I am loving the spring weather here! This whole week it has been up toward 70 degrees and sunny. It's almost hot today! Sunny days just make me so happy. It's only March and it feels like Michigan's June. I'm not really looking forward to the summer heat here again. But I love spring and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
People here are still wearing jackets and long sleeves, which is crazy. Only foreigners are wearing short sleeves.
Today was my last day of the school year. I am now a third year student! That means I'm a senior! Today was just a closing ceremony so I got back home by 11:30, which is nice. Now I am going to go get combini food for lunch because I am the only one home. Then I am going to Yokohama Station to meet friends and go bowling. :D Hopefully my score will by higher than 38 this time...
So I am now officially on spring break. And I have a busy one planned, so I am very excited.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Akira's Wedding
Akira's wedding was wonderful. His family was really awesome, too. I don't think I could say enough about them. They were so generous and welcoming to me. My flight got into Fukuoka at about 6 o'clock on Friday night. Akira's dad picked me up at the airport. He had a little sign with "Miss Abbey Moore" on it so I would know who I was looking for. We then drove to their house.
I had been a little bit nervous about going there because I really don't know anyone. The only person I had ever met before was Akira, and I hadn't heard anything from him since I was 6. There was no need to worry, though. Everyone was so excited to see me. I felt so at home with that family. I didn't seem like they were strangers at all. Pretty much the first thing Akira's dad asked me was how AnnaMarie was doing. At the house I got to talk with Akira for a little bit. We looked at pictures from when he was in Ironwood and ones that I had brought with me of the family now.
The whole family went out to dinner at a curry restaurant and we all talked. It was a rather confusing mix of Japanese and English. But it was fun. It was so awesome to talk with Akira about what he remembers. To be honest, he probably remembers more about how it was at our house 10 years ago than I do. He had some really funny stories, and good memories of Mom.
After dinner they brought me to my hotel and checked me in. I think Akira felt bad for sending me to a hotel, but there was no room at the house. Wedding times are so busy anyway that I think it was way better for me to be out of the way. The next day was the wedding, and they picked me up at the hotel at about 8:00.
The wedding ceremony was really interesting. It was all Japanese Shinto style. The wedding itself was only family and really close friends. They were so kind to invite me to it. The reception started at about 11. There were over 300 guests present. And everyone was served like a 9-course meal. It was really good, but there was so much food! I didn't even eat half of mine and I was so full. First they had like 4 or 5 Japanese-style dishes, then western-style dishes, then dessert.
Akira and Miyuki (his new wife) looked so good. For the wedding they were dressed in these really elaborate kimonos. A little while into the reception they changed into western-style wedding dress and suit. Then, they changed again. Miyaki wore this really beautiful green gown and Akira had a different suit on. They were really busy the whole time. I don't think either of them ate anything at all. Although Akira did get plenty to drink. Japanese drinking-culture is to give drinks to people as a sign of friendship or good-will. Akira, being the groom with 300 guests, was offered a lot of drinks. And you have to accept it.
The reception went until about 3. Then we went to the after party. It was crazy, but fun. It was only the bride and groom's friends (ages 25 to 30ish) and me. I have never seen people drink so much in my life (Yay for orange juice!). And I never want to see it again. We were at a bar and restaurant. Then we went to a Karaoke bar for 2 or 3 hours. Then we went to Ramen at like 9:30. It got really interesting when the other guests discovered I can almost speak Japanese.
The whole day Akria's sister and sister-in-law stayed with me and took care of me. Which was really nice. When they went around to introduce themselves to Miyaki's guests and family they took me with them. :) "This is Akira's host sister from when he lived in America 10 years ago..." By the end of the party several people had come up to me, asking if I was Abbey. And a few people came offering drinks. Megumi was nice enough to explain to them all that I'm only 16 plus I don't drink due to my religion. I was the only foreigner at the reception. No, that's a lie. There was a guy who from Taiwan who had lived at the Sasaki's house as an exchange student. But he's asian too.
It was a long day, but it was good. I had a lot of fun. I stayed at the hotel again that night. Monday morning they picked me up at 10. We went to the house and had brunch all together. Then in the early afternoon I said thank-you and goodbye to some of the family. The rest of us went to do a little sight-seeing before bringing me to the airport. We went to the temple of the Buddhist god that has to do with studying. We ate tacoyaki, anko-filled mochi (I can't remember what they are called), and sweet potatoe fries from those little stands. Yummy. Akira's nieces were adorable! They would take my hands as we walked. Since I only have 2 hands and there were three little girls it was a bit of a race to get to me. It was really cute. They were lots of fun to talk to because they speak simple Japanese. I can see how having little host siblings who actually talk to you would help your Japanese a lot.
We then went to the airport and ate dinner together. I then ran to security, said a too-quick good-bye to Akira and his family, and ran to my gate. I got there as the plane was boarding, but I got there in time. Good thing airport security only takes like 5 minutes here.
I really appreciate everything they did for me so much! They took me in and treated me like a famliy member during such a busy time for them. I hope I get a chance to visit them again someday. Akira said he will try to see if he can't get a business trip to Yokohama planned during the time that AnnaMarie, Tyler, and Katie come. That would be fun.
I had been a little bit nervous about going there because I really don't know anyone. The only person I had ever met before was Akira, and I hadn't heard anything from him since I was 6. There was no need to worry, though. Everyone was so excited to see me. I felt so at home with that family. I didn't seem like they were strangers at all. Pretty much the first thing Akira's dad asked me was how AnnaMarie was doing. At the house I got to talk with Akira for a little bit. We looked at pictures from when he was in Ironwood and ones that I had brought with me of the family now.
Akira, Me, and his 3 nieces.
The whole family went out to dinner at a curry restaurant and we all talked. It was a rather confusing mix of Japanese and English. But it was fun. It was so awesome to talk with Akira about what he remembers. To be honest, he probably remembers more about how it was at our house 10 years ago than I do. He had some really funny stories, and good memories of Mom.
After dinner they brought me to my hotel and checked me in. I think Akira felt bad for sending me to a hotel, but there was no room at the house. Wedding times are so busy anyway that I think it was way better for me to be out of the way. The next day was the wedding, and they picked me up at the hotel at about 8:00.
Akira and Miyuki
Me, Akira, his brother and sister-in-law, and his 3 nieces.
The wedding ceremony was really interesting. It was all Japanese Shinto style. The wedding itself was only family and really close friends. They were so kind to invite me to it. The reception started at about 11. There were over 300 guests present. And everyone was served like a 9-course meal. It was really good, but there was so much food! I didn't even eat half of mine and I was so full. First they had like 4 or 5 Japanese-style dishes, then western-style dishes, then dessert.
Sake-barrel-cracking ceremony
Akira and Miyuki (his new wife) looked so good. For the wedding they were dressed in these really elaborate kimonos. A little while into the reception they changed into western-style wedding dress and suit. Then, they changed again. Miyaki wore this really beautiful green gown and Akira had a different suit on. They were really busy the whole time. I don't think either of them ate anything at all. Although Akira did get plenty to drink. Japanese drinking-culture is to give drinks to people as a sign of friendship or good-will. Akira, being the groom with 300 guests, was offered a lot of drinks. And you have to accept it.
Cutting the biggest cake I have ever seen in my life.
The reception went until about 3. Then we went to the after party. It was crazy, but fun. It was only the bride and groom's friends (ages 25 to 30ish) and me. I have never seen people drink so much in my life (Yay for orange juice!). And I never want to see it again. We were at a bar and restaurant. Then we went to a Karaoke bar for 2 or 3 hours. Then we went to Ramen at like 9:30. It got really interesting when the other guests discovered I can almost speak Japanese.
The whole day Akria's sister and sister-in-law stayed with me and took care of me. Which was really nice. When they went around to introduce themselves to Miyaki's guests and family they took me with them. :) "This is Akira's host sister from when he lived in America 10 years ago..." By the end of the party several people had come up to me, asking if I was Abbey. And a few people came offering drinks. Megumi was nice enough to explain to them all that I'm only 16 plus I don't drink due to my religion. I was the only foreigner at the reception. No, that's a lie. There was a guy who from Taiwan who had lived at the Sasaki's house as an exchange student. But he's asian too.
Me and Megumi
It was a long day, but it was good. I had a lot of fun. I stayed at the hotel again that night. Monday morning they picked me up at 10. We went to the house and had brunch all together. Then in the early afternoon I said thank-you and goodbye to some of the family. The rest of us went to do a little sight-seeing before bringing me to the airport. We went to the temple of the Buddhist god that has to do with studying. We ate tacoyaki, anko-filled mochi (I can't remember what they are called), and sweet potatoe fries from those little stands. Yummy. Akira's nieces were adorable! They would take my hands as we walked. Since I only have 2 hands and there were three little girls it was a bit of a race to get to me. It was really cute. They were lots of fun to talk to because they speak simple Japanese. I can see how having little host siblings who actually talk to you would help your Japanese a lot.
In the street that leads up to the temple.
We then went to the airport and ate dinner together. I then ran to security, said a too-quick good-bye to Akira and his family, and ran to my gate. I got there as the plane was boarding, but I got there in time. Good thing airport security only takes like 5 minutes here.
I really appreciate everything they did for me so much! They took me in and treated me like a famliy member during such a busy time for them. I hope I get a chance to visit them again someday. Akira said he will try to see if he can't get a business trip to Yokohama planned during the time that AnnaMarie, Tyler, and Katie come. That would be fun.
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