Laura's Classes

2/12（Mon）

In the morning, TerriLee gave me a ride to the study center. We took Laura's class for the first time. We studied pronunciation of L and R, and practiced to say “No” clearly. In the afternoon, we went to See's Candies and a shopping mall nearby.

In the evening, we had the welcome party, and ate the dishes that each other host family brought. I was glad that I was able to talk with my host family and each host family. I enjoyed the party.

2/13（Tue）

In the morning, we went shopping. First, we went to a doughnut shop, saw how to make doughnuts, and shared some doughnuts. Next we went to a big shopping mall, Tacoma Mall and a discount store, Walmart. They were so big that I almost got lost. I bought cosmetics and chocolate of See's Candies. The cosmetic item was the one we can't buy in Japan. When I counted, I almost used all my bills. It was dificult for me to use coins wisely, so my wallet was very heavy with coins. Then we ate fried rice, orange chicken, French fries and noodle for lunch. We share those foods.

2/14（Wed）

We visited the fire department in the morning. Laura and TerriLee drove us to the fire department. We wore fire fighters jackets, got on a fire engine and experienced shooting water to a target. I was surprised that those fire fighters were mostly volunteers. They spoke fast, so it was difficult to understand, but they were very kind and cool.

In the afternoon, we practiced Japanese songs to sing at a local retirement home.

It was St. Valentine's Day that day, so after the class, I gave David and TerriLee the chocolate that I had bought at See's Candies. They sent message to each other. I thought they are a wouderful couple.

2/15（Thur）

We went to Leavenworth. It took about two hours by car from the study center to Leavenworth. The shops' atmosphere was very cute. We enjoyed shopping there. We shared German food together for lunch. I saw most of the German food for the first time. We had a chance to see goats on our way home. They were very friendly and funny.

I went to a Japanese restaurent “Akasaka” with David and TerriLee in the evening. The owner Mr. Lee was from Taiwan, and he was friendly. We ate sushi and sashimi. They looked very beautiful, and I felt they were more delicious than Japanse ones. I was surprised that David and TerriLee used chopsticks well! We sat at a counter seat, and there was a Japanese couple next to us. We talked with them, and they were very friendly and kind. I was glad to meet them. I spent a great time there.

2/16（Fri）

In the morning, we visited the police station and the law court. We asked some questions and looked around the facilities. At the police station a female staff showed us around. We were surprised that she was only 18 years old.

After school, I watched the animated movie “Sing” at home. We ate Porkchop with Rice and Snapbeans for dinner. The rice was seasoned with white sauce. It was very delicious, so I ate a lot.

2/19（Mon）

We learned some American holiday activities. We played a game with Morgan and Logan. They were Rina's host family, and they were very cute and cheerful. They made me feel better.

We wore a Halloween costume. I wore a coloful clown costume. We ate some American food for Thanksgiving with Mai's hostsister Denise. We ate turkey, pie, egg and so on. The turkey was very big. I was surprised to hear that the turkey was homecooked.

2/20（Tue）

We went to Green River College, and we ate lunch there. The college campas was very large. It had big parking areas, and it also had a starbucks coffee store. I was envious. The students looked matured.

We next visited a local retirement home. The building was very clean and beautiful, and they had good equipment there. The elderly people were exercising, drawing pictures, playing mah-jong and so on. It looked that they were having fun. We sang some Japanese songs there. We were glad that they were pleased.

2/21（Wed）

We went to an elementary school and taught students how to say one to ten in Japanese, and how to write their names in katakana. American students were very powerful. I was glad that everybody responded to us actively. We enjoyed the lunch time with the students too. After lunch, we played tag outside. Every student was friendly and pretty.

2/22（Thur）

It snowed that day, which was unusual in February. The Seattle sightseeing was suspended because it was dangerous to drive a car. In America, when it's snowy, elementaly schools and junior high schools have a day off.

I completed a 200 pieces airplane jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle was difficult because all the background sky had almost the same color. Then, TerriLee showed me her quilts, which is her hobby. TerriLee had many threads, clothfabric and a sewing machine. She was making a high quality skirt. I was surprised that she is very good at quilts.

We ate broccoli and berry salad and macaroni beef cheese for dinner. It was really good. I had wanted to eat macaroni and cheese, so I was glad to eat it.

2/23（Fri）

In the morning, we made photo frames for our host family. We went bowling in the afternoon. I shared chicken and French fries with Haruka at the bowling alley. Laura is very good at bowling and she taught us how to bowl. I first had many gutterballs, but I finally got a spare and a strike thanks to Laura's lesson.

On the way home, we bought two pieces of pizza, and we heated them in the big oven at home. We ate pizza while watching “Shrek the Third.” The movie was TerriLee's favorite. It was a very funny movie. The pizza had olives on it. I love olive, and it was very delicious.

2/26（Mon）

We had a sightseeing tour in Seattle all day. In the morning, we first went to University of Washington. The campus was very large, and its library looked like the building in the world of Hally Potter. Then we went to a chocolate factory, and bought many chocolates for souvenirs. And we went to Pike Place Market. The place had many souvenir shops. We went to the first Starbucks store, a variety store, a fish store and a T-Shirt store. We bought a matching T-shirt. The scenery of Seattle was very beautiful from Pike Place Market. I took a lot of photographs. Then we went to the Gum Wall, which had a lot of chewing gum that people ate. The wall looked colorful and cute, but I was careful not to touch it. Finally, we went to Safeco Field. Its souvenir store had a lot of uniforms and caps of its players.

I went to Red Lobster for dinner with David, TerriLee and Mami. I ate lobster for the first time. It was very big and it tasted really good!

2/27（Tue）

We made photo frames and memory journals all day long. Our host family had many cute stickers and pens for us to use, so we enjoyed using them. When I came back home, I was planning to make sushi rolls for dinner. TettiLee and I went to H-Mart and we bought raw fish. American people don't eat raw fish very often, so we can't buy some in a common supermarket, while H-mart had a lot of Asian ingredients. H-Mart also had a lot of Korean customers, so I saw many Hangul letters in the store. TerriLee had a big Japanese dinner plate, and sushi rolls looked very delicious on the plate. I am not good at cooking, so I worried about the taste, but I was glad that David and TerriLee ate it up.

2/28（Wed）

We had the Sayonara Party in the evening. I was very nervous at the presentation, but I was glad that our host family enjoyed it. We wore yukata, and I was glad that David and TerriLee liked my yukata.

When we arrived home, David and TerriLee gave me some souvenirs. TerriLee gave me cool and cute hand-made coasters. They were very nice! I thought it must have taken her a lot of time to make them, but she gave me many coasters for my family. I was very happy.

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