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.

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

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 :)

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.

Im so horrible at blogging

i never have any idea what to title these. Anywho I started school and all. how is it?
busy
stressful
alll in japanese

ive learned more of that by the way

This girl passed out twice in class today, right beside me. SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

First off, I had sushi. lots of it. and many different kinds. All was delicious.
One was Squid legs. xD

2] im getting interviewed for Television! (Terebi). this station is planning to air this thing in October about exchange students. And with it I mayyyyyy be able to meet the one, the only, HAYAO MIYAZAKIIIII!!!! but thats a big IF right now.

3] I met this really awesome dance crew called Soul Splash Crew. Really awesome people, great dancers.

4] A hawk soared down and stole my last bite of McDonalds right out of my hand..... (for more info visit http//:www.youtube.com/user/miahisthebomb at a later date)

5] I was already caught on tv with my host mom as we walked through the park

6] we have sorta super racist PE class. It`s hilarrriousss. Last week we played table tennis and yesterday we practiced (for lack of better terms) spear throwing. Apparently people do it in the Olympics.


I introduced myself in front of the whole school and church. Both were fun and nerve racking.

I love God
I`m making friends.
Time and God are making things easier
I love Japanese food.

I watched a random John Cusack movie and then a Tom Cruise one as well. It was nice to  hear English

Sayounara

Here

Im here! So this may end up becoming more of a diary than a blog. I keep thinking that I chose the wrong place. But I know that Im supposed to be here. Im very connected to my host family. They couldnt be more kind to me. Im resting a lot.

im scared. and by scared i mean terrified. i dont know any Japanese.
ok
this is what i know

hello
goodbye
what you say before eating
do you understand english
thank you
delicious
sixteen
yes
no
its a nice day out

thats what i know. PS the reason that im not writing apostrophes and junk is because this keyborad scares me.

heres a secret. Ive cried a lot. I miss my family really badly. I miss hugs. I miss my mom a lot. Like a ton. I cant wait to hug her. Truly. if i could have her in my ars it would make me cry with happiness. Iwill forever treasure you more Mom. I love you.

I do love church here though!
I met this guy named Daichi, hes the pastors son. Hes really nice and talks to me in English, So does Les. I love them very much.

I also met a guy named Daiki and he was hosted in Charlotte! We talked about Southpark mall and Myers Park and Chickfila. It made me happy.


Basically I have God. And thats all right now. Thats all I need. Its just hard to come to terms with that. Im scared about the future.  My heart hurts.

Family, friends, I love you.

Japan, here I come. PS. The Bible is a great book.

T-minus Eight Days

Well, here we are again. As my cousin is merely hours away from leaving for college, I realize how real my experience to come truly is. Many tears ensue, but I know I will enjoy every second in Japan. Did you notice something different? Ah, the title of the blog is a bit different. Actually, completely different. I learned recently that my address changed, heh heh. So that's interesting. It's not far from my original destination though, same host family.

(By the way this font is Helvetica.) xD

If you'd like to see a girl's video from her experience abroad through the same program: 
http://youtu.be/TY0OFfVjrE8

There you go. Very well done. 

I have absolutely no schedule as to when I will be doing this while I study abroad. 

Questions, Comments, Concerns? DONATIONS? XDXD




Hmmmmm..... here's some "Q's" that I get a bit:

What made you want to go?
If you don't know me very well you may not know that I have been out of the country quite a bit. All of my previous trips have been for two weeks or less. (If you're having trouble doing the math 6 months is a bit longer.) I love traveling (I hate when people say that). But nonetheless, I've been to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador..... so yeah. I also enjoy school. Yes, I realize I'm a loser. Talk nerdy to me. When I thought about doing them together.... Well I wigged out to put it simply.
And why wouldn't I want to go to Japan?

How did you get involved in your program?
My friend Mary Catherine was going to go to Italy, and was talking with this group- AFS-USA. I jokingly asked to join her. And 10 months later I'm packing my bags. You should look into AFS. DO IT. >.<

How long will you be there?
A little less than 6 months.

What will life be like?
I really don't know. I know I am staying with one Ryoko (my mom) and Sae (my sister). I'll be attending an all girl's Christian school. Yikes. The climate is kinda cool.... other wise no idea. Excitingly terrifying right?

Do you know any Japanese?
Barely.

AH! P.S. SUPER HUGE SHOUT OUT TO JON SPRAGUE!!!! I LOVE MY CAMERA! DOMO ARIGATO!