An home now, this was written from Narita Airport and the plane:
At my gate at Narita Airport waiting for the flight. Today we were the first at Naha Airport, so I checked in and then helped translate for the other YFU students. The translation was very fun; in fact some students thought I was a YFU helper/volunteer as oppose to an exchange student. A group of high school students who had come to see off their friends asked me of I was a resident of Okinawa! It was very fun. However, while I was doing that I realized how many exchange students had no idea how to travel, have everything in various places, have the wrong priorities in terms of baggage safety and other stuff such as shopping, etc. I am really glad I have travelled so much and with such experienced travelers, and I am pretty sure the airport people were happy too!
BTW after arriving in Narita today I noticed for the first time complete silence in a transportation vehicle (my roommate and I were talking and suddenly we realized we were the only ones talking; now that I think of it maybe the monorail was also silent and Otousan and I were the only ones talking, but I didn't notice it then.). Also I noticed for the first time everyone standing on one side of the escalator, I mean they have that in America also but they had told us about it in our orientation, so...BTW in Tokyo they allow you to and it is normal to take a cart on an escalator (like stair escalator.). I don't have wifi here so I will probably upload this at Dallas or SFO.
BTW I ate the Obento Okaasan has very kindly made for me on the flight to Tokyo and it was delicious. The flight to Dallas (about 45 minutes from landing) actually had decent vegetarian food dinner was Indian, rice with a paneer sabzi (though I am pretty sure it was tofu) and a tomato sabzi, naan, salad, and a sweet. The second meal was so-so, sandwitches, and the last meal was actually quite good, cold pesto/cheese/vegetable pasta.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tues July 24
Today was a great day! In the morning we went to the airport to help out with the nine YFU students leaving today. I actually had a very good time, because I helped with translation between the YFU volunteers and the students -- there were a lot of problems in terms of weight of bags and what some kids had packed to take back, so I ended up being very useful. Then we went up and waited till half an hour before boarding before the kids went through security (there was separate security per gate so that was fine) and then the YFU volunteers and I had a glass of coffee (I had mango juice) and talked. Afterwards, Okaasan and Otousan took me to a very nice Japanese restaurant where I had Soba, salad, tenpura, etc. then we returned home, and I packed.
After a couple of Hours Otousan and I went to a museum exhibit by Ohno Katsuhiko, who lost his hands in an accident some years ago and now paints paintings with very deep (but sometimes depressing) messages on them with his robotic hands. It was very very nice. I could not read the majority of it so Otousan translated for me. After that, we returned home, and I finished packing.
Ok, goodnight! 24+ hours of travel tomorrow/day after!
After a couple of Hours Otousan and I went to a museum exhibit by Ohno Katsuhiko, who lost his hands in an accident some years ago and now paints paintings with very deep (but sometimes depressing) messages on them with his robotic hands. It was very very nice. I could not read the majority of it so Otousan translated for me. After that, we returned home, and I finished packing.
Ok, goodnight! 24+ hours of travel tomorrow/day after!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday July 23
Today was a great day! So, in the morning I got picked up by my old Host Family, and we went to the Imperial Hotel in Okinawa, where the current king had once stayed. We ate lunch at a fabulous buffet where they also had a lot of vegetarian food, such as Tenpura, Salad, rice and Ume, a Japanese plum, etc. anyway, then we went to an Ikebana, or the Japanese art of Flower-Arranging, exhibit in the hotel which was amazing. It was very coincidental, because I had done a report in Geography last year about Ikebana, and in fact I had wanted to see some in Japan but had forgotten. Anyway, it was beautiful, the way they very skillfully placed various flowers and stems together to achieve a very beautiful paradisiacal look. It was interesting how many different approaches there were in the exhibition -- some flower arrangements focused on matching colors or colors that work well together, others focused more on the shape, orientation, and curvatures of the stems to give various different impressions, others seemed to try to mimic nature, with a lake-theme, a swamp-theme, and evergreen forest then, etc. and it was amazing that everything, down to the size, shape, and color of the pot was chosen to perfectly complement and balance the piece. It was truly beautiful!
Anyway, after that we came home and I played Go with my old Otousan on the largest, 19x19, Go Board. It was actually very very fun!!! In the first game, where I had an advantage of 6, I ended up losing 70 territories to 10 (roughly), but then we played again where I had an advantage of 9, and I won 60-50. I definitely felt I was playing better and understood it wat more the second game (I had a better grip and understanding of the game) but I also think 9 may have been too much, similar to how, both the times I played with Otousan and Okaasan on the 9x9 board with a 5 piece advantage I won. I think the magic with those numbers is that you not only get the corners but also the center, which gives you influence all over the board and also the ability to connect pieces. Anyway, I am really beginning to get the hang of and like Go!
After that Okaasan taught me how to make the very unique and cool Japanese sponge I had seen. It was interesting that while it was mainly a knitting pattern, it also employed some crocheting. I had never really knitted before but I was able to pick it up really fast. I finished the sponge I started today but I think I may have messed up a bit at the bottom. I will try it again at home, but even if those pattern does not work for a sponge it is a great pattern for a hat!
Then we came home, had an impromptu piano/singing session with my host sister and nieces (it was funny because the same somgs I was singing in English, such as Do Re Mi and Silent Night, they were singing in Japanese.). Then we celebrated Okaasan's birthday, which was very nice, and now I am about to go to sleep.
BTW I think Shintoism, or at least the way Okinawans honor their ancestors, resembles Hinduism in many ways. They have a small shrine in their house for their ancestors, and today, since it was Okaasan's birthday, they lit incense that smelled very much like Agar Batti in the shrine (I was very surprised in the morning when I woke up to the smell of Agar Batti) and rang bells and prayed. I really felt there were some resemblances to Hinduism.
Anyway, goodnight!
Anyway, after that we came home and I played Go with my old Otousan on the largest, 19x19, Go Board. It was actually very very fun!!! In the first game, where I had an advantage of 6, I ended up losing 70 territories to 10 (roughly), but then we played again where I had an advantage of 9, and I won 60-50. I definitely felt I was playing better and understood it wat more the second game (I had a better grip and understanding of the game) but I also think 9 may have been too much, similar to how, both the times I played with Otousan and Okaasan on the 9x9 board with a 5 piece advantage I won. I think the magic with those numbers is that you not only get the corners but also the center, which gives you influence all over the board and also the ability to connect pieces. Anyway, I am really beginning to get the hang of and like Go!
After that Okaasan taught me how to make the very unique and cool Japanese sponge I had seen. It was interesting that while it was mainly a knitting pattern, it also employed some crocheting. I had never really knitted before but I was able to pick it up really fast. I finished the sponge I started today but I think I may have messed up a bit at the bottom. I will try it again at home, but even if those pattern does not work for a sponge it is a great pattern for a hat!
Then we came home, had an impromptu piano/singing session with my host sister and nieces (it was funny because the same somgs I was singing in English, such as Do Re Mi and Silent Night, they were singing in Japanese.). Then we celebrated Okaasan's birthday, which was very nice, and now I am about to go to sleep.
BTW I think Shintoism, or at least the way Okinawans honor their ancestors, resembles Hinduism in many ways. They have a small shrine in their house for their ancestors, and today, since it was Okaasan's birthday, they lit incense that smelled very much like Agar Batti in the shrine (I was very surprised in the morning when I woke up to the smell of Agar Batti) and rang bells and prayed. I really felt there were some resemblances to Hinduism.
Anyway, goodnight!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sun July 22
Today was a great day! So, in the morning I went with Okaasan to Church which was very nice, and then we headed to a hotel for my farewell party (it was heals in the banquet hall of a restaurant inside the hotel, similar to Dadda's graduation party but on a smaller scale. There were 16 people overall I think from both host families, and after eating the fabulous meal (they had little vegetarian variety do Otousan ordered a special order for me again) we went around the table and people gave short speeches of farewell and their memories with me, and then I also gave a short farewell and thank you speech. It was all very very nice. Afterwards, we came home, and I had eaten so much I just collapsed on the bed and took around a two hour nap. Then I got up, and the rest of the evening was pretty normal; we talked watch TV, read, ate, etc.
So yeah I am going to sleep now, so goodnight!
So yeah I am going to sleep now, so goodnight!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sat June 21
Today was a very exciting day! So, today after lunch Otousan and I played a game of Go on a larger board, 13x13, then since Okaasan came home Otousan and Okaasan played on the largest board, 19x19, so I could see their strategies, the I played with Otousan again and then we left for a museum. The museum was actually inside the US military base land, but the person who owned it was very rich so bought it back -- it was the site of his ancestral home and tombs. The museum was very nice, with art by budding artists not yet "discovered" as well as large multi-panel paintings with various scenes from World War 2. There was also a balcony which gave a fabulous view of the city as well as the military base (it was honestly a bunch of trees, nothing like what one sees in movies; Okaasan said on the weekdays there are a lot of helicopters and such.). But leading up to the balcony/terrace there were two sets of stairs, one with 6 stairs and the second with 23. That represents June 23, the end of the Battle of Okinawa, Memorial Day, and the summer solstice in Japan (I am really losing my English Okaasan and Otousan asked me what the longest day of the year was in English and while I knew what they meant I had forgotten the word!). Anyway, I also saw how close the military base is to civilian house -- literally ten feet away! It is like having a military base in your backyard! And given all the helicopters and such, the noise must be awful! (So far in Okinawa I have heard two military helicopters fly overhead and they were deafening, I cannot imagine how bad it would be when they are landing!)
Anyway, after that Okaasan and I went shopping to Kokusai Street one last time. It was truly very fun, I got great discounts thanks to her (though it's funny how in all the other countries in the world to bargain you state what you will give them and are very pushy; in Japan you merely ask them very nicely.). And it was also funny how much prices for the same items varied in different stores. One store would be selling a shirt for 5000 yen, and another the same shirt for 2000!
Anyway after that, we came home, had dinner, and Okaasan and I played Go until now, and I am definitely learning some very good strategies. I think Go, being one of the simplest yet at the same time most complex and open-ended games ever, requires one to play with an expert to truly appreciate it. I had played with a friend before in California, but 1) He got the rules slightly wrong, and 2) neither of us really knew the game so it seemed like there was no point to it or skill involved.
BTW I have not posted pix for a long time so these and pictures of the tenpura I made (batter, frying, and fried), the cookies I made before they were baked, and this morning Okaasan had made pancakes, and since I couldn't find maple syrup and no one was home I ate it with Nani's jam, do a pix of that!
Anyway, that's all I think, goodnight!
Anyway, after that Okaasan and I went shopping to Kokusai Street one last time. It was truly very fun, I got great discounts thanks to her (though it's funny how in all the other countries in the world to bargain you state what you will give them and are very pushy; in Japan you merely ask them very nicely.). And it was also funny how much prices for the same items varied in different stores. One store would be selling a shirt for 5000 yen, and another the same shirt for 2000!
Anyway after that, we came home, had dinner, and Okaasan and I played Go until now, and I am definitely learning some very good strategies. I think Go, being one of the simplest yet at the same time most complex and open-ended games ever, requires one to play with an expert to truly appreciate it. I had played with a friend before in California, but 1) He got the rules slightly wrong, and 2) neither of us really knew the game so it seemed like there was no point to it or skill involved.
BTW I have not posted pix for a long time so these and pictures of the tenpura I made (batter, frying, and fried), the cookies I made before they were baked, and this morning Okaasan had made pancakes, and since I couldn't find maple syrup and no one was home I ate it with Nani's jam, do a pix of that!
Anyway, that's all I think, goodnight!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Fri July 20
So, yesterday (it is past midnight here) was truly an amazing day! So, I took my cookies and walked to school. When I got there, I found, on my desk, the Kumi shirt I had asked the class leader if there was any way I could get. Zeroth Period was English, in which I asked the English Teacher to sign my shirt. Then during the 15 minute break before home room I told everyone it was my last day, and asked them to sign my shirt and a picture of the class on the first day, which I passed around. I then gave them the cookies, which they loved. At first I asked them just to take one (or actually, they politely only took one,) and then since there were leftovers and they LOVED them I said they could take seconds if the want, and almost everyone in the class raised their hands and I didn't want to have to choose so I left the box in the front of the classroom and they all ran up and finished the cookies in about five seconds. Anyway, first period was math, followed by World History where we learned about the Mughal Empire, Islam and Hinduism, the Taj Mahal, etc., and Japanese. Lunch was a pretty normal lunch, and after lunch we had English again, but since the Sensei had a meeting she had given us a worksheet to do. Then it was time for my speech. So, first went some of the teachers, discussing mainly safety over summer vacation (it's funny how concerned they are about safety in one of the safest places in the world,) then the ALT's (Assistant Language Teachers,) who were going back to their countries, and then the two exchange students. On the request of the other exchange student, I went second. And honestly, I would say the speech went very well, I got quite a few laughs, actually a lot of laughs, and after the speech everyone was very impressed with my Japanese and surprised I had only studied it for two years. And the best part is it came straight from my heart.
After the assembly we had a Long Homeroom, in which our Honeroom Teacher very kindly showed us all the pix of the Taikusai (Undoukai, Sports Day) he had taken (he has a tablet and connects it to the TV, even during class.). Then, I had to give a goodbye speech to the Kumi on the spot, and I had not prepared anything, didn't want to repeat stuff, and couldn't get my thought together and into Japanese fast enough. Anyway, I would say I started very strong, with a memory from the first day, and then withered down. After that, our class leader gave a good-bye speech for me, and then we all took pictures! It was a wonderful day, and I honestly really loved it.
I also realized today the importance of naming specifics when thanking people. Initially in my speech I had briefly mentioned Track, but when I was typing it up at home yesterday I really though I should thank them more, because I really loved running with them. So, I added about half a paragraph about it (which actually got the most laughs, because I recounted a pretty funny Track and Field experience.). Anyway, after the speech one of my friends who is also in Track had been so touched by my talking and thanking Track that she gifted me a self-made fan, in Shoudo, about Track! In addition, initially I had only briefly mentioned the Taikusai, but Okaasan suggested I lengthen that section, so Kokusai as a whole would really feel they helped me enjoy myself. (And they were honestly my true feelings, so it was completely fine.). Anyway, after hearing that my homeroom Sensei very graciously gifted me a USB of all the pictures he had taken at the Taikusai, which was more than amazing because they were only pictures of people from our Kumi. It was truly great!
So I really had a wonderful day! After dinner I practiced Go! Again with Okaasan and best her the second game, but with a 5-piece advantage. We will keep playing tomorrow.
Okay that is all for today, I had a fabulous day and really wish I were not leaving, Goodnight!
After the assembly we had a Long Homeroom, in which our Honeroom Teacher very kindly showed us all the pix of the Taikusai (Undoukai, Sports Day) he had taken (he has a tablet and connects it to the TV, even during class.). Then, I had to give a goodbye speech to the Kumi on the spot, and I had not prepared anything, didn't want to repeat stuff, and couldn't get my thought together and into Japanese fast enough. Anyway, I would say I started very strong, with a memory from the first day, and then withered down. After that, our class leader gave a good-bye speech for me, and then we all took pictures! It was a wonderful day, and I honestly really loved it.
I also realized today the importance of naming specifics when thanking people. Initially in my speech I had briefly mentioned Track, but when I was typing it up at home yesterday I really though I should thank them more, because I really loved running with them. So, I added about half a paragraph about it (which actually got the most laughs, because I recounted a pretty funny Track and Field experience.). Anyway, after the speech one of my friends who is also in Track had been so touched by my talking and thanking Track that she gifted me a self-made fan, in Shoudo, about Track! In addition, initially I had only briefly mentioned the Taikusai, but Okaasan suggested I lengthen that section, so Kokusai as a whole would really feel they helped me enjoy myself. (And they were honestly my true feelings, so it was completely fine.). Anyway, after hearing that my homeroom Sensei very graciously gifted me a USB of all the pictures he had taken at the Taikusai, which was more than amazing because they were only pictures of people from our Kumi. It was truly great!
So I really had a wonderful day! After dinner I practiced Go! Again with Okaasan and best her the second game, but with a 5-piece advantage. We will keep playing tomorrow.
Okay that is all for today, I had a fabulous day and really wish I were not leaving, Goodnight!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thurs July 19
Tomorrow is a huge day! So, I found out this morning that I would have to make a speech in front of the whole school, in a pre-summer-break assembly. So, at first I was surprised and nervous but I wrote a speech that I would say came together really well and I had my friends check it and later my host parents, and I would say it is very strong now. And it truly comes from my heart. I types it up but made a few edits on paper after that, so I will change it on the computer sometime tomorrow to post on the blog, in case anyone is interesting in a good laugh Google Translating it :) the real translation will have to wait until after I come back -- I am planning to request my home room teacher to take a video of the speech.
Then, I also found out today that tomorrow would be my last day of school, not Tuesday like I thought. So it was really good I had planned all my goodbye's in advance -- I have already nicely presented teacher's gifts and taken them to school, taken San Francisco souvenirs to school, and today I baked the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies (which I realized were sooo easy -- I made them in ten minutes. The only thing that took a long time was the baking because since I was making 50+, for my host families, classmates, and teachers, I had to make many batches. However they also came out very well. While it is sad, I do have all my goodbyes planned for tomorrow and am looking forward to my speech!
Don't even ask me what we did today it has been forgotten in the excitement for tomorrow and anyway I did not participate in much of what the class did today because I was busy writing my speech. But I am very excited for tomorrow, and should probably sleep now. Goodnight!
Oh wait I remember a bit of what we did today (this is about 20 mins later.). We had PE, in which I did tumbling again. We did cartwheels, and such, which I could not do every well and got all B's. But one of the really cool things that was a challenge excessive was a cool foot movement where they jump up and touch both feet together, side to side. Imagine pogo sticking diagonally along a line, side to side, except on your feet. Looked very much like hopping bunnies and was very fun to do. We also had a Vocabulary quiz in which I got a 65/100. Ok I should really sleep now, wish me luck tomorrow. BTW, RIP Rajesh Khanna, I have been mixing you up with a lot of Bollywood actors lately but you acted in my favorite song of all time, Chingari Koi Bhadke!
Then, I also found out today that tomorrow would be my last day of school, not Tuesday like I thought. So it was really good I had planned all my goodbye's in advance -- I have already nicely presented teacher's gifts and taken them to school, taken San Francisco souvenirs to school, and today I baked the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies (which I realized were sooo easy -- I made them in ten minutes. The only thing that took a long time was the baking because since I was making 50+, for my host families, classmates, and teachers, I had to make many batches. However they also came out very well. While it is sad, I do have all my goodbyes planned for tomorrow and am looking forward to my speech!
Don't even ask me what we did today it has been forgotten in the excitement for tomorrow and anyway I did not participate in much of what the class did today because I was busy writing my speech. But I am very excited for tomorrow, and should probably sleep now. Goodnight!
Oh wait I remember a bit of what we did today (this is about 20 mins later.). We had PE, in which I did tumbling again. We did cartwheels, and such, which I could not do every well and got all B's. But one of the really cool things that was a challenge excessive was a cool foot movement where they jump up and touch both feet together, side to side. Imagine pogo sticking diagonally along a line, side to side, except on your feet. Looked very much like hopping bunnies and was very fun to do. We also had a Vocabulary quiz in which I got a 65/100. Ok I should really sleep now, wish me luck tomorrow. BTW, RIP Rajesh Khanna, I have been mixing you up with a lot of Bollywood actors lately but you acted in my favorite song of all time, Chingari Koi Bhadke!
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