Ramen Shop

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ5_gLDi43J96uqHAHRbtEQ

Youtube- Japanese Hydrangea Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQBBlkWyA4

Leaving T.T

I wrote this as I was on the train to Tokyo...

In the morning my host dad saw me off first since he had to go to work. I started sobbing.

Then after I left the house my okaasan, my siblings, and I went to a shrine near my house. On the way to the station we went to a bakery. It was the same place that I first came when I arrived.

After that we went to Kasugai station and Yuka came to say goodbye. She gave me chocolates with a cute little note on it. We both cried a lot!

My okaasan and siblings rode the train with me to Nagoya. We went up a tall building to look at the city. My okaasan bought me a handkerchief.

Then we had to go to the built train that would take me to the airport. When it was time for me to get on the train all of my family hugged me. My okaasan started crying and so did I.  I was so sad to leave.

The entire day we were talking. My siblings asked me if I was coming back next summer. My okaasan told me many times that my room will be empty and I am always welcome back. So we got to thinking and we decided it would be a good idea for me to go back next summer. I will have to work hard to save, but I think I can do it!
I have to go back!!
Bye...

Last Night

So its my last night in Japan. I feel like I have been here forever, but at the same time I feel like I just arrived yesterday. I cant believe my trip is over. I am not ready to go. 

Today I went to an onsen!!  I was a little scared since it was a public bath, but it was fun! There were so many different tubs!! An older lady tried to talk to me in Japanese. 

I ate a parfait afterwards. It was chocolate!! Then we went grocery shopping.  

We also went to a local temple! It was pretty.

Then we ate yakiniku, ice cream and cake for dinner. 

I HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR!

~

Nagoya Castle

Today we went to Nagoya Castle! It was huge!! Each floor was a museum! It was interesting!! There was a part about Nobunaga ( a person in history I learned about ). The castle was 5 floors!

We also went to Eon in Nagoya. We ate udon. I bought a bento there! I wish I had more time to shop in Japan. I wish I had more time in Japan :P I heard Japanese strangers talking about me. My host mom and I laughed about it! I was waiting for okaasan at the subway while she fixed our tickets and a strange lady came up to me and my little sister Kaho. Okaasan came over while the lady was talking in Japanese. We quickly walked away, but okaasan gave me a quick summary of what she said. She either thought I was half Japanese or my 4 year old sister my was my daughter. Either was is weird. 

We rode the bus too and it had a special rode above the normal rode so it can be on time! 

Im not ready to leave!

Bye!

Lily Garden

We went to a huge lily garden today. It was beautiful!! They said it had around 60,000 lilies! We rode a lift and got ti see beautiful lilies below us. 

There was also a huge slip and slide that we played on together! A little boy accidently ran into me and said sorry in Japanese. Then he looked up as I responded in Japanese and was surprised because I am a foreigner XD. Then he started talking to me and playing with me. 

There was a small station to catch fish with your hands, then they cook them for you. There was a net if you couldn't XD It was yummy!! It was a fun day!

On a side note there was a sign in the mountains to watch out for monkeys while driving, just like deer back home! XD

Bye~

MATSURI

I went to my grandparents today! My obaasan ( grandmother ) taught me how to put on my yukata. My siblings and I got ready together and went to the festival ( matsuri ) even though it was rainy. First we had yummy onigiri that my obaasan made!

I ran into a lot of people that knew me at the festival, but I didnt recognize all of them.. Woops :P 

There were lots of yummy food shops. We ate shaved ice! The fireworks were amazing!! Yuka and I met up! It was fun talking to her!!

Last Day of School

Today was sad and fun all at once. My friends gave me presents and made me a memory book. We all ate noodles during lunch. They planned to have everyone bring some. The all gave me a bunch of food XD

In the morning Yuka started crying so then I started crying. She is a close friend now! Then in the afternoon Kanae began crying which made me cry then Yuka and Saki cried too. We had a big crying session together in the middle of class.  We couldn't stop. I wish they could come to America with me. I have to come back to Japan next year and visit them! Thinking about leaving makes me cry!! 

I had to give a speech to the entire school in Japanese. They understood me and said I did very well and that my Japanese has improved a lot!! 

I went to piano lessons with my siblings and sung "Let it Go".

Bye!!

We cant stop crying

During Lunch

Before my speech

When I was leaving

Class Photo

Yukata shopping!

Today I went to karate and calligraphy! In karate the teacher bought everyone ice cream! It was yummy! 

Later I went yukata shopping with okaasan! They were all so pretty! I couldnt decide, but okaasan helped me! Although I didnt buy my belt yet. 

There is a boy in my class that reminds of a bad guy from one of the Korean shows I watch so I asked him for a picture XD. 

Tomorrow is my last day of school!

Bye...

Boy that looks like Korean star

Yukata!

KARAOKE

Today was super fun!!! I went to eat lunch at a cafe with my friends Yuka, Saki, and Mayuu! We ate dessert before lunch XD. We ordered to delicious desserts called shiru whirl. It was cake with ice cream and maybe syrup! We ordered two to split. Then three of us got iced cocoa, which had ice cream on top! Saki got iced coffee with ice cream! Then we all split a sandwhich! We ate so much sweets!

Then we went to karaoke!! I question why the US doesn't have this type of karaoke!! We had our own little room! Saki and I sung some Korean songs together. I tried to sing some English songs they knew! We had tamborines too! All of their voices were pretty. The best part is that for all of us together with drinks was only $15! I really want to go again, but I wont have time this trip, but thats ok, it gives me an excuse to come back!! :D Bye~

Shiru Whirl

At the cafe

Karaoke

At school the same day

Karate

I went to karate club today! The were super nice!! They automatically welcomed me as a part of the group. I felt like it was family. They gave me a club shirt and clothed me in karate pants. I took lots of pictures with them. They looked so cool when they performed karate!! Then there is me XD They taught me, but I was not so good. :P 

The English teacher that recorded me singing 'Let it Go' came over and gave me a present for singing. She is really nice. She said that she is already using the recording well! :D

I also went to my neighbors house and she gave me Hina dolls( used for decoration during Girls Festival in March) that she made. They are amazing!!!

Everyone I have met here so far is so nice!!

Bye~~

Kyoto Day 2

In the morning Haruto and Rio woke me up early. :P Rio had me style her hair. Then we played card games! My family and I had Japanese breakfast at the hotel.

It was rainy today, but we didn't let that ruin our day!! We visited Nijo Castle! It is known for the painting on the walls which were amazing. I took lots of photos outside, but we were not allowed to take photos in the castle. 

We also went to a HUGE shopping area! I wish we had one in Kentucky! It was a bunch of connected streets with small shops everywhere and a connecting roof.  We ate food from a few shops. They had me try a small octopus on a stickand vegetables   with fish cake fried. They were both delicious! 

My host mom had us visit a nearby multifloor department store. We went to the floor just for sweets!! I could live there!! Everything looked so good. I ended up not buying anything though. I wanted to buy everything. 

We went to a cafe for pasta and pizza. The pizza was cheese on bread with honey. The pasta was completely Japanese. Then we had cute yummy parfaits. 

On the way home I became a pillow for my siblings XD. 

Bye!!

Kyoto Day 1

First my family and I woke up early to leave for Kyoto. It was around a 2hr drive. 

The first temple we went to was Kiyomizu Temple. It was surrounded by narrow streets for people to walk and shop. It was fun!! Some people were walking around in kimonos and yukatas! I bought a lot! The temple itself was beautiful! I got a fortune there and I have good luck! :) Not the top level though. We ate ice cream and lunch in the shopping area.

Note: Even though Kyoto is a big city it is always possible to find somewhere that feels like traditional Japan, or like a completly different place. The city itself was nice and clean!! 

Next we went to Kinkaku Temple ( the golden temple) ! Sadly we couldnt go inside, but the view was breathe taking. 

After that we went to Ryoanji Temple ( famous for its rock garden ). It was soooo pretty, like everywhere!! 

We walked around Kyoto and had dinner at a small restaurant. I had sukiyaki!! 

Our hotel was super nice!!! I loved it! There was a live piano concert in the lobby. I stayed in a room with Haruto and Rio. 

Bye!!!!

Note 2: I have tons more pictures, but they are all on my camera so I will upload them when I get time.

Handball

The bike ride to school makes me tired! It long and I get tired quickly since it is humid. 

For club today I went to be a handball helper with Yuuka. It was fun! I also got to see karate and kendo! 

I met my siblings private English teacher! My host mom had me last minute sing "Let it go" for her. She loved it and asked me if she could record it! She also said that when I come back to Japan she would love to have me teach English!

Bye!

Purikura!

Today was tanabata festival! I wrote my wish!! In Japan you write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to bamboo! Hopefully it will come true.

During school we played Fruits Basket! It was fun and funny! ^_^ We also played telephone, but a boy in my group couldnt understand me even when my pronunciation was right! XD It was hilarious! 

After school I went to a huge shopping place with some of my friends. We went to a purikura station inside! We also ate delicious ice cream!! Sadly I had no time to shop XD 

BYE!

Purikura

Ice cream

 

Us in the purikura booth

Purikura booth

Nagoya City Science Museum

The museum was amazing!! It had so many interactive displays!! I loved it!!! It had all kinds of different types of science displays! I met up with a Japanese friend that lived in America for a few years. It was cool to see them in Japan and odd hearing them speak Japanese! He also took me to an anime store which had so much stuff, but was crowded. It was good that he knew where he was going since we had to ride the train and walk. If I was alone I would have gotten lost since I am directionally challenged . XD

Other than my day at Nagoya I ate yakiniku ( grilled meat )! It was so good!! I am going to get fat from all the Japanese food I eat!! 

Bye!!!

My friend and I

At the museum