| FEBRUARY |
| Saturday 1st I am having lots of fun. Today my host Mum and I went shopping, I think my host mum likes shopping. Later my host Dad took me for a drive to one of his factories. On the drive I got to see Mt Fuji from a distance. (Latter I found out I can sometimes see it on the way to school). Sunday 2nd I can't believe I have been here two weeks. Yesterday the girl from America rang, she wants to meet me, she will ring again next week. She told me there are a few exchange students that live nearby, which surprised me because the way people look at me it's as if they have never seen a foreigner before. Monday 3rd Another early get up and rush to school. I didnft understand most classes but I just sit and study Japanese. It was great to get a letter from my family when I got home, I'm sorry you have to do more dishes Stuart (my little brother). Tuesday 4th Today woke up at 5-50am to get to dance practice with my friends. Today I did a short speech in front of the whole school, about 1,000 students, twice as big as my school at Healesville. It was kind of strange seeing so many people dressed the same and all with black hair. The girls in my class were really surprised when I told them that people in Australia have different hair and eye colours. It made me think donft they watch TV. Today I did Baton Twirling for the first time, It's difficult thatfs for sure. Tonight I went out for dinner again. Wednesday 5th Usual get up time today, Chika the girl I meet at the station was sick, but I met other friends on the train. Today I had a meeting at lunchtime with the assistant teacher from NZ. It was good because he let me borrow some textbooks and photocopied others to help me study Japanese. Tonight at Rotary they had a welcome party for me. My host club is also hosting another girl, Deonne, an afro-American from Chicago. It was great talking to her, when we change host families we will be quite close to each other. She is doing judo, which I might do with her. It was a good day. Thursday 6th I am used to the early mornings. One of the biggest difference at my high school in Japan from Healesville High is in Australia is we have whiteboards and tables, here it is blackboards and desks [a little old fashioned], I don't mind, I think a lot of schools in Japan are like it. Tonight I did baton twirling, and am getting the hang of it slowly. The instructor is one of the older students she is really nice. But Ifm finding it a little hard to communicate. Friday 7th Baton Twirling after school, I was given a baton to take home to practice with. The week has gone quickly as I got home 7-10pm most nights [baton twirling after school, and all the girls in the club are really nice]. Three weeks in Japan, I thought the first two weeks went fast, but this week even quicker. Today I got phone calls from Deonne, exchange from Chicago, and Ashley another girl from New York. They wanted to go out during the weekend, I will check what my family is doing first. Feb 8th 2003. Saturday School again today. I talked with some senior students, and they showed me some more baton twirling. The senior students run each of the school clubs. While at school I got calls to my house from Deonne [USA same Rotary club] and Ashley [USA] whose host sister goes to my school. Ashley rang back when I was home, but I decided to rest this Sunday instead of meeting them. Sunday 9th Went shopping with the family, to a big store that sold heaps of stuff. I liked the pets they had, dogs and cats, [which are quite expensive here] plus birds, including a baby cockatiel in a sort of incubator just like my bird Bobby in Australia, fish, ferrets [nasty things] and turtles. But the one I loved the most was the monkey. That would be a cool pet, but you can't buy them in Australia, or can you??. It was expensive though, but so cute. Tonight we had tea at a beautiful Japanese restaurant. Monday 10th School today, at PE we played basketball, girls only, about 50 of us. That was fun even though I don't usually like basketball. Tuesday 11th No school, National Holiday. I went and watched my host dad play Kendo. So funny all the sounds affects that they make. We had lunch at Kendo, then home to rest. Wednesday 12th Quiet day at school and home early as there is no baton twirling on Wednesday s. Thursday 13th Today was my host mum's birthday, she was thrilled I remembered. Out to another Japanese restaurant for Birthday dinner tonight with host family and people from the office in front of the host home. They are all very nice. My Japanese is improving, but it is still hard, it has been good my first host family have spoken a little English. Friday 14th Valentines Day, a big thing in Japan, a lot of the girls exchanged chocolates with each other. In Japan Valentines day is for the girls to give and then March the 14th is Whites day and the guys do the same. I spoke to Ashley [exchange student USA], she wants me to go to something Japanese with her on the weekend, and go to karaoke. It sounded great. Tonight I went bowling with the same people as to my host mum's birthday dinner. Its not much different to the bowling centers in Australia except you get your shoes by a money machine, and there are cameras that record you bowling. It was really funny to see yourself bowl. My first game I scored 68, but the second I bowled 100, big improvement. Saturday 15th I met Ashley [NY.USA] at Kumagaya station [near home], and we went and got my first pikura [photo sticker]. Then to visit Taylor [another exchange Ohio USA] At her host house we watched a Japanese movie in English, and then sung karaoke. It was lots of fun. |
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