I thought that entering Jishukan I'd find it difficult to make a lot of friends. The difference in language, preferences and what not. I honestly felt so nervous trying to fit in with the life style of a Japanese family member but as a student? Constantly wanting to feel accepted I was a bit anxious in making friends.

Mana made it very easy for me. She introduced me to everyone. I've now gotten over being this introverted extrovert. I can now say that I'm finally able to express myself more frequently and with confidence. While in Jishukan it's safe to say that basically every person in 4th and 5th grade I have come to known and love. Although the staring is a bit much, once they finally got the courage to talk to me or I just approached them like, "wassup", things went smoothly. My tie is filled with the names of my pals. My overalls are covered in messages that I will treasure and wear with pride. 

I made a very important group of friends. My first group of friends at Jishukan High School. Mana, Shiori, Moe, Miki and Fuka. Those names I will forever remember as they were the people that brought me out of my shell and helped me make this experience something I will always rave on about, think about, tell my grandchildren about. 

When I first got here, they threw a welcoming party for me. I was shocked. Really shocked. I thought they were just coming over for some snacks and gossip. There was snacks and there was gossip. There was more than that. There was getting to know every individual. Shiori and Mana loves to play basketball. Moe is a dancing queen. Miki loves English and Fuka plays badminton. They taught me about the do's and don'ts of Japan. The important reasons behind why they do certain things. They introduced me to many other sports and I've come to like Tennis and Badminton. Everyone is very supportive even though I'm legit trash at those sports but they just, "don't mind, don't mind", it out. I've picked up on their slang and their Japanese expressions so don't mind me when I come back to New Zealand bowing to everyone.  

You can never go hungry while in Japan.

I've never gone hungry. 

I've come to gain a huge appreciation for my host parents as they wake up in the early hours of the morning to do the washing, cook breakfast and make lunches. Back in New Zealand I was too lazy to get out of bed to pee, so I just held it in. Here they're very productive. Everyone here has something to do.

A lot of what my Japanese family does reminds me of my Nan back home. I have an immense amount of appreciation for her as she wakes up at 5 every morning to get us ready for the day. She will drive to the shops to buy food for breakfast and lunch, will never let us go to school without breakfast and will always offer to drive us there in her state of the art Nan van. Toyota's are cool.

In Japan, my family always has food. They'll always have ice-cream for us when we come back home so we don't die of heatstroke. 

Coming from New Zealand and entering Japan made my appreciation jump to a whole other level. I've realized that there are a lot of similarities within my family from New Zealand and my family in Japan. I've started to appreciate things more. Both my families, my teachers in Aorere and Jishukan and the air conditioner in the Japanese trains. 

A completely different family with a completely different culture.

When we all introduced ourselves and got to know each other I was no longer nervous. It felt like my family back home; warm and welcoming.

We all had great yarns about our favorite things, our likes, dislikes. It felt like I was apart of their family, not just as some exchange student from New Zealand but as a family member. We experienced a lot of different events together like travelling to places even my host family have never been to. It was a first experience for all of us. My first time at Disney land was a blast, literally. I was able to experience various rides that I must say are not as thrilling as Rainbows End, but more meaningful. All the different rides brought back nostalgic childhood memories of my family and I all sitting in the lounge watching our favorite Disney movies. Throughout the trip they took me to as many rides and place as they could, always looking out for me and asking me if I was thirsty and what not. 

Coming from New Zealand to Japan, living in a different household with another family has been the complete opposite of what I imagined. They do and act similar to my own family in New Zealand, but at the same time it's refreshing to live their daily routines. 

I wouldn't call them that family that hosts my stay in Japan. I'd call them my own.

I am very thankful for having a company like Novotel working with our school and giving our school the opportunity to partake in student exchanges.

Being a `guinea pig`  for the first student exchange I will be able to give feedback to our teachers and the employees of Novotel which can hopefully make the future exchanges a lot better. 

There were great conversations going on at the dinner table. I had to wait a while for the food as it wasn't an all you can eat, but the wait was worth it. The CEO and his employee seemed genuinely interested in our ideas and goals for the future which I am thankful for.

As I saw Mr.Ali hand out every envelope one by one I honestly felt like I was going to puke. I didn't even know if it was going to be a relieving type of puke or the one where I'd stay home for days type of puke. BUT boy! Was it going to happen. 

It all felt like the weeks of writing essays and doing interviews for a chance to live out Year 7,8 and 9 Jess's weaboo fantasy was coming true and I didn't know whether to feel scared or excited.

But alas, thankfully I was chosen as one of the 6 exchange ambassadors (along with Shaun, SHOT SHAUN UR THE MANNNNN) and I am forever grateful and am questioning Mr.Ali's picking decisions. But this is for real guys. Ya boy's gonna go to japan.  Do I run? Do I scream? Do I just completely let the dark anime urges manifest itself in Japan? NANI? I've been recently trying to play it cool, but whatever anime intro I sing, I sing. 

Tune in next blog where I recreate vines that just butters my egg roll.