September 8, 2010
Sweet 16
Well first off, the start of Semester 3 happened to coincide with my 16th birthday. My Japanese friends had still remembered my birth date from when I told them long ago. I was shocked when they sang Happy Birthday to me. A few gave me birthday presents, but the fact that they remembered my birthday is a very good present for me. Everything is going like it should, so I think it is going to be a great last 6 months here as an exchange student.
I had a great summer holiday this year. I always had things to do so I didn’t get bored, and I actually quite enjoyed my summer. I was amazed how Japanese students keep going to school during summer holidays! It’s kind of interesting how one of the girls said “I wanted to meet my friends so I came to school, and I like to wear the school uniform too, because it’s cute.” Although it was the summer holiday we still had to come to school almost everyday for the first month for at least 2 periods. This was fine with me, because we improved our Japanese language so we can talk to the Japanese more fluently.
I also attended badminton camp for 4 days at Minakami city in Gunma prefecture, a few hours north of Tokyo. It’s a very beautiful city, but the training was very tiring, we went to bed at 10pm and we woke up at 6am. After we all woke up, the teacher came to our room and said “hey lets go jog on the mountain” It’s very amazing how the Japanese are devoted to their club activities. We trained all day and all night, only having several 10 minute water breaks, and a lunch break. But luckily our lodgings had a natural hot spring! The last day of the camp we all went rafting on a river, which was very exciting although the water was cold.
I also went out with my host family, the Tamura’s. We went to the Nasu highland, to a house they own there, for 5 days. Once a year they go there for a vacation, the house is made out of wood, so it’s a real nice house for living in. Since they own a construction and interior design company the house was located near the house of a famous rock band vocalist from X-Japan! I also discovered that the Tamura’s used to be a samurai clan! They still have the clan’s crest since the Meiji period and the head leader’s katana. I guess I was lucky to have stayed with them for the whole summer. Overall I’ve enjoyed being in Japan so far, and I want to learn more about Japanese culture.
Richie