Katie's Diary

Feb 12th, Sun

Today I had to leave Japan. I got up at around 6:45 because Natsumi had to go to a volley ball game out of town, so I wanted to say good-bye for the last time before she left. Then Haruka left for soccer practice at around 7:30, and Akihiro left for soccer practice at 8:45. So my host parents took me to the airport. I was so sad!! I didn’t want to leave!! Well on our way to the airport, we stopped for lunch at a pasta/pizza place. Then we went to the airport and the MNCC guy kept taking pictures. Then I started crying because I had to leave soon. Then I went through security and said good-bye for the last time!! It was sad!! So I went on the airplane to Tokyo. At first I was crying. But then I stopped and I was just listening to music until the flight was over. When I got to the Tokyo airport, I waited there for 2 hours, then Anthony came and we talked about our trip and our crazy stories of what happened in Japan. We walked around the airport, and went shopping because Anthony still had a ton of Japanese money left over, so he spent some more. Then we went to this one burger place called R Burger. The burgers there were really good!!! Next we went shopping some more. Then I found Garrett and Derek in a toy store. So all 4 of us waked around some more. After a while, we realized that Ashlyn still hasn’t come yet. So we went downstairs and started looking for her. We couldn’t find her, so we just sat and waited a little longer. Then we went to the burger place again, and we ate more food. Then we went to the toy store again, and were just messing around. About an hour later, Derek thought of a brilliant idea that maybe Ashlyn didn’t get the paper that said where to meet, and she already went through security. So we decided to go through security and see if she was there. Sure enough, there she was, lying on top of her bags. I was so happy to see her; I gave her a big hug!! It turns out that she was waiting there for 4 hours! Then we went shopping for the last time in Japan, and finally went on the airplane to LA. It was a very long flight, but there was a TV!! We watched TV for a while, and then we all went to sleep. Then we woke up, then went back to sleep…on and off…it was extremely boring!! Then they brought us food. They gave us a choice of either Japanese food or a hamburger. I chose the Japanese food just because I thought it would be really good, like the food on the airplane trip on the way to Japan. It turned out to be the worst food ever! The noodles were frozen, and everything else was just not good! But they gave me mini pancakes and ice cream which were good. Then Garrett had to keep telling me that I should have gotten the hamburger instead, because it wasn’t frozen. But finally, he just gave me some. Then we went to sleep again. Finally, after a ton of hours, we got to the LA airport, and we went through security, and picked up our bags, sending them to our next flight. After that, Garrett was craving chili-dogs, so we had to go get some. It was good. Then we said bye to Ashlyn and Derek for the last time, because they had to go back to Washington. So, Anthony, Garrett, and I went on the airplane to San Francisco. Garrett and I played card games (I lost). Then we tried to go to sleep, but it was just so uncomfortable, and the flight wasn’t very long. Finally we went off the plane and our parents were there, so we picked up our bags, then we said good-bye, and we went home. I’m going to miss everyone!! This trip was such a great experience! I hope I can go back again!

Feb 11th, Sat

Well, today I got up at 11. Then I ate breakfast/lunch which was eggs, pizza toast, corn bread, and cream corn soup. Very good!! Then Natsumi and I made brownies!! Next, Haruka, my host mother, and I, first went to Shimabara Castle. It was very big and beautiful!! Next we went to the Unzen Disaster Memory Musuem. It was pretty crazy to so how much damage there was!! It was only 20 years ago in Nagasaki!! We looked around. Then we went shopping for beads and postcards. We got them both really cheap! Yey! Then we went to Mai's mother's flower shop (that's where she got the Hello Kitty flower boquet for me). Well, we went there, and I gave Mai a notebook, Skittles, and Tic-Tacs. I thanked Mai and her mother for the flowers, then we headed home. When we got home, I did some more packing, then my host family, and my host father's sister's family had a Sayonara Party for me!! It was soo sweet!! There was a ton of food!! And my host father's sister and her husband made a huge pizza!! (they own a bakery shop). Then we ate, and I had to make a speech. I said "Thank you so much for having me in your family for 2 weeks! Thank you for this Sayonara Party, and all the preparations. Thank you for everything!" Then I had to stop because I started crying. We ate, then we took pictures, and Akihiro gave me my favorite Japanese candy called "ZEROSH." It was soo weet because he used his own money to pay for it! Then Natsumi gave me my 2nd favorite Japanese candy called "Kanro," also she gave me a Stitch key chain, a little notebook, a Hello Kitty key chain, and BUBBLES!! Haha!! Then Akihiro was teaching me, and his cousin, Shota, some Karate! He is really good!! Next, my host grandfather sang a goobye song (in Japanese of course). Then we looked at pictures, then my host father's sister's family left, and we cleaned up. After cleaning, I took a shower, finished packing, and went to bed.

Feb 10TH, Fri

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday, but I had a fever. But don't worry, my host family took really good care of me, and now I'm all better!! Well today, got up at around 10 or 11ish. I went to the doctor to see if I can still go to school (sinse today was the last day of school for me, I really wanted to go!!) The doctor was soo nice! He said I was perfectly fine and I could go to school!! Soo we went home and ate lunch. Then I hurried to get my school uniform on, and I went to school at around 1. Today was the school's music concert. So we practiced for the last time, then everyone went into the gym, and every class had to sing. I got to sing with Natsumi's class! Everyone did very good!! and Natsumi played the piano on the 2nd song we did!! She's very talented!! When all the classes finished, we put away all the chairs and everything, and took group pictures. After that, we went back to our classroom. I got so many good-bye hugs and gifts!! And this girl, Kana started crying!! She is such a sweet girl!! Well lets see...the gifts I got were...a TON of origami (from the whole class), a cute little bunny key chain from Kana, a Hello Kitty cup from this girl Mai, and the sports teacher gave me a shirt thing called a Happi, but you don't wear it, you just hang it on the wall for decoration. And she made it herself!! Then I took a bunch of pictures and said my last good-byes to everyone. I started crying because I'm gonna miss everyone so much!! After I finally went home, I put away all my presents and everything, then the doorbell rang. Natsumi told me to hurry downstairs. When I got to the door, I saw Mai, standing there..with a big bouquet of flowers!! The flowers were shaped as Helly Kitty!! It was soo cute!! She gave them to me!! We took pictures, then I thanked her, and she and we ate dinner. After dinner we watched TV, then I packed (most of my stuff). After that, I took a shower, then went to bed.

Feb 8TH, Wed

For breakfast today i had hot cakes, cream corn soup, yogurt and chiken nuggets!! it was super good! then i walked to school with Natsumi  and her friend.. i switched classes again today. This is the 5th class I've been in! 1st period was math. we got into groups and did math problems. 2nd period was English. they had to read and listen to a CD and repeat what it said. 3rd period was Volleyball. today was just practice, so we didn't keep score. 4th period was Japanese. the teacher was writing stuff on the board. then, the interview guy from MNCC came and took pictures. then i was lunch time. we had fish, rice, some kind of soup, and vegetables. it was good. then we cleaned. I helped clean the windows. they used newspaper to clean with. 5th period was social studies. we watched a video about some famous tomb. 6th period, we practiced singing. then my host mother picked me up from school, and we went to the bakery where my host father's sister works. we bought different kinds of pasteries and i got a gree soda! next, we went to my host mother's barn. where he had a lot of cows, and a cute dog named Joy. then he gave me a big persimmon and a giant chocolate rice crispy treat thing. It looks really good!! then we went home and I watched TV, then we ate dinner which was rice, eggs and salad. then I took a nap. after my wonderful nap, I watched TV again. then i had a snack then I went to bed.

Feb ７TH, Tue

Today I was super tired when I woke up! I was going to go back to sleep, but we would be late for school if i did. For breakfast I had corn cream soup, toast with pizza toppings on it, egg pudding, and hot chocolate. Everything was really good, except I didn't like the egg pudding very much. After breakfast I hurried to get dressed, then I walked to school with Natsumi and her friends. after school, I made dinner. i made chilli beans and corn bread. everyone really liked it!! then me and Akihiro went to Karate. they are really good!! they had me practice doing high kicks (which i'm not good at). then we went home and watched TV and we had a snack. then i took a shower then i went to bed.

Feb 6TH,  Mon

Today is Monday, so there was school. For breakfast i had eggs, sausage, cream corn soup, and a doughnut! it was super good!! then I walked to school with Natsumi and her friends. when i got to school, I had to go to the teacher's room because i changed classrooms. Everyone was like 12 or 13 years old, but they were all very nice to me and they liked to talk to me. 1st period was math. In 2nd period i helped the teacher glue papers to a big poster paper. then I had to introduce myself to the class, and they had to ask me questions. 3rd period was art and the teacher gave me a picture that i have to copy onto another paper, it's a little difficult, but oh well. 4th period was history, and  i worked on My Geography homework, but i almost fell asleep!! after that we ate lunch, which was some kind of meat, noodles, rice, and vegetables. I'm getting tired of rice, since they eat rice at almost every meal! Next was 5th period, Volley ball. My team won this time!! YAY!  We went home and ate dinner which was chicken, some kind of soup, rice, and Pizza! my host father's sister made the pizza! it was really good! then at 7:00 I went to Taiko with Akihiro. there were big drums and they were really loud. I did it for a little bit, but then i got a headache so i took a break. After that we went home and I took a shower, then watched TV and had a snack, then I went to bed.

Feb 5th, Sun

Today I had to wake up early. we went to Mc Donald's for breakfast. Mc Donald's in Japan is basically the same as in America, but some of the food is smaller. Next we drove to the atomic Bomb  Museum in Nagasaki. It was very interesting to learn about, but is shocking to see how much damage there was!  Then we went on a tour around Nagasaki. after that, we went shopping ! i bought some little key chins. then my host mother bought me a pink long sleeve shirt!! its so cute!! I thanked her many times! i cant wait to to wear it! Next we went on a big ferries wheel that was by the mall. My host mother said she was afraid of heights. so I decided to rock the seats back and fourth. it was funny because she started freaking out! after the ferries wheel, we took pictures in a photo booth called puricura; They say it's a must do if you go to Japan. Then we got Baskin Robbins!! they call it 31. so if you say that you want Baskin Robbins, they probably wont know that you are talking about it. It was very yummy! Then we did a little more shopping. after that we drove home. everyone fell asleep in the car. when we got home, we watched RV. then we ate dinner, and for dessert, we had some kind of bread custard. Haruka made it all by herself!!.it took her 4hours from start to finish to make! and they were SO good!! Then i did some homework, then watched TV, and finally, i went to bed.

Feb 4TH,  SAT

Today is Saturday. Yay! No school! i got to sleep in until 11 today! then i got up and ate breakfast which was bread and yogurt with bananas. after breakfast i worked on my homework and watched cartoons with Akihiro. Then we ate Lunch which was noodles and rice. Next, natsumi and I went sight seeing. we went to the mountain called unzen. it was so beautiful out there! but there was tons of steam everywhere. i didn't like that part, but it was still fun! then there was this dog that was following us! it was the cutest dog ever! It came up close to us and I almost go it pet it put it got scared and ran off. after sight seeing we went shopping and i bought a ton of stuff!! Mostly souvenirs stuff. it was fun! then we went home and natsumi and I made dinner. I made macaroni and cheese! (i brought it with me) and i helped make beef stew. it was really good! and everyone liked the macaroni and cheese. next, my host father 's sister and her family came over for a while, they had a daughter in 4th grade and a son around 5 years old. after they left, I gave my host family gifts. they liked them a lot. then we watched RV and then we went to bed.

Feb 3rd,  Fri

Today I walked to school again with Natsumi and her friends, 1st period was Japanese. The classroom was "yatchasamka" which means very cold.( in Nagasaki  only). I looked at the thermometer and it was 20C in the classroom!! i worked on writing and reading in Japanese again. Next was 2nd period, Science. i did some American Science home work, then they watched a video about storms and hurricanes. it was very interesting to see how powerful hurricanes are!! Next was 3 rd period, English, They were talking about E.T. again. i had to teach the teacher how to say "extraterrestrial" It was funny. then in 4th period we were playing volleyball in the gym again. our tem lost, but it was a close game. we lost by only 1 point. after volleyball, we ate lunch, today was rice bread, noodles, and vegetables. Next we went to music class. they game me the lyrics of the song with the words sounded out so i can read it. so today i had to sing too!! Next we leaned. Then 5th period was math, so i did my American math homework. Next everyone went in the gym again, and some of the students put on masks (picture of demons). then everyone threw peanuts and beans at them and they said something in Japanese that means go away! it symbolized casting the demons away. it's a tradition called Setsubun. It was interesting and very different. After that, I went home and ate a snack and worked on homework. then we ate dinner. we had rice with seaweed wrapped around it (Sushi) and soup. it was really good!! after dinner we watched TV and listened to AKB48( a music group). then we went to bed.

Feb 2nd,  Thu

Today I walked to school with Natsumi (my host sister) and some of her friends. it was very cold! when we got to school, we took group pictures before school started. Then, wehn school started, I went to 1st period which was Math. I did my American homework. it was snowing  a little bit this morning, but not very much . 2nd period was Japanese. the teacher had me read in Japanese,(the girl next to me, Ayu, wrote it first, then next to it, i copied the words). 3rd period we went to the computer lab. the room was very cold, but their computers are so nice! we went on Microsoft exel. Next wes 4th period, English. it was funny because today they were talking about E.T. they had to write sentences in English. For example, "Elliot and E.T. are friends." and " E.T. wants to go home," For lunch today, we had shrimp, rice with soybeans, and Chinese cabbage. after lunch we cleaned. then,we went outside and it was snowing A LOT! I was super happy! we ran around in the snow and i took pictures, that was the highlight of my day!! 5th period was science, but the teacher wasn't there so we just got to hand out until class was over, then there was 6th period, which was social studies. they learned about France, then school was over and i went home and watched TV with Akihiro and Haruka. Then I helped make dinner. We had hamburgers, corn, carrots, potatoes, and salad. it was like American food! It was really good! after dinner, we went to the super market and the manager gave me strawberries for free for an homestay gift. i will eat some for breakfast tomorrow!! Then haruka cut her gangs all by herself!! It looks very "Kawaii" which means cute. after that, we took pictures, then i did some homework, then I went to bed.

Feb 1st, Wed

Today, I went to school and in the morning, everyone stood outside and greeted everyone. everyone said "ohayo!" which means good morning . it was very cold outside. but i was ok. after, I went to 1st period, which was English . they had to practice writing in English so I got to help everyone. next was 2nd period, math, i worked on my American math homework. next I went to 3rd period which was social studies. they game me one of the papers that the class was working on. the teacher was writing on the board, so I was trying g to copy the words, but it was difficult because it was in Japanese! but everyone said I wrote good. next was science, today was interesting. the teacher had a bottle with a little bit of liquid in it, then she was pumped air into it. then she opened the lid and steam shot out of it! next was 4th period, English. I had to write in Japanese! and read out loud! the person next to me sounded out the words for me and i repeated them. next was lunch. we had curry with rice, and some kind of salad. it was very " Oishii" which meant delicious. after lunch we went in the gym and played volley ball again. my team lost this time, but it was still very fan! next was music class, so everyone sang ( but no me because I didn't know what they were singing). then I went to the basketball club after school. we had to run and practice passing the ball around, it was very fun. then i went home and ate dinner, which was called "oden". it was good, but very different . after dinner I took a shower, then we had chocolate cake! I usually don't like chocolate cake, but their cake was very good! then we ate skittles. they really liked them. they never tried skittles before! after that, my host grandfather was showing me places on a map of Japan. then I went to bed. 

Jan 31st, Tue

Today is my second day in Japan. I went to school. It was very different but everyone was very nice to me. first, I talked to the principal and all the teachers. they were very kind, then I went to my 2nd period class in the library, they had a thing hanging that said WELCOME KATIE! It made me very happy! we played a game called fruit basket. in the game, we had to sit in a circle, and the person in the center had to say a fruit name, and if you liked that fruit, then you have to run and switch chairs with someone else. it was VERY fun! then we make origami. after 2nd period, I went to 3rd period which was English class which was easy for me. Hahaha! they included me in part of the lesson. the teacher drew America on the board and the student s had to try to guess where California was. it was pretty funny because they couldn't figure out where it was! then the student s had to write a question in English that they wanted to know about me. some of their questions were very interesting. Nest I went to 4th period which was in the gym. we played volley ball it was fun! there were all very competitive so it was really funny to watch them play. my team won! next we had to clean. it was very different because in my school , we don't have to clean. it was very difficult because you had to go on your hands and feet and use a wet wash cloth and clean the floor. I couldn't do it very well. after cleaning, we ate lunch. they had a lot of food, so I couldn't do it very well. after cleaning, we ate lunch. they had a lot of food, so I couldn't finish it all! after lunch was 5th period which was science. they mostly worked on bar graphs. I couldn't understand what they were saying, so i just did some of my American homework. 6th period was social studies, we learned about Samurai Wars 200 years ago. i couldn't really understand, but it was interesting. after 6th period, my host mother picked me up from school. then at home, Akihiro (my host brother), and I were watching TV> it was funny because they actually had MC Donald's commercials. next we ate dinner. we had friend rice and chicken and vegetable soup. it was very good, but I was very full after dinner I was very tired, so i went to sleep.

Jan 30th,  Mon

I am in Japan now. It is very different here but i like it. We went to a sushi place for lunch. it was good but some of the stuff was spicy and very chewy! but I ate as much as i could. Oh and I am terrible at using chop sticks. hahaha! then we went to this place where thy had a cotton candy machine and so i got cotton candy and soda then  i got this potato things on a stick and it had some kind of bread on it. it was really good!! then we went to this other place where there was a ton of steam everywhere and they have eggs that you put in this big thing full of steam and then 10 mitutes later you take it out then the eggs are boiled and then you can eat them!! then we  went to this hot spring thing where you take your shoes off and put your feet in the water, and the water was extremely hot!! and they were making fun of me because it was too hot for me. haha. it was funny. and they live by the country like in Los Banos! and their cars are all squares and small . even the fire truck was small! and the steering wheel is on the right and you drive on the left. its pretty crazy!! oh and the toilets..... theres one kind where the seat is heated which is really nice!! hahaha then there is a whole bunch of buttons but its in Japanese so i cant read it. I will figure it out soon. and the other toilet you have to squat! im probably not gonna use that one. well y host parents are really nice! i haven't met my host brother and sister yet because they are at sport club thing until later and i don't know the time right now because it says its 17:10 right now and i don't know what that means! I'm doing great so no need to worry about me.