When I heard about the home stay I was pretty scared that I might break something or do something wrong, but I quickly found out even if I did they wouldn't get mad or even change in any way. The Suzuki's were the kindest people I have ever met and I already miss them with all my heart. I don't think I could have done anything to change that. I am so glad that I got to stay with them and I hope I will get to meet each of them again.
A teenager's worst nightmare is school in Canada right?…but in Japan kids and teenagers both want to go to school and need to go to school to make it to where they want to go or what they want to do. I actually got to go to five different schools when I was there. Each was different and each had students in them some even around six o-clock. I am glad I got to go to a school and especially glad I got to go to five of them.
When the Suzuki's brought me to Mount Zao I was totally amazed. I climbed to about three peeks of Mount Zao each getting nicer as I went up. Apparently Mount Zao is really a volcano filled in with water and as I made it down and through the crowds of tourists I saw one of the most stunning things I have ever seen in my life. The water was a very light torquoise colour with a giant wall of hardened lava and cliffs all around it, so it is very difficult to make it to the bottom where the water was. Mount Zao is one of the most spectacular spots that I saw when I was there.
Did you know that Japan is or at least should be the vending machine capital of the world? They have a vending machine everywhere you go. And they have it for all your hunger and thirst needs. I saw ice cream, pop, juice, about fifty different find of teas, coffee, chips, chocolate, gum, water, sports drinks, rice cakes, fries, hamburgers and hotdogs all in vending machines.
One of the biggest highlights of the trip would definitely have to be the Tokunai festival. Rehearsing it, dancing in it, and even the time on the float was all so…….. well I can't describe it, that's how fun it was. Even though we didn't get to do the dance outside (because of the typhoon) it was still awesome to do it in the gymnasium. I loved it on the float, every one of my team mates were so nice. Ironically they were having a celebration party right in our hotel and got both myself and my other Canadian partner Sandra to go up on stage. What I think they were dong was making fun of us but in a good humoured way.
And the last thing that I know I enjoyed the most was the whole trip itself. If I ever get the chance to go again I would definitely take it.

Continue to Page 1