A weeks worth.

A week tomorrow since I came to Japan, and it's been great! My host-family is super close (unlike what I figure to be a "normal" Japanese family) so we do a lot of things together. I'm kinda jealous of their lifestyle actually. They are all beautiful, fashionable, live in a huge house, extremely happy and loving, and they work a minute's walk from their house. So nice!! I think I'll really enjoy living with them, and will be sad when I have to move out in January. I actually haven't spend much time with the middle daughter (Saaya, 18) because she's always at dance practice. She does hip-hop dance, and is super good. Her image can be described simply as "cool." She's pretty awesome! Once she has her dance show next weekend she'll be home more, so hopefully I'll get to know her better then.

The first day I was here (Tuesday) my host-mom (Mama) took me to a nearby outlet mall that is one station away, but also walking distance. I want to take a stroll there with the family dog once I figure out the neighborhood. The outlet mall is really big, and Mama said that on Sundays when everyone has the day off they all take their dogs there, some of them in special dog-strollers (they sell them at that mall - I saw them). I want to go on Sunday and see all the cute doggies.

Wednesday was rainy because of a typhoon, so everyone was home. Originally they had golf but because of the rain it was canceled. We drove to Yokohama (the neighboring city) and did a little shopping, then went to the China Town in Yokohama. They had pandas everywhere!! My host-family bought me a panda pillow :)



Cute!!!

The parking lot was amazing. It had and elevator that took your car to the level it's parked at (this is done by the employees). I've never seen such a thing before. There's probably some in America, but I've never seen it. They said it's normal in Japan.



That night the girls (Mama, Mariya, Kai-Kai, and me) all went to a bath house. It was soooo nice!!! It's a little unnerving cuz you go naked, but once you get over that it's amazing.

Thursday I went to see a movie with the oldest daughter, Mariya, who is the same age as me. It's a new Studio Ghibli movie called "Arietty," and it's amazing! And I was able to understand most all of it, which made me feel good about myself. The theatre was in a huge mall that is super confusing cuz it goes all over the place. This is also in Yokohama.

Friday I didn't do much, but I went to practice golf with Mariya. She reaaalllly likes golf.





Needless to say Mariya is much better at golf than me :P I got a few lucky shots, but overall I'm really bad! Mariya is amazing.

Saturday I did calligraphy with Mama and Kai-Kai (the youngest, 9). Mama teaches calligraphy in the same building Papa does Real Estate. It was fun! They said I was good at it, but I think they are just saying that :P Later that night I met up with Loren and company (they are in Japan for a little while) and had dinner with them. I had some trouble riding the train by myself, but I made it there in once piece and we finally met up.

Today, Sunday, I went to a choral concert with Mama and Kai-Kai. Mama was invited by her friends, whom I also met. It was pretty awesome! There were sooooo many people singing (over a hundred), but it sounded amazing. Mama's friends were really interesting too. They really like to talk! They are a lot of fun :)

And that is my first week in Japan. I need to take more pictures, but I hate looking so much like a tourist. I stand out enough as is!

Tomorrow is orientation day 1. Should be fun!

EDIT: I think I mixed up some of the days, because one of those days I went to Shibuya (where my school is) with Mariya and did some shopping with her friend Risa. But I can't remember what day it was... it was fun though!! There's TONS of shopping in Shibuya :D Lucky!! <3
Also that day we went to an Izakaya (Japanese style restaurant that's basically a bar) and I had my first drink in Japan. Drinking age: 20. FTW :P