Until We Meet Again in Japanese Language
Konnichiwa! On our last week in Nippon, nosotros got another week off so we explored what nosotros could before our departure. Even so, the weekend before we had to take the Japanese Linguistic communication Proficiency Exam or JLPT for curt. The JLPT was a standardized examination that measures Japanese language proficiency for non-native speakers. It was well-nigh like the Japanese version of the College Lath SAT. After the JLPT, there were no more than classes, studying, final papers, presentations, or homework! So here is what I did during my last calendar week in Nihon. For the final time, 始めましょう !
Sat 12/01- The day earlier the JLPT exam, my KGU buddies and I got together ane last time by having dinner at a shabu-shabu (hotpot) restaurant. We had such a peachy time together. I also gave them a small box of Hawaiian chocolate-covered macadamia nuts as my way of proverb thanks. Overall, my KGU buddies have been really helpful and kind during my time in Japan. In the kickoff, it was a rocky starting time getting to know them because my Japanese wasn't that bully merely now I can happily say we take go great friends for life!
Monday 12/03- My terminal week off started by going to Harajuku and Shibuya for some shopping and a petty sightseeing. Beginning, I went to come across the famous Hachiko statue in front of Shibuya station. For those of who don't know Hachiko's story, Hachiko was a famous Japanese Akita dog known for ever waiting for his owner in front end of the station even after his expiry. I remember seeing the movie, Hachi: A Dog'south Tale back in 7th class in my Japanese class and asking if the statue notwithstanding existed. I never knew that ix years later, I would actually see that same statue. Afterward that, I went to the Mocha Cat Café in Shibuya. Now, I am not a fan of cats, simply they seem to exist pretty popular in Japan. The admission price was 200 yen for every ten minutes. There were two floors of cats and they were all over the place! Later playing with cats, it was fourth dimension for me to do some shopping. I shopped at the famous Shibuya 109, known for its many stores filled with cute Japanese products and mainly style. Subsequently that I shopped at H&M and UNIQLO, and that concludes round 2 of my Harajuku/Shibuya trip!
Tuesday 12/04- I stayed in the Yokohama area by going to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum which was almost all things ramen. The kickoff flooring is all nearly the history of ramen in Japan, but the two basement floors are the most fun. It is a replica of an old town of Japan and in that location are nine different restaurants serving different types of ramen. You can even request to have a mini sample if you lot want to effort multiple bowls which is exactly what I did. I had three mini bowls from three different restaurants and they were all so skilful! I wish I could have tried more, simply I was so total. Maybe instead of having a wine studies major at Linfield, how nearly a ramen studies major with ramen tasting?! After that, I worked off all that ramen by doing some shopping at World Porters shopping mall in Minato-Mirai. While I was shopping, I came beyond this unique section called Hawaiian Town. It was a section of all things Hawaiian including restaurants, cafes, and shops. At that place were even signs that had names of Hawaiian towns such as Waikiki, Ala Moana Blvd., etc. I wished I had found this place earlier because the atmosphere has a prissy taste of home.
Wednesday 12/05- I returned to Tokyo by doing some omiyage shopping. First I went to Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa which is the all-time place to become local souvenirs from Japan. And so, information technology was round 3 of my Harajuku/Shibuya trip. Information technology started past having luncheon at Harajuku Gyoza-ro, then shopping at places such equally Kiddyland and the Takeshita shopping street which wasn't too crowded compared to the last fourth dimension I came. The chief highlight of my trip was going to a conveyor belt-dessert café called the Maison Albe Café Ron Ron. It costs $xviii USD for an all-you lot-tin can-swallow dessert feel. In that location were a variety of desserts to choose from, and I ate about nine plates! At night, I hung out with my sometime Linfield International students/Tokyo friends. We first went to Tokyo Belfry, the earth'south tallest, self-supported steel belfry (not to be confused with the Tokyo Skytree that I went to during fall suspension). The view was really pretty especially since we went at night. After that, we had dinner at a restaurant where nosotros ate monjyaki. Monjyaki is like to okonomiyaki, but the batter is softer and yous cook the ingredients first and and so pour the concoction in the eye. Plus it is often eaten when partially cooked. There was also okonomiyaki served at the restaurant and I actually helped cook it on the grill. I had a fun time hanging out with my Tokyo friends for the last fourth dimension considering I may not e'er seen them again for a while.
Thursday 12/06- The adjacent day I headed out to the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum aka Doraemon Museum in Kawasaki. Fujiko F. Fujio was a manga artist known for creating many manga including the popular Doraemon. For those of you who are non familiar with Doraemon, he is a true cat that comes from the future to help a boy named Nobita by using many tools that I wish existed in our world. The museum also included works from Fujio's other manga including i called Kiteretsu Encyclopedia that looks like to Doraemon in plot lines and characters.
In the evening, I reunited with my host family before I left Japan. When I met them in front of my dorm, I was very happy to come across them once more. Nosotros had dinner at a restaurant that served Japanese-style spaghetti (sorry I forgot the name) because it was eaten with chopsticks. During dinner nosotros exchanged gifts with each other. I gave my host family unit a box of Hawaiian chocolate-covered macadamia nuts forth with 3 numberless of Kona coffee. In addition, I besides gave private gifts to each of the family members including a toy for the dogs. For my gifts, they gave me a pair of beautiful chopsticks and a hand towel plus, they also had a gift for my real family back dwelling house! And they gave me a decorated card with messages including a video made by my host sister. My host family has washed and so much for me during my homestay, that words cannot express how thankful I am to come across them. I notwithstanding (and promise to continue to) keep in impact with them even long after my homestay ended. No affair how many International students they "adopted," and if they get a new one next twelvemonth, I hope that they volition always remembered me. Every bit soon as nosotros returned to my dorm, I wanted to cry only I couldn't. Right before my host family unit left, we took a family selfie and I gave my host female parent a tight hug earlier we parted ways. I will say this one time again, I Will HAVE SERIOUS WITHDRAWALS from my host family unit when I leave Nippon.
Fri 12/07- My last total solar day in Nihon was spent at one of the greatest places in Japan! Can you approximate what it was? Here is a hint: Information technology is the happiest identify on Earth. That's right! I went to Tokyo Disneyland! Here are some differences between Disneyland in America and the one in Tokyo. Get-go, the ticket price in Tokyo is cheaper than America's for a i 24-hour interval pass. 2nd, Tokyo Disneyland is known for their popcorn. There are many popcorn vendors effectually the park and they come up in many unlike flavors including a curry-flavored popcorn. Plus, they sell popcorn containers that are shaped like Disney characters that you can use to carry the popcorn in. Plus at Tokyo Disneyland, they accept many rides and attractions that are similar to the ones in America such as It's a Pocket-size Earth and Haunted Mansion. I just stayed a picayune while because the park closed early that solar day, and I wasn't feeling too expert in the afternoon. But, I had fun because the park was in their Christmas season which is the about magical time of the year for Disney. Plus, I got to see a parade and got myself a pair of rose-gold Mickey Mouse ears. If I ever decide to go back to Japan, I will definitely go to Tokyo Disneyland again!
Sabbatum 12/08- This was the solar day I departed from Japan. Hours before I left my dorm, it was a bit hectic as I had to get everything out of my room, and fit all the souvenirs that I had bought in both of my suitcases. As presently as that was over, we met almost of our buddies in the dorm cafeteria. After turning in our insurance cards, room keys, and student IDs, information technology was a two-hour bus ride to Narita Airport. When nosotros arrived at the aerodrome to check my bags, I institute out that i of them was overweight by xi lbs. Luckily, my KGU buddies helped me brand my bag less overweight. I had to end upwards carrying some of my stuff in a pocketbook, though. Before I proceeded to TSA, we all had dinner together, and took last-minute selfies and goodbyes. Then before I knew it, I was heading dorsum domicile. Even though it was a seven 60 minutes flying, I slept nearly of the time and when I woke upwards, it was already ane hour earlier arriving back in the U.s.a.. As the time was counting downward, I idea to myself, "Man, it is going to be so hard going back to reality, and it will feel similar c***!" The moment the plane landed in Honolulu, the weather was cloudy with showers. Even so, at that place are some things I am looking forward to beingness dorsum home. I become to spend the holidays with my family, and I go a chance to see my high schoolhouse Christmas concert since I came domicile earlier than usual.
Well, that is it for this blog, and the concluding of the blogs. Looking back at my written report away experience, I tin say I have no regrets. Fifty-fifty though there were some setbacks and challenges, it didn't stop me from doing things I wouldn't imagine myself doing. I traveled by myself during fall break to Kyoto and Hiroshima, I tried windsurfing even though I failed, I got used to riding the rail system even though it tin can become crowded at times, and made some awesome friends and family in Japan. I wish I could stay longer, but next semester I have a 16 credit load, plus I volition be in the Hawaiian Order Luau. Yes, I manage to do everything I can perhaps do in a short time. If there was song that could describe my experience, it would be "I Lived" by One Republic.
Since this is the last blog, I would like to take some time to say a few thank you. First, I want give thanks my Japanese professors Christopher Keaveney, Masayuki Itomitsu, and TA Ayaki Horii. Part of the reason why I am studying abroad is because Japanese is my minor and linguistic communication minors are required to study abroad for a semester. They were the ones who encouraged me to minor in Japanese and study abroad, while making it possible to pursue the balance of my college career. 2d, I would like to give thanks the Linfield College IPO, specifically Shaik, Matt, Marie, and Michelle. The IPO was a huge help preparing me earlier, during, and even after studying abroad. They fabricated sure nosotros turned in our forms on time, answered any questions that nosotros had about studying away, and fabricated certain our experience was comfortable. Third, even though I already thanked them, I would like to give another give thanks you to the International Middle at KGU (Matsuoka san, Murakami san, and Yamada san). They were the ones who coordinated our time at KGU, our go-to people when we needed assistance, and blest me with a loving host family unit and great KGU buddies. どうもありがとうございました (Thank you very much)! Lastly, I would like to give thanks You lot for following my journeying throughout my blogs which volition hopefully inspire you lot to study abroad in the future if you haven't. It volition alter your life for the better, and you won't regret information technology. Linfield makes information technology possible for anybody to study abroad, including nursing students and athletes.
さようなら and Aloha (Goodbye)
-アリッサ クワモト
Source: https://www.linfield.edu/ipo-journals/2019/01/04/december-1st-8th-2018-a-hui-hou-japan-until-we-meet-again-japan/
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