Nagoya

Last week, I went to Nagoya for a week to stay with a different host family. It was awesome! My host family was super nice, and I miss them. It was mom, dad, my host sis was in 1^st year high school and host brother was in 4^th year elementary school. I played Pokemon and wii with my host bro the first day, which was a lot of fun XD.

On Monday it was the first day at school, and we took the train to school, which was cool, but super crowded. The school was amazing. I stood out even more, because not only was I a foreigner, but wearing a different uniform. Everyone was really nice, and seemed to be even more open than ppl at my school here. It could be because it was a bigger school (almost twice the size), there were way more guys, or the school was just more… “yanki”, meaning the kids were a bit more rebellious/not super studious.

I was in my host sis’s class, which was a bit weird cause they were all 15, but everyone was really nice. My host sis is in the light music club, which is pretty much a whole bunch of ppl playing the guitar, bass, drums or keyboard. It was cool, at the end of the day, lots of ppl pulled out amps and guitars and sat in their classes practicing.

Next day I had PE, which was one of the super strict things compared to my school in kanazawa. They had to run the length of the gym 40 times, and do push-ups, sit-ups, etc as a warm up, then we played volleyball. The gym teachers kept saying I could rest if I wanted, but I was able to finish with everyone (and pass a lot of ppl ;). Soccer has paid off, haha.

Wednesday was a holiday, so I went to Nagoya Castle with my host dad, which was really cool. Way bigger than Kanazawa Castle. We went out and had unagi (eel) after which was really good!

Friday, was my last day. I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone. Even tho I was only there a week, I made lots of friends, and I really wish I could have stayed at the school. I hung out after with my host sis and a friend went to take purikura. 

Oni (japanese troll/demon...thing)

On the way to the station, we saw this super creepy guy who looked just like a oni! He even had fangs! O.O He kinda growled at us when we walked by, and watched us (probably me >.<) walk down the street for a couple of blocks. It was kinda scary. We went to downtown Nagoya, which was awesome. However, there were a couple old, creepy guys who were like “ aww, gaijin in a school uniform… kawaii!” but in a super creepy way. I probably fit some fetish O.o….

I unfortunately caught a cold… I maybe cause I wore my skirt short when I was there, lol. I really miss everyone. I got along super well with my host family, and we talked a lot! My host sis wanted to go on exchange to Canada or Italy or France, so we stayed up one night (my host mom, host sis and me) talking about dif exchange programs and countries and whatnot. They also included me a lot more with chores and stuff, which made me really happy cause I felt like part of the family. It was an awesome week, tho it was kinda nice to be back in Kanazawa and see my host family here again :D.

Bike Ride of Doom

Today, my host mom showed me the way to school by bike. If I described it in one word it would be kowai (scary).

I have not ridden a bike in a while (year or 2) so for the first bit I was kinda shaky/ unbalanced. My seat was loose which did not help because I kept turning it. Anyway I thought I would just deal with it, but then came the first crossing so I hit the breaks, and the one side screeched like a dying squirrel. No joke, I screamed, which made my host mom turned around XD. The breaks were also kinda slow (one side doesn’t work at all). My host mom still wanted to show me the route, since it was supposed to be rainy the next couple days, so we ended up switching bikes. Her seat was really low, which made it a bit more difficult to pedal, but wasn’t that bad.

Now for the actual route, the first 15 minutes I was scared. I had to drive on the road with the cars. It’s a main road so there were lots, and I would freak out when they drove by, because they are like right next to you (sometimes within a couple inches O.o). About halfway in, there was a sidewalk we could bike on so that was better. It was still kinda nerve wracking because there were a lot of side roads, and you can’t see if there’s a car coming until you actually cross. We finally got to school after 30 mins and she showed me where to park my bike. There were only one or two hills, and I wasn’t too tired. I will be in good shape though. :D.

Then it was time to come back. It was busier, being close to rush hour. Returning seemed to go a lot faster. When you’re not watching out for cars, you have to watch out for bikes. When we were about 10 minutes from home, we were crossing the street, and this one guyon a bike almost ran into my host mom, so she kinda veered away, which caused her to almost run into the side of a taxi turning >.<. A lot of the streets in japan are pretty narrow, so it can be difficult maneuvering around pedestrians, other bikers and cars.

We got home safe and sound. I don’t remember much of the route other than we crossed 2 rivers, train tracks and drove through the parking lot of the gym where my host sis practices. All of my attention went to trying not to run into anyone or get run over. I’m sure everyone got a good laugh watching the gaijin (foreigner) trying to ride a bike XD.

I’m sure in time I will get used to it and with practice I will learn where to go. I did not crash into anything and I can still ride a bike, so to me, it was a success.
I also got my skirt, so pics of uniform soon to come...

Edit: Host dad is in the process of trying to fix my bike…

Quack Quack and Swiss Cheese English

Yes I know, very random title XD...

First of all I want to wish my sister back home a Happy Birthday!!! I miss you very much ♥ and am sorry I could not be there to spend it with you. I hope you have an awesome birthday and a great time at The Crèperie ^^ (jealous…).


Now yesterday, me and my host sis took the bus back to school to buy slippers and gym shoes and pick up my blouses. I want to thank my AFS chapter for paying for my bike, uniform and bus card. It has been a big help financially and I greatly appreciate it ^^. All the new students entering high school were also there buying there uniform, so I got quite a few stares… and they were not discreet about it. We were walking past a fiver (my school is right beside it) and the was a duck in the water. MY host sis asked what kamo was in English. I starting saying it was a quack…tho I quickly recovered and said it was a duck. My English is starting to resemble swiss cheese, with certain words missing XD.

After getting my shoes, my host sis wanted to go to blank (don’t remember the name) department store. It’s pretty much like a Walmart, super low prices. We didn’t end up buying anything, but my host sis liked looking through all the makeup. I was very surprised when she told me her mom doesn’t allow her to wear makeup. She is 16 btw… I guess because makeup is not allowed at school, her mom doesn’t see a point in wearing it…idk. I’m glad the rule doesn’t apply to me tho XD.
We took the bus back (I think I pretty much understand the bus system and where to get off :D)

Today, I went with my host mom the supermarket. There were sales at 2 different stores so we went to both, and my host mom bought me cookie flavoured kitkat (it tastes the same as normal kitkat) for helping her :). My host sis and mom went out for a bit and spent the afternoon at home with my host bro. We watched this show, kinda like America’s Funniest Home Videos, except really extreme, dangerous events. Then after they had this show were a panel would watch videos and chose which one was the most baka (stupid) stunt, accident, etc. They were quite funny :D

My host sis is leaving to Yokohama for a break dance competition, so I’m gonna go say goodbye.
All my posts seem kinda long… hopefully I’m not boring anyone...

1 week

It has now been 1 week since I arrived in Japan. It seems so much longer. Once school starts, I’m sure time will past by quite fast.

I visited my school today and met some of the teachers, principal and my host sister’s friend. I don’t remember any of their names >.< They just talked about the school rules and how the AFS girl from last year was quite active at school. I feel like they expect me to live up to that… I also got my uniform… well part of it. The tops fit but the skirt was slightly too tight >.< I felt so big T.T We went to get me measured for one plus I needed a blouse cause the ones they were gonna lend me were quite dirty. I guess I have unusually long arms and legs compared to Japanese ppl, according to the store owner. XD The uniform is quite cute, except the sweater they gave me was enormous. I know that school girls wear them baggy, but you could fit 2 of me in it and it would still be big. O well, my AFS chapter is paying for my uniform, which is so nice of them, since it gets rather expensive...

Afterwards, one of the AFS staff and I went downtown to the Ishikawa Prefectural International Exchange Center. They offer Japanese lessons there, and they said it would be a good idea to take them. I want to improve my Japanese as fast as possible without cutting corners (tho don’t know if you can…?) so I probably will. We also visited Kanazawa Station to see if my debit card would work at the ATM. Success! I thought we were just going to visit my school, so I didn’t bring my camera. I wish I had, because the station and downtown were so cool. There are so many stores in the station, and I can see me spending lots of time there XD. If I take the Japanese lessons, I’ll be there twice a week, so I can get pictures.

After, my host mom took me and my host sis to McDonalds. This was the first time I’ve eaten there in 10 years. It was nothing special, but it kinda made me sick after >.<.

It was sunny for the first time since I’ve been here, but still kinda cold. Similar to Canada, lol.