Woke up at 9.30 today. Which is super early for my Host family on a weekend. Especially when there not even doing anything. I whipped out my Vegemite for breakfast, along with some cornflakes because I wasn’t in a rice eating mood. It was good. I’m rather missing Jam. I know you can buy it here so I might go buy myself a Jar. My family doesn’t have things. They usually just have butter on toast or make it into a toasted sandwich.
When I was watching TV I heard my host family behind me having a big discussion. I was trying to listen in. It sounded quite intense. It was over who the owner of the vegemite on the table was and where it had come from. I asked them if they wanted to try. They did. They also liked it. Probably because I showed them how to make vegemite on toast properly. Their first move was going to be Just on plain bread. But that gross. I told them that you have to have the bread toasted and buttered in order for it to be delicious. The only person who didn’t enjoy it was my Host Dad who said it was so-so.
After lunch, in which we had spaghetti bolognaise. My family eats an odd mix of really traditional meals, then they just cook something weird and non-Japanese every now and then. It was good, not as good as back home. But still good. But anyway after lunch me and my host brother walked to Fujisawa station to look for a SD card and headphones for my phone now. I’ve loaded all my music onto my phones card but the music player on my phone doesn’t seem to want to find it. I’ll figure things further tomorrow.
For dinner we had dead fish on a plate. Its actually tasty even though it smells gross. Tonight in my miso soup there was some mushrooms. Im used to finding fungi of sorts in my soup. But these one had a snot like covering over them it was so sick. I used my how to eat disgusting food without wretching trick to eat them. Basically I put in my mouth pop it under my tongue where I can’t taste it. Then either wash it down with a drink or Eat a whole bunch of rice. It works really well. I use it all the time.
Tonight I leave all with some pictures of my new cellphone.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A very long Day
Firstly I haven’t taken taken many photos lately. So I just took one of the “Moo Moo Fanta” I bought today. Its good. Surprisingly. It has like a milky after taste but it’s not gross like I thought it would be. I had to decide between that and orange Juice for some energy sugar. I decided to be adventurous. (lifeinjapan.tumblr.com)
I had school today. We finished at 3.30. Wow. Oh how normal. Anyway I had PE first. It was ok. We were doing fitness tests, probably for statistics because the Japanese love their statistics. Here everyone gets changed in the classroom, yes girls and guys at the same time. No one makes a big deal about it. Because it’s not.
I had biology which I couldn’t understand anything. Two hours of Japanese lessons and two hours of Call class. Which is pretty much listening to English in a computer classroom. It’s not really any different from what you’d imagine a normal English class to be. They do however record the students saying phrases that come onto the screen. Then compare the recording with that of a native speaker. I.e. me. King of the monotone. My Call class has one of the schools ALT’s. He’s lived here as an ALT for 9 years and doesn’t speak a word of Japanese. I thought that was sad. But his English was very well pronounced which is what counts I guess.
after being in the computer room with my call class we moved to a normal classroom to do English self introductions. I really like the people in this class they’re so laid back. I met some chick from Brazil, but I never noticed her cause she looks asian. But once she told me she was Brazillian she looked Brazillian. Weird huh. She was awesome. That class is awesome. Apparantly all there is a part for foreign students (basically anyone not of Japanese blood even if you were born there), I haven’t been invited yet but some Chinese girl asked me and Zoe if we’d received our invitations yet.
At lunch time I went to Angela’s class because their heaps of fun. Especially her friend Oga. He’s so funny. She strives to amuse him everyday because when Oga’s amused it’s very amusing. We fed some of her class mates vegemite. The price of a Jar of vegemite; A few dollars. The look of disgust on their faces; Priceless.
Today I also decided to time myself seeing how long it takes me to get to school. I clocked in at 1hour 50minutes(ish) when I arrived. It’s normally quicker getting home. But today someone popped their clogs by Jumping on the train tracks. It’s very sad but I have to say through the sadness it’s very annoying having both Odakyu Enoshima and Odakyu Odawara lines down. I don’t know how both lines managed to go down. But they did. At Sagami-ono station people were lining up on the stairs to get onto the platform and onto a train. It was crazy. But anyway thanks to this my commute today was probably about 4hours 30minutes total.
During my commute today when Me, Angela and Shouri were walking to the station some old women opened the door to the left and let us in. She then asked lots of questions about us mainly me because I’m white. She was shocked when Angela said she was an exchange student. It was weird because most Japanese would never randomly talk to you like that. Especially the older generations but she was pretty modern. I felt like a good exchange student, talking to the locals and being an ambassador for my country.
I also sorted out my school trips today. The one to Aomori isn’t to September but if you’re going to Aomori you go to Tokyo for your trip. If Malaysia you go to Yokohama. Even though I choose Aomori I somehow ended up going to Yokohama. I need to enquire further.
Tonight I me and my host brothers wrote our Diaries. Rei (10) is writing one too now. He writes in Japanese and I help him translate to English then I we all do our daily speeches in the language that were learning. (them English, Me Japanese).
I had school today. We finished at 3.30. Wow. Oh how normal. Anyway I had PE first. It was ok. We were doing fitness tests, probably for statistics because the Japanese love their statistics. Here everyone gets changed in the classroom, yes girls and guys at the same time. No one makes a big deal about it. Because it’s not.
I had biology which I couldn’t understand anything. Two hours of Japanese lessons and two hours of Call class. Which is pretty much listening to English in a computer classroom. It’s not really any different from what you’d imagine a normal English class to be. They do however record the students saying phrases that come onto the screen. Then compare the recording with that of a native speaker. I.e. me. King of the monotone. My Call class has one of the schools ALT’s. He’s lived here as an ALT for 9 years and doesn’t speak a word of Japanese. I thought that was sad. But his English was very well pronounced which is what counts I guess.
after being in the computer room with my call class we moved to a normal classroom to do English self introductions. I really like the people in this class they’re so laid back. I met some chick from Brazil, but I never noticed her cause she looks asian. But once she told me she was Brazillian she looked Brazillian. Weird huh. She was awesome. That class is awesome. Apparantly all there is a part for foreign students (basically anyone not of Japanese blood even if you were born there), I haven’t been invited yet but some Chinese girl asked me and Zoe if we’d received our invitations yet.
At lunch time I went to Angela’s class because their heaps of fun. Especially her friend Oga. He’s so funny. She strives to amuse him everyday because when Oga’s amused it’s very amusing. We fed some of her class mates vegemite. The price of a Jar of vegemite; A few dollars. The look of disgust on their faces; Priceless.
Today I also decided to time myself seeing how long it takes me to get to school. I clocked in at 1hour 50minutes(ish) when I arrived. It’s normally quicker getting home. But today someone popped their clogs by Jumping on the train tracks. It’s very sad but I have to say through the sadness it’s very annoying having both Odakyu Enoshima and Odakyu Odawara lines down. I don’t know how both lines managed to go down. But they did. At Sagami-ono station people were lining up on the stairs to get onto the platform and onto a train. It was crazy. But anyway thanks to this my commute today was probably about 4hours 30minutes total.
During my commute today when Me, Angela and Shouri were walking to the station some old women opened the door to the left and let us in. She then asked lots of questions about us mainly me because I’m white. She was shocked when Angela said she was an exchange student. It was weird because most Japanese would never randomly talk to you like that. Especially the older generations but she was pretty modern. I felt like a good exchange student, talking to the locals and being an ambassador for my country.
I also sorted out my school trips today. The one to Aomori isn’t to September but if you’re going to Aomori you go to Tokyo for your trip. If Malaysia you go to Yokohama. Even though I choose Aomori I somehow ended up going to Yokohama. I need to enquire further.
Tonight I me and my host brothers wrote our Diaries. Rei (10) is writing one too now. He writes in Japanese and I help him translate to English then I we all do our daily speeches in the language that were learning. (them English, Me Japanese).
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A complaint
School is good. Life is good. I’m happy.
Anyway today was starting to become more of a normal day, we finished at 2.30pm instead of like 1.30pm. Nice to see were working our way up to a full day. I had normal Japanese subjects today. Not that I could understand much at all. I do have Japanese lessons each day which aren’t really very helpful. I’m taught all in Japanese , it’s kind of hard to know what their teaching you when they use what their teaching you to explain what it means. If that makes any sense.
After school I went to Machida again today with Angela to get her adapter for her laptop. It was horrible. We were looking for a store called Yodabashi Camera which her host family had said to go to. We asked for directions several times but couldn’t find it. We know it was somewhere around the JR station. Everytime we go to a point we though we must be close we’d be told “cross the street”, “go up the stairs and left”, “straight ahead and up the escalator” in general just directions that sent us back the way we had come from the last lot of directions. I think she’s going to go with Zoe tomorrow cause Zoe’s pretty much fluent and can understand the “detail” that we probably missed.
But now, I have a bit of a bone to pick at. I whine as one might call it. There has been a bit of a lack of communication from my home room teacher. I still don’t have my text books, I’ve asked about this a few times and I generally get an answer which is like “Just wait a bit, I haven’t organised it yet” except he makes it sound really polite. I know Zoe got her books on the second day of school or so. Also my biggest complaint to date is the lack of communication on the school trip. I was handed a bunch of forms I can’t really read and told we’re going to Yokohama. I assumed it was just a day trip. Because NO ONE mentioned it was part of the big trips to Aomorie/Malaysia. So now I have to get onto JFIE and everything, I’ll talk to them about that tomorrow as I’m meeting with them at Zengyo station at 6 O’clock. I hope I can go, my host mum already signed the permission slip and I’m just slightly disappointed at the communication lack as I have no Idea on who to pay or anything. If I miss the trip due to this lack of communication I will be very disappointed with my homeroom teacher. It doesn’t take but 5minutes to tell me. It’s not that I’m unable to understand. I just can’t hear when your talking at a million miles an hour and there’s a class for of people talking at max volume. Which is fine.
All I ask for is 5minutes of your time.
Anyway today was starting to become more of a normal day, we finished at 2.30pm instead of like 1.30pm. Nice to see were working our way up to a full day. I had normal Japanese subjects today. Not that I could understand much at all. I do have Japanese lessons each day which aren’t really very helpful. I’m taught all in Japanese , it’s kind of hard to know what their teaching you when they use what their teaching you to explain what it means. If that makes any sense.
After school I went to Machida again today with Angela to get her adapter for her laptop. It was horrible. We were looking for a store called Yodabashi Camera which her host family had said to go to. We asked for directions several times but couldn’t find it. We know it was somewhere around the JR station. Everytime we go to a point we though we must be close we’d be told “cross the street”, “go up the stairs and left”, “straight ahead and up the escalator” in general just directions that sent us back the way we had come from the last lot of directions. I think she’s going to go with Zoe tomorrow cause Zoe’s pretty much fluent and can understand the “detail” that we probably missed.
But now, I have a bit of a bone to pick at. I whine as one might call it. There has been a bit of a lack of communication from my home room teacher. I still don’t have my text books, I’ve asked about this a few times and I generally get an answer which is like “Just wait a bit, I haven’t organised it yet” except he makes it sound really polite. I know Zoe got her books on the second day of school or so. Also my biggest complaint to date is the lack of communication on the school trip. I was handed a bunch of forms I can’t really read and told we’re going to Yokohama. I assumed it was just a day trip. Because NO ONE mentioned it was part of the big trips to Aomorie/Malaysia. So now I have to get onto JFIE and everything, I’ll talk to them about that tomorrow as I’m meeting with them at Zengyo station at 6 O’clock. I hope I can go, my host mum already signed the permission slip and I’m just slightly disappointed at the communication lack as I have no Idea on who to pay or anything. If I miss the trip due to this lack of communication I will be very disappointed with my homeroom teacher. It doesn’t take but 5minutes to tell me. It’s not that I’m unable to understand. I just can’t hear when your talking at a million miles an hour and there’s a class for of people talking at max volume. Which is fine.
All I ask for is 5minutes of your time.
Monday, April 12, 2010
FRIENDSHIP
Today was school, finnally I actually went to a class. A class that I can actually succeed in. Korean. I was super proud of my self finishing my work faster than all the Japanese students. The teacher was even surprised. Probably because she doesn’t know that I have a prior knowledge of Korean. She was surprised at how “good my Japanese was for only being here for like 2weeks”. I was surprised for how much I understood coming from her. I think I’ll try very hard in this class and try to get a pass. It’ll probably be difficult. But I’m determined.
At school I had my first Japanese lesson in the library, I asked some girl what class it was in because I couldn’t read the kanji for it. She walked with me to the library. Even though I knew where it was I was gratefull for her kindness.
Lunchtime was amazing because finnaly I feel like I’m beginning to make Japanese friends. I was “told” by one girl to move my desk in and Join them. Even though communication was slightly lacking It was a good time. I pretty much got fed a second lunch by them. I was happy. I’m looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow.
After school finished, at 1.30. It’s been finishing at 1.30 every day since I started. I don’t know whether this is always the case or not. I’m going to ask tomorrow. Anyway Angela came into my class room as I was getting ready to leave and asked me to come to Machida with her because she has to buy an adapter for her laptop and withdraw some money (mainly figure out how to withdraw before her finances run out). Her card didn’t work anywhere. She has a whole bunch of apology notes from the ATM’s. When we found a bank that did take her Mastercard it was declined or something. It said to call Visa and sort it out. After the card shinanagens I got chicken. Because I was having wild pregnant women type cravings for it. I went to KFC first but its REALLY exspensive here. Like 2000-3000yen for a 6pack of chicken which is like $30-$45NZ. I went to a 7/11 and got a 130yen piece of chicken which was good. We also shared a crepe it was also good.
At Machida station I experienced real rush hour even though it wasn’t quite yet rush hour. People (including me) were pushing to get inside my train. I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to get out at my stop but I managed. When I changed trains I sat by some guy who kept passing gas and I was really disgusted. I was hoping people wouldn’t think its me.
I got home around 5, which is still earlier than most other people get home. I had a nap, ate some lollies, had a super hot bath which I needed after todays cold weather. Then just bummed round the house a bit. Had dinner and now here I am. Writing. I wonder what I’ll think when I’m older and look back on this time here.
At school I had my first Japanese lesson in the library, I asked some girl what class it was in because I couldn’t read the kanji for it. She walked with me to the library. Even though I knew where it was I was gratefull for her kindness.
Lunchtime was amazing because finnaly I feel like I’m beginning to make Japanese friends. I was “told” by one girl to move my desk in and Join them. Even though communication was slightly lacking It was a good time. I pretty much got fed a second lunch by them. I was happy. I’m looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow.
After school finished, at 1.30. It’s been finishing at 1.30 every day since I started. I don’t know whether this is always the case or not. I’m going to ask tomorrow. Anyway Angela came into my class room as I was getting ready to leave and asked me to come to Machida with her because she has to buy an adapter for her laptop and withdraw some money (mainly figure out how to withdraw before her finances run out). Her card didn’t work anywhere. She has a whole bunch of apology notes from the ATM’s. When we found a bank that did take her Mastercard it was declined or something. It said to call Visa and sort it out. After the card shinanagens I got chicken. Because I was having wild pregnant women type cravings for it. I went to KFC first but its REALLY exspensive here. Like 2000-3000yen for a 6pack of chicken which is like $30-$45NZ. I went to a 7/11 and got a 130yen piece of chicken which was good. We also shared a crepe it was also good.
At Machida station I experienced real rush hour even though it wasn’t quite yet rush hour. People (including me) were pushing to get inside my train. I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to get out at my stop but I managed. When I changed trains I sat by some guy who kept passing gas and I was really disgusted. I was hoping people wouldn’t think its me.
I got home around 5, which is still earlier than most other people get home. I had a nap, ate some lollies, had a super hot bath which I needed after todays cold weather. Then just bummed round the house a bit. Had dinner and now here I am. Writing. I wonder what I’ll think when I’m older and look back on this time here.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Shopping and Shit.
Today I slept in heaps and still remained tired all day. My legs hurt from all my walking. Anyway when I woke up I went to some mall with my host parants I bought an Umbrella, Pencil Case and Clear file. I also looked at mobile phones. Im sad because the ONLY ones that you can get on a Softbank prepaid plan look cheap and tacky. I don’t know why my organisation is so adamant on me using Softbank. I want a nice-ish looking phone. It was what I was going to use my savings for. Can’t have everything.
When we got home I feel asleep on the couch. I woke up with a blanket on me, so I assume it was my host mum. I then helped her make some muffin type things. Because I wasn’t really keen on going past my host brother and his friends because I didn’t have the energy to socialise with a lot of people.
For dinner we had like a fish, Miso and shellfish soup, smoked egg and cheese and a whole heap of other asian type meals. I’m feeling confused on which club to join still. I kinda want to do a sports club but I want to do the other ones to. I might go to the hyaku en ten sometime a buy a dice to help make my decisions.
Tomorrow my host Dads taking me and my host brothers to mount fuji, well some lake by mount fuji. Or that’s what I think I was told. I’m quite excited. But it seems everytime I go somewhere with them the weathers crap and it’s not at its maximum beauty.
When we got home I feel asleep on the couch. I woke up with a blanket on me, so I assume it was my host mum. I then helped her make some muffin type things. Because I wasn’t really keen on going past my host brother and his friends because I didn’t have the energy to socialise with a lot of people.
For dinner we had like a fish, Miso and shellfish soup, smoked egg and cheese and a whole heap of other asian type meals. I’m feeling confused on which club to join still. I kinda want to do a sports club but I want to do the other ones to. I might go to the hyaku en ten sometime a buy a dice to help make my decisions.
Tomorrow my host Dads taking me and my host brothers to mount fuji, well some lake by mount fuji. Or that’s what I think I was told. I’m quite excited. But it seems everytime I go somewhere with them the weathers crap and it’s not at its maximum beauty.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tests
I’m writing this entry the day after cause I was far to exhausted last night. But anyway yesterday was an average day of school. Me and The other exchangers had to sit in the library and do tests while the other kids sat their own ones. School finished early for us so we went out to Machida (Just me and Angela). It took forever to get their because we sat on some bridge for ages cause we were to tired. In Machida we just walked round ate a crepe’ and found some chocolate that actually doesn’t taste like crap.
At school we toddles over to the first grader building and ate lunch over there . we talked to the first graders heaps because they actually want to talk to us. Unlike the second and third graders because they’ve all had exchange students before and they don’t really care. Apparantly my class is going to Yokohama on the 20th Im still kinda confused on what we are actually meant to be doing there. Cuase we just got a Yokoham travel brochure and are picking places to go in our groups. The boys in my group want to go to the pokemon center…
At school we toddles over to the first grader building and ate lunch over there . we talked to the first graders heaps because they actually want to talk to us. Unlike the second and third graders because they’ve all had exchange students before and they don’t really care. Apparantly my class is going to Yokohama on the 20th Im still kinda confused on what we are actually meant to be doing there. Cuase we just got a Yokoham travel brochure and are picking places to go in our groups. The boys in my group want to go to the pokemon center…
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Bukkatsu and The Very Long Walk
Today was my second day of school. The trains are starting to get more crowded even though in the mornings I always catch the 7.02 to either Minamirinkan or Sagamiono to transfer to Sobudaimae. I learnt the art of rushing to transfer trains today. Because I was meeting everyone at Sobudaimae to walk together because we all think the bus is a rip-off/we can’t afford it, I had to do my amazing dash across the station. I was pretty much running and got in right as the doors were closing. It felt kinda like an action movie. Not really. But I’m getting fit here. Now that I’m walking to school I spend roughly 80minutes walking total a day.
In class I have someone I consider a friend, her names Akiko and she’s really nice. She always comes to explain what the teacher said. Because it’s really hard for me to understand because my teacher talks so fast and the class talks so loud. I’m going to ask her tomorrow if she wants to walk to school with us sometime. Back to my misbehaving class, I’m so shocked. Auctually. I never would of thought Japanese were like that. A couple of people even made phone calls during class. Onto another note of how naughty my class is, one of the stricter teachers was in, a kid was eating. She took his food. When she wasn’t looking he took it back and ate it.
Anyway at school it was a half day for my year and the year above but the exchange students had to stay for the bukkatsu (club) orientation. Although not everyone stayed (*COUGH COUGH* angela), I was going to leave to because no one told me about it until time stopped me. Anyway the orientation was kinda pathetic. Afterwards we got to walk round and look at the clubs. I looked round at the art, photography, cooking and English club (because my friend from class asked me to come to it). I also looked at the sports clubs, I’m thinking I wont join one because there all like 7days a week training for hours on end. Surprisingly table tennis club trains the most of any club. I’ll be doing enough physical activity at school anyway ontop of my hours of walking (its pretty much a run half the time). Judo is a compulsory subject at the school. I’m glad I have atleast some knowledge of it. Just on a side note this class made me laugh; Food Decoration Class. Anyway I’m still deliberating on which club to join.
Me and Zoe walked to the station together because Angela left early and tim stayed with the tennis club meeting. Well we didn’t really make it anyway. Some how with what seemed like a 10minute walk we managed to end up ages away. I think we were walking for close to an hour. Mainly because we were constantly stopping to ask people which way to make sure we didn’t get more lost. I called my host mum to let her know that we’d taken a wrong road and would be slightly late. She was fine, probably because Zoe’s pretty much fluent in Japanese so getting directions was easy and Japans pretty safe in general.
Tomorrow me and the other exchange students are to study Japanese in the library while all the Japanese kids are doing exams or something allday.
In class I have someone I consider a friend, her names Akiko and she’s really nice. She always comes to explain what the teacher said. Because it’s really hard for me to understand because my teacher talks so fast and the class talks so loud. I’m going to ask her tomorrow if she wants to walk to school with us sometime. Back to my misbehaving class, I’m so shocked. Auctually. I never would of thought Japanese were like that. A couple of people even made phone calls during class. Onto another note of how naughty my class is, one of the stricter teachers was in, a kid was eating. She took his food. When she wasn’t looking he took it back and ate it.
Anyway at school it was a half day for my year and the year above but the exchange students had to stay for the bukkatsu (club) orientation. Although not everyone stayed (*COUGH COUGH* angela), I was going to leave to because no one told me about it until time stopped me. Anyway the orientation was kinda pathetic. Afterwards we got to walk round and look at the clubs. I looked round at the art, photography, cooking and English club (because my friend from class asked me to come to it). I also looked at the sports clubs, I’m thinking I wont join one because there all like 7days a week training for hours on end. Surprisingly table tennis club trains the most of any club. I’ll be doing enough physical activity at school anyway ontop of my hours of walking (its pretty much a run half the time). Judo is a compulsory subject at the school. I’m glad I have atleast some knowledge of it. Just on a side note this class made me laugh; Food Decoration Class. Anyway I’m still deliberating on which club to join.
Me and Zoe walked to the station together because Angela left early and tim stayed with the tennis club meeting. Well we didn’t really make it anyway. Some how with what seemed like a 10minute walk we managed to end up ages away. I think we were walking for close to an hour. Mainly because we were constantly stopping to ask people which way to make sure we didn’t get more lost. I called my host mum to let her know that we’d taken a wrong road and would be slightly late. She was fine, probably because Zoe’s pretty much fluent in Japanese so getting directions was easy and Japans pretty safe in general.
Tomorrow me and the other exchange students are to study Japanese in the library while all the Japanese kids are doing exams or something allday.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
First Day of Shcool and Machida
Wahhhh, first day of school!!!!!! Out of all the exchange students I was the only one who was early/ontime. Everyone else showed up 10-15minutes later. We sat round in talked in some room we were told to sit in until we were to do our speeches to the teachers. It was actually a lot of fun just getting to know each other. The speeches with the teachers went allright I didn’t make any real errors as far as I know. After that we went to the school hall for an assemblr full of speeches we couldn’t understand, and then our own which I’m pretty sure they couldn’t understand (well mine anyway). After that we were taken to our home rooms. Tim and me are in the classes next to each other while Angela is in another building and Zoe is god knows where. In form class they went on about a lot of stuff that I couldn’t understand. I got worried when they pulled out time table stuff and I didn’t know what was going on. After class I talked to my teacher and he said not to worry and something about next week. I don’t quite know what, but everything will be just fine.
Anyway about my school, I thought it was going to be lax, but this school is.. like the epiphany of laxness. The girls break just about every standard rule that I know of.
-No Makeup (these girls weren’t just wearing light makeup)
-No earings (one girl had her whole ear full of them)
-No hair dye (A lot of them had brown hair, a few had blonde or other coloured streaks)
-No cellphones (half the students were just blatantly using their phones in class and the teacher didn’t care)
Apparantly other classes are much the same, the uniforms worn VERY casually. I excentuate the word VERY. Once again VERY casually. Everyones friendly and I’m sure Im going to have an Amazing time here.
After school finished at about 12.30 me and the other exchange students walked to Sobudaimae station. Its further than my station I usually get off at but within walking distance so I save 200yen not taking the bus versus the 60yen extra it costs to get home from sobudaimae. Anyway when we were their those who didn’t have obentou made for the bought lunch and ate together. We then decided that we were going to hang out for a bit so I called my host mum to check this was ok. We then took the train into outskirty Tokyo area but It was still mall after mall and high rises. Yet only 10minutes from our deserted school area. It was pretty cool. I had the most amazing time with them we all get on so well and we’ve known each other like a day. I know I should be hanging with Japanese students but I don’t know any yet, although we did invite some people from our school to come with us but they were “busy”.
Me and Angela got slightly confused at the train station. Mainly me making sure she was on the right train because she’s only been here four or so days, anyway we all managed to get on the right train home and yeah. It was awesome. I have to decided whether I want to walk with everyone from Sobudaimae Station to School tomorrow, I’ll see how I feel in the morning.
Anyway about my school, I thought it was going to be lax, but this school is.. like the epiphany of laxness. The girls break just about every standard rule that I know of.
-No Makeup (these girls weren’t just wearing light makeup)
-No earings (one girl had her whole ear full of them)
-No hair dye (A lot of them had brown hair, a few had blonde or other coloured streaks)
-No cellphones (half the students were just blatantly using their phones in class and the teacher didn’t care)
Apparantly other classes are much the same, the uniforms worn VERY casually. I excentuate the word VERY. Once again VERY casually. Everyones friendly and I’m sure Im going to have an Amazing time here.
After school finished at about 12.30 me and the other exchange students walked to Sobudaimae station. Its further than my station I usually get off at but within walking distance so I save 200yen not taking the bus versus the 60yen extra it costs to get home from sobudaimae. Anyway when we were their those who didn’t have obentou made for the bought lunch and ate together. We then decided that we were going to hang out for a bit so I called my host mum to check this was ok. We then took the train into outskirty Tokyo area but It was still mall after mall and high rises. Yet only 10minutes from our deserted school area. It was pretty cool. I had the most amazing time with them we all get on so well and we’ve known each other like a day. I know I should be hanging with Japanese students but I don’t know any yet, although we did invite some people from our school to come with us but they were “busy”.
Me and Angela got slightly confused at the train station. Mainly me making sure she was on the right train because she’s only been here four or so days, anyway we all managed to get on the right train home and yeah. It was awesome. I have to decided whether I want to walk with everyone from Sobudaimae Station to School tomorrow, I’ll see how I feel in the morning.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Shcool Tomorrow
So today I did not really a lot that’s of particular wow factor. Anyway I got up, my family were algone except my host mother who left like half an hour later. Heres where they went; Grandmother-Hakone Onsens, Host Dad; Work, Host mum and two brothers; some school ceremonies or something, Other host brother; University.
Any who I used that free time by myself to write my school speeches for tomorrow. Which I’m pretty sure I wrote poorly because it took my host brother forever to fix it all. I think he was being over pedantic though. This is better and so is this but I’m very thankful for his help so people don’t think I’m retarded tomorrow.
My host brother returned round 12o’clock ish with a group of his friends. One of his friends goes to my school, is in the same year as me, and in the class next door to mine (apparently). That was good though because I’ll have one face that I know at school.
I also got my uniform today, everyone was shocked I got it the day after ordering. I was shocked cause they couriered it. I assumed we would have had to pick it up. I realised I don’t know if the school has shoe regulations which I suspect they do. Anyway I’ll just wear my black shoes as they’ll be the most suited if the school uses school shoes. I’m sure they won’t mind on my first day, I’ll just say I don’t have any cause I wasn’t expecting to get my uniform so soon. I could just wear mufti but I want to wear my uniform. I promise I’ll have a picture of me in it tomorrow.
Anyway dinner was just typical Japanese meal, lots of vegetables, miso and rice.
Im getting nervous for school now, hope all goes well.
Just by the way I have to get up at like 6.00am so that’s not to bad I guess.
Any who I used that free time by myself to write my school speeches for tomorrow. Which I’m pretty sure I wrote poorly because it took my host brother forever to fix it all. I think he was being over pedantic though. This is better and so is this but I’m very thankful for his help so people don’t think I’m retarded tomorrow.
My host brother returned round 12o’clock ish with a group of his friends. One of his friends goes to my school, is in the same year as me, and in the class next door to mine (apparently). That was good though because I’ll have one face that I know at school.
I also got my uniform today, everyone was shocked I got it the day after ordering. I was shocked cause they couriered it. I assumed we would have had to pick it up. I realised I don’t know if the school has shoe regulations which I suspect they do. Anyway I’ll just wear my black shoes as they’ll be the most suited if the school uses school shoes. I’m sure they won’t mind on my first day, I’ll just say I don’t have any cause I wasn’t expecting to get my uniform so soon. I could just wear mufti but I want to wear my uniform. I promise I’ll have a picture of me in it tomorrow.
Anyway dinner was just typical Japanese meal, lots of vegetables, miso and rice.
Im getting nervous for school now, hope all goes well.
Just by the way I have to get up at like 6.00am so that’s not to bad I guess.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Uniform, Fish and Calligraphy
Today I woke early so I could go down and get fitted for my uniform. I was pretty exciting. But not the whole paying for it part. Anyway It was allright, a few measurements and trying on some things. It was a bit awkward because my head pretty much stuck out the top of the changing room. Compared to everyone here I am quite tall. Today I realised if I was 5cm taller Id have to duck to get through my bedroom door. At the uniform store they had a lot of other things in the downstairs level, little samurai type shrines for the home and such.
After that we returned home for a quick lunch of instant ramen, we then headed down to the Mr Max Mall for some shopping. Me and my host brother went to look in the pet section of the store we were in for fish tanks. The fish we caught in Kinyo Sukui were all at the top gulping for air in the tiny bowl we put them in. But boy I have to say fish and their aquariams are pretty cheap in Japan. I think my family paid the equivalent to $40NZ for a decent sized tank which came with and air bubble thing. Now heres the thing which really shocked me, you can buy the salt water tropical fish here for less than 2000円 ($30NZ) and like 50 gold fish for some ridiculously cheap price. The clown fish were like $20NZ. It was crazyyy.
For dinner we had a very traditional meal. It was sorta like what we normally have but I just had a fried fish skin and all still on (no guts) and some tofu thing. The fish smelled pretty bad but was actually nice. I still don’t quite like tofu. Just doesn’t make me go yummmmm.
For the rest of the night we all did calligraphy because my host Mum was making some signs for the nyugakushiki (new student ceremony) at my little host brothers school. It was really fun. My host family were all really good especially my host Grandmother. I was crap. To be expected though.
School starts in two days so yay!
After that we returned home for a quick lunch of instant ramen, we then headed down to the Mr Max Mall for some shopping. Me and my host brother went to look in the pet section of the store we were in for fish tanks. The fish we caught in Kinyo Sukui were all at the top gulping for air in the tiny bowl we put them in. But boy I have to say fish and their aquariams are pretty cheap in Japan. I think my family paid the equivalent to $40NZ for a decent sized tank which came with and air bubble thing. Now heres the thing which really shocked me, you can buy the salt water tropical fish here for less than 2000円 ($30NZ) and like 50 gold fish for some ridiculously cheap price. The clown fish were like $20NZ. It was crazyyy.
For dinner we had a very traditional meal. It was sorta like what we normally have but I just had a fried fish skin and all still on (no guts) and some tofu thing. The fish smelled pretty bad but was actually nice. I still don’t quite like tofu. Just doesn’t make me go yummmmm.
For the rest of the night we all did calligraphy because my host Mum was making some signs for the nyugakushiki (new student ceremony) at my little host brothers school. It was really fun. My host family were all really good especially my host Grandmother. I was crap. To be expected though.
School starts in two days so yay!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Soccer Match
Today I woke up like 9.30 ish. I don’t know why that’s relevant. I think it’s just because I know that I woke up around 9.30. Anyway after that I played half an hour of xbox with Rei and Kazunari. Afterwards Kazunari left for his friends house. I then helped my host Mum prepare lunch which was Ramen. It was yummm.
Afterwards I watched some sort of watching clips of people suffering/embarrassing themselves show show. One of the funnier parts was that they had some Martial Arts experts smashing full beer cans with his fist. They had cans which were loaded so in the ended he was struggling to even dent them. It was the same for an American football play who was breaking through sheets of glass until they had one made of thick plastic. It made me laugh.
After watching that I helped my host mother make some of the dishes for dinner, One was a noodle dish and the other was konyatsu. I must say konyatsu it pretty weird looking. I thought it was jelly fish at first. I don’t think I have photos of either. Because my host mum forgot to serve the konyatsu until midway through the meal and my noodles were to the side. For desert I tried mocha for the first time. It was more sweet than I imagined it would be. I wish I’d taken a photo of it. After dinner while I was doing the dishes I got a call from Nigel (my dads best friend who lives here in Japan, pretty close to where I am). Someone else did my dished for me, I was gratefull but I would of done them after the call.
Just to make the order of this entry confusing I’m jumping back to before dinner time. Anyway after talking to Mum and Dad on the phone me and my host mum headed off to the sports taiikukan where my host brother was playing his soccer game. We picked up my host mums friend. Just on a side not while I’m thinking of cars, NO ONE here wears their seatbelt in the backseat. Its so weird. Especially with how crazy the roads are. And no cyclists wear helmets either. When arriving my host mum introduced me to a lot of her friends who were at the sports match. I met my host mums “bad friend” who isn’t actually a bad friend. She was an English teacher so she said it in English I forgot the Japanese word for it. It basically just means a friend who you can do good things with and bad things with. I can’t actually comprehend either of them doing anything overtly wild to be honest.
Throughout the games I was progressively given a variety of lollies by the women in between their what looked to be like typically gossiping. Once the games were over all the mums (and dads) began sweeping the area, It does get kinda dirty cause they play on dirt pitches. Then the coaches dragged these massive brooms over the dirt till it was very smooth dirt. I had my first major attention circle thing at the sports arena. One of my host mums friends was talking to me and got her child to do a self introduction to me, then a whole bunch of mothers gathered round wanting their kids to introduce themselves to me and practice English. Most were too shy.
Anyway another amazing day in the land of Japan
Again if your interested in pictures please visit my other blog.
lifeinjapan.tumblr.com
Afterwards I watched some sort of watching clips of people suffering/embarrassing themselves show show. One of the funnier parts was that they had some Martial Arts experts smashing full beer cans with his fist. They had cans which were loaded so in the ended he was struggling to even dent them. It was the same for an American football play who was breaking through sheets of glass until they had one made of thick plastic. It made me laugh.
After watching that I helped my host mother make some of the dishes for dinner, One was a noodle dish and the other was konyatsu. I must say konyatsu it pretty weird looking. I thought it was jelly fish at first. I don’t think I have photos of either. Because my host mum forgot to serve the konyatsu until midway through the meal and my noodles were to the side. For desert I tried mocha for the first time. It was more sweet than I imagined it would be. I wish I’d taken a photo of it. After dinner while I was doing the dishes I got a call from Nigel (my dads best friend who lives here in Japan, pretty close to where I am). Someone else did my dished for me, I was gratefull but I would of done them after the call.
Just to make the order of this entry confusing I’m jumping back to before dinner time. Anyway after talking to Mum and Dad on the phone me and my host mum headed off to the sports taiikukan where my host brother was playing his soccer game. We picked up my host mums friend. Just on a side not while I’m thinking of cars, NO ONE here wears their seatbelt in the backseat. Its so weird. Especially with how crazy the roads are. And no cyclists wear helmets either. When arriving my host mum introduced me to a lot of her friends who were at the sports match. I met my host mums “bad friend” who isn’t actually a bad friend. She was an English teacher so she said it in English I forgot the Japanese word for it. It basically just means a friend who you can do good things with and bad things with. I can’t actually comprehend either of them doing anything overtly wild to be honest.
Throughout the games I was progressively given a variety of lollies by the women in between their what looked to be like typically gossiping. Once the games were over all the mums (and dads) began sweeping the area, It does get kinda dirty cause they play on dirt pitches. Then the coaches dragged these massive brooms over the dirt till it was very smooth dirt. I had my first major attention circle thing at the sports arena. One of my host mums friends was talking to me and got her child to do a self introduction to me, then a whole bunch of mothers gathered round wanting their kids to introduce themselves to me and practice English. Most were too shy.
Anyway another amazing day in the land of Japan
Again if your interested in pictures please visit my other blog.
lifeinjapan.tumblr.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Endless Xbox and Table Tennis
Today was a pretty normal day, I got up late. My host family often don’t get up to like 10 at the moment, except the adults in the house. Again no photos because there wasn’t really anything to photograph.
For breakfast I had toasted sandwiches fried eggs and some apple that my host Grandmother cut all fancy. After that I proceeded to spend a long time with my younger host brother Rei playing halo 3. We managed to win “normal” difficulty this time. When then took the dog for a walk.
For dinner we had a prawn stirfry, I’m finding a lot of things that I hated in New Zealand I now like. One thing I’m still not particulary fond of is wakame. My host family always puts heaps in their miso, thus I end up with a lot. It’s supposed to be super healthy though so my sufferance will possibly be rewarded. I should say though that its not unbearable, it just not nice.
After dinner I played table tennis with my Host family members who were home. It wasn’t really table tennis. We just put up the mini set that Rei bough from the 100円 store on the table. My host Grandmother and brother (Kazunari) stopped playing after a good 20minutes. Me and Rei played together for a good 30-40 minutes. He’s such a funny child, I was doing the whole “pretend I’m going to hit the ball super hard thing” so he decided he would to. He ended up throwing the bat at me when he went in for his “super hard pretend swing” luckily he missed.
For breakfast I had toasted sandwiches fried eggs and some apple that my host Grandmother cut all fancy. After that I proceeded to spend a long time with my younger host brother Rei playing halo 3. We managed to win “normal” difficulty this time. When then took the dog for a walk.
For dinner we had a prawn stirfry, I’m finding a lot of things that I hated in New Zealand I now like. One thing I’m still not particulary fond of is wakame. My host family always puts heaps in their miso, thus I end up with a lot. It’s supposed to be super healthy though so my sufferance will possibly be rewarded. I should say though that its not unbearable, it just not nice.
After dinner I played table tennis with my Host family members who were home. It wasn’t really table tennis. We just put up the mini set that Rei bough from the 100円 store on the table. My host Grandmother and brother (Kazunari) stopped playing after a good 20minutes. Me and Rei played together for a good 30-40 minutes. He’s such a funny child, I was doing the whole “pretend I’m going to hit the ball super hard thing” so he decided he would to. He ended up throwing the bat at me when he went in for his “super hard pretend swing” luckily he missed.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mr Max mall and Kinyo Sukui
Today I went to the Mr Max mall with my host family. It didn’t look very big. But it was quite deceiving. I bought a school bag today. It was quite exspensive. I wanted something that wouldn’t be to big or a nuisance when trying to squeeze onto the train. My host mum said my line gets really crowded. Mind you, everythings crowded here. We had to wait like 30-40minutes for a table for lunch today, we went to a restaurant called “(some stupid English word) buffet”, It made me laugh also because they call beffet’s Viking (baikingu). I don’t know why.
After lunch my host family took me to try “kinyo sukui” which is scooping fish with the really thin paper nets. People were surprised how well I did. I caught four fish before my net broke. I was only allowed two though. I think you must only be allowed to keep half of what you catch cause my host brothers caught two each and were only able to keep one. The games addictive too. I really wanted to go again. But I’m pretty sure my host family doesn’t want a million goldfish or to wait for hours for me to catch them.
For dinner tonight we had hamburger patties with salad and soup and rice. It was good. Im still not keen on the soup though It has like egg in it and it looks like runny snot and tastes odd. Also tonight my mum and host sister are packing up her things because she’s leaving for university tomorrow. Meaning I’ll get my own room soon. I also opened my school uniform package tonight because I’m going to school tomorrow for an orientation. It didn’t fit and had some items missing, my host mum called JFIE for me and found out it was a JFIE owned uniform so I can see if the school has one in my size, I’m hoping they will.
After lunch my host family took me to try “kinyo sukui” which is scooping fish with the really thin paper nets. People were surprised how well I did. I caught four fish before my net broke. I was only allowed two though. I think you must only be allowed to keep half of what you catch cause my host brothers caught two each and were only able to keep one. The games addictive too. I really wanted to go again. But I’m pretty sure my host family doesn’t want a million goldfish or to wait for hours for me to catch them.
For dinner tonight we had hamburger patties with salad and soup and rice. It was good. Im still not keen on the soup though It has like egg in it and it looks like runny snot and tastes odd. Also tonight my mum and host sister are packing up her things because she’s leaving for university tomorrow. Meaning I’ll get my own room soon. I also opened my school uniform package tonight because I’m going to school tomorrow for an orientation. It didn’t fit and had some items missing, my host mum called JFIE for me and found out it was a JFIE owned uniform so I can see if the school has one in my size, I’m hoping they will.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Enoshima
Today I got up early and had cold leftovers, not realising that the pot hadn’t been turned on yet when I got it. It tasted fine anyway. After that I went with my Host brother Rei and Kazunari to Enoshima Island. Its really pretty. We did a lot of walking and I got sore feet. I could see Mount Fuji in the distance, I tried to take some pictures but the weather wasn’t to good so Im not quite sure how the pictures will look (I couldn’t tell on my cameras screen.) I think I might go down there by myself on a clear day if I have the chance because the view of Mount Fuji was spectacular. Also I’m now scared of facing rush hour trains. Today at 11 O’clock, a pretty non-rush hour time. My train was packed to the rafters.
Anyway after that we returned home, Kazunari went to a friends house so I talked to my host mum for a bit then went and had a nap for about an hour. I then proceeded to spend the time until dinner watching Doraemon and A documentary on Sakura’s. It was interesting even though I couldn’t understand a lot.
For dinner my Host sisters friend came round. She was a really outgoing Japanese person. First thing after introductions she pinched my stomach to see how fat or thin I was. Non-the less she was nice and she made me laugh. Shes training to be a sushi chef so knowing someone like her can’t be a bad thing. After Satome left I helped do the dishes, I managed to create an amass of confusion when the dishwashing rack become full and I said (tried to say), the dish wash rack was full. It took a good 10minutes to get over it. I’m still not sure what we were confused about in the end.
lastly for the night I sat down and played “Doubt” with my family. Its rather much the same as “cheat” but a few different rules. We also discussed where Im going to stay when my Host mum and dad go off to Shikoku to see my Host sister off to uni. Anyway we decided that I would stay here with my Host Grandmother and Kazunari. Should be all good.
If you want pictures please visit my other blog
lifeinjapan.tumblr.com
I dont have the time to do blogspot uploads at the moment.
Anyway after that we returned home, Kazunari went to a friends house so I talked to my host mum for a bit then went and had a nap for about an hour. I then proceeded to spend the time until dinner watching Doraemon and A documentary on Sakura’s. It was interesting even though I couldn’t understand a lot.
For dinner my Host sisters friend came round. She was a really outgoing Japanese person. First thing after introductions she pinched my stomach to see how fat or thin I was. Non-the less she was nice and she made me laugh. Shes training to be a sushi chef so knowing someone like her can’t be a bad thing. After Satome left I helped do the dishes, I managed to create an amass of confusion when the dishwashing rack become full and I said (tried to say), the dish wash rack was full. It took a good 10minutes to get over it. I’m still not sure what we were confused about in the end.
lastly for the night I sat down and played “Doubt” with my family. Its rather much the same as “cheat” but a few different rules. We also discussed where Im going to stay when my Host mum and dad go off to Shikoku to see my Host sister off to uni. Anyway we decided that I would stay here with my Host Grandmother and Kazunari. Should be all good.
If you want pictures please visit my other blog
lifeinjapan.tumblr.com
I dont have the time to do blogspot uploads at the moment.
Kamakura
Today started with my host mothers birthday, the family seemed to do most of the celebrations the night before which was allgood. Anyhow I wished her happy birthday In the morning and ate my rice and Miso soup for breakfast. After that I played playstation with Rei kun before making lunch with Kazunari. We made spaghetti. It was bland. That’s how we described it in Japanese. After that me and kazunari took Lillip (the dog) for a walk.
When my host mum returned home she took me and my asuka to Kamakura to see Asukas old school while she gave a card to her home room teacher. Afterwards my host mum took us to a Pkrk/temple/shrine thing (おてら). It was amazingly beautiful! For dinner my host grandmother took us out to a sushi train restaurant. I’ve learned in Japan now that I auctually enjoy fish. It tastes completely different from fish in New Zealand. Also we had like over 50small plates stacked up. I wish I coulda taken a picture. I’d hate to be doing the dishes in there.
When my host mum returned home she took me and my asuka to Kamakura to see Asukas old school while she gave a card to her home room teacher. Afterwards my host mum took us to a Pkrk/temple/shrine thing (おてら). It was amazingly beautiful! For dinner my host grandmother took us out to a sushi train restaurant. I’ve learned in Japan now that I auctually enjoy fish. It tastes completely different from fish in New Zealand. Also we had like over 50small plates stacked up. I wish I coulda taken a picture. I’d hate to be doing the dishes in there.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Kamakura
Today started with my host mothers birthday, the family seemed to do most of the celebrations the night before which was allgood. Anyhow I wished her happy birthday In the morning and ate my rice and Miso soup for breakfast. After that I played playstation with Rei kun before making lunch with Kazunari. We made spaghetti. It was bland. That’s how we described it in Japanese. After that me and kazunari took Lillip (the dog) for a walk.
When my host mum returned home she took me and my asuka to Kamakura to see Asukas old school while she gave a card to her home room teacher. Afterwards my host mum took us to a Pkrk/temple/shrine thing (おてら). It was amazingly beautiful! For dinner my host grandmother took us out to a sushi train restaurant. I’ve learned in Japan now that I auctually enjoy fish. It tastes completely different from fish in New Zealand. Also we had like over 50small plates stacked up. I wish I coulda taken a picture. I’d hate to be doing the dishes in there.
Photos from Kamakura otera.
When my host mum returned home she took me and my asuka to Kamakura to see Asukas old school while she gave a card to her home room teacher. Afterwards my host mum took us to a Pkrk/temple/shrine thing (おてら). It was amazingly beautiful! For dinner my host grandmother took us out to a sushi train restaurant. I’ve learned in Japan now that I auctually enjoy fish. It tastes completely different from fish in New Zealand. Also we had like over 50small plates stacked up. I wish I coulda taken a picture. I’d hate to be doing the dishes in there.
Photos from Kamakura otera.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
First Full Day With Host Family
Hey everyone so today was my first full day with my host family. For breakfast we had left over Curry Rice so that’s like 3days straight of eating it. Anyway ofter breakfast I went out with my Host dad and Borther and helped them cut down some trees that were overgorwing, we then had a break and ate some Japanese type snack sweets. They were good.
This arvo my host mum recommended me and my host brother write diaries (mine in Japanese and his in english then cross check them) It’s a good idea. I think I’ll keep writing a diary in Japanese even when I’ve left this family. I hope I don’t have to leave them.
anyway for lunch I had ramen and for dinner tonkastu. Im enjoying the food. Im surprised I havent eaten any fish yet but I suppose that could happen anytime.
じゃまた、
Veiw From my Room.
This arvo my host mum recommended me and my host brother write diaries (mine in Japanese and his in english then cross check them) It’s a good idea. I think I’ll keep writing a diary in Japanese even when I’ve left this family. I hope I don’t have to leave them.
anyway for lunch I had ramen and for dinner tonkastu. Im enjoying the food. Im surprised I havent eaten any fish yet but I suppose that could happen anytime.
じゃまた、
Veiw From my Room.
Last Day of Orientation
Today was the last day of orientation. Great! I was so excited when I woke up in the morning and realised today was the day we would get to meet our host families. Anyway we went of to breakfast and then we went to go do our speeches and have a final lecture from one of the JFIE staff.
After that I went to Tokyo station with the other students to catch trains to our host families. I was the only one with the brains to purchase a suica. Anyway after maybe 40minutes I was at my host families house. They are so kind and nice. They treat me like one of the family It makes me really happy.
Anyway today my host family has taken me to see a shrine, taken me to the supermakerket and biked into town with my host brothers to buy a three pronged adapter for my laptop charger. I should really be taking photos because I can’t explain in words how amazing this place is!
After that I went to Tokyo station with the other students to catch trains to our host families. I was the only one with the brains to purchase a suica. Anyway after maybe 40minutes I was at my host families house. They are so kind and nice. They treat me like one of the family It makes me really happy.
Anyway today my host family has taken me to see a shrine, taken me to the supermakerket and biked into town with my host brothers to buy a three pronged adapter for my laptop charger. I should really be taking photos because I can’t explain in words how amazing this place is!
Day 2; orientation
Orientation day 2
Today we woke up at 7.15 to get ready for breakfast at 7.30 breakfast was pretty much a usual european buffet but also had a selection of Japanese style food. Throughout the day we had lessons in all aspects of life and language in Japan. Then later in our orientation groups we went down to the AEON mall in Chiba for some tasks and shopping. It was good.
I walked round the mall with a guy called sam doing not alot. We sorta wondered wound the arcade and into a surf shop where we found these clip-on roller blades for shoes. We spent almost a good 20minutes playing with them with one of the shop assistants who was pretty outgoing. I also feel weak because I had a massive choice of japanese food in the food court, but I choose Mc Donalds. Its not to bad because I got a teriyaki burger which is amazing. New Zealand should sell them.
After all that we returned to the hotel for a quick break and more lesson on Japan. After ive finished writing this Im going to start working on the speech that I have to write for tommorow. I have to write on why I want to be in Japan. I havent really got much idea apart from the culture, language and just cause its a cool place.
I am feeling a bit down because it feels like everyone here has atleast someone who they’re super close with, and yet through all my effort to try and make friends I still feel like “that guy who’s with us”. I guess my room-mate is pretty friendly but it’s not the instant best friend vibe every other “couple” seems to give off. It was also disheartening when one of the JFIE staff told me to stop looking so angry or I wont make friends. I didnt think I was looking to angry or anything. I was just waiting for everyone else to arive outside the restuarant Im not giong to smile at a wall. Ohwell, Im only here for another 12 hours or so before I leave to go meet my host family which Im super excited about.
Now to right my speech...
And here it is finished a whole less than 20minutes later..
みなさん、おはようございます、
私の名前はクリスで、十七歳です。ニュージーランドから来ました。日本に住んでいってながら藤沢市にすんでいますが、ホスト高校は座間市にあります。ホスト高校は座間総合高等学校と言います。日本語と日本文化が好きですから若いの時から日本に行きたいですよ！日本の文化はとても面白いです。も日本語を難しくて面白と思いますから日本語をがんばって勉強します。 日本にいる時に私のもくひようは日本人の友達を会ったり、日本語を上手話せるになったりする事がほしいです。
おねがいします。
Today we woke up at 7.15 to get ready for breakfast at 7.30 breakfast was pretty much a usual european buffet but also had a selection of Japanese style food. Throughout the day we had lessons in all aspects of life and language in Japan. Then later in our orientation groups we went down to the AEON mall in Chiba for some tasks and shopping. It was good.
I walked round the mall with a guy called sam doing not alot. We sorta wondered wound the arcade and into a surf shop where we found these clip-on roller blades for shoes. We spent almost a good 20minutes playing with them with one of the shop assistants who was pretty outgoing. I also feel weak because I had a massive choice of japanese food in the food court, but I choose Mc Donalds. Its not to bad because I got a teriyaki burger which is amazing. New Zealand should sell them.
After all that we returned to the hotel for a quick break and more lesson on Japan. After ive finished writing this Im going to start working on the speech that I have to write for tommorow. I have to write on why I want to be in Japan. I havent really got much idea apart from the culture, language and just cause its a cool place.
I am feeling a bit down because it feels like everyone here has atleast someone who they’re super close with, and yet through all my effort to try and make friends I still feel like “that guy who’s with us”. I guess my room-mate is pretty friendly but it’s not the instant best friend vibe every other “couple” seems to give off. It was also disheartening when one of the JFIE staff told me to stop looking so angry or I wont make friends. I didnt think I was looking to angry or anything. I was just waiting for everyone else to arive outside the restuarant Im not giong to smile at a wall. Ohwell, Im only here for another 12 hours or so before I leave to go meet my host family which Im super excited about.
Now to right my speech...
And here it is finished a whole less than 20minutes later..
みなさん、おはようございます、
私の名前はクリスで、十七歳です。ニュージーランドから来ました。日本に住んでいってながら藤沢市にすんでいますが、ホスト高校は座間市にあります。ホスト高校は座間総合高等学校と言います。日本語と日本文化が好きですから若いの時から日本に行きたいですよ！日本の文化はとても面白いです。も日本語を難しくて面白と思いますから日本語をがんばって勉強します。 日本にいる時に私のもくひようは日本人の友達を会ったり、日本語を上手話せるになったりする事がほしいです。
おねがいします。
Arrival and orientation
Hi Everyone, I’m writing this part of my blog from sydney airport as I now have a two hour gap between flights. So I guess when you guys read this post it could be long outdated but anyway I guess I mioght aswell write with my spare time.
Any way so far I’ve just landed in sydney airport and had my like ninth million “random bomb test”,
seriously everytime I freaking fly. But anyhow moving on form what I said just before I’m traveling with two other guys from NZ, sean and maha. Both of whom are awsome. Seans been on exchange like three times and so is like our chaparogne which has helped me to get to places on time.
Also it was quite difficult leaving I felt like crying because I could tell my parants were upset, but I wanted to keep a positive face on me, and not fly feeling sad. But happy. I will really miss my parants. I love them so much for all their support to me in making my dream possible.
Countless hours later.. Ive been awake for I have no idea how many hours now, its quite alot because I look like death. I’ll be going to bed when Im finished this and my roommate finishes what hes doing. But I’ll start recounting after I boarded the plane in sydney. Anyway we hoped on were served crappy airline and I had a joyfull 10hours of uncomftable non-sleep sleep. Also I’ve continued my stretch of being “randomly selected” for bomb screening. Can’t be too random seems everytim I travel i get pulled up. Maybe I just look guilty.
After arriving in Narita we were taken with about 30aussie students to our hotel and to a convenience store to buy lunch. I managed to find something that resembled chicken Im still not sure what it is though... I also bought some orange juice which tasted good and some lollies to eat. It costed me 550yen which is like $7 after that we spent two hours on a bus on a slow moving highway into central tokyo for a visit to Koishikawa shcool which was awsome it reminded me of when the asians do visits to our shcool. It was sooo much fun they took a for about a 10minute walk to a park which was absoluteky beautifull. We did a variety of other activities with the students. I did meet a very interesting character named “wackey” he was described by the students as “Hes our hero”. There is no words to describe this kid. On the way back we go to see Tokyo as it started to go dark, It was ana amazing veiw which i hope to see a few more more times during my stay here.
I was feeling a bit disheartened at the begining of the day because I felt like I wasnt really meeting anyone except for those who I’d traveled with, because everyone was staying in there groups who they travelled with and towards the end of the day everyone started to mingle with eacxh other.
Specially on the bus ride back from tokyo. We were sharing slang, I learnt alot of new words for variations of wogs. I was happy that I auctually knew what a wog was even if I disagree with the racism involved. It was an amazing day. I wish I’d taken photos today but I forgot to take my camera In all my tiredness. Ill see if someone else has some that I can nigger.
Lastly we were given our rooms and had dinner which was buffet, I had tonnes of Japanese style curry which was amazing and like 10 glasses of blueberry juice.
Just one not on the side Coke here in Japan is so much more bubbley than that In NZ.
Im still yet to go over a 1000yen. Go me.
Any way so far I’ve just landed in sydney airport and had my like ninth million “random bomb test”,
seriously everytime I freaking fly. But anyhow moving on form what I said just before I’m traveling with two other guys from NZ, sean and maha. Both of whom are awsome. Seans been on exchange like three times and so is like our chaparogne which has helped me to get to places on time.
Also it was quite difficult leaving I felt like crying because I could tell my parants were upset, but I wanted to keep a positive face on me, and not fly feeling sad. But happy. I will really miss my parants. I love them so much for all their support to me in making my dream possible.
Countless hours later.. Ive been awake for I have no idea how many hours now, its quite alot because I look like death. I’ll be going to bed when Im finished this and my roommate finishes what hes doing. But I’ll start recounting after I boarded the plane in sydney. Anyway we hoped on were served crappy airline and I had a joyfull 10hours of uncomftable non-sleep sleep. Also I’ve continued my stretch of being “randomly selected” for bomb screening. Can’t be too random seems everytim I travel i get pulled up. Maybe I just look guilty.
After arriving in Narita we were taken with about 30aussie students to our hotel and to a convenience store to buy lunch. I managed to find something that resembled chicken Im still not sure what it is though... I also bought some orange juice which tasted good and some lollies to eat. It costed me 550yen which is like $7 after that we spent two hours on a bus on a slow moving highway into central tokyo for a visit to Koishikawa shcool which was awsome it reminded me of when the asians do visits to our shcool. It was sooo much fun they took a for about a 10minute walk to a park which was absoluteky beautifull. We did a variety of other activities with the students. I did meet a very interesting character named “wackey” he was described by the students as “Hes our hero”. There is no words to describe this kid. On the way back we go to see Tokyo as it started to go dark, It was ana amazing veiw which i hope to see a few more more times during my stay here.
I was feeling a bit disheartened at the begining of the day because I felt like I wasnt really meeting anyone except for those who I’d traveled with, because everyone was staying in there groups who they travelled with and towards the end of the day everyone started to mingle with eacxh other.
Specially on the bus ride back from tokyo. We were sharing slang, I learnt alot of new words for variations of wogs. I was happy that I auctually knew what a wog was even if I disagree with the racism involved. It was an amazing day. I wish I’d taken photos today but I forgot to take my camera In all my tiredness. Ill see if someone else has some that I can nigger.
Lastly we were given our rooms and had dinner which was buffet, I had tonnes of Japanese style curry which was amazing and like 10 glasses of blueberry juice.
Just one not on the side Coke here in Japan is so much more bubbley than that In NZ.
Im still yet to go over a 1000yen. Go me.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Host Family And Last Days In Cambridge
Anywho I recently received my host family information, I'm to be living with the Goto family who live in Fujisawa city. They're a family of seven people this includes; Mother, Father, Three host brothers 10,16,20, host sister who's 18 and a grandmother living with them. Im not sure how where all going to fit in the house as Ive heard houses in Japan are often small. Im sure well make it. I know that Im to move into my host sisters room after she goes to university a week or so after I move in.
I called them the other night. I feel bad because I hear about everyone else having amazing conversations with their host families and understanding heaps. Mine was ok, I dont think my host family speaks much english, not that I tried to speak english on the phone. Im relieved though because my host mum was so kind and patient with me and repeated her sentences very slowy and waited for me to reply. I hope she doesn't think I'm handicapped.
From my host families house I've worked out that to get to shcool will take me over an hour everyday (one way). Firstly a 20minute walk to the station, 30-40minute train ride on the Odakyu Enoshima Line then either a bus ride or roughly a 30minute walk to shcool. I have a feeling I'll be picking the bus.
Moving on from the host family, the last few days have been very busy for me. Alot of packing and organisng has taken place. I've had a few parties (shared lunches at shcool), well auctually just two for Japanese class as we have two teachers and I love them both. I also went round to see my friend who gave me a present to open in Japan (I'm dieing to open it now) and tonight went out to dinner. I have to say its been an amazing few days but alas very sad ones.
I called them the other night. I feel bad because I hear about everyone else having amazing conversations with their host families and understanding heaps. Mine was ok, I dont think my host family speaks much english, not that I tried to speak english on the phone. Im relieved though because my host mum was so kind and patient with me and repeated her sentences very slowy and waited for me to reply. I hope she doesn't think I'm handicapped.
From my host families house I've worked out that to get to shcool will take me over an hour everyday (one way). Firstly a 20minute walk to the station, 30-40minute train ride on the Odakyu Enoshima Line then either a bus ride or roughly a 30minute walk to shcool. I have a feeling I'll be picking the bus.
Moving on from the host family, the last few days have been very busy for me. Alot of packing and organisng has taken place. I've had a few parties (shared lunches at shcool), well auctually just two for Japanese class as we have two teachers and I love them both. I also went round to see my friend who gave me a present to open in Japan (I'm dieing to open it now) and tonight went out to dinner. I have to say its been an amazing few days but alas very sad ones.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Host shcool contact
This morning I recieved an email from my host shcools english teacher this morning. He didn't really say alot though, mainly just said how the shcool was looking forward to having me and that this year there would be 4 exchange students from Australia and New Zealand (including me). I was kinda hoping that I'd have other exchange students from other countries other than the two that I have citezinship in.
Any how my next post shouldnt be far off as I have my pre-orientation and host family information coming in the next few days.
Any how my next post shouldnt be far off as I have my pre-orientation and host family information coming in the next few days.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
First Day Of Shcool (New Zealand)
It's weird, I thought when shcool started here that I'd hate it and couldn't wait to go to Japan. Complete oposite. All my classes here are awsome and most of the dicks who I hate have dropped out and left shcool/been put in stupid people classes. Not to say that Im not looking forward to Japan like crazy, I just wish I had more time here.
I left shcool like 1.30pm'ish for lunch at a cafe in town and it was delicious and I felt "sophisticated" adding to my longing to be able to spend a bit more time here before I leave which would probably be my best shcool year In New Zealand. Im going to miss this laid back lifestyle here because of the lack of having to do anything too difficult ever. I'm doubting life In Japan will be so easy. But I wouldn't have life anyother way.
48days till departure. Can't wait till I get my host family. Driving me nuts.
I left shcool like 1.30pm'ish for lunch at a cafe in town and it was delicious and I felt "sophisticated" adding to my longing to be able to spend a bit more time here before I leave which would probably be my best shcool year In New Zealand. Im going to miss this laid back lifestyle here because of the lack of having to do anything too difficult ever. I'm doubting life In Japan will be so easy. But I wouldn't have life anyother way.
48days till departure. Can't wait till I get my host family. Driving me nuts.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
First Entry and Host Shcool
Ok so I've decided to write this blog as a sort of diary on my upcoming time in Japan for myself, my friends my family and whoever else may stumble across this. I'm not sure how many people will auctually ever read this but it would be nice to think that someone will follow me and my time in Japan.
Andway getting to something much more interesting; Host Shcool! A while backs I finnaly go given information on my host shcool which is really quite excting. My shcool is 神奈川県立座間総合高等学校 (Kanagawa Prefectural Zama Sogo High Shcool which is located In 座間市 (Zama City) which has a population of about 130,000 people and is located roughly 36km from Tokyo and slightly closer to Yokohama.
The shcool is relatively new and has quite a small roll of about 700 students and a massive gender imbalance with roughly two female students for male student. From what I can gather from their website poorly translated with the help of google is that their your typical Japanese shcool but seem to be extra keen on sporting activities which will be benificial to my great lack in fitness. The shcool also offers a few languages which I'm hoping I'll be able to take (specifically Chinese).
So yeah that's pretty much all I have to say for now, next post will probably be on my host family information when it comes in the next month or so.
Host Shcool website
http://www.zamasogo-ih.pen-kanagawa.ed.jp/
Andway getting to something much more interesting; Host Shcool! A while backs I finnaly go given information on my host shcool which is really quite excting. My shcool is 神奈川県立座間総合高等学校 (Kanagawa Prefectural Zama Sogo High Shcool which is located In 座間市 (Zama City) which has a population of about 130,000 people and is located roughly 36km from Tokyo and slightly closer to Yokohama.
The shcool is relatively new and has quite a small roll of about 700 students and a massive gender imbalance with roughly two female students for male student. From what I can gather from their website poorly translated with the help of google is that their your typical Japanese shcool but seem to be extra keen on sporting activities which will be benificial to my great lack in fitness. The shcool also offers a few languages which I'm hoping I'll be able to take (specifically Chinese).
So yeah that's pretty much all I have to say for now, next post will probably be on my host family information when it comes in the next month or so.
Host Shcool website
http://www.zamasogo-ih.pen-kanagawa.ed.jp/
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