Garrett's Diary

Feb 12th, SUN

On my last day in Japan we had a few people come over and say their last and final goodbyes. It was sad but I was also happy to be returning to my home. We had a lot of fun talking and playing soccer and badminton. At around 12:45pm we went to a mall to look for a place for lunch (we didn’t find anything there). We ate at a ramen restaurant that was really good. Then we went to this balcony and took pictures. I didn’t even notice that the airport was right behind us. I asked if we are close to the airport and they said that it was right behind us. That surprised me. When we got to the airport we went for a little shopping before everyone came to say goodbye. I mean the people who didn’t come to the house. About 25 people came to say goodbye to Derek and I. It was a lot of fun I even met a couple of people that I didn’t meet that were Riku's friends. We said a lot of goodbyes that day but it was fun and I hope to keep in touch with a lot of them. Derek and I had to wait for about 1 hour or maybe a little less. Then we got on the plane and the plane ride was an hour but felt like 30 minutes. We met up with Anthony and Katie but we couldn’t find Ashlyn for about 3 hours and Anthony even called MNCC twice. The second time they said that she had already went through security. We all found her waiting at the gate lying down. She said she got there at 6 and that’s the same time that Anthony got in. But she didn’t get any papers saying that she was to meet us at the information counter. So it was good that we found her and then we went around the different stores just looking and getting some presents for family. The flight from Tokyo to L.A. was fun and we all were really tired and fell asleep. But when we woke up we started talking again about our trip and listening about each others stories. The L.A. airport was interesting we had some trouble checking in our bags but we got them after about an hour. Then we walked Derek and Ashlyn to their check in then we got some really good chilidogs and chili fries. Then we sadly said our last goodbyes to Derek and Ashlyn then went back to our building. The SF flight was fun Katie and I played cards while Anthony was asleep again. That made the plane ride a lot shorter. We arrived and met our parents and got our bags. Then we said goodbye again but we were happy because they live in the same city and I only live like 45 minutes away so we know we would see each other soon again. I am very thankful to MNCC and everyone who supported me in making this trip fun.

you tube  "Garrett don't go!" →watch-v=iK0oPkmABnU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Feb 11TH, SAT

Hey sorry everyone I was really tired last night because I went to the gym and I was busy today. Today was one of the best because I got to sleep in. At noon my host family took me out to lunch it was a really nice little resturant. I had oodon noodles and curry rice which was a little spice but really good. After that we went to a local museum for Sygon. Sygon was a big part in Kogoshimas history. He helped modernize Japan. He was a giant man I　Ｐut　on　some　of　his　clothes　and　it　was　like　putting　on　Santas　clothes．We also watched a couple of movies and those were pretty neat. The also had halographic little movies that were all advanced. After the museum we went shopping for food which we do about every day. We got a lot of snacks for my sianara party. I got coke and mentos for a soda gyser which they`ve never done before. My party was a lot of fun we had a lot of people come over to say goodbye. There was a lot of food which was all good we even had KFC. After dinner I toke them out side to see the soda gyser. They were all surprised that it raised up so quickly. Then we went back inside and messed around and played games then everyone sadly had to leave. Most oof them are coming over tomarrow to see me in the morning and say one more goodbye. I forgot to say this on the first blog the toilets in the airport are so confuseing. So many button and sounds. Even some of the ones in the houses and I couldn`t figure out how to flush the one in the airport. But after 5 minutes of thinking I got the right one.

Feb 9TH, THU

Today was a really nice sunny warm day thankfully. For first period I had p.e., for second Japnese, third math, and fourth p.e. again. For the first p.e. class we played soccer. For the second p.e. class we did jumping for like track. At first we thought that it wouldn`t be that fun but then we made it into like competitions and that made it interesting. For lunch I played soccer it was kind of different because everyone was out side because of the nice weather so it was a little crowdid. After school I had to wait for Haruka for little bit because she was getting her test scores back from her entrance exam for highschool. She said she passed with a pretty good grade. After that we all went back home and hung out for a while. This night it was my turn to cook a meal so I cooked hamburgers, fries, and vegies. I had to make the patties from the ground beef. What was really complicated was that I couldn`t use the grill or the stove because Japanese people  don`t use that stuff. So I had to use this like little water powered stove for everything. It turned out ok because everyone liked the food. We mixed all that food with some miso soup. So we made it American and Japanese. 

Feb 8TH, WED

Today was a really windy day here it was 20 mph wind. It started to drop a few snow flakes here and there but not a storm thankfully. Today for 4th period we had music. It was fun because the teacher was hilarious. One of the students would go behind her and start to mock her movements. Then she would turn around and her eyes would literally just pop out and she made a lot of jokes. I met an Australian man today named Mr.Guys pretty cool last name. He was funny and cool. I had to write a couple of sentences for English and he came over and corrected all my spelling erros. Most of the erros were really easy words. For after lunch I played soccer again but this time with a different group. It was a lot of fun. After school we walked back to　my house．We all played soccer and dodgeball．At 5:45pm we all left to go see Chihiro. She was a student that stayed at my house 3 years ago. We all went to Joyfull for dinner. It was a really good meal that actually filled me. The Taniyama family left Chihiro, Chihiros mom, and I all at Joyfull to talk. It was really fun catching up with each other we had a lot of fun making jokes.

Feb 7TH, TUE

Today I woke around 6:00 but I was really tired. We had toast again it was still good in my opinion.　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｃｏｌｄ　ａｎｄ　ｗｉｎｄｙ　ｔｏｄａｙ．　Ｔｏｄａｙ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｃｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　１＆２ｎｄ　ｐｅｒｉｏｄ．　Ｗｅ　ｍａｄｅ　ｈａｍｂｕｒｇｅｒｓ，ｃａｒｒｉｏｔｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｂｅｌｌ　ｐｅｐｐｅｒｓ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｄｉｄｎ‘ｔ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｃｈｏｐ　ｏｎｉｏｎｓ　ｏｒ　ｃｏｏｋ　ｈａｍｂｕｒｇｅｒｓ　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｄｏ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｔｉｍｅ．　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｆｕｎ．　Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒｏｕｐ ｌｉｋｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｏｄ．　Ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｒｒｉｏｔｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｓａｉｄ　ｔｏ　ｐｕｔ　ｓａｌｔ，　ｓｕｇｅｒ，　ａｎｄ　ｂｕｔｔｅｒ　ｉｎ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｍ．　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｍｉｘ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｔ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｔａｋｅ　ａｗａｙ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｕｔｒｉｔｉｏｎ．　Ｂｕｔ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｇｕｅｓｓ　ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｗｏｒｋｅｄ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｋ．　Ｌｕｎｃｈ　ｂｒｅａｋ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ．　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｌａｙｉｎｇ　ｓｏｃｃｅｒ　ａｎd　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｄｒｉｂｂｌｉｎｇ　ｕｐ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｐａｓｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈe　ｋｉｄｓ　ｓｌｉｄｅｔａｃｋｌｅｄ　ｍｅ．　Ｉ　ｌｉｔｅｒａｌｌｙ　ｓａｗ　ｓｔａｒｅｓ．　Ｙｏｓｋｏｓ　ｄａｕｇｈｔｅｒ　ｃａｍｅ　ｕｐ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ｉｆ　Ｉ　ｒｅｍｅｍｂｅｒｅｄ　ｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｓａｉｄ　ｎｏ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｌｉｋｅ　５　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ　ｌａｔｅｒ　Ｉ　ｒｅｍｅｂｅｒｄ．　Ｙｏｓｋｏ　ｗｏｒｋｓ　ｆｏｒ　ＭＮＣＣ．　Ｂｕｔ　Ｉ‘ｍ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｎｏｗ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｓｉｘｔｈ　ｐｅｒｉｏｄ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｉｓ　ｏｕｒ　ｌａｓｔ　ｐｅｒｉｏｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｒｅａｌｙ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｎ　ａｒｍ　ｗｒｅｓｔｌｉｎｇ　ｍａｔｃｈ．　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｌａｕｇｈｉｎｇ　ｓｏ　ｈａｒｄ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｕｓｅｉｎｇ　ｈｉｓ　ｗｈｏｌｅ　ｂｏｄｙ　ａｎｄ　ｈｉｓ　ｆａｃｅ　ｗａｓ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｂｒｉｇｈｔ　ｒｅｄ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｗｏｎ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｃｏｕｐｌｅ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｌｅｍｎｔｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｐｌａｙ　ｂａｓｋｅｔｂａｌｌ　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｐｌａｙ　ｓｏｃｃｅｒ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｆｕｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｈｏｍｅ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｉｃｅ　ｃｒｅａｍ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｌｄ　ｅｎｏｕｇｈ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｏｗｎ．　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｌｅａｖｅ．　Ｊｕｓｔ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ　ａｇｏ　ｄｕｋｅ(a dog)　ｃｈｅｗｅｄ　ｕｐ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　Ｈａｒｕｋａｓ　ｈｏｍｅｗｏｒｋ．　Ｈｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｉｔ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｆｆｅ　ｔａｂｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈａｉｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｉｔ．　Ｌｕｃｋｌｙ　ｓｈｅ　ｄｉｄｎ‘ｔ　ｎｅｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｐｅｒｓ．　

Feb ６TH, MOM

Ｉ　ｗｏｋｅ　ｕｐ　ａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　６：００．　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏａｓｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｗａｒｍ．　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｗａｓ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｆｕｎ．　Ａｔ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　Ｉ　ｐｌａｙｅｄ　ｓｏｃｃｅｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｙｓ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｆｕｎ．　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｓｃｉｅｎｃｅ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｆｕｎ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ａｎ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔ．　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｍｅ　ｈｏｍｅ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　Ｈａｒｕｋａ　ｇｏｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｅａｒｌｙ　ｔｏｄａｙ．　Ｗｅ　ｗａｔｃｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｇｇｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　Ｋｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ｄａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｂｒｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｃａｍｅ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｍｅ．Ｔｈｅｙ　ｈｕｎｇ　ｏｕｔ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　Ｈａｒｕｋａｓ　ｆｒｉｅｄｓ　ｃａｍｅ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｔｏｏ．Ｗｅ　ａｔｅ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ．　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｖｉｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｕｎｅｄ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｖ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｐａｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｄａｙ　ｉｓ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｔｕｒｎｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｖ  ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｐｅｒ　ｂｏｗｌ　ｃａｍｅ　ｕｐ！　Ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｗａｔｃｈｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｇａｍｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ　ａｎｄ　ｓａｄｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｉａｎｔｓ　ａｒｅ　ｗｉｎｎｉｎｇ．　

Feb 5TH, SUN

Ｔｏｄａｙ　Ｉ　ｗｏｋｅ　ｕｐ　ａｔ　８：３０　ａｎｄ　ｈａｄ　ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ． Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏａｓｔ　ａｎｄ　ｒｉｃｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ．　Ａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　１０：００　ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｃａｎｏ．　 Ｗｅ　ｍｅｔ　ｕｐ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　Ｒｉｋｕｓ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈｅ　ｍｅｔ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｈｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　 ｔｈｅ　Ｕ．Ｓ．　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ ｏｎ　ａ　ｆａｉｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｃａｎｏ．　 Ｉ　ｄｏｎ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｌｉｋｅ ｂｏａｔｓ　ｂｕｔ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｏｋ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｒｅａｌｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｏｄ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｍｙ ｍｉｎｄ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ．　Ｉｔ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｏｎｌｙ　５　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｃａｎｏ．　 Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｑｕｉｅｔ　ａ　ｂｉｔ　ｏｆ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｌｉｖｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｃａｎｏ． Ｗｅ　ｄｒｏｖｅ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｃａｎｏ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｖａ　ｒｏｃｋｓ　ａｒｅ　ａｔ． Ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｄｒｏｖｅ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｈｏｔ　ｓｐｒｉｎｇ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ ｄｉｐ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｆｅｅｔ　ｉｎ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｗａｒｍ　ａｎｄ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｇｏｏｄ．　 Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｔｏo　ｗａｒｍ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｉｔ ｔｕｒｎｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｌｅｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｔｅｒ　ｒｅｄ．　 Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｌａｕｇｈｅｄ　ａｔ　ｔｈａｔ．　Ａｆｔｒｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｉｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ａｎｄ　ｍｅｅｔ　ｍｙ　ｎｅｗ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ．　 Ｍｙ　ｎｅｗ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ　ｉｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｉｃｅ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｌｉｋｅ ｔｏ　ｐｌａｙ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｇａｍｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｄｏｇ　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　 ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｇｏｏｄ．　Ｗｅ　ｊuｓｔ　ｈａｄ　 ａ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ　ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｍｏｔｈｅｒ　ｍａｄｅ．

　you tube Garrett at Sakurajima 　→　watch-v=MztNSU1E0sQ 

Feb 4TH,  SAT

 I woke up at about 8:30 this morning and had breakfast. After breakfast Riku, Tensei, and I all went out and played catch with a football. At about 9:00 Yoshimune my brother not my real brother but I'm his host brother. So we all played catch for a while then okasan (mom) had to leave. She said that Tomoko will be at the house shortly. So we waited about 5 minutes and then she came. Tomoko, Riku, Yoshimune, and I all went to the shrine that was near by. Its a really nice shrine in my opinion but I think that there were way to many stairs to get to the actual shrine. There was a midway stop and I thought that it was the end but then i saw all the other stairs and that made me tired just looking at it. After we went to the shrine we went to this small village. The village was more of a I don't know but people didn't live there well at least right now. But Riku, Rikus friend, and I all got to put on a samurai suit on it only weighed about 20 lbs. We messed around for awhile then we went to the hospital near by to get some lunch because it had a restaurant inside. The food was really good. After lunch we went to Tomoko's mom and dads house. There we met Tomoko's sister Naoko she was really nice and funny. We went to a nearby high school to play soccer. That was really fun then we went back to go to Hickory's house. There we had Dinner, it was really good. 

you tube Garrett and Riku →watch-v=fEL578HsxY4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Feb 3RD,  FRI

 This morning my host family gave me natto it's fermented beans and she said that most Americans don't like but she gave it to me anyways. It was disgusting. My first period class was carpentry it was fun but very hard for me because I'm not the best at drawing. Especially 3 dimensional. Third period was English which I had to introduce myself again. I think that at first I will be happy to not introduce myself but I think later I will miss it. All of my other classes were normal. But it was very cold this morning and that was distracting for me. After school today otosan (dad), Riku, Tensei, and I all went to a hot spring. You had to completely undress. Then you had to rinse then you could get in the hot baths. At first it was really embarrassing but then I got over it in the water because the water was so relaxing. When we got out of the hotel which is where the hot spring was located we went to go get kabobs. For dinner we had hamburger meat and some macaroni salad. 

you tube Garrett struggling with natto →watch-v=0Zop84OONwQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Feb 2ND, THU

 Today I went to an elementary school with Tomoko. I got to show my pictures and introduce myself again but this time she had an over head. All of the kids laughed when I would have to act out what I was saying and it made my day more fun. Also today it was snowing a lot over here so we couldn't play out side for free time sadly. I think that they were a really good class. Tonight for dinner we had ramen from the ramen truck. The ramen was really good I think it was the 2nd best meal that I have had here in Japan.

Feb 1ST, WED

 I had to introduce myself 3 times in front of the class. It was fun I like it when all of the kids ask me questions about my family and myself. The school lunch was really good that day we had meat and this veggie that was really good and we would mix it with our rice and it tasted really good. After school we had soccer club but I think that the game was canceled due to the rain. The practice was still really fun though because we skirmaged. After that my host brother Riku and I waited about 10 minutes for Tomoko to pick us up. when she pulled up next to the side walk she sprang pout of the car. We took Riku home and then it was about a 15 minute drive to Tomoko`s parents house. Mr.Fujita was really fast for a guy his age and for just getting better from the flu (oh and everyone here wears a doctors mask becausethey're scared of the flu). Mrs. Fujita was really nice and she cooks amazing food. I also met Tomato's 2 little cousins and aunt they're all fun. For dinner we had korokke, strawberries, pineapple, spaghetti, rice, and some soup that Mr. Fujita made. After dinner I handed out my presents for Mr. and Mrs. Fujita they really liked it. Tomoko laughed at the tabasco in hers and she loved the present. Tomato's cousins left with her aunt shortly after dinner. So we just hung out until we were tired.

JAN 31ST, TUE

Breakfast was really good this morning we had eggs, sausage, and toast. After breakfast Riku and I walked to school. My first period was cooking. Cooking was fun but it was hard to communicate with my partners so it was hard with the directions that they were giving me. My second period was history that was fun and we were Learning about the samurai. 3rd period was caligraphy. It was fun but really hard to use a brush and write the letters. 4th period is P.E. but we don't actually exercise we just learn about the human body. Science was fun we got to do a really fun experiment with some of the metals. English was probably one of the best I got to work with some special needs kids they were really eager to try their English with me. One of them thought that I was Japanese and was surprised at how much English I knew. After school had clubs. I was in the soccer club and tomorrow I have a game. Practice was really fun we skirmished a lot. Also tomorrow I will be staying with the Fujita's house for one night. That is what my first day of school was like.

JAN 30TH, MON

I arrived at San Francisco and met up with Anthony and Katie. They let only one adult from our family to come with us to the gate. We flew 55 minutes and came into the L.A. Airport. We immediately went to Bradley airport. There we met up with Derek and Ashlyn. We couldn't go through security until 9:00pm. So we sat down played some card games to get to know each other. We got through security fine and easy. Then we had abut 3 hours waiting time. We all connect really well with each other. Anthony is 18, Derek is 15, Katie is 14, and Ashlyn and I are both 13. We got a little bit to eat before our flight so we wouldn't be starving on the plane. After we ate we sat by our gate and waited until our flight. Shortly after sitting down we had to get into line to board our plane. We boarded safely and were up in the air. All the shows are in Japanese so it's hard to know what your watching. But it's really interesting to listen to. This morning I had chicken and veggies for breakfast. That was our flight to Japan. 
We arrived this morning at 4 or 5 am. Customs were fine and nothing went wrong thankfully. After customs we met up with Yoko. We looked at a couple stores then sat around and waited for a while. Then we had to leave Yoko and go through security. That went perfectly fine. Anthony and Katie were going the same way so they went with each other. We said our good bye's then they were on their way. So it was Derek, Ashlyn, and I who were all together. Derek and I walked Ashlyn over to her gate and got our last pictures. We said bye and she went to go on her plane. So me and Derek had 1 hour until our flight. Derek and I walked all around the area but stayed close by our gate. After all that time we still had about 30 minutes to wait. Derek and I are now on the plane heading for Kagoshima. We got to Kagoshima airport at 12:30 pm. Mrs. Fukushima picked me up from the airport to bring me to the Kamiozaki's. Mrs. Kamiozaki is really kind and Mr. Kamiozaki is really funny. We just ate Shabu-Shabu for dinner. Now we are getting ready for bed.