What's the Latest!?

I've been out and about a lot lately so I haven't updated my blogs much. Sorry! To be honest though life has been fairly uneventful so it's hard to talk about interesting things when nothing interesting happens. I went to a Japanese class recently and thank god I left an hour early! In Japan when you ask for directions you get twice as lost! But I got used to asking people for directions which is good!

The class was awesome and everyone was very nice! I look forward to going there more often! It's even better since I'm the only guy in a class of young, nice, beautiful and wonderful ladies! :)

I also spent some time getting used to trains! I visited Funabashi, Ichikawa again and Tokyo! In Japan, unless you go to a main station the doors open and close every 30-60 seconds! So I had to pay attention for the first while but now I just know when to get off and it makes life so much easier.

I've liked the exploration so far and I really want to go out and do more but that is hard without friends. That's the thing about Japan there is TONS to do ... with a friend hehe so I really am trying to meet more people!

The Ginza District in Tokyo is awesome! There were a lot gaijin (foreigners) which was odd for me since I've seen nothing but Japanese for a week now! People in Tokyo are much more used to gaijin like me to so I didn't get many stares which was nice haha.

So just so you know I'm really getting used to all of the changes here and my culture shock hasn't been severe in any way woo! So I promise to take more pictures and post more ... I just need more things to happen!

Until the next blog!

The above pic was in Funabashi!

Tanjoubi! (B-day)

It was Kimiya's 6th Birthday on Sunday and I had a lot of fun with the him and the rest of the Nakamura family. We went to Ichikawa which was about a 20-40 min drive and went to Tomo's mother's house. She is a very kind lady and she was very interested in Canada! Before we ate, we went out to get some food and went to this mall... It feels so crowded all the time and it's something I still need to get used to.

I had fun and I really need to get over this language barrier... You have no idea how much it kills me to not understand so many things and having to ask people to talk to me slowly and such it just gah ... It's frustrating but I know eventually it will get better and of course if you have an issue you need to find ways to resolve and mine is to attend classes nearby to learn Japanese... Hopefully that will help introduce myself to some new people because I really want to get some friendships going!

Back to the birthday topic! I also met Tomo's sister Yoko! She is really awesome I think and hopefully someday soon we will go to Akihabara in Tokyo! Akihara is a haven for otaku so I think it will be fun! (If you do not know what an otaku is google it! Do your own research people! :D) Kimi got many books and a CD for his Birthday and the food was excellent! I ate lots of tako! I really can't complain about the food here and thank Jesus I'm not picky! I had showed Tomo's mother pictures of Canada and told her about our snow and autumn and I also gave her some of my coins and she gave me this special 500 yen coin made in Okinawa when the USA was in control of the region. It is not available and many Japanese have never seen one... And I own one! The coin means a lot to me.

The pic below is of Me, Airi, Kimi, Miwa, Mayumi and Yoko

Until next time!

Soy Beans!!!

Today I had a lot of fun! I unfortunately didn't go out on my own much at all but it's only my second full day here so I think it's okay... This morning my homestay father Tomo and I went to the grocery store and holy crap it's different! It smells very different to... I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing... Everything portion wise is ridiculously smaller than ours and just as expensive or even more sometimes. I'm glad to say I havent disliked anything I've eaten so far... But I've eaten less than I normally do which is probably a good thing haha. I think I'm only eating what I need rather than just eating because there's food around.

Kimi Airi and Miwa are the three cutest, nicest kids I've ever met! Mi-chan especially :)

Today we drove to Saitama (about an hour drive) to go to this plot in a field that the Nakamura family bought and picked soybeans together! I had so much fun! It reminded me of when I was little and picked green beans with my grandparents and neighbours. There were many bags filled! I ate some of them to later and they tasted all right but I cant eat too many of them due to my hypo thyroid issue. *I am so sorry but my camera batteries died, no pics!!!*

Yesterday however I forgot to mention that while I was walking around town exploring, the old woman ahead of me was looking back at me frantically and kept doing so for about 5 mins (there was only one street to follow). She was in her 60s I would guess and then out of no where she just booked it! I mean like in a full sprint! I was so amazed at her speed that it took me a few seconds to realize that I scared the crap out of an old woman enough to make her sprint for her life. Needless to say I laughed! People in Kamagaya aren't really used to big scary white guys I guess...

Tomorrow is Kimiya's birthday so I am excited for that... I hope he likes Where is Waldo!

Until the next blog!

*Pic above is what I think the Japanese people think I look like sometimes... lol

I'm here!!!

I finally made it to Japan! and it took about oh I don't know 4-5 mins to notice that it is completely different from Canada! It's amazing and a little intimidating but I don't feel ecstatic about everything which is probably good since those are early stages of culture shock. Obviously it is different than what I imagined but I expected it would be.

I'm really glad I'm here and I hope I can settle in quickly. It's so crazy though! Like you really have absolutely no idea until your here as to how amazing and different things are.

My homestay family however, is MUCH MUCH better than anything I could ask for. I think I am the luckiest to have them as my family! They are very kind, helpful and funny! Today I will give them some omiyage (souvenirs) and I hope they will like them!

Getting here was crazy! it only took minutes to get out of the airport and I had no problems what so ever but when I went to the train station I wanted to get my ticket and call my homestay mother Mayumi to say that I was coming to meet her at Funabashi station. So I went to the ticket and said I needed a ticket to Funabashi, paid for it and the ticket lady said it leaves at 15:59 (3:59 p.m.). So I asked her what time is was now and she said 15:56!!!!! So as you could imagine I just kind of ran to the train and hoped to Jesus that is was the right skyliner train. I asked a lady once the train got going and not only did she say yes it was but she let me know when to get ready to get off and I was very grateful for that.

Also on the train I was so amazed to see that businessmen were just sitting on the public transit train drinking beer they got from vending machines! It's so interesting! Oh yeah and I heard them making fun of my big ass backpack haha.

When I got to Funabashi station I found a pay phone but they work differently than ours so it took a few tries and I lost like 220 yen which really sucked but live and learn I guess.

I'm definitely a minority here to. I pretend not to notice people staring at me but it really doesn't bother me. I knew it was going to happen because here I am not only a white guy but a big, possibly scary looking one with enough luggage that would make it look like I was going to set up my own colony here.

Today I hope to explore a little and I will almost definitely get lost but once again live and learn. the more I throw myself out there, the more comfortable I will be in a shorter amount of time.

Until next time!

Mike

P.S. The blog before was something I wrote on the flight to Japan because I had nothing really to do...

Love you! :D

Just Kidding!

... Or am I? :O

Pic is of Me, Airi (girl) Kimi (boy) They are so cute!

Blog written in flight

Today I went to the Pearson international airport in Toronto and it was a rather big step for me. Today I walked away from my family friends and country. All I'm familiar with and I'm not going to lie it's rather scary... Really scary I don't regret one bit of it though.

I still believe not only was my flight to Japan meant to happen and I think great things will come my way. This is a large growing step for me... It almost feels like a bird (chick) leaving it's nest and like the bird I'm going to spread my wings and fly where ever life takes me. It's scary but exciting and most of all it feels right.

As the Jet soars in the sky I can see clouds below me and they are so amazing. They look like a field of soft cotton balls swirling and flowing. I feel like I could just jump out and lay on them and it would be the most comfortable thing ever!

Of course I know it's all BS but it's nice to see clouds in a different perspective!

The flight is going to take 12 hours 30 mins which is less than I thought but holy crap it feels like an eternity! At least they've got some good movies haha!

We fly from Toronto over some place in the US, then Manitoba, over the Yukon over Anchorage Alaska, then over the Pacific over Siberia then finally to Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Faaaaar!

I'm nervous about the trains and such but it looks fairly simple.

Until the next blog!

When I get to my Japanese Homestay family's home, I have to send a million and one emails to everyone that told me to... At least I'm loved right? Haha so until next time I'll blog to you all later!

Preparation

Today is my last day in Canada! Tomorrow I am heading to the airport in Toronto to fly to Japan! I've dreamed of this moment since I was 11 years old! I'm so excited to make one of my biggest life dreams come true and I know it will be an awesome trip. Today I'm finishing up all of my packing and checking my list to be sure I don't forget anything.

I'm so happy that I have gotten so much support from friends and family as well and it means a lot to me. I couldn't have done a lot of this without the help of all of them and I find it hard to find the right words to show that appreciation... Thank you everyone! I don't know what I would do without you!

I wouldn't have thought a year ago from today that I would be doing what I am currently doing. I was going to save up money and apply to colleges but by some stroke of fate it seems I instead took the TESL course from oxford seminars. I met so many amazing people and the whole experience really motivated me to try ESL teaching and especially going to Japan.

I feel like I've learned more in life this year more than every other year in my life. Especially about doing what's important for yourself. I will post another blog about the importance of goals and dreams but not this one.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day!