I met my host family yesterday. The family consists of the mother, Miwa, the father, Eno, and the son, Hiro. Actually the dad's real name is also Hiro, but since it could get confusing, he's using the first two syllables of their family name as his nickname. They've also got two dogs, Miru and Karu (short for Milky and Calcifier). The dogs are SUPER SOFT!! They're long hair miniature dachshunds. I've only known the family for two days, but I have a feeling that we'll get along really well. They're really relaxed people, and they really value cultural exchanges.
When they came to get me from the hotel, I was super taken aback because I was expecting just the dad to come, but all three of them showed up. Since they sent me a photo beforehand, I immediately knew who they were, but I was really just expecting one, so I suddenly got all panicked and nearly forgot all the proper introduction words. But, as soon as they started talking, I immediately felt at-ease, and I knew everything would be okay. They've hosted seven families in the past, so they knew what they were dealing with, and they asked me questions and started talking to me at just the right moments, so things never got awkward. After they got me from the hotel, they asked what I wanted to eat and I responded with ramen. Eno and Miwa both laughed, but since Hiro was like YEAH!! (in Japanese), I felt that my decision was okay. We had some deliciously delicious ramen, and since we were nearby, we then went to Byodo-in, which is one of Japan's national heritages.
Miwa and Eno said that Byodo-in is usually packed, but since there's a typhoon going on right now, there were very few people. The wind was pretty strong, but since there was no rain, I thought we were pretty lucky. The temple is featured on the back of the ten yen coin, so you know it's gotta be important! There are two phoenix sculptures on the roof, and you can even see them on the coin. It's kinda like seeing Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial on the pack of the penny. Being at the temple reminded me that Japan's got a ton of famous and historical places, so I can't waste time! I wanna see as much as I possibly can in these next few months.
Today Miwa and Eno walked me through how to get from the house to campus, and it's seriously so easy. Although it's a bit far, it's really convenient. I just walk straight for about twenty minutes to the train station, take the express train for half an hour, no line changes necessary, and then walk straight another fifteen minutes to get to campus. I've got my longboard, so the walking parts should go by even faster. I bought my three-month train pass, and that's all I need. I can pocket the extra money given to me for the bus pass and subway pass, which I probably won't buy. YES!! I start school tomorrow, so I better sleep early. I really am not looking forward to seeing how low I placed on the Japanese placement.
On the one hand, I don't wanna have to go to school and study, but on the other hand, when I'm in school, I'll be learning more Japanese, so I'll be able to say and understand more things with more ease, so I'm looking forward to that.
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