Many pumpkins and Halloween goods were sold at supermarkets. I went to a pumpkin patch with my host mother. The pumpkin patch had a lot of pumpkins. I made a Jack -o'- Lantern with my friends too. The pumpkin was so big that it was difficult to hollow out its seeds. There was a Halloween party at GRC. We each bought costume for ourselves. One student was dressed as a Japanese anime character. A lot of children came to our house and we gave them snacks. I had a lot of fun at American Halloween!

Jack-o'-Lantern

Halloween Party at GRC

Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth Thursday in November. I had a party with my host family and their friends. We ate turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce with bread.

Delicious Dishes and Pumpkin Pie

Interior

One month before Christmas, my host mother bought a real Christmas tree and decorated it. When Thanksgiving Day was over, the streets were filled with bright lights. I went to church with my host family. While we were lighting a candle, we sang “Silent Night.”

Christmas Tree

Church

During the winter vacation, I went to California with Mako and Nozomi for 4 days. On the first day, we didn't have much time, so we took a walk around the hotel. On the second and the third day, we went to Disneyland and California Disney Adventure Park. On the final day, we went to Santa Monica Beach. There was a little distance between the airport and the hotel, so we used Uber. California was warmer than Seattle, but they had the strong sunshine there. We enjoyed the sunshine. We had a great trip.

I felt that the trip was rewarding because we reserved our hotel and airplane tickets by ourselves.

California Disney Adventure Park

Santa Monica Beach

Rattlesnake Ledge

I was invited by an American friend to hike this mountain. It was very hard, but the view was awesome!

Illumination

I went to see the lluminations in downtown Seattle during Christmas time. I had my host family take me there.