Weekdays with Alissa

Feb. 11 (Mon)

The class was canceled because it snowed furiously. After I ate breakfast, I studied with TerriLee. I learned about American public and private schools. She explained to me in detail.

I ate sandwiches, pickles and potato chips for lunch. TerriLee made some bread, cheese and roast beef. The pickles were homemade, which were very good.

It really snowed a lot, so we went sleighing outdoors. TerriLee and David pulled the sleigh and I sledded on the snow about eight times. It was so fun. Then, TerriLee and I made a snowman. She sticked twigs on the snowman, and it became cute.

In the evening, my host family's grandchildren came to our house. They were a good boy and girls.

Feb. 12 (Tue)

The class was canceled again because of the snow.

I ate hot cereal for breakfast with children.

We played a board game which "Monopoly." I had never played it, so it was difficult to understand. TerriLee and her grandchildren told me the rules. Actually, I couldn't understand the rules at the beginning, but I got to understand them little by little. Finally, I won the game. I was glad about that.

After we ate lunch, we played "UNO." I had played it before, but they had different rules. I was confused, but the children taught me the rules many times, so I enjoyed it after all.

I had soup and crackers for dinner. TerriLee put a lot of vagetables and noodles in the soup. She thought that would make the soup well-balanced. We ate to-fu with banana flavor too.

Feb. 13 (Wed)

It was our sightseeing day. The meeting time was eight o'clock, so I was sleepy. I saw my friends for the first time in four days. I was glad.

We visited University of Washington, a chocolate shop, Space Needle and Pike Place Market. First, we went to the library at UW. It was very big and it had many books. I was surpprised. The chocolate shop had many unique chocolates and we sampled some of them. At the Space Needle, we went up to the observation deck. We were able to see the whole city of Seattle. Then, we bought matching T-shirts at Pice Place Market. We chose black T-shirts with an umbrella design. We had a good time.

Feb. 14 (Thu)

I ate peanut butter cereal for breakfast. It became my favorite cereal.

We visited a fire station in the morning. First, we asked about the fire station. Some firefighters told us a lot of things. Then, we wore a firefighting suit and a helmet, which were very heavy. We experienced firefighting. Finally, we got a souvenir wristband.

It was Valentine's Day, so we exchanged message cards with each other. I was happy because I got many nice messages. Alissa gave us chocolates, and the package was pretty.

After I returned home, I found some stuffed toys(a lion and Snoopy), a pretty ballon and a message card on my desk. I was so glad.

I had pizza for dinner. It was made of chicken, bacon and spinach.

Feb. 15 (Fri)

I ate a small breakfast because the lunch was supposed to be big. I ate berry yogurt and iced oatmeal cookie named "ZBAR."

We learned about American holidays and holiday meals. First, for Halloween, I changed into a clown. We said "trick or treat" and we got candies. Next, we had Easter egg hunt and looked for eggs, but I was able to find only one egg.

At lunch, we enjoyed Thanksgiving meals. TerriLee cooked deviled eggs for that. We ate gorgeous dishes.

In the evening, we had our welcome party. I ate a lot kinds of dishes. All the dishes were delicious. We talked a lot with our host families.

Feb. 18 (Mon)

It was a shopping day. First, we went to a doughnut shop. Mr. Nonaka bought us ten doughnuts, and we shared them. Then, we went to a shopping mall. I bought souvenirs for my friends and family. The mall was so big that I didn't get tired of shopping.

After I returned home, TerriLee and I made jello. I chose lime flavor.

We had fried rice for dinner. It was great, and became my favorite dish. Then, David and I ate jello. He liked it, so I was also happy about it.

Feb. 19 (Tue)

We visited a police station. The police staff was very kind. He showed us many rooms and answered our questions. After that, we visited a law court. We were able to wear the judge's robe.

I was going to make hand-rolled sushi for dinner with David, but I caught a cold and we were not able to make any. TerriLee gave me cough drops, medicine tea, a blanket, a headache medicine and an item to warm my neck. TerriLee and David worried about me. I thanked for their kindness.

Feb. 20 (Wed)

It was another sightseeing day. First, we went to see a waterfall. When we arrived there, we were not able to see it because there was thick mist everywhere. When the mist gradually started to clear up, we saw the waterfall a little. Next, we went to an outlet mall. At a chocolate shop, a clerk let us sample a piece of caramel apple. We were surprised that it was so sweet. After that, we ate lunch at another mall. I shared Chinese food with Ayu. We enjoyed the fortune cookie with it.

Feeb. 21 (Thu)

In the morning, we practiced our presentation about numbers to show in the afternoon as well as a frog song and bear song. Then, we visited Green River College. I was glad because I saw my old friends. I ate salad for lunch. It was very big, so Alissa was surprised. The senior home we visited in the afternoon was big and luxurious. We made a presentation and sang songs. Everyone looked happy, and I was happy too.

After I returned home, David and I made Japanese dishes. We cut tuna, salmon, green onions and cucumbers. We made hand-rolled sushi, sashimi and an arranged dish of tuna. David made hand-rolled sushi well, and I was surprised. TerriLee was very glad and she said, "They were very good and my favorite dishes. Thank you." I was so pleased.

Feb. 22 (Fri)

I ate chocolate peanut butter cereal for breakfast.

In the morning, we made a photo frame for our host family.

In the afternoon, we went bowling. First, we had lunch with chicken, nachos and Root Beer. I thought that the chicken and nachos were good, but not Root Beer. Then, we enjoyed bowling. Everyone on the same lane gave me high five when I knocked down many pins.

Feb. 25 (Mon)

For breakfast, TrriLee made me scrambled egg with egg, bacon and cheese.

It was a craft day. We made a journal to give to our host family. I finished a few pages only, so I continued to make it after I returned home.

I had tuna steak, broccoli salad and rice for dinner. I enjoyed the different taste of tuna. The broccoli salad had cranberry and almond, which was very good.

Feb. 26 (Tue)

In the morning, we finished our journal.

For lunch, I ate clam chowder, fried fish and French fries. The clam chowder was really tasty.

We practiced our presentation after we returned to the study center. Alissa and Mary gave us some advice. Then, we changed into yukata, set our hair and prepared for our sayonara party.

Before the sayonara party began, we ate pizza and cake. David and TerriLee arrived at the study center early, and we were able to talk for a long time. I was very nervous when we made the presentation, but David and TerriLee praised me, and I felt relieved. The other host families also listened hard to our presentation and enjoyed it. I was happy. And finally, we each gave our host family the journal, the photo frame and the metal badge.

After we returned home, I finished packing. The cats came into my room to see me. They were really cute, so I didn't really want to separate from them.

Feb. 27 (Wed）

It was the day to go back to Japan.

I ate peanut butter cereal for breakfast because it was my favorite cereal. I finished packing my suitcase, and David weighed it and he carried it to his truck.

Before I left our house, I said, "I want to stroke cats and say goodbye to them." David and TerriLee understood and smiled. I stroked all the cats with thanks. I felt sad because it was the last time to see the cats .

We arrived at the study center, and I realized that I had to part from my host family. I wanted to tell gratitude for David and TerriLee, but I couldn't tell it well. I was frustrated. Finally, I hugged David and TerriLee. They continued waving hands after I got on the van. I was happy to see them.

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