Well this day I have been just looking forward to and I have just been waiting patiently just to get on the plane and sleep. This will be my first time going Japan and just thinking about the first thing I'll do there already makes me excited (if that's not weird to say).From day one every bodies just been really positive about preparing and that . My friends did come see me this morning and just wished me all the best and have a safe flight, and I even have support and prayers from social media hoping that I make it there safe and sound. Ever since I was packing to go I was just really stressed about how much I want to take, how much I don't need to take, but it all worked out in the end and now I'm about to head to the airport now.
Just wanna say thank you to my teachers Ms Bennett, Ms Mcivor, Ms Top, and Ms Van for supporting me ever since i applied and same with my family just all support, love, and appreciation from my family, and also my close friends as well from my basketball boys to my 9HD friends. Japan Here I come.
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So this was my first time going to Novotel and having dinner there and the food was really delicious. This was my first time having smoked salmon and it was just fantastic because I've never eaten fish in my entire life except for fish and chips, fried fish, and tuna but this was really nice to eat something new. This was the same as the duck breast I had, I have never eaten duck in my entire life because I always thought it tasted like garbage but it was nice. The conversations were just really interesting because we were all talking and asking really interesting questions about what we wanted to be in the future, where else would we like to travel. I was also having a really good time speaking to Mr Columbus about why he chose Aorere College and Mr Pierce about where he travels because its good to get to know more about your mentors and teachers and have some kind of close relationship. It was a really good and fun time having dinner with our sponsors from Novotel.
A really big big big thank you to Novotel and Ibis Hotel for just giving us this opportunity to travel experience a whole new different culture and perspective of life. On Thursday me and the other exchange students had to meet at the reception and go to the office and wait for the bell to ring and go to the next period which was the assembly. During the waiting time we met the sponsors from NovoteI and it was so funny because there was also another guy who came with them and his name was Sven and just him grabbing the cookie was funny. So the bell rang and I was so scared and I was just trying to hype my self up because I knew the whole senior assembly would be watching and even my friends. So we waited by the door and when my name got called up my body just felt lighter than ever.It's like carrying 50 kg and dropping it but holding that 50 kg for 50 minutes on your back. So after I got off the stage, we had a quick photo and said goodbye to the Novotel sponsors. Still a really big and massive thanks to Novotel for sponsoring this trip because without them, I wouldn't have this opportunity right now and be as happy as I am right now. Every Thursday after school Me and the rest of the other exchange students would wait 10 minutes for Mr Ali to get to his office and we would be talking about the trip and new information about Jishukan. We would sit in his office for at least 20 minutes and head to the computer room in C10 and do our Blogs and most importantly finish off our dance that we have been working on. So the dance consists of different cultural dances such as Fijian, Tongan, and Samoan. We have been practicing each dance for the whole of term 2 at lunch times. THANK YOU TO THE EXCHANGE GROUP FOR PUTTING IN THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. JAPAN HERE WE COME. I have to say from the first lesson on the first day of the second term on the first week I was scared. I was scared because I thought just pronouncing the Japanese words will be really off and cringe, but Ms Yumiko has been really helpful and supportive throughout the whole term. Each lesson we would come after school Friday and lessons will begin at 1:30 and finish at 2:30. The lessons would start off with at least one of us saying the phrases Kiritsu, Kiotsuke, Rei, and Chakuseki and then we will introduce ourselves in Japanese so that we get use to it everyday and don't forget. Now that I the lessons are over, I can use these skills that Ms Yumiko has taught me and use it to meet and experience new things in Japan.
I'd like to say a ver big big thank you to Ms Yumiko for taking her own time to teach us Japanese, and the skills to become better. So Arigatou Gozimashita Ms Yumiko. Sayounara. When i had first heard about the Dinner, my first thought was "I don't wanna go" The reason why I didn't want to attend this Dinner was because I was just really tired that day and I realized that was the most dumbest excuse that i could ever give. So I got home and my Dad had just ordered pizza for the dinner and we went straight away to school because the others were calling me and asking where I was. When I got to school I was first greeted by Mr Boyd and Mr Pierce then me and my Dad took our seats and saw all the other students with their families and listened to Mr Ali's presentation. During the presentation with Mr Ali, he explained a lot about the requirements that were needed for the trip before we go, and the requirements were like suitcases, toiletries and information about Jishukan. There was also an exchange student that went last year that came to the dinner and told us her experiences, highlights of the trips, and some tips on what we should do and not do. Even Mr Pierce told us about his time in Japan or a story (sorry I don't remember) once on how he was looking out the window at something valuable and woke up the next morning to see the valuable thing he was looking at.
Big thanks to Gabby for coming to the dinner and talking about what she did in Japan, and also Mr Pierce, Mr Boyd, Mr Ali and even the parents. When i first heard about the Japanese exchange trip from Mr Ali i was really excited and just too busy thinking about "ANIME ANIME ANIME" i was like i should do this to go see anime but my dad got me to sit down and calm down and just talk about why i should do this . As we progressed talking and talking i finally realized why i should do this. The emotions that went through my head as soon as i opened my letter were Happiness and excitement. I rushed straight to the basketball court to tell my friends and they were like really hyped for me to go. Once they saw me get in, they were influenced by my success. My families reaction was over surprised and they were all praying for me to get this but they told me before "even if i don't make it at least you've made it this far." Now I'm here sitting here with 5 other students that i will come to grow a strong relationship with them.
Over this journey i hope to go from not talking that much to Talking a lot to my buddy who i will get to know the most, what his daily life is like, what his interests and aspects are in life of Japan, and other Bonding activities. I would like to thank my family and close friends that got me here because of their support and helping me just to do what i needed to do. I'm also really grateful for Novetel to sponsor this once in a life time trip for me which i will get to experience and explore new things in a different country. JAPAN LESSHHGOOOOOO! |