Congratulations, you guys get a preliminary look at my newsletter entry for AIIU:
25 days down. 261 to go. How on earth did that happen? I've already nearly been here for a month. I expected Japan to be an experience that would change me for life and so far, I feel pretty confident in saying that it has lived up to that expectation. The real story starts when I stepped off the airplane in Nagasaki, my host city. From Nagasaki onwards I was finally alone. No one there to translate for me or to help me when I get stuck, no English signs or announcements. It had finally hit home: I am in Japan, alone, with only myself and my own language skills to rely on. That realization was a little scary.
I was put to ease quickly enough, most of my host family were there to meet me along with two of my future host sisters. That was very considerate of them, each of them wrote me cute little notes saying how excited they were to meet me and how much they were looking forward to having me stay at their house. Cute.
I found conversation in the car, on the drive home, wasn't at all as stilted as I anticipated it to be. My family talked rambunctiously in the front and I answered the questions that I could and meagerly attempted to question them in return. The house I am currently living in is pretty cool, it is Japanese style complete with a Japanese garden, tatami floors, a shrine to Buddha and a futuristic toilet.
I was put to ease quickly enough, most of my host family were there to meet me along with two of my future host sisters. That was very considerate of them, each of them wrote me cute little notes saying how excited they were to meet me and how much they were looking forward to having me stay at their house. Cute.
I found conversation in the car, on the drive home, wasn't at all as stilted as I anticipated it to be. My family talked rambunctiously in the front and I answered the questions that I could and meagerly attempted to question them in return. The house I am currently living in is pretty cool, it is Japanese style complete with a Japanese garden, tatami floors, a shrine to Buddha and a futuristic toilet.
I did get quite a shock though on the first day of waking up on my futon, all I could see was a dragon (there is a model of one in my room), I could smell something burning and some strange chanting was being muttered under abated breath in the corner. I froze. It wasn't until later that someone explained to me that my host Grandma, who lives downstairs, was praying to Buddha. The smoke was incense and the chanting was, in fact, a prayer. It just goes to show that there are many things we don't understand. Explanation, however small and simple it may be, goes a long way into promoting acceptance.
The first week was school holidays, I embraced this time to try and get to know my host family a little better before having to trudge off to school everyday. My host sister is very outgoing and bubbly which helped any nerves I had to disappear as I settled into family life. For most of that week we did assorted activities that appealed to the youth culture of Japan: Purikura, Karaoke and Shopping.
The first week was school holidays, I embraced this time to try and get to know my host family a little better before having to trudge off to school everyday. My host sister is very outgoing and bubbly which helped any nerves I had to disappear as I settled into family life. For most of that week we did assorted activities that appealed to the youth culture of Japan: Purikura, Karaoke and Shopping.
I am equally, if not more, interested in the more traditional Japanese culture but I have no doubt that I will get around to that in time. Not to mention that I will enjoy and appreciate it more when I have lived in Nagasaki for a little while and have better comprehension of the language. 
Me at Megane Bashi (Glasses Bridge)I found myself a hobby in that week. English words that aren't quite spelt right. Like "Furit Jelly", "Dog Maker" (Instead of Hot Dog Maker) and my personal favourite, "Drag Store". Think they meant Drug Store...better luck next time.
I also noticed that it is very difficult to buy clothes or, well, anything really with Japanese writing on it. Basically, it is all English. Nonsensical English at that. As amusing as it can be, I find it a little frustrating.
After that week, school started. It was a very odd feeling, returning to school. After having graduated and accepted that the schooling stage of your life is over, to pull it back out again was weird. Though, of course, school in Japan is quite different. We have single desks, 10 minute breaks between each lesson, cleaning time and most importantly, I don't understand anything said in the classes. I just copy kanji off the board and hope that in time, I will figure out what it all means. Another major difference is the people. I have found the Japanese students to be extremely friendly and welcoming towards me. Especially in the first week where nearly everyone either smiled or waved at me, not to mention the encores of "Kawaii!". It just puts a little bit of spring in your step.
My classmates and I acting dignified. (Miyuki, Sayaka, Chika and Me.)I have found it hard so far to learn everyone's names. Everyone has eagerly memorised mine which makes me feel so much worse everytime they ask if I remember their names and I just have to shake my head and apologise. My first endeavour is to learn the names of the 39 other students in my class. Fortunately, one of the English teachers came down from high and gifted me with a name chart of every student in my class in English, blissfully adorned with accompanying pictures. That chart is going to save my life.
I have joined Sadou Bu, a.k.a Tea Ceremony Club. The practice is once a week on a Wednesday for about an hour an a half and though I have only attended an introductory meeting so far I can tell you one thing for sure: It is numbingly painful. Seiza, the Japanese art of sitting, absolutely kills. After the better part of an hour, I had trouble getting up and even then was to afraid to bend my knees out of fear they would simply give way underneath me. It was only then that I understood the meaning of the phrase "Jelly Legs". The tea was delicious, though and the procedure was frighteningly delicate. I'm not sure whether or not I will be able to master it but nevertheless, I will do my best.
My younger host sister (13) has just arrived home from school, so I better wrap things up now. In conclusion, I like Japan. It is an interesting place with fascinating culture and traditions, established history, friendly people, a multifaceted language and an atmosphere of it's own. I think that this experience is definently a worthwhile one, it will help me open my mind, learn another form of communication and let me experience things that one simply cannot experience anywhere else.
Well, that is it for me...
Love
Ashley-chan
