Ohhh How I Miss You Japan!!!

Dear Japan,
Its been a few since i have been back on the Big Island. And to tell you the truth i miss you dearly. Why do you have to be so far away? Why do you have to be so expensive to visit? and just why? When I was there visiting you i had so much to do. Things ranged from going site seeing all over Tokyo, going shopping and visiting traditional festivals that were happening. But who cares if it was just staying at home with our host family the whole day. I was able to experience the life style and traditions of the Japanese culture.
Out of my whole stay in Japan the part i enjoyed the most was going out everyday after school with my host brother to large shopping centers, and when I say large I mean LARGE!!! Hahaha. Shopping there was a great experience because here on the Big Island we don't have a good place to go shopping or to just hang out with our friends. The mall I enjoyed the most Japan was Aeon LakeTown Mall. Is that really the largest mall you have? Even though on some days I visited the mall I didn't buy anything I felt as if I was a kid in a candy store, with the million things there was to do. You could shop, go to the arcade, amusement park, watch movies, dine at fine restaurants or just get a fast take out. But if you just want something to sooth you taste buds and refresh you, make a quick stop at the ice cream shops or the crape shops.
Japan, I promise you that one day I will be making my way back to visit you. No matter what sacrifices I will have to make to save my money and things will do it. Till then, I had allot of fun while I was on my two week stay visiting you.
Nathan Tabucbuc

Japan!

by Tiara

Two weeks ago the Japanese class went to Tokyo, Japan. Fortunately, I am a member of that class. This trip was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. In the beginning, everyone was hesitant about staying with host families, but in the end we didn't want to leave. The best part of the trip for me was staying with a host family. I was so nervous the first night meeting them, and I was contemplating if I was going to like them or not. But as the week went on, I got comfortable with them and they grew on me like a second family. My host family had 8 members in the house: Akane my host sister, Shota and Takuya my host brothers, Junko my host mother, Masayuki my host father, Akane's great grandmother and grandparents. They had a big house that contained 5 rooms, so I was comfortable.
For meals the customs were very different from average American families. My host mother always ate last after everyone because she was so busy moving around making sure everyone had food, and if anyone needed anything, she got it for them. My eldest host brother had cram school every night so he always came home late, and when he did, my host mother would quickly prepare food for him so he could eat right away.
Showering was also different. They didn't have a shower inside; it was outside but I didn't mind... as long as I got to take a bath I was good. When I got into the shower room, they didn't have a shower head holder, so I would have to carry it and hose myself off manually. They kept telling me I could take a bath in the tub full of hot water but at the end of the day, truth be told, I was too lazy.
My host family was so nice I grew to love them and when I had to leave I ended up crying. They always tried to please me more and more each day, always going out of their way to do things for me which of course I greatly appreciated. Turns out we had more in common than I would have thought. They were big soccer fans. My host father was even the captain of his own club soccer league. I got to practice with them once during the first week I stayed there. It was an overall amazing and life-changing experience. Japanese people take things more seriously than we Americans, and they also appreciate life in every way possible and always try to make the best of it.

From Nathan's Journal in Japan

Konichiwa to everyone on the Big Island!! Okay so one week has already passed sinced we have been here in Japan. We are having a blast and loving the city life. The students as well as our host family and everyone else are very hospitable. The three things I love about Japan are the people, food, and shopping. Some things here are ridiculously over-priced, however. So far on the trip it has been nothing but school and spending time with our host family. But we did go on a bus tour around Tokyo. We went to a placed called Tokyo Tower. It's a structure that stands 333 meters above the ground. Next, we went to a traditional tea ceremony. After the ceremony we were able to go on a walk through what I call "the Zen garden". After that we went to the main gate of the Emperors Palace, although you can't see the actual palace because it is covered with many trees for security purposes. After that we had lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel. The hotel is mainly for rich people and booked for many weddings. The restaurant that we ate at cooked the food right in front of us. The stove top was made of lava rocks from the famous Mt. Fuji here in Japan. Food was oishi (delicious). Our last stop on the tour was at a temple called Asaksan. We got off the bus at the main gate and for ten minutes to the temple. Along the walk way to the temple there are many vendors selling their merchandise. Then to top the day off we went on a boat ride. The boat ride was so relaxing that I felt as if I were in a dreamland. lol. Overall we all are loving Japan so much! See you guys soon.