Finally Miyojima!

Sorry it took so long to get these up! Youtube isn't cooperating.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=603951526290507&l=2861359996770768674

Part 2!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=603986562953670&l=7968449590995891508

No school!!!

I woke up and I was so tired I didn't want to go to school. On the news it showed that a typhoon was happening. Apparently Typhoons are normal here. To my luck Mama got a text saying that school was cancelled for the day! I was so happy. So instead of going to school, it was decided that we go to the mall. The mall was soo big! We went to a couple of stores and I bought a Totoro bento box. It was my mission to get something with totoro on it! And I bought some other gifts but I can't tell because I want it to be a surprise. I went into a clothes store and was eyeballing this shirt I really wanted but I never bought it. I have a very hard time spending money, but I really wanted it and it was cheap! I missed my chance. We then went to an arcade where we played a taiko drum game that had the same concept as guitar hero. That was fun. I also played a claw game for ice cream. I didn't get anything! But here you have 3 chances to get it. Then we did Purikura which is a cute picture machine that makes you look cute and makes your eyes really big. It was fun. Then we went to the food court and I ate REAL RAMEN. It was delicious!!! Nothing like that fake college food in America. Afterwards we went to the ice cream vending machine which was awesome. The bottom floor of the mall was a supermarket. We got ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies. We then went home and I looked at the cookie recipe and realized that we were missing a couple of things so we went to the 100 yen shop (1 dollar shop) and picked them up. Then we cooked! The metric system was interesting. You have to weigh everything, so we had to buy a scale. The cookies were wonderful. At dinner we had another English speaking session with Papa which was hilarious. He cannot pronounce words lol. Then Akari and I tried on our Yukatas! It takes some practice but it was fun and they were pretty. Then I took a Japanese bath which is the greatest thing ever! Then I went to bed.

Honesty and Trust

This is a very important to[pic for me. I have noticed that Japan is a very honest and trustworthy society. Everyone is honest and trusts each other. At Miyojima, they had little souvenirs at different shrines and exhibits. You had to pay for the souvenirs and put the money in a box by each souvenir. The thing is, that there wasn't anybody watching the souvenirs or cameras or anything, so it could be easily stolen. But everyone paid for the gift that they wanted. It was nice to see that trust in each other. When I go to school I see small elementary school kids in Kindergarten or 1st grade walking to school or riding public transportation by themselves. No one has to worry about them getting kidnapped or abducted. Another interesting thing I found was that when people parked their bikes, they didn't lock them up. Nobody would come to steal your bike, and these were expensive bikes with motors and electronic stuff on them. I didn't see any locks or chains or anything. I liked the trust each person had within the community. One more small thing  I noticed was the umbrella stands outside of school or stores. People would place their umbrellas there and then go shopping or go into school. Again, it would get stolen or taken. Also there aren't as many cameras as you see in America. Anyways, that was my rant on trustworthiness and honesty. I wish that someday, other countries can lean from such a wonderful example and role model.

Things I have noticed

Some things that I have noticed about Japan are very different from the states. Japanese people are very skillful and careful drivers. A couple days ago on a very narrow road only big enough to fit 2 cars I was on the bus. On the other side of the road was another bus. The road was on a curve so it would be difficult for both buses to pass each other. But they did! I was scared that they would crash. They passed within inches of each other. I haven't seen or heard about 1 crash. Nest Japanese fashion. Japanese clothes are sooo cute! Everyone has on dresses, skirts or business suits. I barely see jeans. Even the older women still dress cute. Japanese girls rally like arm gloves/sleeve things and high heels. Almost  every girl I have seen has on high heels. Also in Japan you must have multiple umbrellas and Parasols to match your outfit. EVERYONE has an umbrella and they are the ones with the curvy handles. Next, School. In school everyday you have different classes, each class is 50 minutes  and the number of classes vary day to day but it is somewhere around 6-7. there is school on Saturday but only for 3 classes. The classrooms have no electronics. No smartboards, computers, or projectors. Just a chalkboard, but the chalkboard is cool because it can go up or down. Between classes are a 10 minute break to do whatever you need to do. I like that. The teachers teach their lecture for 50 minutes and the students write . There is no time for questions or time between each problem. The teachers just talk, no questions asked. Also, students don't pack up their things until the bell rings. And of course you change shoes for school. They have shoes for everything. Your shoes you wear to school, inside shoes, PE shoes and indoor PE shoes.

3rd Day of School!!

I saw my Korean friend agian and she wants to eat lunch with me. I had P.E first with a different class. Again I was one of the fastest runners and I am good at pitching. I had Science and they were talking about DNA in Japanese so I didn't understand, so I just wrote in my journal. In Home economics I didn't understand....they were talking about milk......so I just studied Japanese and did my English homework. After Home Economics which was extremely long, I ate lunch with y Korean friend. ( I keep forgetting here name). I had another delicious bento prepared by Mama. Nest I went to Art.....Art. I can not draw to save my life. We were doi g something were you have to make a design usually a flower and cut some of it out and put it on a piece3 of black paper so that the black shows through the cut out pieces. It looks pretty cool....but I can not do it. I spent the first 50 minutes panicking because I didn't know what to do or draw and the next 50 minutes  trying to draw a flower. I CAN'T DRAW! :( Well I tried and now I just have cut it with a razor....without chopping off one of my fingers. It took a lot of work. Then to study hall in the library.

2nd Day of School!

I went to school and it was fun. First I had study hall and I just did my English homework. Then I had History, which I thought I could understand but I really didn't. Then I went to music class which was actually chorus. They were soo good! We watched a movie about a boys choir. Now we are going to sing Stand by Me and Beautiful Girls. Also it was funny in music class, they didn't think I could understand or speak Japanese. They were talking about how big my eyes were right behind me, and I just sat there. Then the teacher didn't speak English well and tried to speak to me. Then I told her I understand and Japanese is ok (in Japanese) and everyone was really surprised. Then I had lunch. Also everyone comes up to me very cautiously as if they were afraid to talk to me. After lunch I went to Japanese class with the Korean exchange student. She is really cool! She is one of my best friends at school. She wants to go shopping and do Purikura together. Also go to Tokyo. We must see Tokyo. The Japanese teacher was cool too! She gave us little rice crackers and a pretty fan. She said she wants to go to America to eat all of the varieties of Ice cream. Then I went home and ate a lot of good snacks. At dinner I was trying to teach my family English. Vitamins and McDonalds are hard to say. In Japanese, McDonalds is "Makudonarudo".I also tried to explain the difference between "Lice" and "Rice".

Vlog #6- First Day in Japan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWh6hUtiwrE

Classes!

So today I signed up for classes at my school in Hiroshima. I am taking Home Economics because I have never taken it before, World History because I am in AP World History, English as a Foriegn Language because I want to see what English is like in Japan and Japanese Music and Calligraphy. Also I can join 1 club so I chose to be in the String Orchestra because I play Violin! I am so excited!! 5 days!!!!! I can't wait!! I still have so much to do!! I have to shop for a couple of more things and I have to pack some stuff. -___- Well it will all be worth it in a little while. I already posted my first Vlog! Go check it out!

My first Vlog!!!!

Go here to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6r0Pa1Fwa8

Next Weekend!!!! :D

So now it is the weekend and I have 10 MILLION projects to do!!.....ok maybe not that many but still a lot. I have started packing and this weekend I am going to go shopping :). 9 DAYS AWAY!!!! I leave next weekend! I have been waiting for this moment for 2 years :D. I will post a video next weekend before I leave. It will be about what I am bringing and how the traveling will go. I also told my host sister that I can't go to Disneyland because it is so expensive :(, but we will do other fun things. I was wondering....what if I brought warheads to japan and gave them to my classmates? XD I might do that lol. I will try to blog everyday and make a video everyday! :D I can't wait!!

Tokyo Disneyland??

So I have a small problem.....my host sister wants me to go with her to Disneyland Tokyo for 3 days with her friends. The problem is that it costs about $600. :(( That was all the money I was going to bring. If I went I wouldn't have money for anything but I really want to go...I don't know what to do!!! :(

The Excitement!!!

I am super excited as the countdown continues! :D And I know everyone else is too! I just can't wait to meet everyone and actually go to Japan! The excitement is killing me!!!.......*not going to sleep tonight* or any other night :)  I feel that I have now watched every video on Youtube ever related to Japan. I would say that I'm well prepared lol. My host sister also sent me a picture of what their uniforms look like! It kind of reminds me of the K-On! uniforms. Anyways....11 days away!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait! But first I need to get all of my final projects finished first before the real excitement begins! Videos soon!

Host Family and Travel Info!

So today I recieved my official Host Family information. I will be in Hiroshima with Katsumi and Hiromi Takesato. They have 2 children, a 16 year old girl and and 21 year old boy who does not live with them. I am soo excited! Only 12 days away! I will be spending 1 night in Tokyo then the next day I will go to a train station to Hiroshima! They also sent me this cool lanyard and luggage tags!