| FEBRUARY |
| Sunday 16th Left home 11-00am, got back 8-30pm. I caught train to meet Ashley [NY.USA] and her host father. He drove us to get our hair done and be dressed up in kimonos, they were both beautiful. After 2 hours of getting ready we were driven to a photographers. It was hard to walk in the kimono, little baby steps. We then went back to Ashleyfs host family, I already had met her host sister at my school, she was thrilled to see me with Ashley. Then we went and visited a police station, similar to police stations in Australia, but maybe a bit more high tech. We had photos with the police station leading officer. Then to another big building with about 60 Rotary members where Ashley did a speech, then to visit back to see Ashley's first host mum. Then after getting out of the kimono, which only took 2 minutes. Her host family as a group went with us to a karaoke bar together. Even I tried to sing Japanese songs, which was hard trying to read the fast script and the kanji. Dinner again at a Japanese restaurant, another with a grill in the center of the table. Ashley's first host family then drove me home, her host Dad a good friend of my host dad. Tea and cake at home and to bed. I was stuffed. Monday 17th Up early and off to school. A usual day at school, but no baton twirling tonight. On the way home Chika and I had a purikura taken at the railway station. There was a letter from home waiting for me at my host home, great to hear from them. We went to a nearby restaurant for tea [dinner] again, and it was cold walking home. Tuesday 18th One month has sure gone fast, and I am enjoying school. One of the girls writes me short letters in English and I write back in Japanese. Tonight we did baton twirling, I am steadily improving. Wednesday 19th School today seemed so long, I donft understand many of Wednesdayfs classes, but we did knitting again [or maybe it is crotchet], and that is fun and easy to understand. Tonight my host mum took me shopping for ski gear for the Rotary Ski trip that is being held soon. There are six exchange students in my district and I already know two of them so it will be heaps of fun. After shopping we had tea at a lovely restaurant again. Thursday 20th Up a bit later as school starting later due to it being the School concert. I walked to the station with my host dad who was catching a train to Tokyo. At school Tomomi, [Ashley USA host sister] gave me a photo taken previous weekend of us. From school we went to the Town Hall where the concert was held. It was great, much better than my Australian school concert. I videotaped it all [except the guests arriving which I was not allowed to tape], they included a band that everyone new of and loved, I donft know who they were though, and a famous Japanese comedian who with lots of hand actions in his act I found easy to understand what he was saying. Then it was school performers, [which I videotaped], dancers, baton twirlers, Japanese drumming and others. The students made all of the dances up, and some spent lots of time practicing. At the end the students leaving presented the teachers with gifts. Though it was very good we were glad when it ended, as the concert had gone for six hours. Friday 21st Today School just a normal day. I was given the choice of attending baton twirling tomorrow [Saturday school], but decided to rest up before the trip away. The ski camp was great; there are only six exchange students in my district [including me], three girls from America [Deonne - Chicago Illinois, Ashley ? New York, and Taylor ? Ohio] and two girls from Brazil [Ruji and Talita]. At camp there were six outbound students (one going to Australia) and eight or ten Rotex [ex ? exchange students] there, including the older sister of Minami, the girl currently staying with Ruth Bode sponsored by Croydon Rotary. There were also about four Rotary members with us at camp. Sunday 23rd Up early as if a school day and met the three American girls to catch the train together. After meeting the others we caught a bus for three hours and had lunch when we got to the mountain. We spent the afternoon skiing, starting one at a time following the ski instructor. We all could not believe how much we had improved by the end of the day. But there were still little five year olds that could ski as good as us. In free time we all went in the eonsentf, the first time for the girl from Brazil and I. Taylor and I did some extra skiing in our free time also. There was a meeting after dinner, a guy named Chris [Rotex USA] from a couple of years ago who is now studying in Japan spoke to us, he was interesting. Then more free time listening to music and dancing, playing charades and other games and at about 1am went to the onsent again before going to bed about 3am. Monday 24th It was easy to wake up, we had slept on futons on the floor and they were really comfortable. After breakfast it was ski lessons from 9am to 11am. I skied on til 1pm going over the hills so fast, and then changed to snowboard lessons with most of the other students. The snowboarding is definitely harder than skiing. I would travel a short distance about three curves and splat !! It snowed almost all day, and though fun, your face gets cold with the snow flying into it all the time. I rang my family in Australia before going into the onsent about 4pm and then to dinner. After dinner we did some origami type craft [little helicopters] and free time, talking till about 10pm and off to bed. Tuesday 25th Slower getting up this morning, and after breakfast went out skiing again until 11-30am. After lunch we played a few games and left at 1pm. I got home about 6-20pm after having tea [the American girls hate me calling dinner tea] and early to bed. The weekend was great. Wednesday 26th Today was up and off to school. After school I went to the movies with the three girls from USA, we saw lord of the Rings the two towers, it was in English with Japanese subtitles. Everyone in the theatre has allocated seats and no one laughs or makes noise while the movie is on. And of course the shop at the theatre was full of eLord of the Ringsf stuff. Today was a great day out with friends. Thursday 27th School again today, no baton twirling though, I think the senior girls have tests on and are studying etc. I helped the asst English teacher prepare for a test by reading out a script that was tape-recorded. I didnft mind helping as he has lent me books and stuff and been a real help to me. Out for tea at another nice restaurant, I have had lunch at this one before. Friday 28th Short day at school today, first we had computers; I was able to get on the Internet and check my mail. Then mathfs and then off home after taking all our chairs to the big stadium ready for the Graduation ceremony Monday. At Kumagaya I did a little shopping, and bought a good Japanese to English dictionary. It will help me reading Japanese childrenfs books a lot. At home I packed up a lot of my stuff, and we went out to ethe Logf for dinner. I think it is my favorite restaurant; it was the first one that we cooked at the table ourselves at my first week here. The meal was great, it is my favorite.@ |
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