Weekdays with Alissa

Mon, Feb 11

We didn't have class because of snow, but I met my friends at a shopping mall. I was very glad to see them. I ate a sandwich for lunch. It was very good and I was very happy because I had some vegetables.

Tue, Feb 12

We didn't have class again. I went to Emily's house, and I gave the family Japanese souvenirs. They were so happy and I was glad too. I talked with Greg, Kim, Emily and Kyle, and we played some board games together. Emily likes board games very much, and they taught me the rules to play. It was very fun. We ate pizza for dinner. I really had a good time.

Wed, Feb 13

We went to University of Washington, which was a very big university with a lot of students and buildings. The library looked like the world of Harry Potter. After that, we went to a chocolate shop with a lot of chocolates. I enjoyed sampling some chocolates and bought chocolates for Valentine's Day. I was going to give them to my host family.

We then went to Space Needle. I watched the very beautiful view, and took a lot of pictures from its top. I got a souvenir coin with a picture of Space Needle, and it became a good souvenir.

I got on Seattle Center Monorail. I sat in a front seat of the monorail, and even pushed a button of whistle. I enjoyed a very good view through the front window, which was so fun. I shared a big Bacon and Chedder burger with Shiori for lunch.

We next visited Pike Plae Market, and went to the original Starbucks store, a cheese store, the gum wall, a T-shirts store, a chocolate store and a fish store. I bought a T-shirt with my friends. I sampled some chocolates and cheese, took some pictures at the gum wall, and watched flying fish at the fish store.

We finaly went to Uwajimaya, which had a lot of Japanese ingredients. I enjoyed the place and bought some miso soup and bread. I bought macaroni and cheese too, which made good souvenir for my family and my friends.

My host family was babysitting in the evening,and four children came to our house. They were very cheerful, and I ate dinner with them.

Thu, Feb 14

We went to a fire deparment. First, we asked some questions and learned about American fire department. I had a lot of discovery. Next, we watched a firefighter quickly change into a firefighting suit. It was very fast and I was very surprised. We ourselves tried on the suit too, and it was very heavy. It was hard to walk around in the suit. We also got on a fire engine and an ambulance. We then heard about the ambulance. We also tried shooting water.

We had our first class with Alissa and learned a lot of things from her. I received some message cards from my friends because it was Valentine's Day. I was very happy. Alissa gave me a box of chocolates. After that, we learned about American coins. I was glad to learn that.

Fri, Feb 15

We studied about American Holdays, and Alissa told us about them. I discovered some different points from Japanese holidays. It was very fun. After that, we experienced Chiristmas, Halloween, Easter and Thanksgiving. We decorated a small Chiristmas tree. I wore a costume of Harry Potter for Halloween, and said, “Trick or Treat,” to get some candies and chocolates. We also looked for hidden Easter eggs, and I found four eggs. Finally, we experienced Thanksgiving meals for lunch, and ate turkey, French beans and onin fries, mashed potato, deviled egg, pumpkin cake and apple pie. I liked turkey and cranberry sauce. It was a very good combination.

In the evening, I went to Welcome Party with Karen, George, Emily and Kyle. We enjoyed a lot of food. I talked with my friend's host families. Each family made a family flag.

I played CLUE at Emily's house. It is a board game. Emily taught me the rules. The rules were very difficult, but the game was very interesting. I liked the game.

Mon, Feb 18

We went to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in the morning. We watched how doughnuts were being made. I ate some doughnuts, which were so sweet, but I still liked them. After that, we went to Tacoma Mall. I bought some chocolates for my friends and a mug at Sturbacks for my father. We ate frozen yogurt, which was very fun and so tasty. I liked the store, and want to go there again.

I made yakisoba and miso soup for dinner. Karen and George were pleased with it. I was very happy too.

Tue, Feb 19

We went to the Police station. A volunteer staff member guided us at the police station, and we looked around a lot of rooms there. It was my first time and I hoped it would be my last time. I had never looked around a police station, so it became a good experience in my life. I discovered some different points from police stations in Japan. We went to the court house too. I wore a judge's robe, which was too long for me.

We had class in the afternoon. Alissa read us some children's books, which was fun. After that, we talked about American Holidays with Alissa.

I went to a burger shop called “Monster Burgers” for dinner. I ate a vegetable burger, which had a lot of vegetables. I took French fries home because the burger was very big. I was very surprised.

Wed, Feb 20

We first went to Snoaualmie Falls, but it was foggy and we couldn't see the waterfall well. I want to go there again under good weather. After that, I bought some souvenirs there.

We next went to an outlet mall. I bought some chocolates there. I bought cookies for my dog too. We ate some apple candy coated with chocolate, which was called Avalanche Apple. A shop clerk cut some apple for us to sample. She was very kind. It was so good because green apple and sweet chocolate made a good combination.

We then went to Bellevue Mall. We ate Chinese dishes for lunch there, and I shared the lunch with Natsumi. It was a good lunch. I bought some chocolates and some hair conditioner for my friends. I drank boba tea, whose taste was strawberry black tea. I liked the taste very much, and I want to drink it again. After that, we went to a beautiful sightseeing spot, where we saw the city of Seattle. I took a lot of pictures with my friends. It was very cold, but I enjoyed staying there.

Thu, Feb 21

We went to Green River College before noon, and saw our old friends there. I was very glad to see them. After that, we went to a local senior home. We showed some senior people how to count from one to ten in Japanese. After that, we sang them a frog song and a bear song in Japanese. We also enjoyed talking with the senior people.

Fri, Feb 22

We each made a photo stand for our host family. I used a picture taken at Welcome Party, but the picture was without Kim, Greg or Max. I draw pictures of them instead, and completed it.

We went to Secoma Lanes in the afternoon. First, we ate lunch at its restaurant. I ate a piece of chicken and nacho, which was so good. We tried root beer too. I didn't like it because it tasted like medicine. After that, we enjoyed bowling. My score was too bad because it was my first time to bowl. However, it was so fun and I got to like bowling.

In the evening, I went to a party with George and Karen. The party was held at a big house, which had a beautiful view. I talked with a lot of people. I drank chamomile tea. It was a good time.

Mon, Feb 25

We made a journal for our host family. I couldn't finish it in class, so I worked on it at home that night. I made Okonomiyaki for dinner. It was okay, and George and Karen liked okonomiyaki sauce.

Tue, Feb 26

We kept working on our journal for the host family. We went to Ivar's for lunch. Ms. Seki had told us about Ivar's and I was very glad to go there finally. The clam chowder was so good. I loved it.

In the afternoon, we prepared for Sayonara Party. We wore Kimono and we took a lot of photos. Alissa took some photos outside. It was very cold outside but I enjoyed taking photos. We ate chocolate cake made by Alissa at Sayonara Party. After that, I went to Emily's house, talked with her about the three weeks, and promised her to come back again. At home, I packed my luggage and said goodbye to George.

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