Okay, time for a blog update! So I haven't updated in a reaaalllyyy long time, over a month, and a lot of really great and bad things have happened. So the last time i updated was 9/9/13, which was week three. It is already week nine! Time has flown by so fast! Well actually it feels like I've been here forever at the same time... I'm happy that I've made it this far, but I'm sad that I only have about 4 left of the time I've experienced up until now. There have been some hard times in between, but what have really been keeping me going are God's strength that he's been giving me everyday, talking to my family a little bit every week, and lots of positive thinking. Where would I be without positive thinking. Looking back, I laugh at the times I was super homesick, but I also empathize with my past self and worry that those times might come back. ホームシック、辛い、さみしい、涙。homesick, heartbroken, gLonely, tears. I know that sounds super emotional and exaggerated, but it happens when ur separated from you friends and family with whom you've lived all your life. It's really weird not seeing them all the time. The times I'm super tired (practically everyday lol) are the times when I get depressed, but it's pretty easy to get out of it when I go to God's word. Recently I finished my 40 days of purpose driven life, and it was so hard for me not to do one a day because it was so relaxing and so strengthening to be absorbing His word and being in his presence. I probably studied more of the bible than Japanese for a bit... But I've learned that God will turn around my bad times and make them into something beautiful :) he hasn't failed to! I'm just don't know how id survive without God. How do people do it!
So it's been two months, and a lot of things have happened: I moved host families (already getting ready to move again in two weeks), I had a week of midterms (my grades were all above what were expected!!!), I've gone to see places like Osaka castle and kiyomizudera in Kyoto (beautiful places, took lots of great pics), went to watch jidai festival (festival of the ages) in Kyoto, gave a speech at school, learned how to properly ride a bike (more later), took the PSAT, watched Kyogen, and lots of other stuff, all filled with sushi, donuts, LOTS OF JUNK FOOD, home workouts, exercise, and school in between. Later I'll explain a full week of school, but pretty much it's just study study study and then once in a while well go out to see something special. I ride my bike to school and eat a bento everyday, then study study study, go home, eat, tv, shower, sleep. Simple, kinda boring? Eh id rather be doing this than be at home super stressed, biting my fingers off just to feel alive haha, but I can definitely see an improvement in my japanese! I'm learning so many things by just living here, and I don't have to study super hard to learn new things. I have noticed that I've gained weight for the first time in my life O.o it's really weird to see that I weigh more than 120 pounds now... I don't know but I'm still really bony :) I've definitely gotten into a good rhythm, except I think I need to sleep and exercise more. I need to enter a club, too!! Someone help me out~~~ I can't decide.
I don't really know what else to talk about, so if anyone actually reads this, comment on what u want to hear about!!! I'll start doing topic posts if u like. Also I think my friend is posting vlogs, so I'll get a link to those!!! Enjoy the pics below, ill be back with more~
Jidai festival~
Should I join shourinji kenpo?
Matcha donut!!!
Nara deer
Kiyomizudera
My class when we won the singing competition!
What
Not buying things I don't need.
I hate this dog so much.
Host bros~
Temple I pass by on the way to and from school everyday
Random zen garden in Kyoto.
More church :) (middle picture, center- checkered shirt, blazer and hat :)
