Orientation and Host Family

I had the pre-departure orientation on Sunday. I really enjoyed it! It lasted for much of the day, but it seemed to go by fast and I didn't even get bored.
It was so interesting to meet some of the other students from the area who are leaving for an exchange this year. The largest group was for the summer programs, and it was cool to see where they were all headed (Japan, Italy, Egypt, China, Panama, Finland, Hungary, Ghana, Chile, India, France, and Paraguay). I met three other people who are going to Japan this summer, too!

I received an email on Saturday night. Not just any email, but an email from my host sister! I was really happy once I figured out it was from my Japanese host family. My host sister's name is Marina and she is eleven years old. She wrote in English. I have to say that it is the most adorable email I have ever received.
Also, today I got my host family information from AFS. Marina is an only child and I'll have host parents and... host grandparents! This is all exciting, although I get more nervous when I think that I'll be living with these people in about a month... because it is sure to be awkward. Still, I'm looking forward to it.

Anyway, for now I'm just trying to get through the end of the school-year. Three more weeks until final exams!

City!

I just got a phone call from AFS! My Japanese language school will be in Nagoya!!
This is rather exciting. My dad would have liked for me to be placed in Tokyo (he's been there for business), but I don't really mind. I'll be in Tokyo for orientations anyway (right?).
I don't have a host family yet, but it's still nice to know where exactly in Japan I will live. At least now I'll have an answer when people ask me where I'll be. Except I haven't really told anyone yet that I'm spending my summer in Japan... Even though I've been planning on this for over a year. Huh.

I'm really glad I got this news!
ありがとうございます