First Day of School!!

I flew to Toyama-ken from Tokyo last Tuesday, and I started attending school the next day!
   The first difference between American and Japanese schools that I came across was the school uniform. School uniforms usually exist at private schools in America, but they exist in mainly public schools in Japan. So, this is my school uniform ((and a picture with my fellow exchange students)).

      Because students do not belong to school districts, Japan does not have school buses (kind of...). Many students have to travel far distances to get to school; therefore, Japan is a biker-friendly nation ((which I love!!)). Personally, to get to my school, I ride my bike for 15 minutes to make it across town to the bus station, where I then take the bus 30-ish minutes to my school. Toyama city is incredibly beautiful--not too suburban but not urban either...-- and I absolutely love getting to ride my bike every morning before school!! >.<
     On my first day, i slipped right into the routine of Biology, Algebra, Geography, Japanese, English, and other classes. The first day was definitely hard. My Japanese ability could only take me so far in these Japanese classes, but I am definitely still building up my language ability!(: The two classes I completely understood the first day were Algebra and Geography. All of my friends have been asking me, "Japanese math class?? Isn't that the hardest thing ever?! How does that work!?" Haha the answer is: uhh, math ((especially algebra)) is the same concept in every language or country. (: Algebra was all written on the board. I just completed Algebra this past year as a sophomore, so I already knew what to do. haha(: it is not as bad as it sounds, i promise!

  I was a little worried the first day, because no one but the other exchange students would really talk to me.... All of the girls would shy away when I tried to them, and all the guys would say to me was, "Goodbye beautiful blonde! blonde girl, goodbye!!" haha
   HOWEVER! Today ((the following Monday after my arrival)), I have made friends with enough girls in my class to the point that they were all comfortable enough touching my blonde hair!(: I even took some pictures with them! <3 

   That is all for now~! If anyone has any questions about Japanese high school or how it works, please leave it in the comments below and I promise I will answer them!(:
じゃあね
~Jane Claire

Adventuring to Japan~

     On June 17th, we woke up early at Berkeley and began our long Journey to Japan....

     Before we could actually got to the San Francisco airport, we had to wake up at 4am, finish packing up, check out of our dorms at Berkeley, and say goodbye to all of the Alumni that helped us along the way! Granted, no one actually slept the night before leaving for Japan, so there was no waking-up at 4am(:

    When all 71 YFU participants arrived at the San Francisco airport, i thought the airport staff were going to lose it.... But I understand why they would be so worried when i group of 71 sleep-deficient, hyper teenagers walk through their doors....we had to get in and out of check-in as soon as possible, and they even put us through special security that was separate from the rest...hmm

   Only when we boarded the flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles did it hit all of us that we would be in Japan within 15 hours! The first flight consisted mostly of our group, so we were all working together to keep everyone calm. haha
   From Los Angeles, we boarded a beautiful international plane that would take us to Narita airport in Tokyo. International planes are always amazing and are always equipped with many things to entertain you during the duration of your flight. The television screens had games, music, movies, tv shows, and more!(: I sat by my friend Andrew on this flight, and we did everything together during the entire 11-hour plane ride! It was a lot of fun! He was good company, and instead of feeling like the plane ride was too long, i felt as though we did not have enough time on the flight (^^)    One of our activities included taking many airplane selfies for a few hours! haha~

      Upon arriving at Narita, we all had the chance to Exchange currency, discover the Japanese vending machines, and experiencing Japanese toilets.... Japanese restrooms are an experience within themselves! haha(:

        Around 8pm on June 18th, exhausted, we finally retreated to our hotel rooms in Tokyo. Because we had placements all over Japan, We would wake up the morning of June 19th and we were transported to our host-cities! 

~Jane Claire

JPDO at Berkeley~

    Soo, a few days ago, we had our Japan Pre-Departure Orientation (JPDO) at Berkeley in San Francisco!

    There were about 71 students at this orientation. We were all staying with roommates in dorms at berkeley!! It was such an interesting experience...

My Roommate Brittney!!(:

      Anyway, at orientation, the YFU staff group all 71 of us into several くみ (groups). I was able to get to know  everyone in みどりくみ! Everyone I have met through this program has been so kind(:
Okay, so Orientation at Berkeley was not all just fun and games. This orientation was specifically for students who also won a scholarship to Japan that required previous language knowledge. So ((looking back at my orientation schedule I posted before)) we went through really busy 14 hour days of Japan preparation. We had a few "survival Japanese" classes everyday, and we had many cultural exercises that would prepare us for culture shock we might experience upon entering Japan.

    YFU also had a group of Alumni at our orientation what was able to handle any of our questions, comments, or concerns about Japan. This is Evan! He went to Akita Prefecture through YFU a few years ago, and he helped me with everything!(:

    At orientation, I was able to meet a lot of splendid people who have the same interests and dreams as I do. It was really an amazing start to my Japan Summer Adventure!! (:

~Jane Claire

~*~Orientation~*~

       So I want to take a moment to get excited about pre-departure orientation for this Japan trip! It is being held at the university of California Berkeley, and half of the students going to Japan have already gone to California and gone through this orientation! They have been posting pictures all over the YFU facebook group and they have been telling us what orientation will be like! Students of the JAFS scholarship ((me)) go to the later orientation, which will be this Friday until Monday~
So we received the Orientation schedule~

~Jane Claire ♥

Travel Itinerary

Just an update of my travel schedule~~ I depart for orientation at Berkeley in 2 days! :)

June 14th

• Depart Atlanta at 7:05 AM, arrive in Dallas at 8:15 AM
• Depart Dallas at 10:35 AM, arrive in San Francisco at 12:10 PM

June 17th

• Depart San Francisco at 9:25 AM, arrive in Los Angeles at 10:55 AM
• Depart Los Angeles at 12:30 PM, arrive in Tokyo at 3:50 PM ((June 18th))

July 29th

• Depart  Tokyo at 3:55 PM, arrive in Los Angeles at 10:15 AM
• Depart Los Angeles at 11:45 PM, arrive in Dallas at 4:55 PM
• Depart Dallas at 6:00 PM, arrive in Atlanta at 9:15 PM

~Jane Claire ♥

3 Day Scramble

       So I just flew into Atlanta yesterday afternoon after spending 12 days on vacation in New England and Montréal with my family, now it's time to start preparing for going to Japan! haha

((no but seriously, I've been preparing for Japan for a while. We really did go on a random vacation beforehand, though.....))

       So, i'm home now, today is a Tuesday, and I leave for Japan Friday. Ahhhhh, stress-level is over 9000. Preparing to live abroad for 6 weeks requires a lot of time running around, settling things at home, and wrapping your mind around the whole situation. I think the plan for today is to go shopping for nice shirts, to pick up a summer reading book, to see my grandparents, to actually start packing, picking up the final gifts for my host-family, and to finish two of my school assignments! hmm, this definitely looks better written on my blog than done....

   Oh! I also have to pick up some new soccer cleats and athletic wear! (: I got an e-mail from my host sister Saki, and she said that she was told I love soccer, and the coach at her school said it would be alright if I joined the soccer team at my host school! (: Aside from Japanese and Latin, playing soccer has ALWAYS been my passion, it is my favorite sport! I was extremely surprised and excited from this e-mail!! I have never played soccer on a school team before, but wish me luck! ☆〜(ゝ。∂)

~Jane Claire ♥

Host Family Information!!

   So I just received my host family information!! I will be staying with the Kanamori family. I have a 17 year-old host sister (who's name is not specified....hmm), and host father who is a company executive, and a host mother who is a company employee.
    I will be attending the high school attached to Toyama International University. I do not know whether or not my host sister will be attending there also. During my interview, my representative from YFU asked me what type of environment I would like to live in, and I said a rural or suburban area. Many other students through YFU wanted to stay in a city, but I have had my heart set on living in a more rural area! (:  just found out I am living away from the city in Toyama! yay~
   On June 17th, when we fly to Japan from Berkeley, we are landing in Narita airport in Tokyo. Toyama is a good distance from Tokyo, so I am staying the first night in Tokyo and I will be flying to Toyama the next day!
   Okay, Okay, getting my host family placement makes my YFU experience very real, and it just hit me, I will be leaving for japan in 17 days.... Ahhh! (: excitement level has surpassed 200%
   ((Also, when I was researching Toyama, I found this.....not sure what to think of the glowing jellyfish they have been finding in Toyama Bay, but I am intrigued, i want to see some this summer haha.))

uhm, these are moon jellyfish....I think(:

~ Jane Claire ♥