Weekdays


Thurs., Feb. 19  
Our teacher guide, Laura, came to pick us up at the airport. First, we had our very first meal in America. The portions were very large, so we shared a dish . After that, we went to a chocolate shop called Boehm's. We watched how they made chocolate, tried some samples, and bought some souvenirs. Next, we went to see Snoqualmie Falls . After that, we went to the study center, where our host family was waiting for us. My host family showed me around the house, and we talked a lot. For dinner, we had waffles, and then I gave them my souvenirs from Japan.

　Our First Meal

　Big Waterfall

　Host Mother Robin



Fri., Feb. 20
 I got up and made a lunch. I made a sandwich with cheese and turkey. Then I went to the study center and practiced pronouncing the R and L sounds. I tried to speak English clearly when I talked with my host family. After that, we went to Target , a discount store. I bought some souvenirs for my family in Japan and a photo frame for my host family. Before the welcome party, Robin and I made banana pudding together. At the welcome party, I was happy to try food that isn't available in Japan. I also enjoyed talking with the members of the other host families, and I had a great time.

　Target!!

　Welcome Party



Mon., Feb. 23
 We learned how to use American money. It was a little difficult for me to understand, so I asked my friends for help when I paid with coins. In the afternoon, we went to the Tacoma Mall and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts . On the way there, Misaki's host father John sang songs in the car, and we sang together. It was a lot of fun. The doughnuts were very sweet and delicious. They had a Kura Sushi restaurant in the Tacoma Mall, so it reminded me of Japan. After we got home, Robin made pasta for dinner. I was happy because I ate noodles for the first time in a while.

　Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

　Shopping Together


Tues., Feb. 24
 At the study center, we checked the questions we were going to ask the firefighters. At the fire station, we watched the firefighters change into their uniforms very quickly and saw many interesting things. It was a great experience. When I tried on the firefighter's uniform, I was surprised because it was heavier than I had expected. I also got to use a fire hose. I had always wanted to try it, so I was overjoyed.

On the way home, I talked and played with Kokone's host sister. She was very cute, and we had a lot of fun.
Before going home, we went to Robin's workplace and waited for her to finish work. After that, we went shopping at a supermarket. We bought some food and ingredients that I wanted to try. For dinner, we cooked a Filipino meal together. Brian said, "Nice!" and complimented my cooking, so I was very happy.

Heavy!

　Emergency!

Fighting a Fire



Wed., Feb. 25
 I got up early, ate cereal for breakfast, and Robin gave me some hot chocolate, which I really liked. That day, we visited the police station, the courthouse, and the city hall. I was surprised because they were all on the same property. I was happy to see many things that I don't usually get to see. We also received a lot of souvenirs. After we came back to the study center, we celebrated Rina's birthday. We shared some bread and wished her a happy birthday. Then we practiced songs and counting for our visit to a nursing home. However, we couldn't visit the facility because the flu was spreading there. Instead, we came back to the study center and practiced our presentation for the elementary school visit. 
 After I got home, we went out to eat sushi. I had salmon sushi and miso soup. It had been a long time since I had eaten Japanese food, so it made me want to eat more Japanese dishes.

　Police Station

　We were arrested!!

　Sushi



Thurs., Feb. 26
 We gathered at the study center early in the morning and went to Leavenworth , a town that looks like a German village. First, we visited a glass factory. The lady there talked for a long time, and it looked like Laura wanted to leave early, so it was amazing. For lunch, we had McDonald's. It tasted the same as in Japan. They also had a drink bar, which we don't have in Japan, so I thought it was nice. After that, we enjoyed a lot of shopping. There were many cute stores. Most of the shops only accepted credit cards. I bought a souvenir for my host family at a gingerbread shop. There was even a real horse on the street, which was amazing.   After we got home, Robin and I made tacos for dinner.

　Horse

　American McDonald's


Fri., Feb. 27 
 We learned about American holidays . I was happy to talk about Japanese holidays and learn about holidays in the United States. We dressed up in costumes and celebrated Halloween together. It was a lot of fun. For lunch, we ate traditional dishes that our host families had made. Some of the food was delicious, while some had unique flavors. After everything was over, Laura took us to Target, which I had really wanted to visit. Before going home, Robin, Misaki, and I went to a Korean market. We bought some Japanese food ingredients. There were many Japanese snacks and frozen foods in the store, so it was a lot of fun.

　Trick or treat!!

　Delicious food!

Mon., Mar. 2
 We went to Green River College. I thought the cafeteria was amazing because it was very different from cafeterias in Japan. The campus was also very big. On the way back to the study center, Misaki's host father John made the car ride fun. We sang songs together, and everyone had a great time. He also bought drinks for all of us. The drink was really good, and I hope I can have it again someday.

So big!!

It was hard to sit on


Tues., Mar. 3
 We gave a presentation about Japanese numbers at an elementary school. I was happy because we gave our presentation in a fun way. We also ate lunch with the elementary school children. It was fun to listen to them and talk with them. During lunch break, we played together too. It was a special experience because I had not played with elementary school children for a long time. We finished our presentation successfully and had a great time. After the presentation, we wrote the children's names in katakana. They were very happy, and that made me happy too.

　Great!

　３!

　Cute!



Wed., Mar. 4
We made memory gifts to give to our host families. We worked on a photo frame and a journal. On that day, I finished the photo frame. My host family's house is mostly light blue, so I used a lot of light blue to decorate it.

　Thinking together!!



Thurs., Mar. 5  
 It was the day we visited  Seattle . First, we went to the University of Washington. The library building was amazing because it looked like an art museum. It was much bigger than Seiryo Junior College. We then went to the Space Needle. We couldn't go up to the observation area, but it was still very tall and impressive. At lunch, I was happy because I ate clam chowder, which I had wanted to try. Pike Place Market had many different kinds of shops, and it was fun to walk around. The coffee at Starbucks there tasted exactly the same as the one in Japan.

　Delicious!!

　sunny!

　Pike Place Market

Fri., Mar. 6

　It was fun!!

Mon., Mar. 9
 On this day, we prepared for our final presentation and finished our journals. Before the  Sayonara party, we went to our favorite place, Target. I was sad because it was my last time going there. I learned how to put on a yukata in Japan, but I couldn't put it on by myself, so Denise helped me. Everyone listened to our presentation about Sado Island and looked like they enjoyed it, so I was happy. The cheesecake Alissa had made was also delicious. My host family was happy to see the photo frame and journal that I made, which made me happy too. After we got home, my host family gave me a gift. It was something I had wanted, so I was incredibly grateful.

　The Avery Family

　Sado Presentation

Delicious Cake

   
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