This will be a pessimistic post.
I'm concerned about my time here. I don't tend to feel at ease around my host family. I keep to myself too much, and although I'm simply a quiet person sometimes, I feel like it's getting in the way. I don't mean to be difficult. I need to get past this. I have to show my interest and speak up and remember to smile more often.
But I hesitate all the time. I wanted to be outgoing, but I'm failing completely.
I'm also worried about learning Japanese. School turned out to be fairly useless. I don't use Japanese often (not that I speak much in the first place). I'm insecure about speaking in Japanese and I don't want to become embarrassed. I'm afraid of trying, I suppose. I'm getting in my own way again.
I fear that I will have too many regrets once my time here is up. I need to reach out for the opportunities I have here, but at times I'm not sure how to.
That said, I am taking steps to appear more friendly around my host family, and to talk with them more often. I do like them, and they are very kind, but for some reason I'm still quite shy around them.
Sometimes I worry too much. But my time here is short, and I need to work on any issues I have as soon as I can. For me some of these things are difficult though.
Anyway, I love it here, actually. I'm having a lot of fun, and I enjoy spending time with the other students. I like learning about Japan, and exploring around Nagoya Station frequently. Japan is lovely, and I'm not looking forward to the day I have to go back home.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Differences
Ahhh I just saw that my blog was featured on http://www.afsblog.org !!
That's a bit nerve-wracking... But I'm glad.
I've been following a number of blogs by AFS students for a while, and at some point I started to notice what I like in a blog. So I was going to try to create a blog with traits that I looked for in a blog. Well, that has become challenging because I don't get much of a chance to add pictures and I usually don't have the chance to go online.
Oh, and I realize that of the pictures I've posted, most of them are of people and not so much of Japan. I'm sorry... I'll try to work on it.
I haven't mentioned this yet, but my name is Anastasia, and it's pronounced ah-nah-sta-see-ah (not anna-stay-sha). Since my name is kind of long, my host family calls me アナちゃん (Ana-chan; "-chan" is less formal than "-san", and is usually used for girls).
Anyway, I'll try to focus more on some differences between Japan and the U.S.
They were much more apparent when I first arrived, but here are a few.
First of all, many of the toilets are different. Either they have more buttons than seems necessary or they don't look much like a toilet at all, because it's in the ground. Yes, I'm talking about washlets (with bidet things) and the traditional Japanese toilet, which you squat over. Also, please note that paper towels aren't very common, so it's useful to carry around tissues or a little towel.
Trash cans can be hard to find as well, by the way.
Then there are cars. In Japan you drive on the left, which is opposite from the U.S. Even though it is forbidden for AFS students to drive, I've had trouble getting used to the cars driving on the left. It seems fairly confusing to me, and I can't help but wonder how the drivers know where to turn or where to go. Also, streets tend to be very narrow in some places (like residential areas, from what I've seen).
The cars themselves can appear different too. Many (or most) of them have a different kind of design, or style, or something. I guess the best way to explain it is to say that they are more square and compact. I didn't know that cars could look different in such a way.
Another thing is laundry. Since it's summer it seems like everyone hangs their laundry outside to dry. If you go by large apartment buildings you can really see a lot of laundry drying out on the balconies. Therefore there are all kinds of plastic hangers and clips to fasten the laundry with.
Well, that's all I can come up with for now. I hope that was mildly interesting.
(I've been planning on making a whole entry on food, so I may get to that next week)
おやすみなさい
That's a bit nerve-wracking... But I'm glad.
I've been following a number of blogs by AFS students for a while, and at some point I started to notice what I like in a blog. So I was going to try to create a blog with traits that I looked for in a blog. Well, that has become challenging because I don't get much of a chance to add pictures and I usually don't have the chance to go online.
Oh, and I realize that of the pictures I've posted, most of them are of people and not so much of Japan. I'm sorry... I'll try to work on it.
I haven't mentioned this yet, but my name is Anastasia, and it's pronounced ah-nah-sta-see-ah (not anna-stay-sha). Since my name is kind of long, my host family calls me アナちゃん (Ana-chan; "-chan" is less formal than "-san", and is usually used for girls).
Anyway, I'll try to focus more on some differences between Japan and the U.S.
They were much more apparent when I first arrived, but here are a few.
First of all, many of the toilets are different. Either they have more buttons than seems necessary or they don't look much like a toilet at all, because it's in the ground. Yes, I'm talking about washlets (with bidet things) and the traditional Japanese toilet, which you squat over. Also, please note that paper towels aren't very common, so it's useful to carry around tissues or a little towel.
Trash cans can be hard to find as well, by the way.
Then there are cars. In Japan you drive on the left, which is opposite from the U.S. Even though it is forbidden for AFS students to drive, I've had trouble getting used to the cars driving on the left. It seems fairly confusing to me, and I can't help but wonder how the drivers know where to turn or where to go. Also, streets tend to be very narrow in some places (like residential areas, from what I've seen).
The cars themselves can appear different too. Many (or most) of them have a different kind of design, or style, or something. I guess the best way to explain it is to say that they are more square and compact. I didn't know that cars could look different in such a way.
Another thing is laundry. Since it's summer it seems like everyone hangs their laundry outside to dry. If you go by large apartment buildings you can really see a lot of laundry drying out on the balconies. Therefore there are all kinds of plastic hangers and clips to fasten the laundry with.
Well, that's all I can come up with for now. I hope that was mildly interesting.
(I've been planning on making a whole entry on food, so I may get to that next week)
おやすみなさい
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Star Festival
Today is the star festival in Japan, or "tanabata". There's a story from a Chinese legend, and basically there are two stars that are separated by the Milky Way. They can only meet once a year, on the night of July 7. People decorate bamboo branches with decorations and paper strips with their wishes written on them.
I did this yesterday, and although I took a few pictures, I can't add them now. (I'll probably cheat and add them another time to this post)
Anyway, yesterday was fun because my class went on a field trip to see the Nagoya TV tower. We also went to a hyaku-en shop, which is like a dollar store. Sophia, Amanda, and I did purikura there (I'm not sure which verb fits to "purikura", by the way).
I realize I haven't explained what purikura is, if you don't know. "Purikura" comes from "purinto kurabu", from the English "print club". It's basically a photo booth where you can choose colorful backgrounds and then draw on it and add decorations and stuff. They're mostly only found in parts of Asia, I believe.
A view from the TV tower:
This weekend my host grandma bought me a yukata as a gift. A yukata is a type of kimono kind of, but a lot lighter. I got to choose mine. It's really pretty and I'm very grateful for it. I need to think of something special to do for my host family sometime...
I did this yesterday, and although I took a few pictures, I can't add them now. (I'll probably cheat and add them another time to this post)
Anyway, yesterday was fun because my class went on a field trip to see the Nagoya TV tower. We also went to a hyaku-en shop, which is like a dollar store. Sophia, Amanda, and I did purikura there (I'm not sure which verb fits to "purikura", by the way).
I realize I haven't explained what purikura is, if you don't know. "Purikura" comes from "purinto kurabu", from the English "print club". It's basically a photo booth where you can choose colorful backgrounds and then draw on it and add decorations and stuff. They're mostly only found in parts of Asia, I believe.
A view from the TV tower:
This weekend my host grandma bought me a yukata as a gift. A yukata is a type of kimono kind of, but a lot lighter. I got to choose mine. It's really pretty and I'm very grateful for it. I need to think of something special to do for my host family sometime...
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Food
I had lots of delicious Japanese food yesterday. For breakfast I didn't have bread for once, but rice balls (onigiri). For lunch we ate udon. For dinner we made takoyaki, which is like ball things with octopus pieces in it. I tried it and it's really good! Afterward I had a read bean/azuki ice cream popsicle thing, which was also good. It had actual beans in it, but it wasn't gross.
PICTURES!!!!
Hi... I'm at school on my lunch break, and Chase was really really nice and let me use his laptop and his camera to upload pictures from my camera chip. Thank you soo much! :)
Chase's blog is here: http://tyreetojapan.blogspot.com
Peter's blog is here: http://www.destinedforjapan.com
Carrie's blog is here: http://sarurunkamui.livejournal.com
Nicole's blog is here: http://nicoleafs.blogspot.com
So here are some pictures!
They're not in order though.
1. First is a card game that we played at the arrival orientation in Nagoya, called karuta. It was fun! I'm pretty good at it.
2. All girls, except for Nicole, in our room at the orientation.
3. Carrie, me, and Sophia on our futons.
4. Nicole and me with Fiona's awesome Hetalia cards at Hotel Nikko Narita.
5. Japan from the airplane window. Japan is beautiful.
6. My host grandparents' house, and where I live.
7. My subway card and the cell phone I use.
8. Purikura!!! I've always wanted to do this, and it was so much fun =) I was with my host sister and her friend.
9. Some of us waiting for our host families to pick us up after the arrival orientation. I was so nervous.
10. Group 1!! This was over a week ago at the arrival orientation.
sorry... image heavy.
Chase's blog is here: http://tyreetojapan.blogspot.com
Peter's blog is here: http://www.destinedforjapan.com
Carrie's blog is here: http://sarurunkamui.livejournal.com
Nicole's blog is here: http://nicoleafs.blogspot.com
So here are some pictures!
They're not in order though.
1. First is a card game that we played at the arrival orientation in Nagoya, called karuta. It was fun! I'm pretty good at it.
2. All girls, except for Nicole, in our room at the orientation.
3. Carrie, me, and Sophia on our futons.
4. Nicole and me with Fiona's awesome Hetalia cards at Hotel Nikko Narita.
5. Japan from the airplane window. Japan is beautiful.
6. My host grandparents' house, and where I live.
7. My subway card and the cell phone I use.
8. Purikura!!! I've always wanted to do this, and it was so much fun =) I was with my host sister and her friend.
9. Some of us waiting for our host families to pick us up after the arrival orientation. I was so nervous.
10. Group 1!! This was over a week ago at the arrival orientation.
sorry... image heavy.
Friday, July 2, 2010
In Japan!
Hi... Ok, ok, I really meant to blog but I didn't bring my laptop (which may not have been such a good idea actually) and I'd rather not ask my host family to use theirs... I'm at an electronics store right now.
So a ton of stuff has happened. I can't go over it all now. Hopefully I'll get a chance to write a long, detailed post another time.
I flew to L.A. on Monday last week (which seems like a really long time ago to me now) for the gateway orientation with the 36 other Americans who are going on the summer program to Japan this year. It was a bit slow and dull at times, but still enjoyable.
When we arrived at Narita airport on Wednesday (my birthday!) we spent a night at a hotel before going to our arrival orientation sites the next morning. I didn't get to go to Tokyo after all.
The summer AFS students go to a language school in one of these cities: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, or Fukuoka. The Tokyo and Sapporo students have their orientation in Tokyo, the Osaka and Fukuoka students have their orientation in Osaka, and the Nagoya students have their orientation in Nagoya.
I was assigned to Nagoya. So I spent two nights at an Aichi Youth Center for the orientation with 22 other students. We had discussions and learned more about the culture and the customs. We had lots of rice at meals and miso soup, which is great, but I still really didn't like the food. We also took a traditional Japanese bath together. It was ok, but the water in the bath was too hot! We stayed in rooms with tatami mats and slept on futons. I have some good pictures, but I'll have to post them another time.
Oh, and at Nagoya there are 11 Americans, 7 Italians, 2 Bulgarians, 2 students from Sweden, and one student from Hong Kong.
On Saturday we met our host families. I was so nervous. But it was ok. I actually don't live with my host family... It's hard to explain. I have a host dad and a host mom and a host sister and host grandparents. The grandparents live separately from my official host family, only down the street from them actually, but I live with the host grandparents. My room and everything is at the host grandparents' house, but I eat dinner at my host family's house. It's an interesting situation, but it works. My host family is very kind. But unfortunately I'm extremely timid around them, and I really don't talk much. I'm just shy and I hesitate a lot. I hope that I don't come off as being unfriendly or anything.
In Nagoya we all go to a language school for four weeks. It's only four hours a day, with a whole hour for lunch. On the first day, June 28, we took a placement test. There are four classes for the AFS students, based on how advanced we are already. Class C is for the most advanced students, with only four people. Class A is for total beginners (or at least for those who haven't learned hiragana and katakana yet). There are nine people in that class. I'm in class B, which is in the middle. But I'm rather disappointed. Everything we've done so far is fairly simple and very easy for me because I already learned it ages ago. So basically I've had a week of just review. It's frustrating, but there's not much I can do. I don't know.
Everyday I take the subway to and from school. It takes only 35 minutes or so, and I always arrive early anyway. I don't get lost. My host family gave me a cell phone to use for my stay here anyway, so I doubt I'll run into any significant problems with commuting.
Every weekday in the mornings so far, I wake up about an hour or so before my alarm is set to go off. I get dressed and ready before coming to breakfast. I usually eat with my host grandma. She's very friendly. I like her :) My host grandparents don't speak any English, but my host parents can speak a fair amount. Anyway, I always have bread (or a croissant) and blueberry yogurt and milk and sometimes a banana for breakfast. Then I watch TV for a while. Around 8:45 am I am driven to the subway station. I usually arrive at school around 9:25 am, and class doesn't start until 10:00.
So that's it for now. I like it here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
