On the 8th, I went with my host mother and the ladies of the Kochi Higashi Rotary Club to a resturant for dinner. The Kochi Higashi club is all men, but the wives to play a significant role in the Rotary as well. Afterward we all went to the Kochi Higashi Rotary Anniversary dinner for...second dinner? and dessert, which was held at another Italian Resturant. The Japanese people sure do love Italian food! (And Japanese-Italian food is actually really really good, even if you find a strictly seafood pizza or octopus in your bowtie pasta). I gave a small speech at the dinner, telling everyone how my year was going so far and thanking the Rotary for allowing me to go to Hokkaido and Okinawa last month. It was a great night and I think they had to roll me and the Rotary ladies out of the resturant when the dinner ended -- stuffed!
In addition, a few Sundays ago, Rotary Higashi also hosted a barbeque lunch in the mountains of Shikoku. I went with my new host family, and we rode a bus into the mountains. It is colder up in the mountains, so the trees were in peak foliage. It was so beautiful and I took a lot of pictures. We got to the camping grounds and all cooked skewered vegetables, meat and mushrooms, while also having the necesary rice and soup along with it. It was a great time, and we all were warmed by the fires on top of which we cooked our meals. Afterward, we all went to a green tea museum and I got to have my first green tea ice cream. Delicious!
I am greatly improving on the koto, as I go Monday through Saturday, except Thursday. When I heard that the high school first years were playing a Christmas Medley, I immediately asked for the music and if I could practice it. I`m at the beginner level with the middle school first and second years, but I was so excited that there was actually and seriously CHRISTMAS MUSIC for the traditional japanese instrument I`m playing. I couldn`t believe it!!! So, I practiced both the Disney Medley that I was to play with the middle schoolers, along with the Christmas Medley. I auditioned in front of the teachers and they told me that I could play both pieces at the concert. I was ecstatic. In Japan, Christmas isn`t celebrated, but you do see some of the novelty aspects of Christmas, such as malls being decorated with Christmas trees and presents, Christmas lights in front of some buildings, etc. But to actually have Christmas music, when I thought that I wasn`t going to hear any at all, was awesome to me. So, last Saturday, November 29th, after school, the koto club had a mini concert, and I played in both songs. I was so happy!
I am greatly improving on the koto, as I go Monday through Saturday, except Thursday. When I heard that the high school first years were playing a Christmas Medley, I immediately asked for the music and if I could practice it. I`m at the beginner level with the middle school first and second years, but I was so excited that there was actually and seriously CHRISTMAS MUSIC for the traditional japanese instrument I`m playing. I couldn`t believe it!!! So, I practiced both the Disney Medley that I was to play with the middle schoolers, along with the Christmas Medley. I auditioned in front of the teachers and they told me that I could play both pieces at the concert. I was ecstatic. In Japan, Christmas isn`t celebrated, but you do see some of the novelty aspects of Christmas, such as malls being decorated with Christmas trees and presents, Christmas lights in front of some buildings, etc. But to actually have Christmas music, when I thought that I wasn`t going to hear any at all, was awesome to me. So, last Saturday, November 29th, after school, the koto club had a mini concert, and I played in both songs. I was so happy!
Also, once a week, I bike to the public pool near my house and swim. It`s cheap, and it`s a thing that I enjoy doing...I was glad to find it.
I bike to and from school every day for about twenty minutes, and I can tell that my endurance is so much better than when I came to Kochi. I`m also getting exersize through that so I`m not gaining any weight. That, along with my diet, which is very healthy.
November seemed to go by quickly for me as I type this on the 3rd of December. I switched host families on the 9th of November, which was a little difficult for me and my family because we`ve gotten to know each other so well, only for me to move so soon. The first host family is so important in my eyes because they are the ones who comfort you when you first arrive in your host country; often nervous, unsure, and really unable to say much in your host language. The Uratas were incredible. They helped me tremendously with all of my questions about school, Japanese, speeches that I had to give, etc. They also loved to joke and laugh. Leaving them was difficult, but thankfully I live in a city, and I occasionally see them in supermarkets or other places.
I bike to and from school every day for about twenty minutes, and I can tell that my endurance is so much better than when I came to Kochi. I`m also getting exersize through that so I`m not gaining any weight. That, along with my diet, which is very healthy.
November seemed to go by quickly for me as I type this on the 3rd of December. I switched host families on the 9th of November, which was a little difficult for me and my family because we`ve gotten to know each other so well, only for me to move so soon. The first host family is so important in my eyes because they are the ones who comfort you when you first arrive in your host country; often nervous, unsure, and really unable to say much in your host language. The Uratas were incredible. They helped me tremendously with all of my questions about school, Japanese, speeches that I had to give, etc. They also loved to joke and laugh. Leaving them was difficult, but thankfully I live in a city, and I occasionally see them in supermarkets or other places.
My second host family is good, and I have a little bit more free time with this family so that I can focus on my studies or make plans with friends.
School is also going well. My Japanese is getting better and better, although some days it fails me, other days it comes out like it`s my native tongue. I`m understanding a little more each day in my lectures as well...I`m being exposed to a lot of listening practice because classes in Japan are lecture-based, with the teacher basically talking the whole time. I`m making a whole lot of friends through Koto club, which I plan also on going to during winter break.
And around this time most exchange students begin getting homesick, and I have a bit as well. But when it comes, it comes at night only, and the simple remedy for it is to just go to bed. I got to bed, I fall asleep, and that`s the end of that. Getting through Christmas might be hard, but I`ve got a lot of support here in Japan from my friends and teachers at school. And also, it`s not like my holiday season will be completely void of a major holiday -- in Japan, New Year`s is a huge celebration, complete with family gatherings and big dinners and most elements associated with Christmas, too, which will be great.
