Apple Picking and Questions!

Apple Picking

So, on Sunday, I went to a nearby orchard with my host family to pick apples! It was very fun, and the apples were extraordinarily delicious. It was a bit a different from picking apples back in Indiana. First off, we were given two baskets (to put the apples in), a couple pairing knives, a cutting board, and a bowl for our garbage. Then, we were taken to a specific row of apple trees with a picnic table in the middle of it. We were allowed to pick and eat as many apples as we wanted, and we didn't have to pay. However, if we wanted to bring any home (which we did, and many I might add), we had to pay for them. Overall, it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. And it was even a great day too

Questions!

As I've come to realize, a good portion of my readers (you guys) probably have questions about either my trip or Japan itself. So, I thought I would do a little Q&A for my next update! Please leave a comment or a message with any questions you have, and I will try to answer them to my best ability! And as always, I wouldn't be where I am today without the support from each and every one of you guys. So, as they say in Japanese, どもありがとうございます(domo arigatou gozaimasu; thank you very much)! :) 

Karaoke and Sushi!

Karaoke and Sushi!

So yesterday, I finally got to experience a karaoke box. For those of you unaware, a karaoke box is a place where many people go to sing karaoke with their friends and family. One of my host sisters and I went to one after our day of shopping in Utsunomiya. We sung our hearts out for a good two hours before our stomachs growled for food, and we headed off to dinner. Dinner was another amazing experience all on its own! My host sister and I went to a sushi bar, and it was absolutely delicious. We sat at a counter facing a large conveyor belt that carried sushi! You picked the sushi that you want to eat off of the conveyor belt, and after you've eaten all that you want, you press a button and a server comes to count your plates and hand you your bill. It was cheap and the sushi was absolutely delicious! Needless to say, my day was filled with fun adventures. And I'm very excited to see what next week holds! 

Update!

Last Week!

So, it's been a little while since I last posted, and I have lots to tell you! First off, the Kanagawa-prefecture was pretty exciting. The other two exchange students and I went to a new school for a week, and it was definitely a blast. We all made a lot of new friends and gained a ton of new memories. While in the new prefecture, my host family took me to see The Great Buddah. It was huge, and we even got to go inside of it (it's hollow)! They also took me to see the majestic Mount Fuji! I was so aghast by its immense size, even from afar. I'm very happy I got to switch schools, even if it was just for a week.

This Week!

Yesterday, my host sister and I went to Tokyo! We went to the Pokemon Center, Shibuya, and Harujuku! I was so happy to go because the last time I went to Tokyo, I didn't get to explore much of it at all. This time, I got to go to many different places. I even ended up buying a new backpack in Harujuku (it has a monster face on it). It's been an eventful two weeks, and I'm sure the upcoming week(s) will be even more eventful! I can't wait!

Japan Update!

Japan Update!

So this week has certainly been a busy week for me! Last Saturday and Sunday, I stayed with another host family (just for the weekend) and enjoyed the Kanuma Harvest Festival that was going on. It was definitely a lot of fun! Saturday, the other two AFSers in my area and I met our host families for the weekends and went to the festival later that evening. On Sunday, my host family took me to a Japanese amusement park before meeting up again with the other AFSers and their families to enjoy the second day of the festival. Also on Sunday, the other AFSers and I got to be in the parade and helped pull one of the large floats! It was very hard work, but absolutely thrilling. The next day, Monday (we didn't have school because of the national holiday), we left our host families and headed to a bit outside of Utsunomiya to help harvest rice. That was also a lot of fun! It wasn't as hard as I had imagined, but it definitely wasn't easy! On Wednesday, we had a massive typhoon which delayed my school until after 1pm. Everything was alright though, and it wasn't all that bad. Thursday (my school didn't have school Thursday and Friday), my host mother and other host sister took me to the Nikko Festival held at the Toshogu shrine. It was completely different from the one held in Kanuma! But at both, I enjoyed myself. It's been a busy week so far, and next week will be even busier! 

Next Week?

This upcoming week, the other two AFSers and I are switching schools and going to the Kanagawa prefecture for one week. We all leave tomorrow morning to take the train together, and we won't be returning until next Sunday. I'm looking very forward to seeing how this school differs from the one I go to now. I know it will be a lot of fun, especially going to the same school as the other exchange students!

Pictures!

Toshogu Shrine

 Tochigi Ken Boys' School Festival

 Highway Truck Stop 

 Fukushima Art Museum

 Shaved Ice

 Ice Cream Shop Poster

 River

 Ice Bucks Hockey Game

Moving Day

Moving Day

Today was moving day for me. I spent the first half of my morning with my first host family, which was very nice. My host sister and I went to a festival in Utsunomiya, then went shopping in central Utsunomiya. I had a lot of fun and took a ton of pictures! And even bought two new shirts. Afterwards, we headed back home where I had a last cup of tea with my host mother and sister. Then, it was off to my new host family's house. 

My new host family is very large and very kind. I have a host sister, brother-in-law, nephew, mother, and father, and they're all very wonderful. They don't speak much English (only a few words here and there), but that's quite alright. Their house is a bit far away from my school, so I will have to take a bike, a train, and then walk to school everyday from now on. I don't think it will be all that bad, even in the winter. Oh, and before I forget, I live on a Lilly farm. It's very wide and spacious and absolutely beautiful. 

It's definitely a change from my first host family, but nothing I can't get use to! 

New Host Sister!

New Host Sister!

I finally got to meet my other host sister. My host parents, host sister (the one who lives at home), and I went do to Tokyo on Saturday to watch my other host sister graduate from college. It was very lovely meeting her and watching her graduate. It was also very interesting to see a Japanese graduation ceremony. It was mainly the same as an American graduation ceremony, only a lot smaller and more bowing. After the ceremony, my host family, except for my new host sister, and I went to this nearby Indian festival. It was definitely a lot of fun. I even bought a new dress there. I didn't get to explore Tokyo all that much, but it surely was a gorgeous sight to see, and I definitely want to go back! I can't believe that I've been here an entire month already; it only feels like a few days!