Last Friday, Laurent (exchange student from Belgium) and I went to see the Leningrad circus. It was mucho fun, except that they had a bear on a chain. I don't think that's right. If you're going to subjugate animals, do it for reason, like for food. But don't do it for the sake of doing it.
Saturday Laurent and I went to the uniform shop. It was way to complicated. The first pair of pants we tried on were perfect, but they made us try on about 23432 other pairs.
Then my host family and I went to Ryushido. I think that's the name. It's a cave. It was really crowded and I did not feel safe at all. Then we went to Ryotanji, which is an ancient Buddhist temple and garden. It was so beautifulgorgeousprettyamaaaaaaaazing.
My host family is already lamenting the fact that I'm leaving them in three months. I am going to miss them; I really lucked out with this host family.
Last night I was helping Shiori (host sister) with her English homework. It was really difficult. English is difficult and I can't remember it.
To answer some questions, it really is not that difficult adapting here. There are some things that are definitely overwhelming different, but I've tried to keep an open mind.
Also, someone asked me about understanding Japanese. I can understand about most of what's said to me now, but that did not come easily. I study Japanese with a textbook nearly everday and constantly have to relearn words because the vocabulary is so tough.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hamamatsu Castle and Art Museum
Yesterday Okaasan and I were bored, so we went to Hamamatsu Castle. It was really amazing. We walked around the parks and garden and they were even more amazing. Japanese gardens are so beautiful. Then we went to Hamamatsu Art Museum and saw an exhibit by the artist Koji Suzuki. It was so hot. It reminded me of Mardi Gras and Halloween and Brazil.
In a few hours I have my first Rotary meeting, and I am making a speech in Japanese. I am not really that nervous; my host mother and sister proofread it.
In a few hours I have my first Rotary meeting, and I am making a speech in Japanese. I am not really that nervous; my host mother and sister proofread it.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Around Hamamatsu
On Monday, I went to Hamamatsu City Hall to apply for my gaijin (foreigner) card. My insurance came in the mail yesterday.
Afterwards, my host father took me out to lunch at an Italian restaurant called Happy Valley. IT was actually really good; I was kinda surprised. There is more variety in food in Japan than I thought there would be. There is Italian, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, etc. Theres even two Dennys!
My host father then took me for a drive around Lake Hamanoko. I didn:t have my camera, but it was absolutely gorgeous. The huge lake is surrounded by mountains. We then stopped off at an associates office because my host father had to pick up some blueprints. My host father is obsessed with telling waitresses, neighbors, co-workers, EVERYONE, about how I only arrived on Saturday and how my Japanese is so amazing. It is really embarassing because I know my Japanese is so horrible and I never know whats going on.
When I came home, I met my host sisters boyfriend, Takuma. He asked me what i had been dreading; he asked me about the atomic bomb. I told him honestly I thought it was bad. I am doing karaoke with Shiori (my host sister), Takuma, and Lisa (Shioris best friend) on Sunday. Can:t wait! Saturday, I am going to either a zen garden or a theme park.
I found out there will be a Belgian exchange student at my high school. Im really excited. It will be great to have another gaijin (foreigner) for support.
Yesterday, I sat around a lot. I went food shopping with Okaasan (mother) and Oneesan (older sister). WE bought ice cream. In Japanese food stores, if you buy frozen food, they have dry ice machines. You add dry ice to the bag with the frozen food so that it doesnt melt. It is amaazing!
So tomorrow is my first ROtary club meeting, and I have to make a speech. I think I will work on that now...
Also, I will work on getting photos. No photos I have are terribly interesting, but I'll work on that.
Afterwards, my host father took me out to lunch at an Italian restaurant called Happy Valley. IT was actually really good; I was kinda surprised. There is more variety in food in Japan than I thought there would be. There is Italian, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, etc. Theres even two Dennys!
My host father then took me for a drive around Lake Hamanoko. I didn:t have my camera, but it was absolutely gorgeous. The huge lake is surrounded by mountains. We then stopped off at an associates office because my host father had to pick up some blueprints. My host father is obsessed with telling waitresses, neighbors, co-workers, EVERYONE, about how I only arrived on Saturday and how my Japanese is so amazing. It is really embarassing because I know my Japanese is so horrible and I never know whats going on.
When I came home, I met my host sisters boyfriend, Takuma. He asked me what i had been dreading; he asked me about the atomic bomb. I told him honestly I thought it was bad. I am doing karaoke with Shiori (my host sister), Takuma, and Lisa (Shioris best friend) on Sunday. Can:t wait! Saturday, I am going to either a zen garden or a theme park.
I found out there will be a Belgian exchange student at my high school. Im really excited. It will be great to have another gaijin (foreigner) for support.
Yesterday, I sat around a lot. I went food shopping with Okaasan (mother) and Oneesan (older sister). WE bought ice cream. In Japanese food stores, if you buy frozen food, they have dry ice machines. You add dry ice to the bag with the frozen food so that it doesnt melt. It is amaazing!
So tomorrow is my first ROtary club meeting, and I have to make a speech. I think I will work on that now...
Also, I will work on getting photos. No photos I have are terribly interesting, but I'll work on that.
Monday, August 20, 2007
First few days
Sorry for the really short update before; I was in a rush.
So, Japan... everything here is so overwhelmingly different, but in a good way. Every moment is a little adventure and new experiences are always around the bend. Take, for example, the first time I walked into the toilet room. Not only did the toilets lid automatically lift, but the appliance also played quiet piano music.
Yesterday, my host family took me to the mall. It was pretty amazing. First, we got into the car, which, of course, has a GPS and a screen that shows behind the car so the driver does not have too look back. Then we drove to the largest mall I have ever seen, where the police were directing traffic. We parked in a parking deck and got out. We entered the mall and started walking around. Salespeople stood outside the entrances to their shops, barking sale information at the top of their lungs. We entered one shop, where my host family bought me a shirt with the most hilarious Engrish on it. (I don:t exactly recall what it says; something about squids.) My host mother put her credit card on a tray, and then the cashier took the credit card off the tray. Money is considered vulgar, so when you buy something in Japan, you never give the cashier the payment directly. There:s always a little tray as a go-between. Anyway, the cashier wrapped up my shirt beautifully and gave it to me with a little bow.
Then we had lunch in a sushi bar, where little plates of food revolved around a conveyer belt and you took what you wanted. I am still not completely used to Japanese dining etiquette. Diners say ITADAKIMASU before the meal and GOTISOUSAMA DESHITA afterwards.
TV here is pretty weird. As in the weirdest thing I:ve ever watched. There is one channel called 24 HOUR TV and it is so strange. They had this one thing where this crippled blind guy was walking 5 km and some guy was singing YMCA in Japanese to encourage him. Yeah...
Everyone here stares at me because I:m white. Ah, well...
So, Japan... everything here is so overwhelmingly different, but in a good way. Every moment is a little adventure and new experiences are always around the bend. Take, for example, the first time I walked into the toilet room. Not only did the toilets lid automatically lift, but the appliance also played quiet piano music.
Yesterday, my host family took me to the mall. It was pretty amazing. First, we got into the car, which, of course, has a GPS and a screen that shows behind the car so the driver does not have too look back. Then we drove to the largest mall I have ever seen, where the police were directing traffic. We parked in a parking deck and got out. We entered the mall and started walking around. Salespeople stood outside the entrances to their shops, barking sale information at the top of their lungs. We entered one shop, where my host family bought me a shirt with the most hilarious Engrish on it. (I don:t exactly recall what it says; something about squids.) My host mother put her credit card on a tray, and then the cashier took the credit card off the tray. Money is considered vulgar, so when you buy something in Japan, you never give the cashier the payment directly. There:s always a little tray as a go-between. Anyway, the cashier wrapped up my shirt beautifully and gave it to me with a little bow.
Then we had lunch in a sushi bar, where little plates of food revolved around a conveyer belt and you took what you wanted. I am still not completely used to Japanese dining etiquette. Diners say ITADAKIMASU before the meal and GOTISOUSAMA DESHITA afterwards.
TV here is pretty weird. As in the weirdest thing I:ve ever watched. There is one channel called 24 HOUR TV and it is so strange. They had this one thing where this crippled blind guy was walking 5 km and some guy was singing YMCA in Japanese to encourage him. Yeah...
Everyone here stares at me because I:m white. Ah, well...
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Arrival
Heyy! I am in Japan right now. It is amazing. My host family is really nice. I am sleeping in a tatami room. The flight was really long, 12 hours, but it was fun because it was chock full of exchange students.
Everyone here dresses really well and I wants to go shopping!! Everyone stares at me because I am white.
That:s all for now. Ciao!
Everyone here dresses really well and I wants to go shopping!! Everyone stares at me because I am white.
That:s all for now. Ciao!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Phone Calls with Japan
A few weeks ago, a Rotarian in Japan of Sri Lankan descent named Lal contacted me through e-mail. And tonight I decided to make my debut to the Japanese-American phone system. Using a phone card, I called Lal's cell phone. The phone rang 285 shrill times until a answering machine picked up. An automated female proceeded to scold me in Japanese. I panicked and hung up.
I tried calling again. This time, Lal picked up. He told me, in English more beautiful than my own, that he was in a meeting and would call me back in an hour. So next I called my host family. I was, quite understandably, terrified because they do not speak English. A woman immediately picked up. I said, in my painfully bad Japanese, that I was Jonathan, a Rotary exchange student. My host mother let out a squeal of delight and said "KONICHIWAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"
After I warned her multiple times that I spoke no Japanese, she decided it would be a wonderful idea to babble incoherently in that language. She finally gave the phone to her daughter/my host sister, Shiori. Shiori and I talked for about fifteen minutes. She used her broken English and I used my broken Japanese. Apparently, she used to "pray" the French horn for "orchestra crub." She is turning 18 on September 1. She likes to listen to music. I told her I loved karaoke, because that's about one of the only things I can say in Japanese. She seemed quite pleased by my fondness for karaoke. I foresee much karaoke in the next few months.
Then Lal called me back. I absolutely adore his accent. It's British/Sri Lankan/Japanese. He said, no, I can't receive a Japanese high school diploma. Yes, I should bring traveler's checks. No, I shouldn't open a bank account. Yes, cell phones cost 5,000 Y a month. No, there will be no other exchange students in my high school. Yes, there will be 8-10 exchange students from around the world in my district in Japan. Yes, I can choose my own classes. Yes, I can do kendo (Japanese fencing). YES, I WILL BE RIDING A BULLET TRAIN ON MY FIRST DAY!
And, yes, these are photos of my host city, Hamamatsu.
I tried calling again. This time, Lal picked up. He told me, in English more beautiful than my own, that he was in a meeting and would call me back in an hour. So next I called my host family. I was, quite understandably, terrified because they do not speak English. A woman immediately picked up. I said, in my painfully bad Japanese, that I was Jonathan, a Rotary exchange student. My host mother let out a squeal of delight and said "KONICHIWAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"
After I warned her multiple times that I spoke no Japanese, she decided it would be a wonderful idea to babble incoherently in that language. She finally gave the phone to her daughter/my host sister, Shiori. Shiori and I talked for about fifteen minutes. She used her broken English and I used my broken Japanese. Apparently, she used to "pray" the French horn for "orchestra crub." She is turning 18 on September 1. She likes to listen to music. I told her I loved karaoke, because that's about one of the only things I can say in Japanese. She seemed quite pleased by my fondness for karaoke. I foresee much karaoke in the next few months.
Then Lal called me back. I absolutely adore his accent. It's British/Sri Lankan/Japanese. He said, no, I can't receive a Japanese high school diploma. Yes, I should bring traveler's checks. No, I shouldn't open a bank account. Yes, cell phones cost 5,000 Y a month. No, there will be no other exchange students in my high school. Yes, there will be 8-10 exchange students from around the world in my district in Japan. Yes, I can choose my own classes. Yes, I can do kendo (Japanese fencing). YES, I WILL BE RIDING A BULLET TRAIN ON MY FIRST DAY!
And, yes, these are photos of my host city, Hamamatsu.
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