Hey everyone!
After so many crazy adventures and trying to catch up on sleep, I thought I'd let you guys know how I have been doing as well as what has been going on. It's crazy to think that 2 months have already gone by and I only have 2 left -- I'll admit, when I first left for Japan, I was terrified and crying. I was so confused as to why I was acting like this because everyday up until then I was so excited, but I guess I had never realized that I would be all on my own. But after a few weeks of being here, I realize I was never alone once I met all of the people that I can now call my friends. I think by the time that I need to go back to the U.S., I'll be ready. But I'll never be ready to leave my friends here.
After so many crazy adventures and trying to catch up on sleep, I thought I'd let you guys know how I have been doing as well as what has been going on. It's crazy to think that 2 months have already gone by and I only have 2 left -- I'll admit, when I first left for Japan, I was terrified and crying. I was so confused as to why I was acting like this because everyday up until then I was so excited, but I guess I had never realized that I would be all on my own. But after a few weeks of being here, I realize I was never alone once I met all of the people that I can now call my friends. I think by the time that I need to go back to the U.S., I'll be ready. But I'll never be ready to leave my friends here.
A little on my experience with homesickness, I don't think it really has hit me. I of course missed people, but I have been so caught up with life here that I barely have any time to really think about it. And I think that is the most important thing to do when you're abroad, stay busy, active, and positive. I've gotten into the habit of working out everyday so that has really helped. I'll admit though, a part of me is really excited to return home and start the new school year because I've grown really close with some people back home while I've been here.
The language has been incredibly difficult for me to grasp, but that hasn't stopped me from studying, although some days it just feels impossible. My friends here have been really supportive though when I feel frustrated about my language learning journey! There are no short cuts or easy ways to learn a language, you just have to study and study and study.
The language has been incredibly difficult for me to grasp, but that hasn't stopped me from studying, although some days it just feels impossible. My friends here have been really supportive though when I feel frustrated about my language learning journey! There are no short cuts or easy ways to learn a language, you just have to study and study and study.
On to my recent adventures, not too long ago I returned from Hiroshima! It was an amazing experience to say the least. We went to Hiroshima's Memorial Park and watched many groups of students recite their promise of peace. The museum at the park had struck so many emotional chords, I couldn't help but get teary eyed at some of the things we saw -- such as the after effects of the bomb on people that had survived it. I recommend anyone to see it because it does change your life in a way that is hard to explain -- it is not a place to feel guilt but to remember the lives of the people that are now gone and look forward to a future of peace.
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| Memorial Park in Hiroshima |
After visiting the museum, we went sight seeing and came across the exact place where the bomb was dropped, strangely enough this building was one of the very few buildings that wasn't destroyed. I can't really explain why, but it felt strange being here. Afterwards, we got ice cream and fresh orange juice and enjoyed our treats by the river.
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| Building that wasn't destroyed completely by the bomb. |
For the rest of the time we were near Hiroshima's Memorial Park, we stopped at a memorial place for the children that lost their lives. It seemed to be almost somewhat of a shrine because of all the beautifully, bright colored cranes that had adorned these protective cases for the cranes. They say that 1,000 cranes equals one wish, and the story for that famously comes from the girl who was able to make all of those cranes and even more. Her name was Sadako Sasaki who later died from the after effects of the bomb -- her story as well as the cranes are a symbol of all the innocent victims of the war. Each year, 1,000 cranes or more are brought to the shrine by students -- there were easily over 100,000 cranes. The picture below is just a fraction of what was there.
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| Cranes from students for Hiroshima's Memorial Park |
After an awesome weekend in Hiroshima, we took the Shinkansen back to Yokohama. It was a long day of traveling! After a day's worth of rest in Yokohama, we went on another educational excursion to my school's seminar house in Yugawara, relatively close to Hakone! Our first stop on our way to Yugawara was Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji was so beautiful and an experience I will never forget, we climbed on the 5th level, which is not relatively high but it is still quite the hike! We could obviously not climb all the way to the top, haha! :^)
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| On the way to Fuji! |
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| View from level 5 of Fuji |
Until next time,
Paige
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