Day 1
Getting on the flight to Dallas, I was slightly sleep deprived, as nerves did not let me sleep. I was very worried that I had over packed, under packed, or was just missing something. I distracted myself with working on my photo albums. Soon enough it was 2:30 AM and I was going to hop into the shower. I zoomed my mother out of the house at 3:30 and happily enough there was not a lot of traffic. My nerves had died down and were replaced with excitement. Although I was going to miss my family, I severely love traveling. That may be the wrong word but whatever. We arrived and said our good byes and soon enough we were on the plane to Dallas. The flight wasn't too bad and I took like a 30 minute nap. I also watched Hustlers, and it wasn't that great. The short amount of time in Dallas was passed with games of cards and eating salads. The 13 hour flight was definitely hell. I think every 20 minutes I went to the bathroom. If I have trouble sitting still in a 42 minute class period, it was impossible for 13 hours. I think I napped 4 times and watched 8 movies. But a majority of the flight was spent play plants vs zombies, my game. At last we landed and I still wasn't feeling the "i'm in japan feeling". I think I finally felt it when we arrived at the hostel and I had to interact with the person at the front desk in Japanese. That moment was really neat because I got to actually use the japanese I learned and put it to test. That's all for tonight, see you tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!
Day 2
Today was a very very busy day. Woke up very interestingly to my bestie Drew screaming, "Kobe Bryant and his 4 daughters died, let's go shower", to which I promptly responded with,"aight". The 6 AM shower was a marvelous way to start the morning off, and breakfast only set the bar even higher. I had scrambled eggs w/ ciabatta bread and rice with grapefruit and potato croquette. So scrumdidlyumptious. Afterwards we headed over to the team lab museum and the trip was semi cold and long, but bearable. I was very very sad that I had left my scarf at home, but I was determined to stay positive.Honestly, I kept forgetting where we were going and only when we arrived was I full aware and made the connection of the picture display thing as the museum. I wasn't expecting anything to splendid, just a couple of screen projectors, but boy was I wrong. It was actually so sick in a great way. The lights, the music, the entire immersing experience was incredible. I think it's nearly impossible to explain the feeling you got going into teach room,the scenery and the music was straight magic. I also spent some incredible bonding with the other trippers which was really nice. I typically stood closer with Drew, but I branched out and really connected and interacted with the other kids, which was so cool, and I learned that I had so much in common with them. Afterwards we went to lunch at this pancake house and the first line of food was interesting, a toast with pork and purple cabbage, as well as another toast with tomatoes and olives. Then we were allowed to choose any kind of pancake we wanted, and because I am not a pancake person I went with the plane jane strawberries and chocolate one. It was so good but I got so stuffed and I really had to shovel that food down because I felt bad leaving left overs, and my stomach was just churning the rest of the way.We then strolled to the peony garden which was really nice,and would've been greater had it been warmer. I wrote a killer haiku,and then my phone died and I stuck by one of the new kids I interacted with the majority of the time. We saw the shrine and I bought a few Talismans for some friends and family based on their birth month. Afterwards we went to this great supermarket full of arcades restaurants and shops. We got some free time and I bought my sister a snow globe (she collects them) and myself a wallet so that I could put my stacks somewhere besides the worn and torn envelope that held it. We then got dinner at this great ramen ships and unwounded ouselves before we went to the sky tree, I I was pretty tired at this point,but the only thing keeping me energized was the fact that I was getting killer steps for my fitbit and I was determined to reach an average of 24,000 steps a day in Japan. At the sky tree, we kindof chilledbecauseit was so dark,but itwas really neat to see all of the city lights in the area. Drew and I got some nice ice cream and just watched some fireworks going of in the nearby area. We then all mad eour way down ot the trains, whihc was rough because I was getting REALLY sleepy. But we had finally arrived home and I literally sprinted to the showers. It had been a pretty long day and the shower really set up that perfect night sleep. That's all for today but see you tomorrow. XOXO Gossip girllllll.
Day 3
BEST DAY EVER. Honestly did not have too high hopes for the day, as I was part of the planning committee, and the cold and rainy weather only added fuel to the fire. We started off with a great breakfast, similar to the previous's day's but with a few more selection. We went to the meiji shrine, and although it was extremely rainy and wet, I sincerely believe that the rain only enhanced the woodsy, natural, and spiritual feeling of the area. There was a lot of history shown throughout the shrine area, and we eventually arrived at the huge building where a ceremony was taking place. We were there for around 2 hours and then went to wander around takeshita street. Drew, Jack, Milo and I went to the daiso, a japanese version of dollar tree, and I spent some money on gift shopping. We didn't really buy much besides snacks and candy, and after going in and out of many stores, we settled in a nice Wendy's and chatted. Afterwards we took a train to the CONVEYOR BELT SUSHI PLACEEEEEE. So radical. I sincerely believe it was the most worth it place ever, cheap pricing and quality food. I think my favorite was the tako sashimi, which was just octopus tentacles. Afterwards we headed to the increible robot restaurant. At first, I was just not feeling it, and really just wanted to go to the jewellumination. After seeing the advertisement in front of the robot house, my interest was piqued. Upon arriving, we were seated in an interesting stage amongst many other Americans, which is really interesting and goes to show how this kind of section in Japanese culture is really pushed and targeted towards American society. The show was hard to summarize in grammatically correct terms, but the words that come to mind are videogame, cheesy, lights, costumes, racism ended. I think the last act in the shwo was especially funny, because it basically could have ended racism for certain. Everyone wore flag costumes and danced to "We are the World". It was perfect. Afterwards I felt very empty, but enlightened. We headed back to the hotel and began packing for the trip to the Oirase Keiryu mountain hotel! That's all for tonight folks! Need that beauty sleep
Day 4
Today was some what eventful, but mostly towards the end of the day. I started off early, deciding to skip my typical morning shower (I showered at night) to finish packing for the 3 hour long train ride to the mountains. We went to our last breakfast as what I expected to be the last scrumptious meal I'd have for the rest of the trip. Afterwards, we were off to the station, and the really really sad part was the fact that the weather was incredible. Sun was bright, very warm, and the rain was evaporating in rainbow puddles on the streets. But alas, we were headed for the dreary, cold, foggy snow mountains, in what I expected to be a very old fashion hotel. I think I've learned at this point to stop expecting because I already know I will only be supremiumly suprised, as I've found out. On the train ride, I sat besides Drew and we ate our bentos (packaged lunches) whilst watching Tinkerbell Secret of the Wings. By bento was really neat because it was a self heating one and it only further proves how incredibly advanced Japan was. We then arrived in the general area where our shuttle bus was to pick us up, and I was very surprised to see the drastic change in weather. From warm, sunny, and bustling, wer were in a cold, foggy, rainy land that was nearly a ghost town. I can understand why since it was so far in the mountains and really rural, but I was surprised to find that I actually prefered it. Perhaps in the future, I could buy a property in the mountains and just stay during the winter, WHEN (not if) I'm rich. The bus ride was a blur, mostly because I took a PHAT nap, and then watched Euphoria. Earlier I mentioned that I was expecting some sort of old fashioned strict like hotel. Boy was I wrong. The hotel was crazy crazy fancy shmancy, I already know I plan on getting married here, or honeymooning here. It was apple themed and just wow. Pictures can' t even grasp the true beauty of the area. But I will try. After unburdening ourselves and going into our incredible rooms, we chilled for a bit and then realized we were slightly late for dinner. We literally had like 5 minutes to be down and then realized we needed a special outfit and invited our neighbors to help us get dressed. It was a frenzy, but we made it to the lobby in time for the real fancy stuff. I feel like this is the way the royals would eat. Literally chefs were walking around making sure everything was in order, and I felt like I was going to mess up. The food was DIVINE. No words to describe it, I really wish I would've taken a picture of it. Afterwards we went back to our rooms to change for a special tour of the glowing waterfalls. They were not glowing. It was just a frozen stream that had this huge light beaming at it, but I must admit it was pretty and was very similar to that scene in Frozen when Elsa was building her castle. Also It was butt dead dark and it reminded me of the Blair Witch Project that took place IN JAPAN. Haha good thing I don't believe in ghosts..... Anyways, we came back to our rooms to go to bed, and after a challenging time finding out how to turn off the shower, we were slumpt. That's all for tonight folks. Stay tuned for tomorrow!
Day ---
I've been having a rough time eeping up with the blog posts since coming to stay with Rio (my host student), but I will definitelystart from the beginning, and keep it posted. I also think it was a great idea for me to have a sort of delayed moment because it gave me the time to self reflect and thinnk about my emotions and experiences throught the homestay duration of the trip. From the beginning, We went to the Shinkansen to meet our host families, from Aoimori to Urasa. On the train ride, which was awfully long, I had a lot of time to do absolutely nothing, because most of my school work was in my suitcase away, and there wasn't really reception/wifi for me to do any electronic work. So I mostly talked. Had pretty good conversations about climate change and the economics behind our society, and at the time I hadn't realized that we would be meeting our host students at the station, because when Rio had come last year, we met her at the school. SO I was beyond shocked to see a swarm of japanese students at the stop. I immediately spotted Rio, and rushed over to her. She looked a little different, her hair had grown, but still the same girl I knew and loved.