My Week So Far

Hi... It turns out that my host grandparents do in fact have a laptop. Today I finally gathered up the courage to ask if I could use it. So here I am. I checked my email for the first time in three weeks... Bear with me.

Anyway, I guess I'll go over my week. I learned nothing new in school, other than a few adjectives. I did practice writing some Chinese characters (kanji) with my host grandmother (obaachan) though.
On Monday, after school, I ended up missing out on karaoke (not that I sing or anything, but still) with the other students. I did see a big pretty temple though. I suppose I'll add a picture of it to this post whenever I get the chance (which may take a while).

On Tuesday it was my class's turn to go on a field trip. We took the subway over to Sakae to see the Nagoya TV tower. We went up inside of it and could look out at the city. Oh wait, I think I already wrote about this.

Anyway, on Thursday all three classes of AFS students went on a field trip together. We went to a disaster center or something like that, since Japan is prone to the most natural disasters in the world, I believe. There was an earthquake simulator, which we all tried out in smaller groups. We just sat under the table, while our heads banged into it repeateadly (well that's what happened to me, but it didn't really hurt at all). So we learned some useful information on what to do in an earthquake.
Then we were shown a movie clip on a terrible typhoon that left a lot of destruction behind in 1959(?). There were photographs and other things on display.
Then we were put to another test: finding our way out of a building that's completely dark and filled with fake smoke. Some of us got a lot of practice escaping, in case there's ever a big fire.

Pictures from the disaster center:




Yesterday was Friday, but I didn't go to school. Why? Because my host family had set up an appointment for me to visit an actual Japanese high school. It ended up being a tour that took less than an hour, but it was still interesting.
I had to remove my shoes upon entering the building, just like at the Aichi Youth Center (where the arrival orientation for Nagoya students was). The classrooms had sliding doors and of course everyone was in their uniforms. There were big windows between the wall of the classrooms and the hallway, so I could see all the students bent over their desks and working. However, I did cause a bit of a destraction later on, when I was led down the hall in a direction so that I was facing the students, where they were able to notice me through the window. Great. But later on, when I visited a number of small science classes, nobody stared at me. I liked being at the school. I wish I could spend more time at a Japanese high school.

By the way, the program may vary for the AFS summer program to Japan based on which city you're placed in. The students who are in Sapporo go to a language school and spend several hours at a Japanese high school everyday as well, I believe. I've also heard that the Tokyo students go to a language school that lasts a lot longer (compared with the one in Nagoya). Nobody has a choice as to where they will be placed, but I'm sure everyone is having a good time regardless of that.
Also, what you may not realize at first, is that when you go on a summer program to Japan, where you will spend time with the other AFS exchange students but are placed in one of five cities, it really comes down to which city your language school is in. I met a lot of other Americans at the gateway orientation in L.A., and I still remember many of them (there was also a girl who speaks German as well! by the way). However, it's the city of your language school that matters. It comes down to the city. Sure, we are all going on the same program to Japan this summer, but if you're not in the same city, you barely get to see the others. It's the people in Nagoya who I spend time with and see at school everyday. Many of them aren't from the U.S., but we're still sharing many of the same experiences here in Nagoya. (I don't mean to be negative or discourage getting to know other people who aren't placed in your city, but I'm just pointing this out, I guess)


Anyway, yesterday evening my host family and I went out to eat at a sushi bar! Actually I'm not entirely sure what the accurate name for it is, but it's where little dishes of Japanese food go by the tables on a conveyer belt. It was really fun! I found it all rather amusing. You just take the dish you want, and if you don't see what you want, you find it on the touch screen by the table. Then, on a track above the slow conveyer belt, a little train type thing will zoom right up to your table with the food you requested. There's also a little slot in the table by the wall, where you just slide in the empty plates. It's such a fun way to eat. I really enjoyed it!





Today was enjoyable as well, though I usually don't look forward to the weekends (I've found that I end up with way too much time on my hands, and other than a few books that I don't feel like reading, I didn't bring anything to occupy myself with).
Anyway, today I visited Nagoya castle! It was pretty. Then we had lunch, which was a disaster, because I had udon-type noodles. I can usually manage chopsticks (but I still get embarrassed when I eat), but those noodles were impossible. They're unbelievably long, and even with a fork I had a lot of trouble eating them. That's too bad, because they taste really good. So I made a fool of myself again while eating.

Speaking of food, I had heard about Mister Donut in Japan, and that they had delicious donuts. Well, on Monday I went to one, and I have to say I was quite disappointed. I ordered a donut with strawberry frosting and a smaller pastry that was shaped like a ring. Not only were they not remarkable, but they weren't even very good. They also seemed a bit dry or something. I wasn't expecting that at all, since I had heard good things about Mister Donut. If I can I think I'll give it another try sometime, just to see.

Today, after dinner, my host family and I played some fun card games. Then we played karuta, and I totally beat them all, and they were surprised. Haha.
Later, we lit sparklers. It was also really fun! I had a nice day today.


Another thing: if you happen to be planning on going on a summer exchange program, pick a country where it's not currently summer. Really, the heat here can be unbearable, and it's very humid too. I only brought one sweatshirt, but I really shouldn't have bothered. (Ok, I needed it once: on the plane from Boston to LAX. But it was in my suitcase during that time anyway) I have really come to appreciate air conditioning. The weather can be awful.


Tomorrow my host family plans on taking me to visit a shrine!
Yeah. So bye now.