Just you know why...

HI everybody, I'm back! I'm really sorry that these updates are so slow, but I promise I will try to write another post sooner next time.
Now, as most of you know I was at language camp for the past two weeks, so I have plenty to talk about! The language school part of the camp was in the Saitama prefecture, in a town called Higashi Tokorozawa. We had classes at Columbia International School and stayed at the nearby dorms. For the first ten days, it was us exchange students and the Rotex. For those of you unfamiliar with Rotary terminology, the Rotex are former exchange students that support the current inbounds and organize activities for them, such as the language camp. Then, in the last three days, we were joined by this year's outbounds, the students that will go on exchange in the summer of 2013. On those days, we went camping in Akigawa valley, which was definitely the most beautiful place in Japan I've seen so far!
So, you probably wan't to hear all about what happened at the camp and why I loved it so much, right? Well, I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was because of the other inbounds (Insert sappy "awww" noise here). We all bonded really quickly and we had so much fun together! They are all really awesome people and I can't wait to spend a year with them!
But now that I got the sappy stuff out of the way, I really am having a hard time thinking of what to write about the camp that would be interesting to all of you. So, I've decided that this will be a very picture-heavy post. And I will explain to you all of the fun activites the Rotex organized for us while we were there!

Activity #1: School
Definitely the least of enjoyable of all the activities. I had nothing against the teachers, it was just really boring and I never got much sleep since we had to get up around 7:30 and I usually went to bed around 12 or 1. Our school days went something like this:
7:30 Wake up (for me, anyway, most people woke up at 7). Breakfast was at 8. It was usually some kind of vegetables, and either a bun or rice. Although one time they served us a fried egg...with chopsticks. I don't know what their logic in that was, but my friend's brilliant solution was to stuff the whole thing in her mouth at once. Brilliant.

Yummy breakfast...

9:10 Leave for school. The walk was beautiful, but it was always extremely hot and humid.

Morning classes started at 9:30 and ended around 12:20. They mostly consisted of us reading out of the textbooks and writing little conversations in Japanese. Boooooringggg.

My class in the morning

Kiku class! There's actually only four Rotary exchange students in this picture, and on AFSer. Can you guess who we are? (It should be fairly easy haha) 

12:30 Lunchtime! For a cafeteria, the food was amazing! And for dessert, nearly every day, we got shaved ice, which in Japan is known as "Kakigoori." It was kind of funny to see how excited everybody got about theirs.

Lunch ended at 1:15, after which we had some sort of activity until 2:30 which was usually playing with the students from Columbia International in the gym. At 2:30, classes resumed until 4:30. Usually around 3:30, we would go to the gym and play some Japanese game that incorporated what we learned that day. And after dinner, we would sometimes also have activities organized by the Rotex.

Activity #2: Bowling
Honestly, Japanese bowling and American bowling are not different at all. As a result, I played positively awful, like usual. And I'm not joking, I got the worst score of everybody. My friend Veli, from Finland, told me I should "Try hitting the pins next time."

I'm the last row...

My group for bowling: Nanaho from Japan, Me, Anais from Switzerland, and Veli from Finland. And then there's Yo.

Our inbound group represents Belgium, Hungary, Germany, France, Slovakia, Finland, Switzerland, Thailand, and the USA. There's also an inbound from Brazil, but she didn't arrive in time for the camp. 

Activity #3: Fireworks
Also known as "Hanabi" in Japanese. But I don't mean the big, light up the sky fireworks, I mean the little sparkler ones that you hold in your hand. Which was fine with me, because, as most of my friends and family know, I hate the big fireworks. There's not much to talk about, but they did make great pictures!

Activity #4: Water balloon fight!
This was just pure teenage fun. It began as a water balloon fight, but that only lasted for about ten minutes once we discovered the sinks, and the giant buckets. I believe a more appropriate term would have been water fight. A pretty good example of the craziness was when I remarked that half of my shirt was dry, and I was promptly chased, captured, and dragged back to the sinks where one of my friends, a Rotex named Yo, preceded to dump a full bucket of water on my head. At the end of camp, this was voted one of everyone's favorite activities (right behind our daily tickle fights...).

Activity #5: Tsuika Wari
The Japanese version of the pinata. I believe the direct translation is "Watermelon crush." Basically you are blindfolded and given a wooden stick, and the point is to break open the watermelon lying on the ground around 20 feet away from you. One tip for this game: If you want a chance to hit the watermelon, always make the boys go last.

Oh, and then you eat it!

Activity #6: Calligraphy
Like many Japanese things, such as chopsticks and wearing kimonos, it's a lot harder than it looks. How much pressure or how much of the brush you use are extremely important to how your writing will turn out. I was really surprised! There's so much thought that goes into it, including how black the ink is, and there's even a right side of the paper to write on (Yeah, someone forgot to mention that one to me...)

Class calligraphies!

"Emma" 

Activity #7: Pottery
I was really excited because I'd always wanted to try pottery with a wheel! This was also a lot harder than it looked, and many times, the teacher would just swoop in while I was working, push my hands away and magically shape my clay into the perfect cylinder I kept trying to make. She was amazing.
In the end, she just handed me a chunk of clay and a cookie cutter, and instructed me to make a bunny.

My friend Veli's chunk of clay before we started...

My attempt at a japanese tea cup

Usagi-chan!

And Veli's cup once we were done. He was so proud of it that he made me show this picture to everyone at camp.

Activity #8: American hand games
Surprisingly a huge hit with both the inbounds and outbounds! One night, I just decided to show a few of my friends how to play Quack-a-dilly Oh My, and My Mother is a Baker, and by the next day, everyone was playing! All. Day. Long. I created a monster!
Oh well, at least now everyone doesn't think that all the US is is violence and McDonald's. And that's what I was sent here to do.

And this was only half the circle

The boys were also surprisingly good (and fond of) this game...

I even used the hand games as part of my presentation about America! Which, by the way, no one told me didn't have to be completely in Japanese. Well, it wasn't awful, and apparently my Japanese is "cute". I just thought it was funny that the first thing everyone pointed out in my pictures of the States was Obama. Apparently he's really popular over here. But no one can tell me why...

My friend Bianka helping me demonstrate "My Mother is a Baker" 

Activity #9: Akigawa Valley camping trip!
It wasn't really camping-we stayed in these group cabins-but the area was beautiful and the river was so refreshing! I think we spent the entire first day in the river. We made up a version of volleyball where if you miss, you have to stand in the middle of the circle and everyone splashes you for 5 seconds. Haha, that actually sounds really silly when I write it, but it was really very scary! Also, my friends seemed to enjoy dunking me underwater in any way possible. I was side tackled, dragged by the foot, pulled backwards...you get the point. And I wasn't the only one! (And I might have done that once or twice...But it was revenge, I tell you! REVENGE!) Well anyway, the river was fun.

The water was so clear!

On the second day, we went on a hike. And by hike, I mean walking along the side of the road for an hour and then "hiking" for about ten minutes on a flat path in the mountains. And yet, people were still somehow exhausted when we got there. I think Celo has raised my hiking standards a bit too much...
Anyway, our destination was a very beautiful waterfall with a very difficult name that I forgot two seconds after it was told to me. Oh, and there were a lot of bugs. A LOT. And did I mention how huge Asian bugs are? Or how terrified I am of bugs? Gah. It's awful.

That night we also had a presentation for the Rotarians and the outbounds, in which we sang a song by Angela Aki (I think the name in English is something like "Letter to a Fifteen Year Old." Here's a link if you want to listen) and danced to "Heavy Rotation" by AKB48. I will also post a link to the song here, but I warn you, this video is not for those under the age of 13, or those unfamiliar with Japanese pop culture norms (because you will most certainly be alarmed). You have been warned.

So other activities of the camp that I don't feel like going into detail about included Japanese-style barbeques, which involve short black tables with big fires underneath, upon which loads of sliced meat and vegetables are thrown, and whenever you see something you like, simply grab your chopsticks and snatch it before someone else takes it away. It's really quite fun (and delicious!)

The other thing was our trip to the supermarket. I don't know why that was so exciting to me, although it was my first time in a Japanese supermarket. Really, it's not that different from America except for the foods that are popular here that are harder to find in the States. Also, there's alot of character themed items here, even for adults. And pastries. There were alot of pastries... But, being a group of teenagers, I'm sure you can imagine what we spent all our money on. You guessed it: junk food. I think my friend spent a good 3,000 yen on cookies and candy. But seriously, Japanese junk food is awesome.

Pokemon!

My loot :) Which, by the way, I'm still working on... 

So, much more has happened since I got back from camp, but that's alot to talk about and I'm tired and this post is getting long...
So for now I will share with you just of funny moment from today:
Mama and I were sitting on a little cruise boat in the river that goes through Tokyo when all of a sudden she looks up and shouts, "Look, a star!"
Pshhh, city folk...

じゃ、またね。(Oh, and I apologize if there are typos, but I'm wayyyy too lazy to read this post over again and proofread, haha. And if you understand the title's reference, you will literally be my best friend forever :))

Welcome to Japan!

Well...I'm here! In Japan, in my new home, in my new room, sitting at my new desk, and feeling the excitement of exchange run through me. I've only been here for five days, but it feels like such a long time! I think that's because I've done so much here already. That means I have much to tell, so let's start at the beginning, shall we?

So, I left Boston Saturday morning, had one long, boring flight to Atlanta, and then from there, an even longer, and more boring flight to Tokyo Narita. It took awhile to get through customs, because I needed to get something called a resident's card, and the official that was checking me was a trainee, and didn't know what to do. After being bounced around several customs officials, I finally got my card, and headed off to get my luggage.

First view of Tokyo- Tokyo Skytree

As soon as I wheeled my cart, stacked with my two gigantic suitcases and my carry-on, through the door to the pick-up area, I was greeted a bunch of college-age Japanese people, wielding flags, and "Rotary district 2580" signs (the ROTEX, apparently). Also there were my counselor, Kanai-san, and my club president, Sonobe-san. Once photos, and introductions were out of the way, my host family arrived, we loaded up the car, and made our way to my new home.

My new room!

One of the Rotex, Miki-san, accompanied us back to the house, and acted sort of as my translator, because I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. However, she left in the middle of dinner, and I had to fend for myself for the rest of the night! There was alot of smiling and nodding and "Gomennasai, wakarimasen" (Sorry, I don't understand). But it's gotten better, since now I don't go anywhere without my pocket dictionary and my iTouch, which has a dictionary app on it. I've become notorious for whipping them out, pretty much whenever I say something, or when someone asks me a question. Mama thinks it's hilarious. 

So, speaking of Mama, I think it's time to introduce my first host family to all you readers. The Hotta family goes a little something like this...

 Papa (Yasuhiko Hotta), somewhere in his late 60s. Manages the restaurant next-door (which apparently has been in his family since 1880). He's very nice, but he's always kind of awkward when he talks to me, because he can never seem to decide whether he wants to speak to me in Japanese or English (and his English isn't great), so there's lots of long pauses in between his sentences. I always try to answer him in Japanese, though.

Mama (Masumi), also in her late 60s. Co-manages the restaurant with Papa. She's super sweet and friendly, and very motherly. She's always talking to me (although she knows I don't understand most of it) and teaching me different words and attempting to familiarize me with the city.

Obaa-san, my host granny. She's 93 years old, but she's still got all her personality and is super sweet. She talks to me alot too. I hang out with her alot because she's always in front of the TV, and the TV room is where I usually go, because I don't know where everyone else is...

Reiko-san, my 35-year old host sister. She's a traditional Japanese dancer (not sure if that's a job or a hobby, though). She's usually the one I can understand the best.

Yoko-san, my 33-year old host sister. She only lives in the house sometimes. Her birthday was yesterday! She speaks very good English, and likes to use it with me, even when I don't need it. She also does Japanese dance.

Extended family (They are always around the house, so I thought I'd include them):

Kenji-san, my host parents' son. He works in Papa and Mama's restaurant. He's the joker of the family and likes to tease his nieces and nephews. He's also my baseball-watching buddy.

Yuki-san, (at least I think that's her name...) another of my host parents' daughters. She works at the restaurant as well. She's really nice, and sometimes I'll eat dinner with her and her four kids when Papa and Mama have to work late.

Yuzu (Yu-chan), Yuki's oldest daughter (13). I met her my second day here, and haven't seen her since my third day.

Mutsumi (Mu-chan), Yuki second daughter (12). She's the most like a host sibling. She went with me and Mama on our shrine tour and I went with her to her traditional Japanese dance lesson. She also talks to me alot, but slowly and clearly, so most of the time I can understand. She's also very adept with the electronic translator.

Hikari (Hi-chan), Yuki's youngest daughter (9). She's absolutely adorable, and really hyper. She also a very talented Japanese dancer.

Konosuke (Ko-chan), Yuki's youngest (6). He's also really cute and really hyper. He likes to crash around the house on his Hello Kitty car, and play with Uncle Kenji.

Also around the house are Helper-san's 1 and 2 (Obaa-san's helpers) and Papa's cousin, and Mama's cousin.

The house is a traditional style japanese house, with sliding doors and tatami mats. It's really exciting! It's also pretty big for a Japanese house, and it's arranged like a maze, so I get lost daily.  

Well, now that that's done with, let's move on to day two, shall we?

Yabusoba- the family restaurant

Day two was actually pretty boring. The only exciting part was getting to eat in the family restaurant (Yabusoba), where I shocked the family with my chopstick skills! Actually, they were just surprised that I could use chopsticks at all. I also amazed them by eating all of my soup, including the weird chewy fish meat.
Wednesday was more exciting. Mama, Mu-chan, and I went on a little walk around Chiyoda. They took me some shrine that I forget the name of, which was very pretty. And I got to pray Japanese style (throw in a coin, clap, bow, pray, bow...or something like that). I actually have a little story about that: So, before we prayed we went to wash/cleanse ourselves in this fountain. And what you're supposed to do is take the dipper, and pour water over your hands. Then, Mama demonstrated what looked like cleaning your face. So, I preceded to pour some water into my hands and splash it onto my face. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to do, because Mama and Mu-chan burst into laughter, while I stood there staring, with water dripping down my face. Oh well, I guess that was stupid-gaijin moment number 1.

We also went to a Confucius shrine.

After that we visited a very pretty Russian Orthodox church, which surprised me, because I didn't expect there to be any pretty churches in Japan.

On Wednesday, I registered for school, and got my uniform. I also found out that school doesn't start until September 3, so I still have a month of vacation to go!

School uniform!

So I discovered that my route to school includes walking through Akihabara, the center of Japanese anime and manga. It's definitely an...interesting place. Definitely not boring, I can say that much! I'll try and get some good pictures later.
That evening, I accompanied Mu-chan and Hi-chan to their traditional Japanese dance class. It was really fun to watch and they're really good! I actually might get a chance to try it later!

This is from a video of Reiko and Yoko dancing. Yoko is in blue, and Reiko is in pink. 

Then, that night was Yoko's birthday dinner and my (surprise) welcome party! Actually, I don't think it was meant to be a surprise, but I can't understand much, so it came as a surprise to me :) We ate at a fancy Chinese restaurant. And I mean real Chinese food, not the American kind, in all it's strangeness, including some gross meat that was only described to me as "river fish."

The first course (and yes, that is a shrimp head that you see in the middle).

The room also had a really great view of Tokyo that kept me occupied for quite awhile as Uncle Kenji pointed out every single moderately famous sight of Toyko that he could find.

The dome in the top right corner is Tokyo dome where the Giants play (baseball).

Apparently Shinjuku is somewhere in here :P

Me and host mom #3

Me and current host mama

Today I went to my first Rotary meeting. I had to give a short speech, that Mama helped me write, which I think went pretty well. I also met all of my host families (I'll have four, in total). They all seem very nice, and very excited to stay with them all (although, unfortunately, I will have to wait until host family #4 for siblings). Interestingly enough, the meeting was mostly taken up by a speech by one of the members about the differences between Korean and Japanese pop culture, specifically pop music and dramas. I just thought it was a funny topic for a serious-looking older man to be discussing.

So that's all for now! Tomorrow I'm off to language camp for two weeks, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog, but you'll here plenty about it when I get back!

じゃあね！