Host Family!

My host family is awesome! They are so kind and are doing their best to make me feel like I’m part of their family. I don’t see my host dad often cause he leaves for work before I get up and comes home around 8. I’m probably closest with my host sis and host mom. My host sis speaks a bit of English, so she helps translate if necessary, along with her electronic dictionary (so useful!). I feel kinda bad cause most of the time I’m just saying hai (yes) or iie (no). My Japanese sucks right now, but hopefully I’ll get better fast!

Yesterday, me, 2 other people for Kanazawa, 3 for Komatsu and 3 for Fukui, were all drove together in a mini bus to our cities because they are soo far away from Nagoya. We felt kinda left out because we were the last to leave, and pretty much everyone else’s host families came and picked them up at orientation. We felt like orphans XD. The whole trip lasted about 4 hours. My city was last, so much travel >.< When someone was dropped off, everyone else would get so nervous/excited because they realized what was coming. After the last stop before mine, me and the other girl going to my city started giggling and we couldn’t stop for like 5 mins XD.

Our host families met us at a restaurant and we all ate dinner together. When we walked into the restaurant I overheard my host sis call me kawaii (cute). Tee hee… This was really the first time I spoke a lot of Japanese since arriving. It was weird, because French kept wanting to slip out, and it happened once or twice… so strange XD. Everyone kept saying how impressed they were with my chopstick skills.

After we went our separate ways. On the way home, I heard 2 of my favorite bands – SuG and LM.C - on the radio (or maybe my host bro’s ipod… not sure). Driving through Kanazawa and hearing them was such a surreal feeling. Btw, Kanazawa is such a big city! I thought it would be more country like, but it’s pretty big. I’m kinda glad I didn’t get placed anywhere bigger.

My host family’s house is pretty much the traditional Japanese house. My room has a tatami floor and sliding door. I also sleep on a futon. I actually don’t mind sleeping on the floor. However, last night was friggin cold! The little clock has a temperature on it, and it was 5C degrees in my room! It’s been raining since I got here, which could be part of the reason. It also prevents me from taking pics >.<

I went and met my host dad’s grandma and sister today. They were really nice and were impressed with my Japanese. We went to Uni Qlo :D after and bought me some slippers… they just fit my feet. We went grocery shopping after. Everything is so colourful in Japan :). The whole time I felt/saw people watching me. Everyone was pretty discreet about it except for the little kids who would pretty much gawk at me. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. I find the staring quite amusing. I talked to my parents today… I miss my friends and family, but I’m having an awesome time.

I’m going to city hall tomorrow to register.
Until next time
じゃね〜

Flight and Orientation

I’m here! It’s so amazingly awesome! I’ve met so many awesome people so far.
Anyway…

Flight

My friend stayed over the night, and two of my cousins also came to the airport, along with my family. I was right on time to get there, but I ended up forgetting my laptop charger, so it was back to my house. We left again, and got to the airport on time thankfully. The whole drive there, and was so worried I had forgotten something else >.< At the airport there was a surprise waiting for me. Some of my friends were there, waiting to see me off. It meant so much to me that they were there. The goodbyes were quite emotional. I pretty much never cry, but the fact I was leaving for a year hit me there, and I started crying… I thought I would be okay, but guess not. First part of the flight was 1 ½ hours and then the other girl from Canada met me and we got on the flight to Japan together. Now the whole flight (11 hours) I did not sleep! I wanted to, but somehow I just couldn’t. It was soo annoying. Anyway, the flight was good other than that… and we got to the airport and since I am over 16, I got finger printed and photographed. Orientation

We were met by some of the AFS staff at Narita Airport and they took us to the hotel. It wasn’t until I was on the bus, looking out the window at the city that it hit me that I was actually in Japan. It was such a weird (but good) feeling. We stayed in Tokyo for the night and left for Nagoya the next morning. The bus ride there, although 8 hours, was good. I got to talk to the other AFSers (some in French. ^^) Japan is sooo beautiful! Looking at the mountains, ocean and countryside… was amazing. I know I said I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get Tokyo, but I am now completely happy with my placement.
The place we stayed at in Nagoya was a hostel type thing. In my room there were 18 girls, and we slept on futons which ended up covering the entire floor XD Everyone there were so great, and I’m gonna miss them. We got there about 6pm and had a opening ceremony type thing and then supper. It was really good. All the food here is so good! Then came the part everyone was dreading… bathtime. In Japan you sit on a stool and shower, and once you are all clean you soak in a tub of hot water. Some hotels and hostels and such, have public baths. You are pretty much in a big room, and you shower and then everyone soaks in the same tub. It was kinda funny how much everyone was making a fuss. They didn’t want to be the first to undress. I'm sure the japanese girls/ladies were wondering what the heck was wrong with us. You just have to suck it up and jump in XD The second night doing it was much easier and quite relaxing.
In the mornings we and other people staying at the hostel did a 5 minute stretching thing in the gym, to wake everyone up. Then breakfast, and the second day we had a few discussions about rules of AFS and in Japan and how to stay safe. One thing that shocked me was a law in Japan is high school kids and younger have to be home by 10. Even if you are with your family, you can’t be out later. After that was the Talent Show. It was a lot of fun to see people perform. I will post pictures later, when I unpack. We had a supper and a bath. That's about it for the orientation. I should be going to bed soon.
I leave tomorrow at 1pm to Kanazawa. I’m sooo excited to meet my host family!! There is one other girl and one guy going to Kanazawa as well. There are also 3 girls in Komatasu (30 mins away) and 2 girls and 1 guy in Fukui. We will be all going in a mini bus. I don’t wanna leave everyone here. I’ve made lots of friends and I won’t seem most of them until the end of the year. AFS Central Japan (my part) does a summer camp, but Kanazawa, Komatsu and Fukui go to Kyoto instead of Gifu. I’m kinda happy cause I get to go to Kyoto but sad cause it means I won’t seem everyone else until the end of my exchange :(.

So that's about it so, far. I will update soon… once I get to my host family's house!!

I'm here at last!

I'M IN JAPAN!!!! Words can't explain what I'm feeling right now (though it's mostly a good feeling)... except maybe TIRED! I've had 4 hours of sleep in the past 48 hrs >.< I'm in Tokyo tonite and then off to orientation tomorrow at 7:00am. I will make a more detailed post when I have time (and not so tired)

おやすみ〜♥！（goodnight ^^)

Goodbyes

Today is the day! I leave for the airport in about 5 hours!

I went to school yesterday to say one final goodbye to everyone and got a whole bunch of hugs. I was so close to crying T.TI had my family goodbye party last night. I have an amazing, supportive family! I’m gonna miss everyone sooo much.

I’m pretty much packed now. I think I have too much stuff, but nothing I can do about it now. I just have one or two things to put in my suitcase and then I’m all set.
I feel strangely calm right now. I thought I would be freaking out, but maybe I’m just over tired… It doesn’t feel like I’m leaving. o.O I should probably try to sleep for a few hours….
I want to say thank you for everyone’s support. I really appreciate it.
Stay tuned for the next update, coming to you from Japan!!! ^^

Friends

Most people probably think this about their friends, but I have the best friends ever! I had my friend goodbye party on the weekend, and I had such a great time hanging out with everyone. Since I’ve been out of school, I haven’t been able to see them very much which I really regret. They all wrote me messages, and I started crying after reading them all T.T I am gonna miss them soooooooooo much. Not that I didn’t think this before, but it made me realize how special and important they are to me. Did I mention how much I’m gonna miss them >.<
Thanks you guys for being my friend and for your support. You are so important to me! ^^ Luv you~!♥

1 week!!!!! OMG! ^o^

Lists are your Friends

I have made so many lists for Japan. Things I need to do, what I need buy, what I need to pack… and somehow I seem to misplace them, and then I have to start all over. However, lists are your friends Being the disorganized person that I am - they have helped me to keep track of what I need to do. Unfortunately, they don’t help with the procrastinating part of me XD. There’s still so much to do, and only 2 weeks left!

I need to:
• Buy gifts for host family
• Take/pass learners license test
• Get yen
• Notify bank I will be using my debit card in Japan for a year
• Buy a few clothes + shoes (my feet may be too big for shoes in Japan)
• Buy toiletries
• Clean out my room
• STUDY JAPANESE
• Say goodbyes to my friends and family
• Make sure I have all the necessary documents + photocopies
• Make mini photo album to take to Japan
• Pack… and keep it under the weight limit >.<

There is probably other things I need to do, but these are the main ones. I am rather worried that I may not get everything done. Time is going by so quickly… before I know it, I’ll be landing in Narita Airport! ^o^