BBQ in Atsugi and Other Things

So Thursday the 22nd, I left my Exploring Tokyo class halfway to meet my host family at Shinjuku station. Somehow I managed to fit 3 nights and 4 days amounts of clothes into my backpack and purse (barely..), so thankfully I didn't have to carry around much luggage. After meeting my host parents we boarded a Romance car on the Odakyu Line (it's called a romance car since the seats are in twos...lol). This was my second time riding a romance car (the first time was when we went to Hakone), but this time we had private seats. I was feeling a bit down/tired/exhausted on Thursday, which my host parents took notice of. So when we arrived at Atsugi, they bought me a vitamin/energy drink as well as little heating pads for me feet and stomach. My host family takes such good care of me! I tried to pay, but of course they wouldn't let me.

My host mom's dad picked us up in his car to take us to his house, the house my host mom grew up in. It was dark, so I didn't get to see much of the area. The house was really nice though. Maybe not as spacious as an American house, but there were plenty of rooms and an outside area (where my host mom's dad had put up tarps for the bbq since it was going to rain the next day). Upon arriving we were promptly feed oden and sashimi by my host mom's mom. Afterwards we went upstairs to my host dad's "hobby" (?) room. He likes collecting American things from like the 60's and 70's, as well as lamps, so the room was pretty cool and had a great atmosphere! He also had a record player, so we listened to some old Japanese records as we drank. We also got to hear him play some guitar and sing. And then I was made to sing Yesterday by the Beatles with him. Well I guess not made to, since I didn't oppose, but I really sound weird on a mic/when I'm performing in front of people >_< like I can actually be a decent singer if I'm singing along with the actual song haha...oh well.

After waking up the next day (I was the last to wake up haha) I helped prepare for bbq. I got to make yakisoba with my host dad on the grill (my first time making yakisoba!). Then a couple of my host mom's friends and their husbands (first time meeting the husbands, I've meet all the wives before) and their kids came over to eat. One of the husbands is the president of the Japanese Hulu (which is pretty husband). My host mom's calligraphy teacher and her 13 year old daughter came as well. I really enjoy talking to the calligraphy teacher. She's been doing calligraphy for over 40 years! She's so knowledgeable  It's amazing. I wish I had something like that I've been doing for an extended period of time...I should have kept up with one of the various lessons I took when I was younger! Anyway, she's really nice too and said that we should all go to Kyoto together so she can explain the history about the area and calligraphy! I also got to meet my host mom's little sister's husband as well. Apparently he is a musician (who has been playing the bass for like 20 years) and has done music for a lot of anime, tv shows, and movies! I met some pretty amazing people this weekend...oh, and my host mom's dad has been doing calligraphy for forever as well. Crazy.

After much talking, eating, drinking, and more eating (grilled tuna steak, grilled fish, freshly cut sashimi, yakisoba, crab, soup, and more) we went up to my host mom's dad's room where he played his guitar and I ended up accompanying him for Yesterday...so embarrassing haha. After my host mom's friends left, the family talked long into the night. The would occasionally ask if I was tired or wanted to go to bed, since I was mainly listening since I couldn't really contribute to their conversations, but I enjoyed just listening so I was fine. When I woke up on Saturday, I played with my host mom's niece named Yume (dream in English), who is literally the cutest thing ever. She's not yet two, so she was pretty quiet, but she seemed really smart for her age since she was able to convey what she wanted pretty well! We played with blocks, trains, and other things. At one point she was pretending to mix food in a little mixing bowl, so I pretended to eat it. And at another time she took my hand and we went around in circles in the house for no reason. It's so cute how she could do the same thing over and over and not get bored.

Later in the afternoon my host mom's older brother came (who was the subject of much conversation the night before). We ate more food (so much food) and drank some more as well. There was a bit of family drama concerning my host sister's older brother (since he went driving while drunk and wouldn't answer his cell phone among other things). My host mom's brother-in-law was telling me that this family was a bit unusual for Japan since they were so open. Maybe that's true, but I really like my host family and their families. Oh, and I experienced my first real earthquake that night! It wasn't too big in Atsugi, but it was still the biggest one I've felt (there have been others but I've never noticed them).

On Sunday we went to a nearby park to look at the leaves, and then said our goodbyes since that day was the Thanksgiving Lunch for my study abroad program. I was pretty spaced out during the lunch, but it was fun to see everyone and their host families. The food was pretty okay too! And I got to introduce my friends to my host family which was a lot of fun. My friends all think my host family is a lot of fun, and my host family thinks I have good friends. My host dad told me to invite some of my friends over sometime, which I am pretty excited about! I don't know if I'll actually do it since I don't want to be a bother, but my host family isn't the type to say things like that out of courtesy. Overall, after the lunch I felt a lot closer to my host family. I'm glad my host family is younger, and I'm glad I have been getting along with them well. I definitely feel more comfortable with them than I did a month ago. I'm excited to see where our relationship will go from here!

Today was cold and I had my Japanese midterm...but tomorrow I'm going to a jazz club with one of my program directors and a few friends, so I'm really looking forward to it!

First class and BBQ

Saturday I woke up half asleep (my host family had a little gathering that lasted into the night lol). I had my first class yesterday, however, so I had to be awake and ready to get to school before 10:40 (Saturday school uggggghhh). The subway to Waseda was so crowded (so many people were heading to Waseda), and I was almost late to class! Thankfully I made it on time. My Saturday Japanese class is pretty small (about seven people), but it seems to be the right level for me for now.

After class I meet with some TEAM members before heading back home to go to a local matsuri with my family and some of their friends and their kids (who are all really nice). We got the time of the festival wrong though, so we were there too early. I was still able to try the goldfish catching game (I caught two!), which was a lot of fun (though I couldn't take them home with me).

To kill some time we ate at a little restaurant near the shrine where I had omurice and beer (of course lol). I felt a bit bad since we are suppose to buy our own lunch (host family only has to provide breakfast and dinner), but my offer to pay was rejected (not that I'm complaining though). After lunch we stopped by the matsuri real quick, but they weren't quite ready yet. So the group returned to the apartment to drink. And drink. And snack. And drink. I only had one drink after lunch (I'm trying to drink less though I don't want to seem ungrateful/my body can't handle alcohol everyday), but I am truly amazed at the amount my family and their friends can drink haha.
On a side note, it's been interesting to see how hard my host mom works at home to be a good host when there are guests over. She's always on top of everything; she makes sure drinks are filled and that there is enough food for everyone. If something is needed or goes wrong, she's the one who responds. While it seems like everyone else is relaxing, she is usually kept busy with something or other. I really admire her ability to work so hard and to be so attentive. Even at meal times I still feel a bit uncomfortable. For the most part, I've been making my own breakfast for the last seven years, if not more. So it's weird to have someone make and serve me my breakfast...

Later that night we returned to the festival. It was definitely more livelier and crowded then. There was dancing (Hawaiian style for some reason?), and a lot of food and game stalls. After hanging out there for a bit, I left to meet some friends to go to karaoke (I had asked my host mom earlier if it was okay to go and she said yes, although I know it isn't really common to leave the home after eating dinner/coming home for the day...) Karaoke was a bit awkward (I didn't know what to sing and the song I picked didn't show my singing abilities lol), but it was a lot of fun! It was my first karaoke in Japan! Afterwards we got a Korean dessert called papingsu since we were in the Korean town area. It was sooo good! I definitely want to check out that area of Tokyo a bit more.

Today I went to a bbq with my host family! It was put together by the day care/kindergarten that my host brother goes to. I was really glad that I was invited along! It's nice to have a host family who involves you in their lives. It's also been fun getting to meet so many different people through my host family (although I can't remember all of their names). Sometimes it is a bit hard to communicate with other Japanese people, especially if they use more complicated vocab or grammar but most of the time I am able to make do. Though when I'm really tired, my Japanese is horrible. Anyway, the bbq was fun and the food was great, but unfortunately I forgot my sunscreen and sunglasses which was a huge mistake. It was super hot, and the sun was blazing down upon us. So now I have a horrible sunburn. My neck, arms, and face are pretty red...thankfully it doesn't hurt though.

On the way home we took the Yurikamome transit line. I sat with my host brother in the first car, so we were able to watch the scenery from the front window! And on the way home we saw part of the omikoshi procession for the local shrine; my first time seeing it! It was pretty amazing, even though it was for a small festival. I wonder how heavy the omikoshi is and what it feels like to carry one. The procession moves pretty slowly as well, and the mikoshi carriers move their legs in a certain way they whole time. I think it's amazing that things like the omikoshi procession still exist even now. I hope I'll get to see more.

Back at the apartment we had some somen and chatted for a bit. I definitely feel more comfortable around my host family now than a week ago when I first got here, but of course there are still awkward moments. I have gotten a lot closer with my little host brother, who has at first too shy to even really look at me. But now he'll hold my hand while we are walking, and we've been watching television together or playing games. Today I played trump with him and my host mom, and Japanese card game (I forgot the name). We also watched parts of Toy Story 3 together today (which was dubbed in Japanese and hilarious to watch). My host mom and dad have been doing more research about where to go and what to do in Akita, so I'm really looking forward to the trip!

Tomorrow I have class from 9-12:10 and then from 2:45-6...horrible...so I'm going to get some sleep now! Also there is a typhoon happening! I'm glad I'm in a sturdy building!