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Thursday, 13 November 2014
Eugenia's Homestay @ 07:47
EUGENIA'S HOMESTAY
So after visiting the Sawara Festival, it was the homestay!
My homestay buddy is Kanazawa Mao, who is actually the same age as me, 17!
So she's actually in her senior year in high school and aims to go to a university in Tokyo next year.
My homestay buddy, Mao!
Mao came together with her mum and her fren, Yui's mum to pick me up.
And we had a few minutes of awkward silence at first before I started introducing myself in Japanese.
And they were so amazed. Hahahs
We first dropped by AEON, where they went to grab a few stuff. After that, they dropped Yui's mum off at her house before going back to her home.
Her house was HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Not kidding.
Was too shy to ask if I could take a picture of her home so no pictures.
After giving me a house tour, she brought me to the small shrine near her house, where she taught me how to pray.
First, throw 100yen into the huge box, followed by ringing the bell, bowing, clapping twice and pray. After praying, walk to the entrance of the shrine and bow again.
After praying, we returned to the house where we changed into more comfortable clothing.
She lent me her big sweater which was super comfortable and jersey pants.
And only then did she tell me that we are going to celebrate her friend Ayumi's birthday at her home.
And none of her friends know I was here.
(Except Yui)
/cues major freakout and nervous breakdown
After changing, we went down to the living room where we waited for her friend's arrival, helping ourselves to a huge pack of potato chips while watching 'The Seven Deadly Sins' anime.
(Even though she didn't watch anime, she switched the telly to the anime channel because she knew I liked anime)
Soon after, her friends arrived!
From left to right:
Ayumi, Erika, Me, Yui, Kumiko & Mao
All of her friends have been close friends' of Mao since Elementary School and I felt very welcomed by all of them!
They came along with their parents as well so even I was welcomed by the adults as well.
I was very touched by their hospitality, and how they tried to talk to me in English even though they are not very good at it.
Mao's home has a porch so we went to have BBQ at the porch, where about 3 of the dads cooked the food for us!
It was a huge feast.
And I did not have high expectations when Mao first told me we are going to have BBQ because well, usually BBQ doesn't taste very delicious when we BBQ it ourselves in Singapore.
But surprisingly, IT WAS SO GOOD.
We ate a ton as well.
From Pork Chops (Well for me only at least, since I can't take beef), scallop pizza, shishamo (pregnant smelt) and weiners to sushi, sashimi and a dessert of the best pumpkin pie I've had and a large serving of grapes.
The pie was so delicious, I'm craving it as I type this post right now.
Obligatory Group Shot
While we were eating, we seemed to attract the attention of a stray kitten nearby.
But when Mao's father tried to go near it, it started hissing really angrily.
It eventually paid a visit to our table and tried to steal our food though.
After this picture, we headed in for a while as it was too cold outside.
Inside, Yui and Ayumi tried to ask me questions in English while I answered them in Japanese.
Yui would ask Ayumi to translate the question in English.
There was a question which was "Coming to Japan by yourself, are you afraid?" in Japanese and Ayumi had trouble translating and they probably spent 5 mins thinking about it until I just replied "I wasn't scared." in Japanese.
And after that they were super amazed and was like 'AH. SHE UNDERSTOOD US ALL ALONG"
It was a very interesting and funny experience.
I've always wanted to experience how it's like to have a Japanese high school life.
While I'm unable to experience that for myself, I was glad that I managed to hang out with the girls, who treated me like one of their own classmates.
It made me feel like it was really like a outing with my friends and it was a really refreshing and new experience that I will never forget.
I was also able to talk a lot to Yui's mum, who was super nice and friendly.
It made me really grateful that I took up japanese lessons as I was able to communicate with them, even though my Japanese was not perfect.
Thank you all for having me!
At 9pm, we piled into the house to see the drama Mao acted as a side role in!
In fact, she's accepting an acting job in Tokyo and I really hope she will be able to get a huge role in the future~
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Woke up pretty early in the morning even though I could've slept until much later.
Breakfast consisted of cup noodles, konbu (kelp), Ocha, grapes and the best apple pie I've ever eaten in 17 years of my life.
After breakfast and a shower, we headed out~
We stopped by 7-Eleven on the way and I was so amazed at how they sell coffee there.
You simply get a plastic cup with ice (if you want ice coffee), pay for it and get the coffee from the coffee machine yourself.
And help yourself to creamer and sugar as you see fit.
My morning coffee
Selfie on the car~
Lunch was Kaiten Sushi (Conveyor Belt Sushi) at Choshimaru!
The thing about sushi restaurants here in Japan is that, all of the sushi you see on the conveyor belt already has wasabi in it.
So if you can't take wasabi, you have to tell the chef situated near your table to make a special order for you.
THIS.
Is the best sushi I've ever had in my whole life.
The salmon just melts in your mouth like butter and it is just so good.
Ordered my usual as well:
Salmon and Tuna Nigiri
Dessert was pudding and mochi share together with Mao!
With Mao, who liked Salmon & Tuna sushi like me.
(The both of us actually think quite alike actually)
After lunch, Mao's dad drove us to Naritayama!
Naritayama is literally like a hill and we had to climb up the road where there were rows of shops lined along the streets.
All the shops looked very traditional Japanese and the scenery and atmosphere was so awesome.
One of the shops sold these cute miniture clay food items.
We went to visit the beautiful Shingon Buddhist temple as well!
After the temple visit, Mao's parents bought me a special pair of Zodiac chopsticks with my Japanese nickname engraved on it!
(It is safely kept in my drawer as I can't bear to use it)
Our next stop was Port Tower, back in Choshi!
My ticket to go up the tower
When we went there, it was the day when the typhoon was about to hit Chiba so the sky was grey and the waves were big.
On the way, saw an Anpan-man vending machine!
After this, we went back to the car and we headed to Aeon again, where Mao and I took purikura together.
It was then that we really felt really sad that the day was ending and we had to part ways.
As I think back at that day now, I wished that my Japanese had been more fluent so that I could've talked so much more with her and her family who took care of me so well throughout the short one and a half days, who treated me like I was one of their family members.
I had a lot of fun and I'm very thankful that I was chosen for this trip, where I was able to experience this homestay and meet such a wonderful buddy and friend.
That concludes my homestay!
Written by:
Eugenia
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