How I Met Your [Japanese Friend]

Kids, when I was in Japan, the other teachers and I had lots of “wow!” experiences.  We went to museums, visited schools full of dedicated students and teachers, learned about Japanese poets, participated in traditional tea rituals, handed money directly to cashiers (which is apparently a sign of… low class…), wrote Kanji calligraphy, heard beautiful music, used Japanese toilets (which are in the ground and a different level of wow) and viewed several astonishing, beautiful ceremonies. 

The first three days of our trip were amazing, and I couldn’t imagine anything topping those experiences.  Challenge accepted!  Part of our “Japanese experience” was a home stay, where each of us was assigned to a Hanamaki family and stayed with them Saturday and Sunday night (days four and five of our trip).  I was assigned to the home of Ai (pronounced “eye”) – a perfect fit.  She was a few years younger than I, but she was super sweet, loved Taylor Swift (…hmmm… don’t judge me, but I was a huge Taylor Swift fan), and was eager to learn about America.

The home stay was legen - wait for it because Japan is 14 hours ahead of Arkansas – dary.  Legendary!

(Okay, no more “How I Met Your Mother” TV references…)

I visited Ai's English school, Speak Up, and ended up being
"the lesson" for the advanced English speaking students.
It was a lot of fun visiting with everyone!

In Japan, karaoke is not usually performed in front of large
rooms full of people.  Instead, you and your friends get a
karaoke room together, and there's a small stage where you
stand with your microphone.  Waiters bring you whatever
food or drink that you order from a kiosk in your room.
Definitely a great experience!

Ai and her friend Kaho took me to make
Japanese senbei, a kind of cracker.
First you roll the dough, and then you
bake it in a skillet(?) like Ai is doing.

Ai and Kaho took me shopping at a HUGE shopping mall
in Iwate's Prefecture's capital city, Morioka.
What shopping trip is complete without Starbucks?
(In case you were wondering, some of the snacks and drinks
available are different, but it tastes just as good as in America!)

Ai, Kaho, and I stopped in a photo
booth on Sunday.  We took six photos
in the first booth, and then Ai and Kaho
edited each picture in the second booth.
You can change each background,
write and draw pictures, add blush to
the faces, etc.  It's so cool!

The best part of the home stay was getting to know Ai.  I loved learning about
her life here in Japan and helping her with her English.  We might live halfway
across the world from each other, but our similarities were amazing.
Thanks for the wonderful, memorable weekend, Ai.  See you! :) 

There are evenings that, as I wait to fall asleep in my bed, I think back over the previous day and feel it was just a day and nothing more.  In months and years to come, the day will fade into nothing more than a blink of God’s eyes.

In Japan, it has been the exact opposite.  How strange to know these are all moments that I will remember and retell for a lifetime.