Accepted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Yeah I forgot to mention to some that I was accepted into Hamline. I will be attening Hamline upon my return.

Observations In Japan

Observations:

The lunch boxes are small(about 1/4 the size of American lunch boxes)

Characters that are popular for children in America (lilo and stitch, care bears e.t.c.) Are popular for teens in Japan.

The Cars have a camera on the back so it's easy to view while backing in. everything is more compact.

Children stare at me funny(lol).

Hello Kitty is very popular(bonus for me!!)

They have McDonalds

There are a lot of bikes

No one locks their bike

Things I didn't expect to find in Japan:

seven eleven

claires

subway

starbucks

forever 21

fried chicken(my grandma made)

pizza(my grandma made)

Spaghetti(my grandma made)

Dole(the brand)

Frosted flakes

  My host Family is very nice and pretty diverse. I stay with my grandma and grandpa because they have extra rooms in the house. My mom dad sister and brother live down the street in a condo. everyone speaks at least a little English except my brother Hiroki and my Grandma. Somehow I can understand my Grandma for the most part(ok about half the time). They have tried to speak English to me, but starting today they will speak Japanese. I only anticipate the it will be harder from here. I'm ready!!!!! I have picked up some practice books from the book store. They are first grade level. That means as of now 7 year olds speak better Japanese than me lol. Since Chisato is leaving for Minnesota on Monday I have inherited her seventeen magazine collection, Sweet!!!!!

My room

View from my room. My room

My desk.

Panic button to Alarm neighbors

My First Day

At the airport. We went for drinks. We walked around.

We went to a shopping mall.

we ate Udon

This was a new experience for me, an outdoor mall.
It's certainly hot enough.

Seattle to Japan

Lauren and I were upgraded to first class. First class = Best Flight ever!!!

There were screens to watch TV, movies, play games and track flight.

A very nice Japanese flight attendant took this picture.

All you could see were clouds. Some clouds looked like cities.

First streched of land we seen since we left Washington. 1 hour before we landed.

Airport Fiasco

Well I'm in Seattle the time is 10:09. We're 2 hours behind Minnesota. This morning I was escorted by loved ones to the airport. I had a plan. I would check in, put my stuff in the lockers, come out, hug everyone and say goodbye. Well things didn't go so smoothly. When I had went through security my grandma(who works at the airport) had informed me that I would not have time to go out and make it back through. I was upset. I had not said my final goodbyes and they had not said theres'. I cried, and cried and then a TSA lady noticed the situation. She told me That she would escort me out and I would say my goodbyes. We'll I did and I felt much better. After receiving the love and support from my friends and family I feel like I could take on the world, and that's exactly what I plan to do. who's knows maybeI could write a book called SUPER HERO TSA LADY!!!!!!!!! (I never caught her name.)

12 more days

Only 12 more days until I get on the plane, and I'm anxious. I'm trying to live in the moment and appreciate the time I have here, while preparing and making sure I have everything.
I am almost done packing. I had decided that it's better to pack now rather than later because I want my last week to be as open as possible. When I get back from Japan I will be going to college (hopefully Hamline University I will know before I leave), so I am also packing up my room. It is more difficult then I thought it would be, but I'm almost done. While I was cleaning my room. I found some clothes I forgot to pack and my suit case is full =(. It's a bit of a bummer but only a small problem. I decided that I would let go and give away some of my stuff, and the rest will be stored in totes until I return.
12 days left, that's a little under 2 weeks. I'm not pretending like I have all the time in the world, but I'm not pretending like I have to get on the plane tomorrow either. I'm going to enjoy the time I have and spend it with loved ones.