An echo from the Land of the Rising Sun

The time has finally come. In a blink of an eye, January has come.
I only have three days left in Akita, four in Japan and I tell you the 4th is going to be a tough one - alone in a hotel room somewhere around Narita airport. It is as you can imagine a melancholic time for me.
But that doesn't mean that I'm not enjoying my last days here!
 I'm going out with my family to onsens, tea times and just drives and talking with everyone in a much smoother way compared to when I first got here. The so called 'knot' talks. Tying things up. : )
 I really have two families in this world now. I'm just amazed why/how people put prices on this sort of things. I absolutely can't measure this experience in such a small piece of paper called 'money'. It's beyond measure for all individuals involved, including the usual passers-by. Just seeing them has an effect on me. I had absolutely no idea that an exchange year can become something this large. And I think the more words I try to make for it, the more worthless the words spoken become so I'll stop here. It's personal. : )
 So I'll talk about my doings up until now during the time I was away.
December had many official endings in school and with YFU. As promised, I went to a buffet with my kendokas and some teachers, which was a blast with many weird experiments on ice cream and sprinkles on staple foods and many funny pictures, silly talks and some ponderings on Christianity and Buddhism in Europe (?!).
Also I had my final speeches in front of my whole school and later on before my classmates, with whom I had a bit of a 'Ask me Anything' time. Everyone had quite some laughs and I received many encouraging words and best wishes which made me really happy, but still it hasn't arrived yet in my head that I'm actually leaving. And it's almost a half a month later that I started thinking about it again. I think it will hit me hard whilst in flight or alone in a hotel room.
But there's more talk my lovelies! About my Japanese New Year!
 Before the much feared day, the 31st actually dawned, I was busy writing/drawing/printing nengajo 年賀状 (New Year cards) and sending them over Japan - to Akita, Fukui and tadadam Tokyo! But during the end of the year we want to our family's grandparents' houses in the south where we also had our hatsumoude 初詣 (the first prayer in a shrine or a temple, the busiest time of the year) and Yamagata. Most of our time we spent in the latter, going to shrines, Uesugi Kenshin's (!) and his relatives grave site/shrine, a beautiful onsen, chatting warmly with people we didn't even know (that might just be my favourite part of the Japanese and their culture - they're so warm in a indescribably 'flowing' (?) way) and had gorgeous feasts the entire time. It was magic. Why do I have to leave AGAIN?
At least I have the comfort of knowing that I'll also come back AGAIN, but the time I spent here will not. It will be a totally different then. And in a totally different place. Well. Most of the time. ; ) A trip down the memory lane.

 Further on, yesterday on 7th I went to school for the last time to say goodbye. And without me knowing first hand, we had tests. xD What a way to end a school, nice and proper. I also got my wished Japanese history books that I used during the year. I'm a forever history nerd and proud of it. :3
Afterwards I had my last bento with my closest friends in class, asked everyone to bare with me to take the last photo of us all and then bid farewell with promises of seeing again soon. Then I went to the kendojo to say goodbye to my fellows over there. Also as a sort of a thank you note, I made everyone a friendship bracelet in my country's colours and tied it up in a symbol of our school. I was really happy to see that they liked those things because if not, then my neck would have fallen off with pain. Honestly, braiding those 6-string things for a week takes a toll on an amateur. :D Overall, I made 15 of them. Yahoo!
And in the end of the end we all chitchatted friendly about our time together and exchanged promises and wishes to see again soon like with my classmates. Hugs, flapping hands and kicks to my rear end pursued. 'A memento' as the person in mind said.

 On a bit different theme, we have a lot of snow here. It's wonderful! But bloody cold. Japan is having a cold wave just like Europe. Hurrah for twins! I can't imagine what will become of me when I return home. I just might pass off the first moment I get out of the plane because of the FREEZE.
Anywho, if you want to see what I'm seeing here go to my album on FB. The photos I've uploaded today will be the last I put up in Japan. The last remains might come when I'm already back home.

 And also this journal will be the last. About the travels of a girl in a beautiful place called the Land of the Rising Sun.
Thank you all who have sticked to my ramblings and find them interesting or even sweet. :)
It has been fun, unforgettable.

So then, my lovelies, thanks for enjoying and goodbye.
And for the last time, sails hoy.

Where have all the crimson red leaves gone? (They're yet to come.)

Oh dearest me, I've been away for too long.

Hello again and sorry for the absence!

I'm back at school after an amazing summer break full of 'The Japan' (sounds like champagne in my head for some odd reason) and for the blast off the week before last we had a sports' festival over the course of 3 days, which was a first for me. Usually it's only 1 day in my 'home school', but triple it and it's a lot more fun. There were no grades, no teachers critiquing, but teachers running! Yay! Loved it. We had a lot of games, hurdles, races, team challenges and so on.

But after that began the usual (as usual as it can be for me under the circumstances) school days with kendo and Kumon language study (only K and L left!).

As of now, it's week 3 from the last half of my exchange year.

Oh my lord.

Which brings me to the topic about the big plans I still have, which I also wanted to share on this blog for a long time -

I'm going to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) on December 5th, which will probably be in Miyagi prefecture in the capital of Tohoku - Sendai city. I'm yet to decide which level I'm going to take, but currently I'm between the 1st and the 2nd one, the former being the highest grade. I didn't consider it myself (I was rather between 2 or 3), but my YFU rep suggested me to take the challenge, but I'm really uneasy about even just thinking about it. 2 sounds nice... so what would it be?

But as for kendo, my teacher is determined to put me in a competition for newcomers (read: novices) in the beginning of November. I'm going to a kendo tournament people.

*edit* (I got to know that it's an open tournament, in which anyone who wants can join (including pros, shivering!) and that it's on 2~3 November.)

When I first heard about his plan I was in a state of utmost shock. I didn't know what to say or in what language I should say it. My friends were almost the same. They just clapped their hands with their mouths opened in amazement. The only thing I heard them say was 'sugoi' (awesome) or 'arienai hodo rakkii da bee' (You're a unbelievably lucky little bugger, aren't cha?).

But it's decided and today I heard the news that their ordering the tare (name flap) for me and all the preparations for the gear are already running. I just need to make my name into kanji so wish me luck as to not make it have a seriously weird meaning.

What am I going to do?! I'm really fired up for the match, but there's still some inklings of uneasiness left about the whole ordeal. I only have about a month and a half left for training (add that to the time I've been in kendo so far and you get around 4 months of practice overall!) and soon after the tournament I need to start giving my all for the JLPT test.

What a life!!!

Also the test is going to be just around my birthday as you might know, which makes it some sort of a present. A peculiar idea for a gift I must say.

I've already ordered and received some guide books and example questions but I'm quite at a loss about the levels. Well, just need to make it quick and permanent. I have a lot of teachers kind enough to give me some advice about it so I think I'm safe in all aspects.

I also need to go to the photographer's, but I think I should polish up my Shaggy mop-hair before that, which has taken over my face over the summer. It's quite ticklish and I have unbearable nose itches recently. Why am I saying it? Just for laughs ;) I don't want to turn into a Wookie either. Growl!

So that's that and no harm done, I'm sure. Just wanted to give a small heads up about my upcoming doings over here and how I've been keeping up.

Equals = EXCELLENTLY.

Merry goings to those over seas and high lands and a happy new school year!

Tschau pakaa!

Lots of love from Japan!

Flicker through

Hello one and all!

Sorry for my long absence, but I have a good reason for that which I'm going to explain right now.

Firstly I got to go to a concert on 26 June. And not just any concert, but Ikimono gakari's. Have you heard about them? If not then you should.

Anyway, it was an overly energizing experience with a lot of dancing and finger swirling involved (or towel swinging when bought) :) . Even the elderly and parents carrying their small children were dancing away light-footedly.

The band itself was so unbelievably sweet and lovely and they gave off an aura of immeasurable friendliness. When they made a break during the concert and talked with the audience (for over half an hour!) it really felt like as they were your closest friends that you haven't seen for a long time. They (we?) talked about Akita's specialties, what they did the day before the performance, how they got lost, how they were noticed by grannies with grandchildren and dogs, how they got scolded at the market when they tried to explain that they were Ikimono gakari and so on. They're really funny, I must admit.

So how did I get to their live in the first place? Truth be told, I actually first heard about the band during my first week in Akita (why not before, I don't know) from my host sister who is a really big fan of them. I grew to like the band too and some days later we got some mail.

Usual isn't it? Mail.

But then it turned out that inside the envelope were my mum's pre-ordered tickets for the concert.

I flipped. 'I'm serioulsy one hell of a lucky b******' I thought.

The concert lasted for a whole 3 hours (it was planned to be 1 and a half), 19 songs were sang (including encore) and they said that it was their first time performing in Akita and that they felt really nervous... Didn't seemed like that at all. They were fantastic!

And to everyone's happiness, they promised to come back once more... because babahera was really delicious.

Ahh! They really stole a piece of my heart (and money, due to my towel purchase) :)

And continuing with music, over the past month, I've been practising for our school choir contest, which culminated on 29 June.

For that cause, I went to school everyday about 30 minutes earlier than usual and sang 'Tashika na koto' by Oda Kazumasa (a really beautiful song) with my classmates, who like me couldn't really manage to squirt out a decent voice due to the early hours. I must admit it was painful :/ But we kept on going.

And going... Going... Did it again during lunch break... And after school. Everyday.

Our class might have been the most hard working out of all the classes.

Then the 29th came and everybody of Kita High went to Akita Hall with all of our little hearts thumping like that of a mouse's.

Final practices in front of the building, final check on our formation, 3 times 'Ganbare!' and squealing jumps and inside we went.

The contest itself was divided by grade - 1st years, 2nd years and 3rd years respectively and also there were prizes for the best pianist and conductor.

Anyway, our class was the last one to perform out of the 2nd years, after which were the 3rd years and our schools choir's performance and lastly the evaluation...

Our hearts were thumping even faster than before.

1st years - can't hear because of my heart racing. And finally 2nd years - third place, second and first...

WE GOT THE FIRST PLACE, PEOPLE!!! Wooooohooooo!!!

We all jumped out of our seats with joy, yelled our lungs out and some of the girls even started crying. Our hard work was paid even more than we hoped for.

And guess what. We got candy! Yeah, we're still children you know. :')

I still can't believe it that I was a part of the winning choir. Me, a girl who was repeatedly said to never be any good at singing or music of any kind. I'm quite proud of myself and really proud of my awesome class overall. I'm so happy that I was lucky enough to land in Akita out of all places. Truly a picture image of Japanese life.

(Because I'm so jumpy and happy, I'll throw in some lucky stars for all of you after this entry ;) )

But that is definitely not all of what has kept me busy.

After the contest the whole school started preparing for...

Pamparapapapapaa~~ (drumroll)

Akita Kita High School's Summer Culture Festival!!!

YESS! I finally got to participate in one! It was held on 2~3 July (Fri/Sat) and there were many awesome games, exhibitions, performances and of course the classic Obake yashiki (Monster rooms). I tried everything out and went to all the show rooms and enjoyed every bit of it. In addition, in the inner school yard were many food stands selling ice cream, various drinks, including floats (a drink with a floating ice cream scoop on top, hence the name), takoyaki (fried octopus in a pasty), churritos, taiyaki (sweet fish shaped cake with filling) and so on. I was completely blown away by the magnitude of the whole thing. It was so awesome! We had tons of guests to who also seemed mesmerized by the scene.

I can't (yet again) express my feeling through this pixelized system. A once in a lifetime chance and I got to experience it full on. Can't believe it...

But about our class, we prepared a human stamp rally game, which the goal was to find at least 5 cosplayers (me and my classmates) around the school grounds and inside the buildings and sweetly ask us a stamp. If not, we would run away. Man, it was fun!

But it wasn't all game and running, but also some bureaucracy was involved.

Our class was divided into 3 groups who all did differently themed cosplays (explained in a previous entry) and also different jobs depending on the time. Ones were handing out stamp papers (serious business), others were the prize givers (even more serious, because we were counting the amount of candy we handed out) and lastly the cosplayers. We were really popular actually, especially with small children. :) Of course I was the Mad Hatter, as promised, and I might say that I was especially popular with EVERYBODY. I can't really count up the times when people asked for a photograph with me, or even an autograph (whoa!). I gave quite a fright to some small kids however, who literally fell over when they saw me and ran away as fast as they could (Might be the fact that I'm a foreigner :/ who knows).

There was also a public cafeteria opened on the second floor which served really delicious dishes made by the school student's. For example, I ate miso ramen and curry bread on the first day and cooled udon on the second. Well... that's not all that I ate in total, but let's leave it at that or I'll get embarrassed, hohoho.

(I also put up quite a few photos of these events which have been collecting dust in my camera, so please go and see them in FB if interested. :)

Lastly, about my everyday life a tad.

Well, I've been going to kendo for about a month already (celebration!) and I'm progressing slowly but steadily and crashing into bed out of tiredness as soon as I get home every day. I've been on a Kumon break because of my lack of time but I'll start again tomorrow.

By the way, this Monday I have no school! Yeehaa! And Tuesday will only be the festival clean up.

Soon, my 4th month of home stay will also pass. The time is a magnificently fast little bugger.

Also, quite soon, I'll be on my summer holidays in Yamagata again (starting from the 22nd) for Obon (お盆) and I'll also get to see Kanto (竿燈祭り), quite a famous festival of Akita in August.

Oh, the anxiousness... there's so much to look forward to every day, starting from school and ending with all the traditional festivals of the Land of the Rising Sun.

As always, thanks for taking time to read my blog and commenting. Hugs to ye me hearties!

Good luck and good ----- (insert the proper word according to your situation)

I'll hoist sails for this time.

The Floating World

It's been a while! Bonjour!

About school - can anyone say what is Japan's usual level of seriousness in studying? I've got a feeling that my host school is really high grade. We had a really huge meeting about the students future and universities, some speeches about international diplomacy and so on. It wasn't the first, nor will it be the last.

In Estonia it's just get-out-of-here-and-see-what-you're-capable-of-kind of attitude after high school. And speaking about Estonia, I might not be the first Estonian to land in Akita, but damn sure I'm the first high school exchange student here. PIONEERS FOREVER, BANZAI! Hahhaa!

Overall, school has been calm. Everybody's leading their usual chattery school life in which I've happily been included. :) Soon, after the tournament, I'll be able to enter my longed kendo club too. Finally! Also, I'll be going to a electric guitar class in the city centre. FINALLY! :D It's been a while since I've really been busy. I found out that I can't lead a life like that after all. :)

Have I mentioned that my school trip will be to South Korea?

Anyway, I will not go there. It's a bit sad, however I might have the chance to go somewhere I like in Japan during the time. I'm aiming for Kyoto, but nothing is sure at the moment. There are also some concerts that I'd like to attend... we shall see. :)

(I've also begun preparing my costume. There's a soon ending contest in the net with good prizes so I'd like to give it a shot. :) Tomorrow I'll start with the hat, which I can't wait!)

Sadly though, there's no feeling of summer nor late spring in Akita. Only rain (although I somewhat like that sort of weather too). But fortunately for me, I found some things that really cheered me up.

I found primulas, the usual spring flowers of Estonia in many people's gardens, also lily of the valley, another sign of spring. The flowers were seen some time ago, but today I stumbled upon my first Japanese wagtail [link]. It's a bit different from the pied wagtail [link] in my home country, but nonetheless dear to my heart. I just became unimaginably happy when I witnessed these small treasures around me. Definitely, all the small and all the grand things in the nature of Japan will never be forgotten by me. Everyday I happen to take a wrong turn in the streets but always I come upon something miraculous. Something beautiful. I just love everything in my home city. In my surroundings. Wherever I am. It isn't bound to any place.

As always, I never want to grow up. I'd be too tall to see the small wonders around me.

秋田より愛を込めて

From Akita with love

st. spl

I also put up some photos that I forgot to upload in April. Sorry for that!

PS Massive Attack's Heligoland is a must! Be sure to listen!

Guess what I will be when I grow up

Extravaganza! Outdoor vacuuming bonanza!

Anyway that was what I saw today when I was going home from school after doing my presentation on potatoes and flowers etc. In other words, my home country's characteristics, facts and all the other goods. It went really well - I got a few laughs and I didn't get a stage fright fever either. Although I would really have liked to receive some questions afterwards, all the firstlings (that was my audience - high school first years) shied away from the opportunity.

Since my last recording here, my life at school has went smoothly, happily and I feel really at ease. I actually managed to solve some exercises in maths too. I literally jumped of joy when I did it. Hey, I understood the question in mathematical Japan(a)nese. Plus, I've finished the basic level Kumon and soon am going to start the intermediate one. 必勝

Also, my class at school has begun preparing for the school festival in July. We are going to do a stamp rally, where some of us are cosplaying characters that our 3 groups A, B and C decided ((Pokemon), One Piece and Alice respectively) and are the ones to give stamps to the players and others are managing the contestants papers and other necessities for the game. Our endeavour's title and slogan are Come on and catch me! It's not so easy as you think! Our roles are going to change during those 2 days many times so everybody will do everything in the end. Anyhow, I belong to the Alice group and I'm going to cosplay...

THE MAD HATTER

Yes, I'm going to do the costume myself. :) I'm really psyched about it. I only have about 1 and a half month left so I'm going to think of the cleverest way to do it. The opening bang will be tomorrow. Going to search for a pink shirt. (God is in the details as they say.)

---

I went to Akita Onsen today. The baths there are so great and there's one outside too, inside a Japanese garden. There was also a sauna and to be frank, it was impressive. The decor was usual, but a television set there was rather amusing. They really think of everything here. :) But what I really liked was the smell of wood in there. You could also smell it in the garden. It really cleanses you inside out.

Also, inside the onsen complex was a restaurant which serves the best curry udon so far! It was called ishiyaki curry udon which was served inside a thick rock bowl and the soup was still bubbling. It was a great experience! Hot as hell, but great in taste.

Okaasan ordered a fish dish called buri ishiyaki, which turned out to be a grilled gigantic fish head. It too was delicious, but we all had quite a scare when we first saw it. (Put some lemon juice on it and it will all go well.) Anyhow, the place really went into my heart so I wanted to share my thoughts a bit.

Until next time! 3-9!

Log out static

KIAI!

Wow, it has been a busy week!

First off, school. Now I realize why my Japanese teacher said that he doesn't want to 'ganbare' anymore. We have a meditation every day before lessons and speeches about our future and also, this week, we had a 'ganbare' meeting. Really serious business!

But still, I haven't entered any activity clubs. I'm really going for kendo, but Kita High's team is extremely strong and there are always matches and everything so, next week, there's going to be some discussions about me entering the club. Everybody really wants me to join, including myself, but it would mean that I'll devote myself to the club almost entirely and doing so means that I can't do much else. Well, that's the problem. Need to polish my Japanese before I jump into the pit of DISCUSSION.

Also I've had some after school fun time! For example, I've gone out to eat crepes with my friends. The Japanese crepes are so tasty! They have so many tastes to choose and they're just melting in the mouth. After that, I also went to our local Senshuu park for the sakura festival, but there were no sakura at the time, yet a lot of shops had already started business. Therefore, Me and the kendo girls (nice) just ate the things we found interesting. That was also fun to do. Many had their skirts smeared with sauce afterwards. Fortunately I didn't. Hahahaa!

Also this weekend, there was school on Saturday. We had some sort of PTA happening. And so, next week's Monday is a HOLIDAY! Woohoo! Gonna paint some pictures then. It has been a while. But other than that, today, I went to Kakunodate samurai village (角館の武家屋敷)! A really famous place in and out of Japan. It really went into my heart. You can just feel the culture and history there. I bought a lot of postcards there of famous Edo period people. One interesting thing is that there are still some people living in some of the old houses. The oldest building is about 200 years old and there are cherry trees everywhere. I also bought geta shoes FINALLY! I've been wanting to buy those things since last year. It has been a long wait really. Mind you, they are those high stacked ones.

Also today we had a YFU Area Orientation meeting in Kakunodate. It was really great to meet all of the exchange students in this area and the reps, the host families.

BUT! I also met another person. A girl.

Who is going to Estonia as an exchange student!

It was our second meeting and we talked a lot about each others countries, interests and so on. We went to eat oyakodon together. (Mamps r66musta!) It was fun! So. Everyone around Tallinn go and meet her! She will arrive somewhere around July. Other than that I can't really say.

I must say the weather here is beyond measure unpredictable. For example, this morning it was so sunny and warm, but in about 5 minutes later, the sky had become grey, it rained cats and dogs and after 10 minutes it was sunny again. And it repeated throughout the day. The grand finale was with a rain waterfall. I really am in need of a boiling hot bath. I'm almost frozen to the bone. But I got to eat mochi so all is well with the world.

And it all has been indescribably fun! I've made friends in school, my Japanese is getting better and better by the hour, my host family is awesome and I'm filled with a new strength to climb towards my dreams.

It really is a once in a lifetime chance, isn't it.

This is it for now. Be sure to check for photos!

Good night or whatever you have there!

Summary summery

Phew!

My first school week is now behind me and I'm waiting for the next one!

Throughout the first half of the week, I only had self introductions in front of students and teachers and so on, BUT...

the climax was on Wednesday... in front of the whole school body! I did rather well considering my nervous circumstances. :D YAY! I think my 'love of chasing cats' went into many people's hearts.

I have received a wery wery warm welcome from everybody and that makes me really happy. It's so amazing of a feeling to meet so many new people and be able to talk to them and that they understand what you're saying. That gives me the greatest rush currently. It might be so for a long time.

Also I have went to many activity clubs in my school for a 'seeing tour'. Up till now, I have went to arts' club, go, calligraphy and school band's club. This system is really awesome I think. This should be executed everywhere around the world!! Hear me, hear me!

Next, my weekend. Saturday was a bit of a family excursion sort of day. We went to the zoo once more and the giraffes were out that day! I think they actually remembered me because when I went closer they turned their heads towards me, lowered them slightly and came really close! I really think we had some sort of connection... yeah, nice!

Afterwards we visited one of the biggest shrines in the district and I took some photos there so check them out!

And last but not least - onsen. Ahhh, it's so good. The place we went to is popular for it's great smell of wood. And it really is great. There was a bit of a kink there. it seems that it's a must to drink some milk after the bathing. There's a huge milk machine with your everyday milk, fruit milk and milk coffee. Weird, but really enjoyable.

The last day of the week is a time for total relaxation or so it seems. Might go for a walk later.

Currently it's noon and it's sunny so everything is possible.

Until next time amigos and amigas!

Lots of love!

Galloping through

A bit of information on my behalf:

currently I have about 5 days till school (starts on 5th April), I'll get my uniform a day before and at first I'm going to attend all classes, but after a while, I can choose, which ones will stay. So with clubs too - I can try what I wish and then choose one. I think that's really kind of the school staff to let me do so, don't you think?

But one thing is absolutely certain - I'm in the humanitarian team. But they're yet to have picked me a certain class form the bunch. I'll just wait and see.

Anyways, on to me diary!

27.03.

Let's call it the Great Spring Cleaning Day. We spent the whole day cleaning the temporary lodgings of otoosan. Me, Ayumi and okaasan. We cleaned the tatami, the fusuma, the windows, anything you can possibly think of. Yet again, very Japanese.

During a break we ate meron-pan, some snacks and mochi and drank tea. We drink it a lot here. I hope my teeth won't be black in the end...

After the whole ordeal, which actually was really fun, we went to a gyoza place run by a Chinese married couple. They were so kind and lively! Both were really happy looking people and a lot more talkative than Japanese, which is really unbelievable. The wife asked me tons of questions the whole time we ate, and she was actually the first person in Japan this time around who thought I was 「かわいい」(kawaii). I felt really out of place at first, because I had forgot the feeling when someone says that. Shiver me timbers! (Last year, I heard the word about 200+ times a day, 7 days straight.)

29.03.

Went to the Oomoriyama Zoo today and I saw the giraffe (キリン) with my own eyes for the first time in my life! It felt numbingly awesome! I had only eyes for them and one of them had only eyes for me. Just magical. Mogic! Also, I was given a year-long pass for the zoo by okaasan. It has a tiger on it! How cool is that?

Also today, I tried Japanese yoghurt for the very first time. It was delicious! You all should try it when you happen to be in Japan. おススメでしょう 。

*Just an ending note.

When school starts, my posting rate might run a bit low, but anyway, keep on checking back!

Small trinity

23.03.

As it was a quiet and calm day, I won't talk about my sleeping and eating, but shortly about what was interesting today.

There were only news about Johnny Depp the whole day, including his day schedule and style tips and people squealing his name. The news people were overthinking it all! It really seemed like that. Plus, the footage was the same, the whole time.

I mean, Japanese TV is really awesome! It's amusing to the max!

End.

24.03.

Today, was a remarkable day.

Today, calls for a celebration.

Today, I did something great. A great deed during one's home stay.

Today, I dared to open the refrigerator by my own and find myself something to drink.

I... found milk!

Today (25.03.)

School visiting day. I met my school's headmaster along with YFU area reps and Kumon teachers. They are all so kind and nice people! And after the talking, which went unbelievably smoothly for me, I understood almost everything I was asked and all the necessary information, the school secretary/teacher took me, okaasan and the Kumons on a little tour around the school. It seemed like a city! It's so huge and really pretty. The gym is just fantastic! And I heard about the clubs too, that they have there - ikebana, calligraphy, tea, archery, kendo, judo, culture and many more. All the rooms were so tidy. Really Japan-like.

I was also asked what kind of class I wish to attend during my stay - scientific or humanitarian. Can you guess which I chose?

Also I heard that Akita-Kita (my school) was still a all-girl school 3 years ago. Then it changed into mixed school. Yosha!

And final good news for today - I think I'm getting on great with my Japanese currently. Every day feels just brighter and as the time goes by, the more I like Akita and the people here.

I'll leave something for days to come too, so this is it for now.

So everybody, have a nice day/night/morning or whatever you have over there.

st.spl (is) out.