Finally a Post!

Hi all sorry I havent posted in forever the days have been going very fast with the time in Tokyo wrapping up. We leave for Kyoto on Monday afternoon and we get to take the bullet train! Hopefully we'll see Mt. Fuji! I've been to Tokyo Tower, Asakusa, Shibuya, the Imperial Gate, and Hopppo-en garden (my favorite one so far since we got to participate in a traditional tea ceremony, it was really fascinating, peaceful, and respectful of the natural elements).

Tonight though was QUITE an experience haha. I met a bunch of my host dad's family tonight since they had never seen a blue eyed blonde before. They flipped lol they were so excited to see me it felt like I was some celebrity at Christmastime or something. They couldnt stop taking pictures of me and every couple minutes "shes so pretty" and "look at her eyes/hair" and "stay with us next time youre in Japan." LOL it was so funny the nephew of my host dad is 24 and a police officer and everyone wanted us to marry tonight! lol he was sooo nervous and kept laughing and offering me food. We took a picture together to show his friends haha and he was like omg after the picture. LOL my host mom was like uh she has a boyfriend cause they were NOT letting it go. It was pretty much one of the best experiences I've had so far - I thought Japanese people were really reserved and kept their emotions in check 24/7 but I was clearly wrong with this family. They were super giddy the entire time and every time I spoke Japanese they all clapped and cheered. Dinner was loud and fun and I just loved every minute of it as I blushed and laughed too. Fantastic night it was so much fun and I had such a good time :) Only in Japan!!!

Keep writing comments!! Lots of Love,
~Sam~

Tired...

Ok, so i'm writing in because a bunch of people were complaining haven't posted on the blog recently...let me first say this will be long, and second (to my dad) i have to move the whole comp around half the time to get it to charge, other times there's no problem...it's getting really annoying so can i get it looked at when i get home for the summer?? thank u. Ok, here's my recap of the trip (for me) since tuesday...

Classes have been boring...Tuesday after class I went out with Britton and his host father and host father's daughter. His host father's first question when I was introduced was "is she you're girlfriend?" and he didn't seem to understand when we tried to explain we're just friends. I got a kick out of that. He's a really nice guy, kept saying i was cute and that I have a nice smile (and he said once i look 15, i do NOT!! lol) We got Britton a cell phone (which took FOREVER!! and they kept giving us tea, though it was really good). Then we went out to dinner to this restaurant Britton went to last time he was here, but he couldn't find it, then, by chance, he did. I can't remember what we ate (and even if I could, I can't spell it) but it was good. there was this hot stove thing on the table in front of us that they put the food on to stay warm, or cook or whatever, it was good, i took a picture of it. Then I went home and didn't sleep because my insomnia finally found me (i thought I had lost it somewhere over the pacific or arctic)..
Wednesday we met at 130, but I have to leave my Host House at 8ish in the morning because that's when they all leave and I don't have a key, so I wandered around and found a beautiful garden. Lot's of pictures of that, and one sketch of a tree later, I realized I had to find my way back to school (which took some time, I lost track of where I had gone). Then we had our trip to the TV station which would have been much more interesting (and it was interesting for me because I love the gadgets and stuff they use) if we could understand more of what they said. After that we split up, but I was really tired and just went home where I bonded with my host mother while I helped make dinner (by cutting carrots). Then I passed out around 12...
Thursday we had more boring classes, I don't even remember what the lecture was about (politics and history I think) because the speaker spoke in a very low monotone...very boring. I think thursday is that day that Jessica and I explored around a bit, but I'm not totally positive, it could have also been the day I went straight home after school...they all blend together sometimes...
Friday was fun because after class (just the language one) we had a convention thing with Japanese students our age. I made a few friends there who were really cool. I spent a lot of time talking with these two girls Sally and another (who's name I don't want to brutally slaughter with my attempt at spelling) and we talked about Rome and Ancient Greece (my fave subjects and my major =D) and Sally knew a lot because she's a philosophy major and reads a lot of their stuff. So we had fun with that, then I went home (most of the way with Jess which was cool)...
Saturday my host family took me to two shrines, one Buddhist one Shinto, I took a LOT of pictures, of course. One of the shrines was by a beach and we got to play in the water which was amazing, I miss the beach (note to parents, I want to go to Glouscester for a weekend soon plz!!) I also managed to get a sunburn without realizing it. Now it hurts like all hell, but before it was pointed out to me I hadn't noticed...It also itches which is really annoying because it hurts to itch it. Then I went to a baseball game with Yuki. It was a Central League game (they have to leagues, Central and Pacific) between the Giants (home team) and the Swallows (also a Tokyo team, but the away team in this case). It was played in the Tokyo Dome, which is f***ing huge! (edited in case there are young children reading) the Giants have the CUTEST mascot ever, though I'm not quite sure what it is. the Giants won, the Swallows didn't even get a run it, it was sooo cool!! the Giants have cheerleader who come out every three innings or so, and there was no 'boo'ing in the crowd, nor yelling at the Ump...and each team had a band in the crowd leading ppl in cheering. And when a new batter came up for the Giants they each got a theme song. It was incredible. By the way, Happy Bday to my mom on sat...
Sunday, today, a group of us (not listing for fear of leaving out Megan accidentally again her killing me in my sleep) went to the Ueno Zoo...it was soo funn!! the bears and birds and bats and kitties were all soo cute!!! unfortunately my camera died part way though because I forgot to charge it (it's charging now), so i'll have to bum pictures off of Jess and Megan. Sam was craving American food so we had McDonalds for lunch...not as disgusting as it is at home at least. Then we went to the Tokyo Dome City (which is a park/shopping place outside the Tokyo Dome) and Jess and I rode the ferris wheel (like the REALLY big one in England) while Kim, Abby, Sam, and Megan went elsewhere, not sure where. Jess and hung out, talked, and looked around after the wheel. I bought Noah, and the girls (my baby cousins) presents. Sadi, Clara, Kiki, and Jen are also taken care of. Go me! After all that walking and doing stuff all day I came home, and almost immediately left again for a second baseball game (which i just got back from, the Giants lost this time, 2 to 1) because Yuki wanted me to go with him. It's so cute, they call me "R(l)in-Onee-chan" which is big sister lyn in Japanese...how can I say no?
Anyway, that's it...my humongously long post. I hope this satisfied everyone who was complaining =P


~LYN~

Fun Weekend

Hi all! Last Friday we had these round-table discussions with Japanese students about various social, political, or economic topics involving both countries - Liz and I had International Development which was about global poverty and volunteerism/awareness about poverty issues. Very cool the students were really nice and very curious (smart too!). Then we had a little reception which was lotsa fun and I wish we had more exposure to kids our age like that so we can ask more questions. I'm lucky because my host mom is very honest and fluent but many of us dont really get to ask questions either due to a language barrier or age barrier.

Saturday Chris, Jeff, and I went with Jeff/My host family to Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Hills. Tokyo Tower was neat I didnt go up because we're going on Wednesday when its less crowded but Jeff and Chris took the 600 stairs up! It was Childrens Day (national holiday) so it was pretty crowded, plus being a Saturday too. Roppongi we went to an modern art museum which was nice but modern art wasnt really my thing. Some stuff was cool like the historical art of laughter but the movies of people like walking down a street where not so interesting.

Today Meghan, Lyn, Jessica, Kim, Abby, and I went to Ueno Zoo which was fun :) Then we got McDonalds because I was craving it (plus NO american food in over a week, including Diet Coke) and went to Tokyo Dome City since it was raining pretty hard. Lyn and Jessica went on the ferris wheel while the rest of us went to "Bubba Gump Shrimp" Restaurant. Its a chain devoted to Forrest Gump the movie and was SO COOL. Theres one in Osaka too so we're gonna go then too. LOVED it so awesome very cool environment to relax in. So we had a bit of an pseudo-American day which was fun to take a minibreak from the Japanese overload. Good weekend overall :)
~Sam~