This past weekend (June 13-14) was really busy, but it was a fun busy. Both Saturday and Sunday were full of activities, and a lot of them were with my host family. I really enjoy spending time with my host family so it was nice.
On Saturday I officially started at the Gym that my rotarian has a connection at. (Kato-san owns one of the gyms, which is a chain of them, but he knows the people who own the other ones around the area. This gym's owner is letting me come here. ) It is conveniently located about 2 minutes from my train station, which is awesome. I even have an appointment set up to get a personalized training program made for me! And I get to go for free! I wish I could have started this earlier.
Once all the talking was over I got to actually use the gym. I ran for a bit to warm up (the machines are so nice! They all have T.V.s and headphones attached so you can watch whatever you want as you exercise. Fancy!) and then I took the Zumba class. It was SO fun. Seriously,, I didn't think it was possible to make such a tough workout so fun. I loved it! It's a pretty popular workout craze in Japan right now. It is based on Latin-style dancing and a single 50 minute class burns about 850 calories. Anyway, I plan to take it again.
After I showered and such I met my host family at the station. We all went to lunch and then to my Rotary Orientation meeting together. I gave my speech that I didn't bother to write beforehand. I really don't think that I will ever have a problem with speaking in public in English ever again. It will be so much easier than Japanese.
After that I went to Cosmo World, an amusement park in Minatomirai, with my host family. It was really fun even thought the roller coasters aren't really built for someone my height. They were a bit tight on the shoulders and my legs are too long. After we rode all the rides we wanted and gave my host parents a chance to make fun of Manato and I going through a fun house (There are cameras so people can watch outside as you run into mirrors and go in circles. I didn't know.) we went to Okonomiyaki for dinner.
Abbey and Manato on the water log ride. Which we rode 3 times.
Wheeee!! My host dad forgot to take the picture when we were actually on the ride...
Sunday morning I got up early and my host dad drove me to church. The ward I go to now is an English ward. It was really nice to be able to fully understand all the lessons and be able to give input of my own. My entire brain switched over to English though. When my host mom picked me up I got into the car and she asked how it went. I started blabbing away in English until I saw her face. She just stared, looking slightly shocked, and said "nani?" (What?). I could have sworn she actually said what in English... After a slightly confused moment I realized that I was not speaking Japanese and started laughing.
My languages get all mixed up now. Sometimes when I skype with people at home all the words I think are in Japanese and I have to make a mental effort to change them to English before I speak. I even talk to myself in Japanese sometimes now, which is just ridiculous. I think in Japanese a lot without realizing it. I usually realize it when I start counting something and I get to 11 in Japanese. It's faster to say the English numbers from there and it bothers me that I am counting so slowly so I switch to English. I don't really have too many dreams in Japanese though. Come to think of it, I don't have too many dreams anyway and when I do they usually are set in America or at least not Japan. I have crazy dreams....
Anyway, getting back on topic... After church I went to lunch at a Chinese restaurant with my host family and then went home to change my clothes. The neighbor family (The Ando family) and us went to Round One. Round One is a game/amusement center similar to Chuck E. Cheeze, but more for young adults than little kids. We had a fun time there and even took purikura. The moms didn't join us for that. I love purikura...
Misuzu, me, Kakeru-kun, and Manato
Once we got home Misuzu and I changed into Yukatas (a summer time kimono) and everyone went to an omatsuri. Omatsuri is a Japanese festival. Around the temple the streets were just packed with games and food stands. Lots of yummy things like tako-yaki, okonomi-yaki, yaki-soba, buttery steamed potatoes, and Japanese candies. It was really fun despite the rain. It was fun to wear a yukata to it too. An old man, whose stand we bought from soup from, was impressed to hear that I like Japanese food so much and asked if I also like sweet foods like crepes. I said yes and he walked away. He came back a few minutes later with a crepe for me. My host dad was like, not tell him you really love yaki-soba. ;)
Ando-san helping me tie my obi.
Me and Misuzu
Me, the Ando family and Manato. Kakeru-kun is 8 and Misuzu is 12.
The festival was fun, the food was great, and I failed at all the little games I played but it's okay. They let me pick a prize anyway.
Misuzu, Manato, Abbey, and Kakeru-kun trying to catch fish with paper-covered hoops. I lost but we still got to take about 9 sick fish home. One is still alive...
