Monday, April 7, 2014

Updates!

AFS Orientation + Host Family
Rules, Global, and Fun!

Courtesy Photograph Credit: AFS Japan (Facebook) 

Hey everyone! Whoa, it's been a while since I've updated this blog. Sorry, I've been really busy. It's about to be even more busier due to school starting tomorrow! I'm excited, but also nervous at the same time. I have to do a speech in Japanese and English, but my Japanese is atrocious. I'll edit this post when I have the time to write about my experience at school.

Photo courtesy: LAX Volunteers (E-mail)
First off, the Gateway Orientation! Before we departed for Japan, we had an orientation in LA, California. Volunteers talked about the expectations of an AFSers, played games to get to know each other, and went
over the rules again. The orientation days went by way too quickly, I can barely remember what happened during those days. The photo above was at the Narita orientation, where we were able to meet people from all over the world! It was so cool: that we all had a similar interest, and we were about to have totally different experiences while our stay in Japan. I was able to meet the people that I talked to through Skype; it was loads of fun. After the Narita orientation, the next day, we split up: Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. Depending on where your stay for the year, you traveled to a different destination. (E.g. I'm currently living in Asahikawa. I went to the Tokyo orientation because I needed to take a flight to Hokkaido.)

Secondly, the Tokyo orientation! That's when we spent time going over AFS-Japan's rules, what to expect, and getting to know each other even further. If you find reading boring, you can always check out my YouTube video by clicking here. While our stay in Tokyo, we had to go into a public bath. We were all pretty nervous, but everyone in my group enjoyed it! To enjoy it, don't feel self-conscious about your body. What I noticed while I was in the public bath, is that we all have different body shapes and that's okay! 


Finally, meeting my host family! The ride there - I slept the entire flight from Tokyo to Asahikawa. I was really tired and sick, as mentioned before. I don't know, it took me a really long time to realize that I was actually in Japan. Maybe a week after landing in Asahikawa, I was like, "Whoa. I'm in Japan. This is crazy."
(Photo to the left was taken by an Asahikawa volunteer: my LP)

During my first week of my stay, Tomoko-san (Host Grandma) was staying the night. She taught me how to use the vacuum, how to cook a dish, how to wash the dishes properly, how to wash clothes with their washer, and drove me places. Many, many, many places! She even took me to the Asahiyama Zoo!

I think I'm getting along with my sisters well. I still don't really know how to interact with them; it's weird being an older sister. Especially because I'm the youngest in my family back in Seattle. My sisters really like anime. The show that they watch over and over again kind of reminds me of a mixture of Mew Mew Power and Powerpuff Girls


                                   
自己紹介「じこしょうかい」Jikoshōkai Self Introduction


Hello, my name is Alexis, but please call me by Lexy.
I’m currently seventeen years old, and I am a 2nd year in high school.
I’m from Seattle, WA, USA. My hobbies include: photography, videography, and singing.

It is a pleasure to meet you all!

From today, I will be a student attending this school. Thank you for becoming my host school.
I’m very excited to meet everyone, and I hope to make a lot of friends this year.
So, please don’t be shy to talk to me. I don’t bite!
I’m sorry my Japanese is still very bad, but I will try my best to communicate with you all this year.

始めまして。
私の名前はアレクシスです。レクシーと読んで下さい。そして、十七才の高校二年生です。アメリカのシアトルから来ました。趣味は、写真とかビデオがつくるのが好きとか歌うのが好きです。
どうぞよろしくお願いします。
今日から私はこの学校の生徒になります。私のホストスクールになってくれてありがとうございます。
私は日本語がまだ下手です。だけど、頑張ります。
そしてみんな、
「Good Luck! 頑張って下さい!」

I'm really nervous now! My host dad just gave me my uniform today. I was grinning the entire time I was unwrapping it. This all still seems like some odd dream. And, I can't thank my host school enough! They paid for my uniform and textbooks. I promised that I will study hard: I will give it my all this year!
Totally random, but I'm a size M-LL here. Just thought I would let you know.

None of this would've been possible without donations, support, and scholarships! I still can't thank you all enough! I'm fairly certain I'm going to be very busy with school starting tomorrow, but I will try my best to keep you updated. 
じゃーまたね!♡
YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/user/delightcafe1
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/deliightcafe

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