I left Minneapolis on August 08, 2008 and got to Tokyo on August 09. I was so nervous and scared, but so excited. After I was picked up at the airport, I went back to my “hometown.” I stayed in Miharu, in Fukushima-ken. It’s my town’s sister city, and it’s a charming, adorable little town.
About 20,000 people live there, but it’s a 13 minute train ride from Koriyama City, which has a population of 400,000+. My first month, I spent a lot of time with my sponsor. I went to the Obon festival and learned to dance, helped at a daycare, took a day trip to Nikko and lots of museums and a lot of other fun things.
I changed host families on August 25, and I stayed with that family for the rest of my trip. On August 26, I started at Tamura High School in Miharu. I was SO nervous that I literally felt sick! I was the only foreign student (there was one English teacher from California) and I was treated like a celebrity!! I love my host family and my school. It was a great start to my trip!!!
I changed host families on August 25, and I stayed with that family for the rest of my trip. On August 26, I started at Tamura High School in Miharu. I was SO nervous that I literally felt sick! I was the only foreign student (there was one English teacher from California) and I was treated like a celebrity!! I love my host family and my school. It was a great start to my trip!!!
My mom and I, the day I left for Japan.
- My “nephew” – my best friend’s puppy, Coco. He’s extremely annoying but extremely adorable.
- Two of my best friends, Angelica and Gabby, waiting for the train to the airport in St Paul.
- The train in St Paul/Minneapolis, on the way to the airport.
- Mom and I, getting ready to check in at the airport.
- At the airport check in, right before I left. We were all trying to smile while we were crying…
- In my yukata
- Learning how to dance at the Obon festival
- Obon festival
- I met the mayor.
- Portable shrine for a festival
- I spent a lot of time at a “kids center,” I guess we would call it a day care. My sponsor was the “principal” there.
- My sponsor/first host family’s koi pond, in their backyard. He says building it/remodeling their backyard made him poor…but he drives a BMW. Haha.
- One of my BEST friends, Tomomi! She was a foreign exchange student in Rice Lake, and lived with me for 10 months.
- My girls, Yuka & Elena. Yuka was a foreign exchange student in my hometown, Rice Lake, a few years ago.
- Miharu, Japan. I love my “hometown” in Japan.
Drummers at Obon festival in Miharu, my town in Japan. The festival was moved inside because of rain.
- At the Morohashi Museum of Art near the Five Color Lake in Fukushima-ken. The museum has 394 pieces, 332 by Salvador Dali.
- My pizza was shaped like a heart!
- Lake Inawashiro and perfect clouds
- Swan boats at Lake Inawashiro
- Shop in Inawashiro
- Lake Inawashiro
- I helped at a science class for rural elementary school kids.
- Momoko
- At a rest stop/parking area on the way to Nikko
Toshogu Shrine in Nikko
- Toshogu Shrine in Nikko
- Ninjas! At Edo Wonderland in Nikko.
- Archery at Edo Wonderland in Nikko….I’m terrible!
- My friend and his daughter at Obon festival. She’s playing the drums!
- My first day of school! I was so nervous. The (way too short) white socks are worn for special events, such as assemblies and etc.
- Path at my high school. The gym classes/sports clubs use it for running.
- One of my first attempts at writing Chelsey(in katakana) in Calligraphy.
- My host family took me to their friends’ farm/garden.
- I was constantly amazed by how green everything is!
