I'll be honest. There isn't much that I still remember since. As I read back on these blogs, it brought back memories I've long forgotten and brought a smile to my face because of how little significance they have, but yet how strong of an emotion and warmth that they give me. It's still a shame that my old computer crashed because I think I had one or two more blogs just saved in Word Pad that I wrote right after my return, there was also the second part to the Akko blog saved. But what's done is done and I'll try to fit the pieces back together the best I can. I'm grateful for the schedule I posted in blog 73. Now I know what exactly that I'm trying to remember lol
I don't know how many parts I'm going to break this ending up into. I'll try to finish it up quickly though since I'll be focusing on my new adventure in Hong Kong very soon (blog link to the side). I'll definitely write a new post once a week on this blog though. Since I am putting an end to this chapter in my life, I really want to express my gratitude and the feelings from the last few days. So please hang in there with me. I'll try not to make it drag on longer than a month.
As for this post today, I want to try to recall the most I can when living with Akko. So, this is going to be the less detailed version of "Two weeks at Akko's, part 2". This is going to be the hardest to remember.
When I first moved into Akko's I remember feeling like things were different from the other families. Not in a bad way of course, but there was this one thing that stuck out to me. I would come home a few days by myself and her mom asked me if I wanted to go in the ofuro (take a bath). After walking up that GINORMOUS mountain to get to her house in that summer heat, YES, I wanted a bath. But then it occurred to me that I couldn't take one at night then. And that made me sad. I'm kinda picky with when I take showers/baths. Since in Japan (in families) everyone goes to the ofuro at night, and I had to get used to that since I prefer morning. But taking it before night left me with a time gap where I'm sweating again... so after realizing that I tried to avoid the ofuro question.
The family was so kind though, and I guess I didn't mention, but her dad supposedly knew English. He never spoke to me in it though which I'm so glad even now. I didn't see him as often, I don't know what kind of work he did, but we would all sit around on the floor around the table, drinking beer (I didn't but Akko did a lot lol, she loves Sapporo) and snacking on something. I stayed in this big tatami room, I was sleeping on the floor but I didn't mind. There was a day I remember a bunch of Kyuudou friends (Erina, Haruna, Eri(?)etc.) came for a sleepover and we tried to watch a scary movie, "Kuchisake Onna" (The Woman with the Slit Mouth). It was fun even though I can't remember exactly what we were doing but eventually when we decided to sleep I think we made a pillow barrier or I don't know. I know we did something weird but I don't want to type just anything.
Akko has an older sister but I never saw her much. She was a college student. I only met her when she came home for a few days for some reason, maybe it was a school break. I don't really know much more on that.
After I think a week of my stay, I was told that we were getting new visitors. A woman from Hungary and her younger daughter. Akko's family does this every year as far as I was told then. Through this business program they take in one foreigner and it's a home-stay (like me) for them. I don't remember the exact details on what those foreigners did with their program, because I'm assuming they left the house, you know? But I was worried about them having to take care of THREE people now. I felt terrible as if I was intruding on them, but her and her mom told me not to worry about it and that it wasn't a burden at all. I still felt bad.... especially when I had to move to Akko's room to sleep since the new woman and her child had to take the empty tatami room.
I slept on the floor in Akko's room. I didn't mind that.... but I'm sure she minded me being there. She never told me to my face, and it's not like I got any negative feedback from her, but I was invading her personal space. Even I would get upset if our positions were switched. Her room is really small too, so it's not like it was even convenient either. One distinct memory I have in that room was when her and Nozomi (not the same girl I went to the concert with) were making their costumes for the class match.
Another day there were a bunch of stray cats and Myuu was trying to converse with them through our door lol. It was kind of a sad moment though because we tried to help them out and stuff but I think we discovered that the one was hurt and something about we shouldn't touch them. Then I think another day we found the one dead...
While the other two foreginers were staying over, I was doing a lot of back and forth translation for them. Since the dad wasn't around entirely that much and well, they needed to communicate. Her daughter was around five or six I think, she was really young. One day we went to a place called Nikko with Akko's family. It's in Tochigi and it has all these shines and very beautiful temples. It's a huge and a very popular tourist attraction.
I wish I still had my pictures, the structures were absolutely fantastic. And I got to walk up to this grave (well, as close as they would let me) of a famous Tokugawa governor. I think it was Tokugawa times....
Well, here's a picture I managed to find online of one temple.
Sometime during my last few days with Akko's family, they took me with them to this campground-like area where there were more foreigners with that same business exchange program. I think it was like a goodbye ceremony though, I don't think the food was really good either and we didn't eat Japanese-fuu (style) food. But anyway, they made all the girls wear a yukata. It was a surprise to me and I remember them taking me in a room and dressed me. And we all took a picture :)
There was a girl I met there from Indonesia, and I friended her on Facebook during that time but she probably doesn't remember me. That day was a lot of fun too, but I remember just feeling a little out of place. That's really because other than Akko, there was no one there my age. All these people were on business exchange so they're adults near their 30s while I'm an 18 year old lol. I also remember me and this other girl had to wash something in a dirty garage while there.
Then eventually the day came when I had to leave. I was relieved but yet sad. I was glad to go there, me and Akko got to bond a lot more than I think we ever would have if it wasn't for me moving in. Even though we were in the same bukatsu (school club) and everyone in my grade talked to me, I was still on the other side of the room with Tomoka, Nozomi, Ikumi, etc.etc. It was just annoying when that day came. My first host dad came to pick me up, and it just so happened that he and Akko's mom went to the same high school together. Why was I annoyed? Because Rotary gave me such a hard time when I suggested moving in with them. First it was Rotary's fault for screwing me up by telling me one thing, which made me worry, and then it turns out it wasn't going to happen. And because of that, I imposed on Akko and her family.
Rotary told me that they had to find me another host family since four is usually the requirement. I was on my third with a fourth one no where in sight. And they said I would have to go back to my first family. I love my first family, but I felt like they were relieved to have the pressure of taking care of me off their shoulders. And I think the younger girl wanted her bedroom back ( I was staying in it). So I kinda felt very awkward about going back and then that's when I went searching for a family myself.
But Rotary was against it because Akko's family werent 'Rotary Club members' and then when I come back from school seeing my first host dad there laughing with her in the kitchen and then he told me if he knew they might have made my stay there longer. I was like WTF. You ARGUED with me, only allowing me 2weeks with Akko's family because of some bullshit reason and now it turns out it could have been ALLOWED???
I was just plain annoyed with that.
Then I was on my way back to the Takamatsu family, who still from this very day talk to frequently on Skype. I was glad to go back to them, but it was also nice to have a different environment for those 2weeks. And going back to Tajiri to join my main group of friends (they all live in that area of Hitachi) was exciting again. Bike riding to school again!! hahaaa
Well, that's the most of what little things I remember about being with Akko and her family. I'm pretty sure the school sports festival was that last week too.... I'll read back on the previous blogs to see I mentioned anything about the official day and I'll write about that in my next blog if I hadn't.
Once again, thank you for continuing to read! Check back sometime next week and I'll have PART 2 posted!! I'll summarize the events of my last week in Japan, which includes the fireworks at the ocean with all my friends; one of the most unforgettable moments, and one of my most cherished memories I have of my stay in Hitachi, Japan 2008-2009.
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