010

Guess what day it is! It's the 24th of February, which means I have been in Japan for exactly one month now. It's gone incredibly fast, and I really miss Australia but it has already been such an experience here. I'm really looking forward to the next 11 months.

Anyway, this will mainly be an update about my trip to Okinawa. :)

We woke up at 6am on Friday morning, caught the train to Chitose and flew out of Hokkaido at around 9:15am (in ALOT of snow. I was scared!)
Anyway, after getting the connecting flight in Tokyo, we arrived in Okinawa around 2:30pm and went to our hotel in Naha. I shared a room with my two sisters and the parents slept in a room next door.

In the afternoon, we visited the underground tunnels where Japanese soldiers fought from in WW2. It was pretty interesting.. and one room I walked into, saw some chips in the wall and thought "oh yeah, just gunfire.." then I saw this;...definitely got the heebie jeebies. everything was in Japanese so unfortunately I didn't understand why they committed suicide etc. But there you go.

We spent the evening walking around the main street, which is really awesome; lots and lots of lights, music, people, everything. Okinawans have a lot more of a laid-back personality, and a good sense of humour. And there was no snow! It was only about 18 on the first day, but the warmest it got was around 23 or so. It was extremely nice to have the sun on me again.
On Saturday morning, while my host parents went to play golf all day, my sisters and I (in the rent-a-car), drove 2 hours north to visit the biggest aquarium in the world. It was pretty good, although there were so many people there it made it a little hard to be able to look at everything.

We also watched a dolphin show which was good, the sun came out and so it was waaarm~~ and the dolphins seemed like they were having fun, which made me happy :)



After the aquarium, we drove back down south to a Pineapple Park where they grow some of the pineapples and things. We had a small tour in a self-driven pineapple buggy, which sort of creeped me out; no cables or anything, it just literally drove itself.
After tasting many pineapples (And pineapple cake, pineapple biscuits, pineapple chocolate..) we drove back to the hotel where we rested, then went back down the main street after dinner. There are alot of American soldiers who are stationed in Okinawa, so I met some who were hilarious; and they were very happy to meet me - "man you are so sexy, that Australian accent, ahh!"We also made friends with a few more shop-keepers.. basically, when they realise you don't want to buy whatever it is they're trying to sell, they'll just strike up a conversation. :)

On Sunday, we took the rent-a-car back out again, this time to Okinawa World; which is exactly that. Like a small theme park about Okinawa. There were caves, more pineapples, glass-making, traditional song and dance, snakes and snake wine.
That night we went, yet again, to the main street, to a Teppanyaki restaurant. It's a table with the BBQ built in, and each table gets their own personal chef. We ate tofu, salad, steak, rice, lobster, and this garlic rice stuff which was really tasty but I only could eat like half a spoonful because I was so damn full.
We flew out of Naha International Airport on Monday afternoon, after visiting Okinawa Castle (A World Heritage place) in the morning. It was good, but they had been renovating and restoring everything. I personally think they've overdone it; it's basically just been rebuilt completely new, so it doesn't feel like anything ancient.
But anyway, Okinawa was great, I hope that one day I can visit again.. maybe in the summer!

009

Two weeks since my last post... sorry! I've just felt so busy and tired that I haven't wanted or haven't had an opportunity to sit down and update this. I've been doing my best to keep a written diary too, and my Japanese tutor also asked me to start keeping a diary in Japanese to help me learn. So I'll flick through those as I go and point out some of the more interesting things I've been up to since my last update :)

I'm getting into the routine of school now, although I'm being put in the library instead of going to classes like Maths, Science, Japanese, even Home Ec... I only attend English, OC (Oral Communication - like a more fun version of English), Calligraphy and P.E (which is cross-country skiing - awesome, I know!). I've asked to be put in with all of the classes, because I'm not progressing at all by sitting alone in the library with the occasional English teacher coming to talk to me (in English, which doesn't teach me how to talk here). I also recently got my uniform, yay.

Anyway, the other students have pretty much accepted me; all the girls seem to love me, but the boys are pretty shy I think. A few have said hello, or nodded quietly, but there is one boy named Shuto who is a bit of a bugger lol. I had to do an introductory speech infront of the whole year at assembly, and afterwards as everyone was filing out, he walked past, said hello, shook my hand, then blew me a kiss over his shoulder as he left. Later that day after P.E, he kept calling out "Laura! Texas Burger! This Is IT!" (meaning Texas Burger; the current popular McDonald's burger in Japan, and This Is It; the Michael Jackson movie) I just smile and shake my head and wave enthusiastically at him.

I had an official welcoming party for me at the Eniwa Rotary Club headquarters which was really good, all the Rotarians and my host families were there, but it turned out I had to do a speech which I hadn't written. So I got called up and said a line or two, but then I just couldn't translate into Japanese what I wanted to say. So I stressed out a bit, and my host sister helped, but yeah. Made a bit of a fool of myself and shed a few tears but everyone clapped for me and it was all fine in the end. And we played bingo and I won a 6-pack of Sapporo Beer (which is now sitting in the corner of the loungeroom because I'm not allowed to drink it here lol).

The Sapporo Snow Festival has been and gone, and although I was only able to see it briefly, it was pretty good. It snowed a fair bit and my host parents sort of rushed past everything, so I didn't get to see everything, but I got a couple of photos and saw the main things so.. it's okay I think. We also went to Otaru, which is on the coast; I loved it. We went at night, so there were all these fairy lights and music and snow and it was just beautiful.

I finally got to experience Karaoke for the first time with my two host sisters, Ai and Mai. It was so awesome!! I love it. And the Japanese are actually really good singers, I haven't heard any Japanese person sing out-of-tune yet. I went to Karaoke again the other night with some people, including a girl named Tessa who was the Exchange Student here last, also from Australia. She'd come back for a visit with her boyfriend. So we, along with my future host brother Atsuo and a bunch of his friends, went to the same Karaoke place and sang our hearts out. Karaoke is so good.

and don't let the wall mislead you; the flash ruins it, but it's actually lime green fluroescent paint :DSo anyway. I also did things like meet the Mayor of Eniwa (complete with about half a dozen reporters taking photos and jotting down notes and asking me questions), went to Chitose and saw the Hyotou Ice Festival which was beautiful - I personally liked it more than the snow festival - and I joined the Calligraphy Club at school (although this means I don't leave school til 4:30-5pm when it's on). I also had a Soba cooking class at the pre-school across the road which was good fun, although I missed out on the pumpkin tempura (my favourite) because we had to wait in line to cook the soba :(

^^^ this last photo is taken at my 4th host families house. from L > R; Tessa, Atsuro, the two girls I don't know the names of but they're friends of Atsuro's little sister Chi-chi who is behind me. Then there's 'Kevin' who is actually Korean and lives in Australia and is here with Atsuro (they both study in Brisbane), and another of Chi-chi's friends.

I got a keitai!! (mobile phone) - it is epic awesome. it was apparently a cheaper option, but I am very happy with it. Unlimited internet! so I won't be completely cut off from the world during my next host family (they don't have the net).


apologies for crappy badly lit gross-looking-me webcam photos. But basically it can twist and flip and has a Google button and touchscreen and TV and full internet browser and 5.1MP camera and all sorts of awesome things. <3

I also went to the onsen for the first time, in Yuni which is about an hours drive away. It was pretty daunting to, you know, walk naked into a room of about 50-100 women and go for a bath. Hm. But I went with Tessa and Chi-chi, so it wasn't too bad, although I don't think I'll go again. Though, sitting outside in the middle of the snow, in a hot rockpool, with snow falling on your head is pretty unreal. I mean, if I were there alone it would've been perfect, but with all the other women... not as nice :( but at least I can say I've done it!

So that's basically what I've done since last blog. Today I had another Rotary meeting and Japanese lesson, and tomorrow's my last day of school before I go to OKINAWA! Wooooooo I'm excited. Faaar away, and home to the BIGGEST AQUARIUM IN THE WORLD. yay :) So i'll update after that more than likely.

And I apologise if I make any errors in English; I've only been here for 3 weeks and I can already feel my English sort of slipping! For more photos, please look on my Facebook :) Already 300+...

008

Today is Wednesday, and I had the day off school because I have to attend every Rotary meeting, and Eniwa RC's is at about midday every Wednesday. I also have a Japanese tutor visiting me every Wednesday too, so it's not like I miss out on learning stuff.

This morning I woke up feeling quite unwell; my chest hurt and it felt hard to breathe, my mouth was very dry and later in the morning my stomach began to hurt too. I'm not sure if it's just a cold or if it's still just my body becoming used to the cold temperatures, but I'm feeling better now that I've had a little to eat and a bit of a rest.

Anyway, I thought I'd use this blog to share with you some tips, as well as show you where I actually live now (via Google Maps, yay yay.)

Firstly, where I live:

In Hokkaido...

in Eniwa (between Sapporo/Chitose)...

In Town...

In Omachi... there's my apartment :)

Ta da! It's a really nice place. I hope I can have a nice house like this one day (they have the BEST BATH).

Anyway, now for some tips;

1) School starts early. Like 8:25am, so getting up at 6am is the norm. Arrgh. And don't be surprised if you have to walk really far; for me, I leave home at about 7:10am, get driven to Eniwa station, catch the 7:23am train to Kaminopporo which takes around 20-25 mins, then from Kaminopporo I have to walk to school which takes around 25-30 mins. So I travel around 2 hours a day to and from school.

2) Credit cards and such are rarely used... so always have cash. Try to give exact cash as much as possible because otherwise you end up with loads of these (like me..);
...sort of like their version of 5c coins - annoying!

3) The coffee sucks. Just saying. If you're a big coffee fan, start weaning yourself off the stuff before you come to Japan.

4) As an exchange student, people always want to see where you're from, and what your life is like at home. I bought a small photo album that holds about 35 photos, and fits easily into my handbag or school bag. I've used it countless times already, so it's a great thing to have.

5) Always carry your Rotary business cards... and try to get rid of them all, because we get SO MANY.

6) Always smile :) it does wonders, seriously. And try your hardest to communicate well, even if it means speaking horrible Japanese (like me). As long as you keep smiling and trying, they know you're doing your best.

7) People are still allowed to smoke inside in Japan, so it may come as a little shock. Alot of people smoke so... if you're a non-smoker, also be prepared. I still have to try not to look twice when I see someone light up in a restaurant I'm in.

Well I think that's about it for now.. I just had my first Japanese tutor lesson which was fun, an hour and a half of talking Japanese; I had better be fluent when I come back or I'll be disappointed!!

For more photos, please visit my Facebook :)

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