Saturday, September 22, 2012

こんげつ


As of today, September 22, 2012, (happy 20th Jacob!) I have left home for a whole month. This is crazy to me as it seems that I have been gone ten days tops. I am trying to hold on to every second that I have here. It's hard to think that I have completed about a fifth of my trip already. It's heartbreaking. But while you're reading this, I guess I should tell you about some of the things comparing to my hometown back in the States. This is edited from a message I sent to my friend Alli, who's doing a project in school about studying abroad.

    •  I am currently studying in 
      Fukuoka, Japan. I will be here 
      for six months.

      I have wanted to learn Japanese 
      for a while, and their culture has 
      interested me since I was a 
      child. My curiosity for the 
      Japanese culture was sparked 
      as I watched movies by the 
      anime producer, Hayao 
      Miyazaki.

      Well so far I have been with two 
      different host families. My first 
      family was small like mine in the 
      States, but my newest host 
      family has seven people under 
      the roof, and that's excluding 
      me! My first home was a small 
      apartment complex and now I 
      live in quite a large traditional 
      home. I live in a condo in US, so 
      this is very spacious.
      The weather here is actually 
      very similar to how it is in Rock 
      Hill. It is a lot larger than Rock 
      Hill is though. Many tall 
      buildings tower over the streets, 
      and people travel mostly using 
      public transportation or 
      bicycling.

      Class being in Japanese is one 
      of the many differences I've had 
      to adjust to in school life. 
      Students stay in one classroom 
      for a majority of their day, and 
      the teachers move from class to 
      class. I have to change out of 
      the shoes I wear to school when 
      I first walk in. I bought the 
      school's shoes, which are 
      essentially slippers. (You take 
      off your shoes when you enter 
      homes as well, it's a sign of 
      respect). There is also a very 
      modest school uniform, where 
      at home I don't have a uniform 
      at all. Lastly, students clean up 
      after school. There is no 
      janitorial service and it is all 
      done by kids who volunteer.
    • The food is, well, Japanese. 
      Rice, or "gohan", is eaten with 
      just about every meal. Moms 
      usually pack their kids' school 
      lunches, called "obento". 
      Contrary to popular belief, they 
      do use more than just 
      chopsticks. In fact, I've used a 
      fork, knife, and spoon while I've 
      been here, though I prefer 
      chopsticks. When at a 
      restaurant, there is usually a 
      little bell on the table that you 
      ring when you are ready to 
      order or want the check. People 
      often pick up their bowls of rice, 
      rather than leaving it on the 
      table. Slurping food is 
      customary here and isn't seen 
      as gross or too noisy.
    • There are many traditions that you have to mess up to really 
      learn about. For example, you 
      do not fix your hair or make up 
      in public. You don't blow your 
      nose in public, and if you do, 
      you throw the napkin away 
      immediately. DO NOT PUT IT IN 
      A BAG OR KEEP IT IN YOUR 
      HAND. You bow before and 
      probably after speaking to 
      someone you respect, and 
      strangers will not just strike up a 
      conversation with you. When 
      someone offers you a gift or 
      even a piece of paper, you 
      accept it with both hands. You 
      don't put your chopsticks 
      straight down into a rice bowl. 
      You often use informal speech 
      for things that are your own, but 
      never when speaking of 
      someone else, or of something 
      that isn't yours. You don't eat or 
      drink while walking. You don't 
      sit on the side of the street.
    • There are many holidays that 
      the Japanese have, such as a 
      day in February where they 
      throw beans at people dressed 
      as monsters. Though Christmas 
      is not a big holiday here, New 
      Year's Eve is the biggest 
      celebration all year.

    • Oh! At dinner, if you're satisfied with the meal, you leave about a 
      spoonful of food on the plate. Don't "clean your plate" like in the US, unless you want more.
      More than a spoonful or two = I didn't like it
      Spoonful or two = that was delicious, I don't want to waste much but I'm full
      Clean plate = give me more!



      That's a bit about japanese 
      culture for you! have a 
      wonderful day!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

かぞく

A long time ago, God created something very beautiful. This thing is called family. Tonight, as I was riding in the car with my newest host family, "Let It Be" came on the radio. Though none of the people in my family (Father, Mother, one daughter, four sons, Grandma) speaks English fluently, it was magical hearing them hum, whistle and even sing parts of that song. There is something deeper than even the Beatles that seems to connect us all. I have only been with this crew for roughly 54 hours, but I can already feel a deep bond between us. I doubt that they feel the same way, but the loneliness of language barriers provides a-more-than-sufficient amount of time for one to ponder really anything. 

Through this change of host families I have realized that no matter where you are, or the number of people that are in a home, truly loving and caring people can come together and build each other up.

Host families are probably the most generous people that I have met to this point in my existence. Though you know you will only be together  for a short time, they are willing to go to the moon and back to ensure your happiness and safety. Though I have not spent the time, or have the genetic make-up to really be considered a part of this family, I am welcomed as though neither of those things have any significance to the right of passage of being a member of this house hold. I walked unknowingly into a group of people with open arms, and I'm so glad that I've been blessed to have not one, but two host families during this experience.

What a terribly beautiful thing.

Monday, September 17, 2012

YUUKI (Courage)

So it"s official that this blog which I have worked on for merely a few months now has more views than one which I had been using for years. *sigh*
That just seems to be how things go.

I am very happy here. Japan is awesome and though I am basically consistently busy trying to mix Japanese and English in sentences, studying Japanese, getting to know the people around me, or reading the Bible, I am trying to treasure every second.

My facebook stati from the past few days seems to display exactly what i want to say about where I am:

"its hard to get a picture with anyone without them throwing up the deuces #justgowithit" (in a picture)

"Japan is awesome

Does anyone remember the show American Dragon?
It`s theme song was stuck in my head today.

Also we read 1000 Paper Cranes in English today. It`s socrazy that the one Japanese story that is super significant to my life was read while I`m in Japan

My Japanese friends and せんせい can`t possibly grasp how much that story means to me. I miss Mrs. Harding

#restinpeace"

"`Though we are but a vapor, you and me, and tiny and frail, we are marked by majesty, and we have been created in the very image of the God who breathes out the stars and put the universe into place. You and I are fashioned and formed and ordained by the God of all creation. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, you and I. You are somebody incredibly special.`-louie giglio"

"Every day is a mission"


"Watching Glee.... i love Japan"
"I realized today that my time is fleeting and I need to cherish every second that I have here. Though I can`t always control the circumstance I`m in, I can control how I react to it. It`s funny how when you`re in a foreign place, little things like reading and understanding the words `apple juice` seem like the biggest accomplishment.

Accomplishment today: I went to church all by my self! Walking, train, and more walking. I was very proud of myself

Then I got to hang out with truly the coolest people in Japan at a local coffee shop.

And now I am wearing a kimono for the first time
(PS, skype is open if you want to see the whole kimono deal)

#adventures"





This is, and will be, in short, a life changing experience. I can't wait to see what's in store

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

しゅざい

Today is a hard day for any American. 9/11 is not something you forget. Though I was so young that I don`t remember exactly what I was doing, I remember how it impacted people.
Prayers to all who still suffer to this day.

Good news #1
It was Tia`s birthday on the 9th, and my new friend ひかり (Hikari)`s birthday on the 10th! Hurrah!
I got to see both of them on their birthdays!

#2 I am getting less and less homesick. I think that time, church, friends, anad the school festival has helped me ease into Japan more and more

#3 I got interviewed today!!!! (that`s the title of todays blog- interview)
It was a longgggg process, about 5 hours!!! They came and filmed me drawing in art class, eating lunch with my friends (then they proceeded to buy me more food so they could film more of me eating). Afterwards I showed them around the school to my favorite places (art room, Japanese room, auditorium, library). Finally, we sat down and I was asked a series of questons in English, which were then translated into Japanese. I had to memorize the Japanese answer and then present it in front of light camera and mike. Hot, tiring, challenging. But lots of fun!

Made for a great day and one more new adventure to add to the list.

#4 I GET TO SKYPE MY FAMILY FOR FAMILY NIGHT TOMORROW MORNING!

Hurrah hurrah, happiness all around.

PS, the Bible is a great book.


This is what started off my last きにょうび (Friday) in chapel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2W4-0qUdHY&feature=related
I hope it makes you smile as much as it made me :)

Friday, September 7, 2012

がこ

So I officially have 142 days `til I am at home.
I have really bad floods of homesickness, but 142 days is not that much. I remember when it was 155, and the time from then to now has flown by.
I literally have 36 classes.
-6 monday
-7 tuesday
-6 wednesday
-6thursday
-7 friday
-4 saturday

Yes, thats right, Saturday.
But tomorrow we have the School Festival, so not real school.
Saturday school doesn`t happen all the time

Here`s my week for those who are curious:

Monday:
-Japanese private classes (JFL)
-(JFL)
-Classic Japanese (which I`m skipping for a study hall)
-Math
-Physics
-Japanese History (another study hall)

Tuesday:
-JFL
-JFL
-Art
-Art
-PE
-Bible
-Japanese History (study hall)/Health study

I LOVE TUESDAYS HERE

Wednesday:
-JFL
-JFL
-English
-World History (study hall)
-home ec
-home ec

Thursday:
-Classic Japanese (study hall)
-OC1 =super simple english grammar class
-Math
-Chemistry
-English/Physics
-Long Home Room

Friday:
-Math
-JFL
-JFL
-PE
-Classic Japanese (study hall)
-Chemistry
-Japanese
Saturday:
-English
-Physics
-Health Study
-Japanese History (study hall)

Sunday:
Church, starbucks, shopping, skype. :)

As far as school goes, it starts with homeroom at like 8:35, then a twenty minute chapel, then the classes listed above (each lasts 45 minutes with 10 minute breaks in between and lunch (obento or pan with ringo ju-su >packed lunch or bread with apple juice<) after 4th period), and finally class worship to end the day. at 3, 4, or 12:40 depending on the day
Oh yes, then the students clean up. That`s right, no janitors.

This week has been different though because we`ve been preparing for the school festival, and getout class a lot.

If you`re like WHY ARE YOU SKIPPING SO MANY CLASSES? Well first because I`m awesome and get to skip history which is a miracle for me. For one thing, most people sleep in the classes I`m skipping, not to mention the teachers who teach those classes don`t speak any English and most of what they write on the board is in kanji. Kanji is the third and final alphabet that I have yet to learn. It`s essentially a couple thousand Chinese characters. So it would be better for me to study on my own.

All classes are in ALL Japanese.

I love math because I totally understand it ^_^

My art class is Design, so i get to doodle really detailed pictures for two hours straight =)

AH! Plus, I read りんご じゅーす today and understood
it`s the first thing that ive read in Japanese and knew what it meant.
I was proud

It`s apple juice by the way

The Bible is a great book.