First Week So Far

Geez, I don't even know where to being hardly. This place is amazing so far! My family is really awesome, the Kimuras. I have Mami-san whose my host mother, and she speaks english really well so that's an added bonus in communication. Kisho-san isn't around very much because of his work, he gets home late and leaves really early or is always sleeping in. So i really only get to see him on the weekends, which is fine, we all usually do something special together and whatnot on those days. Kanto-kun is my little brother (oh Kisho's my host dad btw) and a whiz with the piano. He's got 5 trophies inside from piano competitions and is going to Nationals!!! I'm really excited for him! He's also obssesed with baseball and DragonballZ boy does that never end, lol. Mayu-chan (Ma-chan for short) is turning 3 next week!!! I get to sing Happy Birthday in Japanese next tuesday to her! (Shout out to Victoria Happy Birthday today as well!) I live in a westernized house with the grandparents, which is the grander one by far, but I go to the 2nd house for meals and just spending time with my family. I'm not disturbed in my room hardly ever unless they need me for something, it's nice at times, still kinda lonely I suppose. I'm really only in here after dinner if I have homework, or early in the morning if I wake up early enough. I don't have a traditional toilet, thank goodness for that! I've had to use them since I've been here, and yeah, no thank you. If I can hold it and avoid it, by all means I will. So many things running through my head at one time, school's not supposed to be a hassle they say, but it's still school, so it feels like it anyway. Got hit with the homesickness bus a few days ago, but I'm doing alright now, it comes and goes. I see lots of things that remind me of home. Sure, there's a drastic climate change humidity wise, but other than that it looks exactly like home in the Gorge....green, mountainous, people friendly EVERYWHERE. But it's so much safer, and way more organized. These vending machines are all over the place and they sell everything from cigarettes in a maching to most any drink here you can think of. We even saw a Best Buy vending machine in L.A. before we left, boy was that interesting! I keep thinking about how much more adventurous I've become since I"ve been here....I go on rollar coasters now! I talk to people more boldly, I'm not afraid to guess and see what happens, and taking a risk always just seems like a fun challenge now. It's only been a week, but believe me, I'm already changing. We were all joking a few hours ago about how when we get back home we're going to constantly be saying things in Japanese. We'll bump into someone and keep saying, "Sumimasen!" or "Itadakimasu, and Gochisoosama," and every meal. I don't mind in the slightest, *smiles* I'm actually looking forward to it, to have all of that imprinted into my brain so that I do it automatically, to me that would be amazing! espcially with Japanese being my favorite language and all. i"m an official pro at navigating my bike now, well, a novice in compared to the people here, but back home I'd be on top! I was riding home from the Owari Station, a place we usually hang out after school just to relax, and a lady went past me and dropped a few of her groceries. Back home I know I would have stalled to see if they noticed, but here I automatically called out, "Sumimasen!" to her and hopped off to gather them and bring them to her. She was really greatful, made me feel even more at home here...which definately has been taking some adjustment...A few days ago I got really down on myself becuse I still felt as though, i was just a guest for an unknown amount of time. But I pushed forward through it, and decided I'm going to have to work harder at it if I want to be a part of more things, which I did. I began doing things I'd do at home (dishes, cleaning, table setting) and it worked, it was almost like I tricked my body system into thinking I hadn't left, and this was home. I don't have to trick myself as much right now, it's really starting to sink in that I'm actually here....who know's what else could possible in store.
We went to the water park called Lagunasia (I think) near the pacific ocean on Sun. HOLY COW it was SUGOI!!!! (Amazing for all you non-japanese speakers) I got to bring a friend along, so Helen came with me. It was expensive, 5,000 yen (bout $60) but that let us have access to ALL the rides, and ALL the water areas. I went on rollar coaster after rollar coaster thanks to Helen! I figured, heck it was one of my first chances to EVER ride a rollar coaster in Japan, I loved it and became instantly addicted to them. We went on a wave machine, lots of guys staring at us too! ;) in a good way. Wading pool, figured out what the japanese version of "It's a Small World After All," is like....it wasn't Disney but wow....it was...Interesting...*laughing* I remember going the the rollar coaster and  at the top before we went down, looking over the Pacific Ocean and thinking...I'm on the other side of it...massive wave of nostalgia hit ride as the adrenaline mixed with the fall, nice feeling actually :).
Speaking of the guys staring, for me that's really been the biggest adjustment. I know for a few others it has too, like Helen and Alex, Hina and Lizzie too I think. No matter what, where ever we go it's unavoidable. We. Are. Stared. At. Sometimes it can be really degrading because they'll say something insulting thinking we can't understand Japanese, believe me, we know enough to know where you're making fun of us. It hasn't lessened...but we're adapting..we don't notice it as much, and if they stare we just smile back and give a nice head nod. So many thoughts racing around in my head.....still have a lot to sort out...But best foot forward! Keep On Smilin'