007

ahhhhhh the feeling of unrestricted internet access in the comfort of my own bedroom!

i moved house today, as the family i was with previously were only hosting me for a week while i settled in. now i'm living in a large apartment on the second floor, with a host mum, dad and 2 sisters (18 and 20).

Tomorrow I start school which will be scary... I catch the train at 7:23am and then walk from the Kaminopporo station to my high school (Kitahiroshima nishi koutou-gakkou). It's a pretty far way to walk but at least it will burn off all the okashi (snacks) i've been eating.

Last night I went to Sapporo for a Rotary introductory meeting, where I met with fellow exchange students plus all the students bound for America, Finland, Canada and Australia this August. We all did speeches (in Japanese of course) and stuff like that. I was invited to go out with the other Rotary students to Karaoke in the city but my Counselor said I wasn't allowed, which made me feel a little upset that the others got to go out and have fun together and i didn't, but once I got home and played with the kids and went for a late-night cake run with my host mum, I was feeling better.

Lately I've been feeling a little run down, just little bits of everything; little bit sore throat, little bit headache, little bit of a cough, but very tired, alot of the time. I hope it's just from the whole big change of scene, and that I bounce back after school starts. I'm gonna need all the energy I can get for school, seeing as though I'll be away from home for at least 9 hours each day.

I now have unlimited internet :) so I'll try and regulate this blog now, at least for the next 3 months, because my next family don't have internet again. sigh. not looking forward to that lol.

Ok well until next time.

Love from Laura xx

006

ｊｕｓｔ　ｌｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ａｍ　ｓａｆｅｌｙ　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｉｗａ，ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｗｅｌｌ，　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｓｔａｒｔ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｏｎ　Ｍｏｎｄａｙ．　Ａ　ｄｏｗｎ－ｓｉｄｅ　ｉｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ　ｄｏｅｓｎｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ，　ｔｈｕｓ　ｗｈｙ　ｉｍ　ｔｙｐｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗｅｉｒｄ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｏｎ　ａ　ｓｃａｒｙ　ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｏｍｐｕｔｅｒ．

ｔｏ　ｂｒｉｅｆｌｙ　ｏｕｔｌｉｎｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｈａｓ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　ｓｉｎｃｅ　ｌａｓｔ　ｂｌｏｇ；

Ｓｕｎｄａｙ　（ａｆｔｅｒ　ｌａｓｔ　ｂｌｏｇ）：

Ｆｌｅｗ　ｏｎ　ａ　‘ｒｅｇｉｏｎａｌ‘　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｔｏ　Ｈｏｋｋａｉｄｏ．．．　ｔｕｒｎｅｄ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａ　Ｂｏｅｉｎｇ　７４７－４００，　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅｌｙ　ｐａｉｎｔｅｄ　ｉｎ　Ｐｏｋｅｍｏｎ　ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｓ．　Ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｒｙｉｎｇ　ｅｘｔｒｅｍｅｌｙ　ｈａｒｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｌｅｅｐ，　ａｎｄ　ｆａｉｌｉｎｇ，　ｗｅ　ｃａｍｅ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｓｉｇｈｔ　ｏｆ　Ｈｏｋｋａｉｄｏ．Ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｈａｄ　ａ　ｌｉｖｅ　ｆｅｅｄ　ｃａｍｅｒａ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｉｔ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｗａｔｃｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｎｄ　ａｐｐｒｏａｃｈ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｏｌ．　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ：ｔ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｒｅａｌｉｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｗａｓ　ｅｎｔｉｒｅｌｙ　ｃｏｖｅｒｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｓｎｏｗ　ｕｎｔｉｌ　Ｉ　ｌｏｏｋｅｄ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｉｎｄｏｗ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅａｌｉｓｅｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｎｏ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅｎｔ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｐａｌｅ　ｃｏｌｏｕｒｅｄ　ｐａｄｄｏｃｋｓ，　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｌｆ　ａ　ｍｅｔｒｅ　ｏｆ　ｓｎｏｗ．　Ｉ　ｎｅａｒｌｙ　ｊｕｍｐｅｄ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｅｘｃｉｔｅｄ．　Ａｎｙｗａｙ，　ｗａｌｋｅｄ　ｉｎｓｉｄｅ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｇｒｅｅｔｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｇｉａｎｔ　‘Ｗｅｌｃｏｍ　Ｌａｕｒａ　Ｊａｎｅ　ＫＯＥＲＢＩＮ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ａｕｓｔｒａｌｉａ　ｔｏ　Ｅｎｉｗａ‘　ｂａｎｎｅｒ；　ｉ　ｎｅａｒｌｙ　ｃｒｉｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｈｏｎｅｓｔ．　Ｉ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｆａｍｏｕｓ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　３０　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｉｎｇ　ｍｅ，　ａｌｌ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｃａｍｅｒａｓ　ｆｌａｓｈｉｎｇ，　ａｌｌ　ｃａｌｌｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｎａｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｌｏｏｋ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅｍ．　Ｔｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｗｈｉｓｋｅｄ　ａｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｈｏｔｅｌ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｃｏｆｆｅｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃａｋｅ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ；　ｉ　ｆｏｒｇｏｔ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｎａｍｅｓ　ａｓ　ｓｏｏｎ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｓａｉｄ　ｔｈｅｍ！

Ｔｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｓｈｏｐｐｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｃｏｕｎｓｅｌｌｏｒ　ａｎｄ　ｈｉｓ　ｄａｕｇｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｄａｕｇｈｔｅｒ－ｉｎ－ｌａｗ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｎｅｗ　ｐｉｌｌｏｗ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｅ．　ｔｈｅｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｍｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｉｇｇｅｓｔ　ｏｎｅ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｆｉｎｄ，　ｗｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄｎｔ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｆｉｎｄ　ａ　ｐｉｌｌｏｗｃａｓｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｆｉｔｔｅｄ　ｉｔ．Ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ａｔ　ａ　ｙａｋｉ－ｎｉｋｕ，ｗｈｉｃｈ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｏｓｅ　ｔａｂｌｅｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｂｑｓ　ｂｕｉｌｔ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅｍ．　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ，　ｂｕｔ　ｎｏｔ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ａｔｅ．．．

Ｉｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｃｏｕｎｓｅｌｌｏｒｓ　ｓｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｈｉｓ　ｗｉｆｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　３　ｋｉｄｓ，　ｓｈｙｏｕ－ｄｏ　（１０　ｙｏ　ｂｏｙ），ｒｉｋｏ　（５　ｙｏ　ｇｉｒｌ　ｗｈｏ　ａｄｏｒｅｓ　ｍｅ　ｇｒｅａｔｌｙ），ａｎｄ　ｔｏｕｒｕ　（４ｙｏ　ｂｏｙ　ｗｈｏ　ｌｏｖｅｓ　ｌｉｓｔｅｎｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　‘Ｔｈｅ　Ｌｏｃｏｍｏｔｉｏｎ‘　ａｔ　５ａｍ）．Ｉ　ｍｏｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｏｆｆｉｃｉａｌ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ　ｏｎ　Ｓｕｎｄａｙ．

Ｏｎ　Ｍｏｎｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｅｃｓｔａｔｉｃ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ　ｆａｌｌｉｎｇ，　ａｎｄ　ｐｌａｙ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ，　ａｎｄ　ｔａｋｅ　ｐｈｏｔｏｓ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ．　Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｉｔ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｌｄｅｓｔ　ｉｔｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｉｍ　ｈｅｒｅ，　ｓｏ　ｆａｒ，　ｗａｓ　－８．　ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ．　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｒｍｅｓｔ，　１　ｄｅｇｒｅｅ　ｌｏｌ．Ｗｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｓｈｏｐｐｉｎｇ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　Ｉ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　ｅｎｔｅｒｔａｉｎｉｎｇ；　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｌｉｋｅ　‘Ｂｌｅｎｄｙ　Ｓｔｉｃｋｓ‘，‘ｅｖｅｒｙ　ｈａｍｂｕｒｇｅｒ‘ｓ，‘ｃｒｅａｐ‘　ａｎｄ　‘ｃｒｕｎｋｙ‘ｓ．Ｅｖｅｎ　‘ＰｅｔＳｈｅｅｔｓ‘，　ｗｈａｔｅｖｅｒ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ．

Ｔｕｅｓｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｓｐｅｎｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｊｏｒｉｔｙ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｙ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔａｒｙ　Ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｐｌａｙｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｋｉｄｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｅａｃｈｉｎｇ　ａ　ｃｌａｓｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ａｕｓｓｉｅ　Ａｎｉｍａｌｓ．　ｔｈｅ　ｋｉｄｓ　ａｌｌ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｈａｋｅ　ＥＶＥＲＹＯＮＥＳ　ｈａｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｏｎｅ　ｇｉｒｌ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｈｕｇｇｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｌｅｇｓ　ａｎｄ　ｗｏｕｌｄｎｔ　ｌｅｔ　ｇｏ　ｌｏｌ．
Ｉ　ａｌｓｏ　ｈａｄ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｍ，　ｓａｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｓｅａｔ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｎｙ　ｏｂｅｎｔｏ　ｂｏｘ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ．　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｌ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｎｉｃｅｌｙ　ｕｎｔｉｌ　ｉ　ｃａｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅａｌｉｓａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｔｉｎｙ　ｂａｂｙ　ｓａｒｄｉｎｅｓ　ｍｉｘｅｄ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｒｉｃｅ．　ｏｈ　ｍｙ　ｇｏｄ．　ｉ　ｔｒｉｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｐｓｙｃｈ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｕｐ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ　ｉｔ　ｂｕｔ　ｉ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｎｏｔ．　ａｒｇｈ．

Ｏｎ　Ｗｅｄｎｅｓｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　Ｒｏｔａｒｙ　ｍｅｅｔｉｎｇ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｗｅｌｌ，　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ａ　ｓｐｅｅｃｈ　（ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ）　ａｎｄ　ｈａｄ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｓｔｕｆｆ．　Ｇｏｏｄ　ｇｏｏｄ．

Ｙｅｓｔｅｒｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｖｉｓｉｔｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｏｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｍｙ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｓｉｃｓ　ｓｐｏｒｔｓ　ｕｎｉｆｏｒｍｓ　ａｎｄ　ｓｈｏｅｓ，　ｎｏ　ｐｉｅｒｃｉｎｇｓ　ａｎｄ　ｎｏ　ｊｅｗｅｌｌｅｒｙ　ａｌｌｏｗｅｄ．．．．．　ｈｍｍ．．．

ｏｋ　ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ．　ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｕｐｌｏａｄ　ｐｈｏｔｏｓ　ｏｎ　ｆａｃｅｂｏｏｋ　ｉ　ｈｏｐｅ．　ｉ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｌｏｇ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｓｔ　ｂｕｔ　ｉｔ　ｍａｙ　ｔａｋｅ　ａ　ｗｈｉｌｅ．　ｉｍ　ｈｏｐｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　：Ｐ

ｏｋ！　ｂｙｅ　ｂｙｅ　ｂｙｅ　ｂｙｅ　ｂｙｅ　さようなら

005

Wow. where do i start.

Well firstly, I'm currently sitting in Haneda Domestic Airport in Tokyo. I am so happy! But I'll rewind a little and describe the past 3-4 days....

---

On Wednesday, after my last lesson with my Japanese tutor Aya, my friends and some family friends came over for a bit of a farewell. Then just my friends stayed the night.



Thursday, I had a few more friends turn up, and we went out for lunch, went for a swim in the pool (unfortunately it got pretty cold), and then we went out for dinner which was really nice. Then we spent the night all together having a good time, until Friday... the last day :(



I cried my eyes out saying goodbye to my friends... they're all so important to me, and I'm going to miss them. I already do. We left Merimbula at around midday, only to get to Tantawangalo (about 40km away) to realise that I'd left my Rotary blazer in my wardrobe at home. So, back to Merimbula we went. An hour and a half later we were back going through Tantawangalo when Kobi threw up -____-' gross.


In Canberra, mum and I went to the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition, which was great to see. Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' was our favourite. That evening Grandma cooked a roast lamb with a dessert of golden syrup dumplings, and a BBQ breakfast.



So we drove to Sydney on Saturday morning, getting to the airport at about midday. There were loads of Rotary students there, so it wasn't hard to make new friends and find where to go. Mum nearly cried but I'm glad she didn't - it was pretty lighthearted saying goodbye to them, which I'm grateful for.


The flight to KL took FOREVER. Sooooo boring. I watched some of The Aristocats but got bored, listened to some music but got bored, tried to edit my YouTube video but got annoyed because it didn't work, and ate aeroplane food!


The wait between flights in KL went pretty quickly, and us Japanese-bound students got to know eachother a bit.

Our flight left at some ridiculous hour in the night, apparantly some passenger got lost, but we got there on time anyway. I slept for maybe an hour or less, very uncomfortably; the cabin was stuffy and hot :( but even though it felt like forever, the feeling of happiness I got when I saw Mt Fuji poking out the top of some clouds made it all worthwhile. It was amazing. The coastline is surprisingly flat, then there's just this giant volcano covered in snow. I was busting to get out of the plane, but we landed and took forever to stop.

The temperature here is so good! minus 3, yayyayayay. Anyway, we went through Customs etc etc (had our fingerprints and photos taken), then finally picked up our suitcases and met our bus driver; he was hilarious. Spoke extremely little English but was very funny, and we understood him anyway. We were taken to a small mini-bus, then realised our suitcases were coming in too; so we were packed up in the van with suitcases on our laps haha. We sped along the highway to Haneda airport, where the bus driver unloaded us and drove off, leaving us on the kerb :P good fun.

So now we (myself and four other girls) are sitting in Haneda Domestic, waiting for a bit of time to pass so we can check in our luggage. From here on we all split up and go our separate ways; my host family will be waiting for me at Sapporo/Chitose airport (hopefully!).

At the airport here, we experienced the Japanese toilets (complete with running water sound that starts as soon as you sit down/heated seat/TV screen/instructions on how to use the buttons), managed to buy some food at a bakery (YUMMY) and I also bought a bottle of water (amazing, I know. The shopkeeper was so adorable, this old lady).

(it has an aeroplane and 'HANEDA' written on it. The stuff inside is sweet bean paste)

So in conclusion, I am very very happy with everything, I'm so SO glad I've come on exchange. I feel like this is going to be a very good year. I love it here!! <3

004

I am genuinely scared. It sunk in today that I have only three weeks left until I leave. I'm realising how much I actually will miss my friends, I will miss my family, my home, my town, the familiarity of everything...

I know that this is a big turning point in my life; I realise that it will change me. But I am scared. I'm scared of returning back to Australia and finding that all of my friends have moved away, too far away for me to see them again, or they will have forgotten me. I have three weeks left to spend as much time as I can with them all, and my family too.

My younger sister, Hanna, went to Vietnam today, for a holiday with my Grandma (I went to China in 2007, and took my Grandma along, so this year is Hanna's turn for a Grandma bonding holiday). She'll be gone for two weeks. That means that when she returns, it's only one week until I leave.

I'm dreading the moment where I'll say goodbye to everyone for the last time. And writing that just brought tears to my eyes.