to practice a lot of my Japanese! It felt amazing to be able to talk about my state, family, and other things about my life in the US using Japanese.
Second trip: I spent the day with Kochi's exchange student from California! We went to the mall (got very lost on the way there) and talked about our lives as exchange students. It felt great to have someone to talk to who is currently going through the same things I am!
(Saving school-life details for next blog)
This week I moved to my second host family and though I was very excited, I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I have been so lucky to live with the Fujimura family, they are so kind and we've had so much fun together! I've loved practicing my language with them, helping them with their English, going to Osaka and other places with them, and riding my bike to and from their house to school. I could not have asked for a better first host family! I am only living ten minutes away, so I know we will be able to visit very often but still, I am moving on to a new chapter of my life in Japan. Which is a little terrifying. In a good way of course.
Because I took so long to write this, it's a lot to cover. So I will write another blog very soon to cover the most recent events of moving, getting to know a new part of kanonji, and karaoke with my classmates. I apologize for the lateness, but now I can get back on track! Until next time, this is Summer: I do not like eating squid. I will explain why next time.