Weekdays

Thur, Feb 13

We arrived at the airport and met our teacher guide, Laura and Nana's host mother, Jane.

We first visited Boehm's chocolate shop. Next we went to see Snoqualmie Falls.

We had lunch at a hamburger restaurant. We shared the humburger because it was so big. It was very delicious. We tasted rootbeer for the first time. I first thought that it was coke, so I was surprised at the taste.

After we went to Outlet Shopping Mall, we arrived at the study center and I met my host mother, Gwen and host grandmother, Catherine.

After I arrived home, Gwen, Nana and I visited my host sister, Hannah. We went to the airport because Hannah was going to Florida. She showed me her engagement ring. It was very beautiful.

Fri, Feb 14

Laura taught us how to deal with strangers and homeless people in the area.

After having lunch, we went to the shopping mall and we met Kara, who used to host students from Seiryo. She spoke some Japanese and we enjoyed shopping with her.

In the evening, we held a welcome party at the study center. I met other host families for the first time. We played a game and Nana and I won. It was a nice party.

Gwen showed me her photo albums. They were very nice because she decorated them with colored paper and beads. I thought that I wanted to make photo albums like hers after I came back to Japan.

Mon, Feb 17

I got up only 10 minutes before we left home. I ate breakfast in the car. Gwen said to me, “Good job! You got ready in a very short time,” but I felt sorry.

In the morning, we talked with Kara about driver's license.

After having lunch, we went to the fire department and asked some questions. We then put on a fire fighting suit, which was very heavy. We experienced spraying water and got on a fire engine and an ambulance.

After the visit, we studied about differences bettween the articles “a” and “the” at the study center.

In the evening, I went to a bowling alley with Gwen. She goes there every Monday. We met Laura there. Both Gwen and Laura are good bowlers. I didn't bowl, but it was still exciting to see them bowl.

Tue, Feb 18

We visited the local police station. One female staff led us around in the station and answered some questions. We visited the local law court too, and met a judge. He told us about his job. It was difficult for me to understand his talk because he spoke so fast. We put on a judge's robe and took pictures with him. Finally, we visited the city hall and met Mayor of the City of Federal Way. He showed us his office and some pictures.

Gwen took me to a nail salon with Catherine. It was my first time to go to a nail salon. I chose red manicure and I liked it.

I ate Turkey Taco for dinner. It was so delicious and became one of my favorite foods. Gwen gave me a package of Taco seasoning.

Wed, Feb 19

In the morning, we made some paper crafts for visiting a senior center in the next week.

We went to Tacoma Mall. We first visited Krispy Kream and Mr. Nonaka bought us some doughnuts. The doughnuts were very sweet. We saw doughnuts being made in the shop. We then went to Tacoma Mall. We first had lunch at its food court, and then we enjoyed shopping around. I bought a cute white teddy bear at the Build-A-Bear Workshop. I named it Laura Bear because Laura was with me at that time. After I came back home, the bear became a toy for Gwen's dog, Eros. He also liked it. When I was coloring a picture with Gwen in the living room, Eros secretly took the bear out of my room and was playing with it.

Thur, Feb 20

I got up early, and we went to Leavenworth. It took about two hours to Leavenworth. We enjoyed playing some games and seeing the view in the car on our way. There were many pretty shops in Leavenworth. My favorite shop was the Christmas ornaments shop, Kris Kringl. The ornaments were very cute and I bought a seahorse ornament for Gwen. We really enjoyed shopping and took many pictures.

In the evening, I came back home with Nana, and had Texas dinner together.

Fri, Feb 21

In the morning, we studied about American holidays. We experienced Easter, Valentine's Day and Halloween in one day. I wore a dress for Irish Step Dancing because my host sister, Hannah used to learn it. We also enjoyed some holiday dishes. I especialy liked turkey.

After class, Nana and I asked Gwen to take us to a craft shop because we wanted some stickers to make a message card for Laura. Gwen took us to Hobby Lobby. Nana and I liked the shop and enjoyed shopping. I want the shop to open in Japan.

After having dinner, Nana and I watched the movie “San Andreas” while coloring a picture. The movie was very thrilling.

Mon, Feb 24

I had a stomachache all day long. In the morning, we practiced some Japanese songs at the study center for visiting a senior center as well as our presentation for visiting an elementary school.

Around noon, we visited Green River College and met three friends who were studying abroad for six months. The college was very large. Later, we went to a senior center. Mika played the piano for the residents and we sang them some Japanese songs. We enjoyed talking with them too.

After the visit, I went to buy some medicine for my stomachache and took it. I was surprised because the medicine worked very well.

Tue, Feb 25

We went to Seattle for shightseeing. I really looked forward to that day. We first visited University of Washington. The university was very large and it had a beautiful library and even a bowling alley.

We next visited the Space Needle and enjoyed seeing the beautiful view from its top. Nana was very much afraid of height, so she got scrared. It was so funny.

After having lunch, we moved to a shopping mall by monorail. Then we went to the first store of Starbucks Coffee and Pike Place Market. We enjoyed shopping all day.

We next visited T-Mobile Park. We took many pictures and I bought an Ichiro T-shirt for my father. I had a great day.

Wed, Feb 26

We kept making our memory journals and photo frames for our host family.

After having lunch, we learned how to make a message card from Jane and Gwen. Then one Japanese American woman came to visit us and enjoyed talking. And finally, a femaile police officer and her partner dog visited us. The dog, Runa was very smart.

I came home and made Niku-jaga for my host family. I practiced making Niku-jaga many times in Japan, so I was very happy when they said, “Delicious!” I told them that Japanese people said “Itadakimasu” before meals and “Gochisosama” after meals. It was a happy dinner time.

Thur, Feb 27

We visited an elementary school and taught children how to count from one to ten in Japanese and how to write their names in Japanese. I was very happy because we prepared and practiced the presentation many times in Japan and the children enjoyed it. They were very powerful and cute. I thought that American elementary schools were free compared with Japanese elementary schools.

After the visit, I went to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma with Gwen, but it was closed, so we decided to come again the next day.

Fri, Feb 28

In the morning, we kept making our memory journals and photo frames for our host family. After that, we went bowling. We had lunch at the bowling alley and enjoyed bowling.

In the evening, Gwen and I went to the Museum of Glass again. The glass works were very beautiful. Gwen bought some beautiful glass balls for me and my family, and kindly shipped them to Japan.

My host family took me to a sushi restaurant. I was very surprised because some sushi rolls were fried. They were very good. I enjoyed talking about Japan with Hannah.

Mon, Mar 2

In the morning, we finished our memory journals while listening to music. When the song “Remember Me” was playing, Laura almost cried and I felt sad too.

After that, we practiced a presentation for Sayonara Party and ate some pizza for late lunch.

The party started at 6 p.m. My host family were pleased with my memory journal and photo frame. We enjoyed talking with each other and took many pictures. We cried many times. We gave Laura a gift of flowers, a bird house and a messege card. She also gave us a letter in return.

At home, Ben said to me, “We are your American family, so you can come back here anytime.” I was very happy to hear that.

Tue, Mar 3

I thanked Cola and Cider and then I went to the study center with Gwen, Catherine and Eros. When they gave me a hug, I couldn't stop my tears. At the airport, I was already missing my host family. Laura saw us off at the gate. I want to go back to Seattle.

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