Bonsai Blog

I’m in a really good mood today.  Like, the best I’ve been in for awhile.  There’s been so much stress with changing host families, having new exchange students, and general social stuff.  Last night I told Yudai I was mad at him because of the way Brandon and I (the two original exchange students) were feeling like we were being pushed out for the newer Australians.  He didn’t email me back at night, which made me even more angry, because I felt that he was blowing me off further, because I knew he was off with the exchange students for dinner.  Then, before I went to bed I got over my emotional stuff, and kind of realized I was being selfish, as they only have a week, and so yeah.

 Then this morning I got on the train and Yudai was upset about the message last night, and said “Paul, I emailed you last night.” and his voice was really pained and … I felt really bad.  Really really bad.  He only uses ‘Paul’ if it’s a serious situation too, usually it’s always Poru.  So he was sad, but then we walked together on the way to school, and by the time lunch came, everything was ok.

 I only had 3 hours of school, because I went on the fieldtrip with the Australian students to a nearby town’s festival.  It was pretty fun, and Yudai and I hung out together (as always) and I was just really happy.  So, everything’s right in the world at the moment, and tomorrow is my favorite day of the week.  Plus I talked with the new students more, and *most* of them are pretty nice.  A couple have made bad impressions on me, just from behavoir standpoints while in Japan.

Tsutomu is having like a party thing for the Australian students, which there wasn’t enough room for Brandon or I at, which was a main point of contigency before, but then it turns out not even all the Australian students were invited.  There was actually a lot of ire about that too, much discussion amongst themselves about why some were invited but not others.  In short, it was a bad idea of Tsutomu to do such a limited thing.  I don’t think he’s aware of the undercurrent of talk about it.

Since I got home really really early today, I decided to walk home.  I planned on a two hour walk back to Habikigaoka, but unfortunately, it only took and hour and 15 minutes.  My host mother was gone somewhere though, so I just walked around the neighborhood for another forty minutes.  Came pretty darn close to my two hour goal.  Walking is the best way to think in my opinion, so I enjoy it if I have my MP3 player.  I also don’t get that tired by walking.  Although, I was wanted to sit down at the end of all the walking today.  No breaks in a two hour session is tiring.

Well, sorry for not updating sooner, I`ve been really busy, and have little time to check emails and stuff with using the family computer.  I still use my laptop frequently, but it`s playing solitaire for about an hour each day.  I got bored of Minesweeper, that was last week`s game.  I see next week being Hearts.

 Anyways, I`m at school right now.  No Japanese class today, so two hours of free time!  What could be better?  Plus I have a free hour in the afternoon since no Judo…so half my day at school is just sitting on the computer.  At least I can catch up on watching Heroes, since Toyooka`s house doesn`t  support YouTube.

The Australian kids are here, and they`re all pretty strange nice.  Their accent is some kind of weird mix between English and America, leaning more towards the former.  We went to Universal Japan in Osaka on Saturday, which was awesome!! I didn`t talk to them that much though, I was being kind of anti-social.  Some Japanese person walked by us really quick and gave us a thumbs down sign and blew a raspberry at us.  It was the first outright sign of racism in Japan I’d seen, and it really offended me.  It gives me a balanced view on life though, as now I know how minorities in America feel when they’re discriminated against.  Baseline, it sucks.  Which is why I hate racism.

I also saw a dead cat on the road.  It was really sad.  There was a pool of blood around its head and its eyes were still open.  I was depressed that day, after being confronted with such a stark view of death.

My house life is pretty good.  I’m really enjoying my time with the Toyooka family, and they’re very nice.  Yesterday, we all went to see my host father’s work, which was really impressive!  He’s the president of a company that supplies Intel and Samsung, and more.  The company basically teflon coats a bunch of different things for many different uses.  I saw his two factory areas, and the third one with a lab that’ll be open in December.  Very cool.  Then for dinner we went to a sushi bar with the rotating track that brings plates around!  I like sushi now, especially salmon.  That’s kind of sad.  I’ve got a taste for raaaaaaaaw fish.

The internet is now a much smaller part of my life, since no wireless freedom here, and I share the family computer.  Anyways, I`ll recount some of the more important things that happened while I had no time to update.

 On Saturday, last day with the Maki Family, I went to Kyoto with my host mother, brother, and sister.  It was a very nice time, and I took lots of pictures.  We went to a huge temple, which was packed with people.  We also walked around Kyoto and took a long train ride just to get there. 

Sunday I went to go to the Toyookas` house, which is very nice!  It`s like brand new, they just moved in last April, and very contemporary.  Few changes to my lifestyle.  Instead of getting obento (box lunch) everyday, I`m now given 3,500 yen per week to buy food in the cafeteria, which I don`t mind at all.  My route to school now has been increased by only about ten minutes, although I get on at Fujidera station now, not Furichi.  I like that, because now I can go to Fujidera by bus for free with my pass anytime, and it`s a great hub.  You can head into downtown Osaka, or just shop around there, it`s nice.  Plus, it`s easier to get together with Yudai.  I do my own laundry now too.  That just entails putting my dirty clothes in the washer, and taking them out in the morning.  Nothing strenous.

The Toyooka family has been very kind, and I`m getting used to my new home.  However, on Sunday and Monday, I was kind of emotional because of the switch, and my family back in America started a vacation that I really knew little about.  So, after school Monday when I played a joke on Yudai and he got mad, I pretty much broke down at school.  Luckily it was after dark `n stuff, so just the ESS club was there.  Now everything`s fine of course, but yeah.  My birthday wasn`t enough to push me, but changing host families and then having your best friend mad apparently is.

Again, everything IS ok.  Yudai and I were just out in Osaka for 6 hours hanging out, which was awesome!  I`m going to Osaka again tomorrow with my host mother and brother, but possibly getting together with him after that in Fujidera.  We have no school tomorrow because of a holiday, and only had a half day today for a special event.

Anyways, my package arrived from my parents with my Japanese book, my CD, and some other misc stuff, which I was really happy about!  At the CD store today, I really wanted to just buy the new MCR CD…but then it came in the mail tonight, so it was an unexpected blessing.

Friday, Yudai goes with me to my Japanese lesson, which should be interesting.  Also, the foriegn exchange students from Australia will come, but they only stay one week.  Saturday is Universal Studios Japan, and more interesting stuff later.  Sometimes my life in Japan feels really really busy.  There aren`t many days when I just get downtime.  Oh well, at least I enjoy most of the activities that take up my breaks, it`s fun and a lot different than the US.

Just a post to say I made it to the Toyooka`s house safe, and they`re really nice!  No wireless internet though, so I`m updating from the family computer.

 More updated post tomorrow when I have time, sorry!

Originally I was going to name this post ‘Going Home…’ but I realized that it was a bit too confusing and surprising until you actually read what I meant by it.

Today was the last day of coming home after school to the Maki’s house.  The closing of one segment of my life in Japan, which is sad.  On Sunday I’ll be moving all my stuff over to my new host family’s house and adjusting to a whole new set of rules and life.

Yudai is still preparing for his test, and I’m helping him practice his English and stuff.  He’s already really good, but, it’s always best to study as much as possible.

Speaking of studying…today was a math test.  I was at a complete loss.  You’d think math would be easy, being the ‘universal language’ and whatnot, but it really isn’t.  It’s Japan, and they’re doing pretty much what I did last year, which was pretty hard in my opinion.  If I had my notes from last year, I could probably make it through the class.  Because I don’t, and I didn’t really bother to memorize the stuff last year, the math here kind of flies over me with the Japanese explanation.  I really do wish I had my notes from Analysis (PreCalc).  It would also help if someone would’ve told me there was a test today.  Y’know, just so I could’ve pulled some semblance of effort together.  5 minutes before hand just doesn’t work.  Ah, the wonders of not knowing Japanese well enough.

Tomorrow is Kyoto, the last real thing I’ll be doing with my host family (well, my host mother.  Not sure who else is coming…) and I hope it goes well.  Then I’ll be meeting with Yudai for an hour in the evening and stuff.

Next Thursday Yudai and I are going to a shopping district place, which I’m really really looking forward to.  The Canadian foreign exchange student borrowed me his Freddy vs Jason DVD, so when I find some downtime, I can enjoy a gory slasher flick.  Not that I’ve ever been into those films, but it’s something to do.

So, it’s pretty weird with this countdown until I switch host families.  It’s really kind of sad, and I’m pretty nervous about switching.  It’s definitely going to be pretty stressful.  Still excited, but yeah, it’s going to be pretty different.

Today was just a normal day, same as yesterday.  Although both days were pretty fun.  I canceled my Japanese lesson after school tomorrow, because I’m going to help Yudai with his essay and working on his English for the big test.  Luckily, he’s already really good, but just stuff to make sure that the interview goes excellently.

Saturday I’ll be going with my host mother to Kyoto and go to the museum there.  Then, I’ll be meeting with Yudai for an hour at McDonald’s in Furichi for the very last minute practicing.

Sorry for no photos, but I’ve been busy with other stuff.  I’m hoping to finish them tomorrow.  Or something.

Yeah, first thunderstorm in Japan that I’ve seen since coming here.  I actually kind of missed them, Minnesota seems to have its fair share of them.  The bad part is that it happened at the time we were leaving the school, so, it was a rainy walk to the train station.  It was pretty light to start out with, then we went into 7-11 to snack up for the walk, and when we came out it was pouring.  Really, really pouring.  I was already sharing my umbrella with Yudai, and he was just about clinging to me, because we both had to fit under the thing when the rain was coming down so hard.  As it was, both of us got pretty wet on the side that wasn’t in the center.  Plus my backpack got pretty wet.  Luckily, we took shelter at the city hall, and in about 10 minutes the downpour subsided and we just walked in drizzle the rest of the way to the train.  I did like the thunder and lightning though.  Japan’s climate and weather is starting to feel like a Minnesota fall.  I just want snow, but unfortunately, Osaka really doesn’t get that much- if at all.

Today during ESS Club I helped Yudai fill out his application for going to America.  He has his interview Sunday, so he’s getting a bunch of paperwork prepared.  It kind of reminded me of a year ago when I started the Rotary process.  I can’t believe I’m here already!  Last year just flew!  I remember getting the letter in the mail saying that Rotary had accepted me for Japan and everything.  I’m so glad I’m here now.

I’m really tired, tonight I’m trying to get a better night’s sleep.  As I’m leaning more and more towards the life of a Japanese student with very minimal sleep, I can officially understand why there’s sleeping in class.  I’m going to have to start going to bed earlier, it’s just not cool for an American to be sleeping 5 hours per night.  I’m not sure how Japanese students can do it.  My host brother has been doing homework at like 1 for the last two nights, and he’s in 6th grade!

In other news, pictures tomorrow.  I really didn’t have time tonight, feeling minorly sick, probably just due to being tired.  Tomorrow is my favorite day of the week, so I don’t want to be tired.  Wednesdays have Gym, Japanese Class, English, and Art.  All of which entertain me, so it is definitely the day of choice.

For those of you with high speed internet, or those of you wishing to let something load for a long time, I have my first video blog up.  You can see it here on YouTube.  I’m not sure what the background noise is, I need to do some tuning with the audio and stuff.  Tokyo will have its own blog, because I filmed on location at Disney Land, the boat ride, and on the airplane back to Osaka.  Should make for something interesting.

It was awesome, plain and simple.  Going to Tokyo was awesome.
Saturday was flying out and Disneyland.  The flight was incredibly short, and was over before I knew it.  The airport process was also fairly painless.  Domestic flights here seem pretty nice.  The plane we flew in was a really new Boeing (sorry, spelling) and it was really really big.

DisneyLand was really fun, I enjoyed that.  BUT, it was raining the whole time, which was definitely a downer.  The whole day I spent with Ayaka, the head of Rotex (students that have gone abroad already) so it was pretty fun.  We pretty much just walked around and enjoyed the time.  Only went on two rides, Pirates of the Carribbean and Space Tours (based on Star Wars).  The first was definitely good, and the latter was…headache inducing, but still fun.  We also did some funny stuff and were in kind of a crazy mood.  Ayaka was pretending to be Chinese.

The Hotel night was ok.  Nothing special, besides the fact the Hotel was super super fancy, but that’s just the way Rotary rolls.  I was paired with the German foreign exchange student, he’s cool, but basically we just slept.  I know some of the other students were up really late, I couldn’t handle that with my lack of sleep during the week though.

In the morning we didn’t have breakfast really, but that’s because we were going to a buffet for lunch.  It was the most food I’d eaten since coming to Japan.  It was in the Hotel and incredibly fancy too.  Equivalent of  $40USD / person.  I’m sure we got a group discount, but wow.  When Rotary does things, it goes a bit overboard.  I’m sure there was a cheaper restaurant somewhere.  I really won’t complain though, because I enjoyed it a lot.

So, that is Sunday, and after we went on a bus tour of Tokyo, and also went down the river on a boat.  Both things are as fun as those types of tours get.  Then the flight home went really well, so yay, I got to see Tokyo.

I want to go back with my friends though.  Definitely need to be able to have some freedom to explore, shop, and a lot more time.  It was a really short trip.

Today was good, glad to see my friends again.  Overall, today was actually pretty fun.  We were all just laughing and joking and everything was very happy.  I think tomorrow has to be a bad day, to make up.  Lest the world go out of balance.  Unless a Japanese boy in America had a really bad day today… (Ok, enough hypothesizing)

I’ll upload pictures tomorrow, I took a ton!

So, the cool thing is, I found a way to easily convert my English keyboard into a Japanese one through Microsoft’s built in language tools.  It’s incredibly simple for me to type in ひらがな,  カタカナ, or  感じ.   Very nice feature.  In fact, I was really surprised that it came pretty much built in, you just have to poke around in the advanced language settings.

In other news, there really was nothing to update on yesterday.  Fun day, but overall just a regular school day for me.  Sleepiness hit me hard, so I fell asleep a couple of times, oops.  Two hours is really not cool, but the day after ended up being worse than the day I actually had the lack of sleep.  During lunch, I was just listening to my MP3 player and laid my head down, and ended up waking up 4 minutes into the next class, except that I was still in homeroom.  My half for English switches to a different room with a different teacher, so I was left with the wrong half of my class.  So, of course, I just grabbed my stuff and bolted.  Apparently sleeping during lunch is not a good idea.

Today I woke up late.  I started out on time, with my 6:00 alarm, but as usual, I fell back to sleep.  This time however, my host mother woke up late too…so she wasn’t there to call my room and wake me up like she usually does.  I’ll take complete responsibility for the lateness, because I should really just get up at six, and not have to have someone call my room.  I should sleep more and be ready to wake that early.  Anyways, at 6:45, my host mother rushed in my room almost yelling about what time it was and she was sorry and I should hurry and stuff.  I did, but still ended up missing the second train to school, and had to wait for the third one…which made me about 15 minutes late.  No real penalty…but just from the moral standpoint, I hate being late.  It’s the Johnson genes in me.   I did a lot of running this morning, and had to walk alone to school.  Not very fun.

At school today, just pretty regular.  There’s a bit of drama going on in school, but I officially know nothing.  And can’t actually put anything on the public cyberspace at the moment, it’s not a good time.  I know some students at Nagano read my blog, at least two, and today I found out how fast TXT messages can be passed around, so even in Japan, gossip travels fast.  That’s why everything on the internet should be PUBLIC, not PRIVATE.  My MySpace blog was a good example.  Oops.

The title, YATTA!, which is “YAHOO!” in Japanese, refers to the fact that my next host family is also in HABIKINO!  That’s awesome news, which means I won’t be switching towns!  If I had gone to Sayama, it’d be much harder to see my friends, and especially Yudai, who is the one I usually do stuff outside of school with.  So I’m infinitely happy about that, and I’ve still got the same train ride with my friends.  I’m definitely psyched about that.

Overall, I’m a lot more comfortable switching host families now.  I’ll definitely miss the Maki family, as they are all very kind and have been awesome, but it’ll also be a new experience in a different home.  In some ways, it’s going to provide some new things for me to do, and hopefully also be just as cool as my current host family and living situation.

And, of course, I’ll be flying out to Tokyo this weekend, which in I’m also excited about.

I’ll note here, that even though I don’t have a cell phone, TXTing has become one of my best ways to talk to my friends.  The Japanese system works on email that’s checked by phone, so Yudai and I are always emailing each other back and forth after the train.  It’s really cool to be able to have that communication.  Although, I’m definitely going to have to get a cell phone.  It’s such an integral part of teen culture here, and has so many uses for a foreign exchange students.  Right now, I always have to use someone else’s phone in order to call my host mother, which becomes an annoying dependency.  Also, my friends have no concrete way to get a hold of me, since I have to be home either on email, or they need to call my host mother.  It gets kind of annoying when I’m out for the day and if something comes up…  Not spontaneous planning.   Kind of sucks.

So, Sunday was awesome! The Barbecue was was really great, and I had a lot of fun. It was a long drive to Kobe, and mid-way we stopped and waited for the other two families so everyone would be at the same place and stick together on the roads, but still separate cars. The other families didn’t know that a foreigner was coming, so Yudai’s mom just like opens the door and points to me and there was like a slight gasp. *Surprise!* They were all really nice though. So, after we all met, we finished driving up to Kobe (like an hour and a half).

The BBQ spot was pretty cool, up in the mountain area in a campground with many Japanese families having barbecues. They technically give you a pre-set up tent, but it really isn’t used. We weren’t camping. One of the men was really really funny, because he knew some English and was saying things in a very funny manner, I think at least half purposefully. “I made these rice balls in my heart, please enjoy!”. Yudai and I were the oldest out of the young generation, the rest were under 5, but very cute. The children all seemed to like me, except for the littlest boy, who I accidentally scared. He started bawling and avoided me from then on. Oops.

Food was more similar to an American barbecue than the Rotary one. Beef, corn, and potatoes on the grill, plus chicken and sausages. There was of course rice and some Japanese food, but it was all good! I enjoyed eating and was very full after. Yudai and I also went hiking using the trail. I rolled down a nice- what I thought was grassy- knoll, but I stood up shakily and realized I was covered in dirt and grass stains. Another oops.

After all that fun, the families were going to onsen (public bath). Luckily, Yudai stayed with me in the tatami room and we just hung out, and also walked around the Japanese garden that was there.  Overall, it was pretty fun.  We were both pretty tired, but were laughing and joking and just hanging out.

Everyone said goodbye after they were done in the onsen, and we drove back to Yudai’s house.  On the way home though, we stopped for dinner at a really good Italian restaurant!  Yudai’s parents ordered a delicious family meal style thing, with the course-like thing going on.  Salad -> Soup -> Rice -> Pasta -> Pizza -> Dessert.  It was all really good!  Not to mention it actually tasted Italian.  Some Japanese restaurants will say they cook foods from a certain country, but the menu is so Japanese.  Like the pizza here, with fish and seaweed and whatnot.

After I got to Yudai’s house, we set up where I was going to sleep (on a Japanese mattress next to his bed) and watched TV and stuff.  And, of course, talked.  Even though we were both almost falling asleep before hand on the ride home, we stayed up WAY TOO LATE.  Yeah, I got two hours of sleep last night.  My energy is firmly at ‘E’ right now, and I’m trying to hurry up and document stuff and get to bed.  That is the least amount of sleep I’ve ever gotten and still stayed awake all day.  4 AM is not a good time to go to bed when you have to wake up at 6 AM.

So, today was a very tiring day, however, I didn’t even fall asleep during class.  Surprisingly.  I honestly thought I’d just crash after so long, but I’m making it.  I want to go to bed at 9:30 though.  Yeah.  At school today there was a hair check, and the people that had brown dyed hair got in trouble.  Rather funny.