stuff I'm looking forward too:
AFS party
Tokyo Disneyland
Possible 1C Christmas Party
Japanese New Years
probably some other stuff too~
I've been a little sick this week. I went to Kanazawa to take the JLPT. The test wasn't that bad, although the Kanazawa weather was terrible. So walking back to the train station was pretty BLEH. The wind kept you from using an umbrella or a hood, so rain fell and fell. I think I'm recovering though ^^
boop blog
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
BWA
It had been like a month! Dont kill me AFS :(
Very busy girl (>w<;;)
nanka, picture!
Host doggy and korirakuma slippers :]
byebye!
GYAAA
LONG TIME NO POST.
I'm too busy changing host families and having fun and what not
Soooo, on November 1st I changed host families. I simply looooove my new host family. They are easily as nice - if not nicer - than my first host family \(^u^)/ and much less busy. And I think they were very excited to host an exchange student, I just hope I can live up to their expectations! Nevertheless, I easily feel at home here.
AAAnd, School is getting easier. More and more people are talking to me everyday, so Im glad to know that they are interested in me and American culture. It's kind of odd, since foreign language classes in America really emphasize that languages culture when we study it in class, although in Japan, its more grammar, practice and drills. Oh well, I think thats an excuse to talk to me.
Also, Im trying my best to join a club or team at school, however I feel that my school really focuses on their club activities - for example they have one of the best baseball teams in Japan and the best cheerleading team in the world...lol. And I feel that the other clubs treat their club the same way. Needless to say, it isnt a very exchange student friendly situation. So when Ive tried to join clubs in the past, the teachers and members see me as a person who doesnt know what she is doing, and would thus bring their score down. How kind. Right now Im trying to join the Koto club, but the Koto teacher told me to wait until next week, although shes been saying that for the past 3 weeks. bleh.
Other than that, Nagoya was faaaabulous. I had such a wonderful time :] I even saw a Color Guard practicing on the Nagoya Castle grounds....... soooo lovely <333
And, Hiroshima was so amazing. We are the obamajority everyone! I still really want a T Shirt, too! Maybe Obama, Fukui sells them o:
So this is me.
Spreading peace in the 3 months I have left!
ナンカ、全部は素晴らしイだけどアメリカみたいのものを見るとき、懐かしい気持ちを考える。帰りたくないけど帰りたいね？
じゃねええ
I'm too busy changing host families and having fun and what not
Soooo, on November 1st I changed host families. I simply looooove my new host family. They are easily as nice - if not nicer - than my first host family \(^u^)/ and much less busy. And I think they were very excited to host an exchange student, I just hope I can live up to their expectations! Nevertheless, I easily feel at home here.
AAAnd, School is getting easier. More and more people are talking to me everyday, so Im glad to know that they are interested in me and American culture. It's kind of odd, since foreign language classes in America really emphasize that languages culture when we study it in class, although in Japan, its more grammar, practice and drills. Oh well, I think thats an excuse to talk to me.
Also, Im trying my best to join a club or team at school, however I feel that my school really focuses on their club activities - for example they have one of the best baseball teams in Japan and the best cheerleading team in the world...lol. And I feel that the other clubs treat their club the same way. Needless to say, it isnt a very exchange student friendly situation. So when Ive tried to join clubs in the past, the teachers and members see me as a person who doesnt know what she is doing, and would thus bring their score down. How kind. Right now Im trying to join the Koto club, but the Koto teacher told me to wait until next week, although shes been saying that for the past 3 weeks. bleh.
Other than that, Nagoya was faaaabulous. I had such a wonderful time :] I even saw a Color Guard practicing on the Nagoya Castle grounds....... soooo lovely <333
And, Hiroshima was so amazing. We are the obamajority everyone! I still really want a T Shirt, too! Maybe Obama, Fukui sells them o:
So this is me.
Spreading peace in the 3 months I have left!
ナンカ、全部は素晴らしイだけどアメリカみたいのものを見るとき、懐かしい気持ちを考える。帰りたくないけど帰りたいね？
じゃねええ
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hmm.
I realized now, that I don't think I've really talked about what my daily life is like in these posts, just bits and pieces of days and stuff that's been happening. So I'll do just that!
From Monday to Friday, I go to school. I go by train from my town to Fukui City where my school is. The train leaves at around 7:30 and I get to the station near my school at around 8:00. I switch trains once, the latter being very, very crowded. I've literary been pushed onto the train by the eki'in...train people...uh I don't remember what they are called in English................................(anyway) which was rather alarming the first time, but now I'm pretty used to it. And the train ride itself isn't that long so it's not that bad :)
And at school, I'm in the 1-C class. Japanese High Schools are made of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, or Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors (NO FRESHMAN, they are still Junior High School students here, ahaha). And the grades are divided into classes A - H. So Japanese high school students don't pick and choose classes to make their schedule, they choose their class. The C Class is the International Business Class (Commercial High School haha) and my host mother told me that it's the most difficult class in the school...SO WHY AM I HERE? However, There are two English classes, one of which that meets everyday. Anyway, this means that you have the same classes with the same people all day. And you have a homeroom teacher, with homeroom before and after school starts and finishes. My homeroom teacher? Her name's Watanabe - sensei........ :D
The class schedule is also different! Unlike America which has a set schedule, every class everyday at the same time, Japanese Schools have many different classes that maybe only be two or three or four times a week, and everyday, at a different time. This......... I still don't understand, since the schedule written on the wall isn't the class that I'll have. I'll surviveeeeeeee (maybe). My classes include Math (sophomore math haha), English, English Grammar (They learn the weirdest things is Grammar. For example, something like "The book dropped itself on me" ...Why would you need to learn that!! I'd just say "The book fell"!!), Art, Music, and P.E. I may be able to take Calligraphy soon, so that might be exciting (>.And I've probably mentioned this already, but I wear a uniform! I wear a dark gray skirt with a white collar long sleeve shirt, light gray vest and ribbon. When its very cold, I wear a gray blazer as well. I'll try and post pictures soon :D Sometimes when I read manga, the uniform in the story will look like my uniform and I get excited. Funny huh? Anyway, I think my uniform is pretty cute. I actually like it more than having to constantly run around before school trying to figure out what to wear like I do back home. So it saves time and looks cute, yay! My only complaint is that the skirt is a little small and after I eat lunch it is difficult to breatheeeeeeeeeeeeee.
UWAH. I typed a lot. There is still so much to say but I'll talk about that later. It will give everyone who reads this something to look forward too :D AND, next week, I'm going to Nagoya so I'll be sure to talk about that.
Also, I've been a bit homesick lately. This weekend, I just started crying while I was spending time with my host family. I don't really know why apart from the fact I just miss the familiarity of America........ although thats nothing fun to talk about...just know that I miss everyone and everything very, very much x3
Also, also....GOODBYE ENGLISH SKILLSSSSS. I apologize for my inability to type anything D;
TAKE CARE
Love,
Molly
From Monday to Friday, I go to school. I go by train from my town to Fukui City where my school is. The train leaves at around 7:30 and I get to the station near my school at around 8:00. I switch trains once, the latter being very, very crowded. I've literary been pushed onto the train by the eki'in...train people...uh I don't remember what they are called in English................................(anyway) which was rather alarming the first time, but now I'm pretty used to it. And the train ride itself isn't that long so it's not that bad :)
And at school, I'm in the 1-C class. Japanese High Schools are made of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, or Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors (NO FRESHMAN, they are still Junior High School students here, ahaha). And the grades are divided into classes A - H. So Japanese high school students don't pick and choose classes to make their schedule, they choose their class. The C Class is the International Business Class (Commercial High School haha) and my host mother told me that it's the most difficult class in the school...SO WHY AM I HERE? However, There are two English classes, one of which that meets everyday. Anyway, this means that you have the same classes with the same people all day. And you have a homeroom teacher, with homeroom before and after school starts and finishes. My homeroom teacher? Her name's Watanabe - sensei........ :D
The class schedule is also different! Unlike America which has a set schedule, every class everyday at the same time, Japanese Schools have many different classes that maybe only be two or three or four times a week, and everyday, at a different time. This......... I still don't understand, since the schedule written on the wall isn't the class that I'll have. I'll surviveeeeeeee (maybe). My classes include Math (sophomore math haha), English, English Grammar (They learn the weirdest things is Grammar. For example, something like "The book dropped itself on me" ...Why would you need to learn that!! I'd just say "The book fell"!!), Art, Music, and P.E. I may be able to take Calligraphy soon, so that might be exciting (>.And I've probably mentioned this already, but I wear a uniform! I wear a dark gray skirt with a white collar long sleeve shirt, light gray vest and ribbon. When its very cold, I wear a gray blazer as well. I'll try and post pictures soon :D Sometimes when I read manga, the uniform in the story will look like my uniform and I get excited. Funny huh? Anyway, I think my uniform is pretty cute. I actually like it more than having to constantly run around before school trying to figure out what to wear like I do back home. So it saves time and looks cute, yay! My only complaint is that the skirt is a little small and after I eat lunch it is difficult to breatheeeeeeeeeeeeee.
UWAH. I typed a lot. There is still so much to say but I'll talk about that later. It will give everyone who reads this something to look forward too :D AND, next week, I'm going to Nagoya so I'll be sure to talk about that.
Also, I've been a bit homesick lately. This weekend, I just started crying while I was spending time with my host family. I don't really know why apart from the fact I just miss the familiarity of America........ although thats nothing fun to talk about...just know that I miss everyone and everything very, very much x3
Also, also....GOODBYE ENGLISH SKILLSSSSS. I apologize for my inability to type anything D;
TAKE CARE
Love,
Molly
Sunday, September 27, 2009
"Yesterday is Molly's Birthday"
Hello everyone! I hope you have a faaabulous September.
This weekend, I turned 17! It was definitely a wonderful celebration. Many of my friends at school wished me a happy birthday on Friday, and even some people I didn't even know wished me a Happy Birthday, so that was pretty special :) And after school, one of my friends took me to Fukui City for Purikura* It was my first time to take purikura pictures but it was so so soso fun!!! Who knew taking and decorating pictures could be so awesome :D I can't wait to try it again.
*Purikura is short for purinto kurabu (print club) in Japanese. Its those smalls sticker pictures that are very bright and colorfully decorated for those who don't know. So fun!!
Since my birthday was a Friday night, my host parents and sister, Mina, were working and at cram school. However Miki and my host grandparents celebrated with me with cake! Miki managed to put 17 candles on the cake and it lit up the whole kitchen. (AH Im so old) It took me maybe 6 times to blow out all the candles, but the cake was super tasty. It was chocolate and banana and super creamy. I luuurve Japanese desserts ;D
It was so much fun...and then Saturday came!
My host mother told me since I had school on Friday, it was diffiuclt to have a party on my birthday. So yesterday I went to papa and mama's restaurant and was greeted by a bunch of my friends from school! I recieved lots of really cute presents >.< and ate lots of tasty Shabu Shabu and more Chocobanana cake <3 It was so much fun, I was so happy!! It was a truely wonderfully awesomely wonderful weekend.
Oh! And did you know thta there is no Japanese version of "Happy Birthday"? They just sing it in English which is super cute :)
Well, apart from that , I did think about everyone in America too. It was very different being away from everyone for my birthday ;__; I hope the marching band have a very good competition this weekend and everyone else have a very good weekend too!
Loooooove
Molly
This weekend, I turned 17! It was definitely a wonderful celebration. Many of my friends at school wished me a happy birthday on Friday, and even some people I didn't even know wished me a Happy Birthday, so that was pretty special :) And after school, one of my friends took me to Fukui City for Purikura* It was my first time to take purikura pictures but it was so so soso fun!!! Who knew taking and decorating pictures could be so awesome :D I can't wait to try it again.
*Purikura is short for purinto kurabu (print club) in Japanese. Its those smalls sticker pictures that are very bright and colorfully decorated for those who don't know. So fun!!
Since my birthday was a Friday night, my host parents and sister, Mina, were working and at cram school. However Miki and my host grandparents celebrated with me with cake! Miki managed to put 17 candles on the cake and it lit up the whole kitchen. (AH Im so old) It took me maybe 6 times to blow out all the candles, but the cake was super tasty. It was chocolate and banana and super creamy. I luuurve Japanese desserts ;D
It was so much fun...and then Saturday came!
My host mother told me since I had school on Friday, it was diffiuclt to have a party on my birthday. So yesterday I went to papa and mama's restaurant and was greeted by a bunch of my friends from school! I recieved lots of really cute presents >.< and ate lots of tasty Shabu Shabu and more Chocobanana cake <3 It was so much fun, I was so happy!! It was a truely wonderfully awesomely wonderful weekend.
Oh! And did you know thta there is no Japanese version of "Happy Birthday"? They just sing it in English which is super cute :)
Well, apart from that , I did think about everyone in America too. It was very different being away from everyone for my birthday ;__; I hope the marching band have a very good competition this weekend and everyone else have a very good weekend too!
Loooooove
Molly
Monday, September 14, 2009
VERY SCARY!
To understand my adventure today, we must backtrack to last Thursday.
~*~
I was going home on the 4:19 train after school on Thursday. I actually got to the station a little early so I decided to sit down and listen to some music while I waited for the train. Shortly after I sat down, a man (I would describe him as 45-50 years old) sat down next to me. He was wearing a medical mask so I really couldnt tell what he looked like. At first he did nothing but then he handed me a sample/advertisment towel. I remember when I went to Tokyo two years ago that many people give out free samples, including tissues and towels to advertise things. I said thank you for the towel and turned away. However the man continued to stare at me. He then started asking me very weird questions, his first being "Do you have a friend to ride home with?" (Note, he first started talking to me in Japanese very quickly so I replied that I don't understand...so he continued to talk to me only in English). He asked me many other questions too, having to with why I was here, if I went to school, if I was on a home stay, and what my hobbies were. I tried to keep my answers short and vague because I really didnt want him to know too much about me. And when the train arrived, I tried to move towards a different car away from where I was sitting...but he followed me. And when I sat down, he stood right in front of me and continued asking questions. Putting it lightly, I really wanted to get off the train :( When I reached the train station, I quickly got off and he thankfully did not follow. Im not sure what I would have done if he did.... >.<
I told my host sister, host mother, and English teacher about this. My host mother contacted AFS and I talked breifly with the Fukui President about the 'scary man' as I described him to my sister. My English teacher thought that maybe he was interested in my culture, however I dont know why he would ask if I had a friend to ride the train with or stare at me the way he did. It was just very, very unpleasant. Thankfully Ive ridden the train three times (although at different times) home since then and there is no sign of him.
And ANYWAY, today I was escorted by the POLICE to the train station. They were very nice and of course wanted me to be safe, but it was very um, attention drawing for lack of a better word. If you could imagine the exchange student + the police I turned a lot of heads :( However I met another girl from my school at the train staion; the policeman asked her to stay with me on the train after the train arrived. She was very nice, and I actually managed to have a brief conversation in Japanese with her about the scary man. So I suppose out of all this mess, I managed to score some language use points! My English teacher also told me that tomorrow, the police want to ask me questions about this scary man, so I have that to look forward to >.< Errrr why meeeee
I wasnt going to update my blog so soon, however after today I thought this was blog worthy. And most importantly, I wanted to tell everyone that despite all this, Im doing okay. Like I said, I havent seen this man again and with the precautions that the Japanese police are taking, hopefully I will never see him again :)
Everybody else take care too!
Love, Molly
~*~
I was going home on the 4:19 train after school on Thursday. I actually got to the station a little early so I decided to sit down and listen to some music while I waited for the train. Shortly after I sat down, a man (I would describe him as 45-50 years old) sat down next to me. He was wearing a medical mask so I really couldnt tell what he looked like. At first he did nothing but then he handed me a sample/advertisment towel. I remember when I went to Tokyo two years ago that many people give out free samples, including tissues and towels to advertise things. I said thank you for the towel and turned away. However the man continued to stare at me. He then started asking me very weird questions, his first being "Do you have a friend to ride home with?" (Note, he first started talking to me in Japanese very quickly so I replied that I don't understand...so he continued to talk to me only in English). He asked me many other questions too, having to with why I was here, if I went to school, if I was on a home stay, and what my hobbies were. I tried to keep my answers short and vague because I really didnt want him to know too much about me. And when the train arrived, I tried to move towards a different car away from where I was sitting...but he followed me. And when I sat down, he stood right in front of me and continued asking questions. Putting it lightly, I really wanted to get off the train :( When I reached the train station, I quickly got off and he thankfully did not follow. Im not sure what I would have done if he did.... >.<
I told my host sister, host mother, and English teacher about this. My host mother contacted AFS and I talked breifly with the Fukui President about the 'scary man' as I described him to my sister. My English teacher thought that maybe he was interested in my culture, however I dont know why he would ask if I had a friend to ride the train with or stare at me the way he did. It was just very, very unpleasant. Thankfully Ive ridden the train three times (although at different times) home since then and there is no sign of him.
And ANYWAY, today I was escorted by the POLICE to the train station. They were very nice and of course wanted me to be safe, but it was very um, attention drawing for lack of a better word. If you could imagine the exchange student + the police I turned a lot of heads :( However I met another girl from my school at the train staion; the policeman asked her to stay with me on the train after the train arrived. She was very nice, and I actually managed to have a brief conversation in Japanese with her about the scary man. So I suppose out of all this mess, I managed to score some language use points! My English teacher also told me that tomorrow, the police want to ask me questions about this scary man, so I have that to look forward to >.< Errrr why meeeee
I wasnt going to update my blog so soon, however after today I thought this was blog worthy. And most importantly, I wanted to tell everyone that despite all this, Im doing okay. Like I said, I havent seen this man again and with the precautions that the Japanese police are taking, hopefully I will never see him again :)
Everybody else take care too!
Love, Molly
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Yasumiiiiiii
ON THURSDAY, MY CAMERA BROKE. I WAS SLIGHTLY NOT HAPPY.
However, I bought a new one yesterday. It's pink and very cute. Unfortunately I cant access all of the picture on my old camera, so if/until I figure that out, Ill have to take new ones to upload :)
ALSO. This comes up as on Sunday? That is not true! It is Monday here!
Anyway......National holiday means no school! It's labor day in America too, right? Aah, twins!
Last week we finished our school festival. It was three days and ended with Sports Day. It reminded me a lot like field day in middle school but slightly more organized and fun. I was in a relay too. The students had to run around the track, stop at a desk and answer a math problem, after that was done, we had to grab a piece of bread hanging from a string without using our hands. After you grabbed the bread, you ran to the finish line. I finished 3rd out of 8. THIRD! ME! Can you believe it? I was so proud of myself...and the bread was very tasty :D
Things are getting easier too. I finally understand my Host Family situation. I swith families on November 1st. It's very sad to think about really, but I'm sure it will work out in the end. And the language difference is getting easier. I can understand and pick out more and more words I know and read along with the TV. And I had a conversation with my host sister and her friends about food that we like, in Japanese! I still have a long way to go but I think I've made an important step!!
Until next time! Ja neeee
However, I bought a new one yesterday. It's pink and very cute. Unfortunately I cant access all of the picture on my old camera, so if/until I figure that out, Ill have to take new ones to upload :)
ALSO. This comes up as on Sunday? That is not true! It is Monday here!
Anyway......National holiday means no school! It's labor day in America too, right? Aah, twins!
Last week we finished our school festival. It was three days and ended with Sports Day. It reminded me a lot like field day in middle school but slightly more organized and fun. I was in a relay too. The students had to run around the track, stop at a desk and answer a math problem, after that was done, we had to grab a piece of bread hanging from a string without using our hands. After you grabbed the bread, you ran to the finish line. I finished 3rd out of 8. THIRD! ME! Can you believe it? I was so proud of myself...and the bread was very tasty :D
Things are getting easier too. I finally understand my Host Family situation. I swith families on November 1st. It's very sad to think about really, but I'm sure it will work out in the end. And the language difference is getting easier. I can understand and pick out more and more words I know and read along with the TV. And I had a conversation with my host sister and her friends about food that we like, in Japanese! I still have a long way to go but I think I've made an important step!!
Until next time! Ja neeee
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