Alex G

Japanese Style Food:

Most japanese dishes are very consistent by having miso soup, tofu, rice(especially in Niigata), a variety of vegtables, and a cup of hot green tea. They also have a lot of dishes were they have fish and some meat. Sometimes it is difficult to eat certain types of foods mainly because we're always using chopsticks. One of the most interesting foods that has been served to me here in japan was natto, which is fermented soy beans and boy is it sticky. It was so sticky, I almost couldn't open my mouth. However, japanese rice is amazing, especially the rice used in onigiri (rice ball). If anything, I will miss having japanese rice for breakfast, lunch,and dinner. I love and respect the amount of pride and effort the Japanese people put into making their food because all their food comes out as "oishiso" (looks delicious) to "Oishii!"(delicious!). I'm sure my hunger for Japanese food will unite me with japan again in the nearby future.


Alexander the Japanese giant!:

"Sei ga taki!" I have been told this many times during my adventures in japan. In English it means "You are tall!" and let me tell you that japan was not built for people 6ft and higher. I'm the tallest of 18 students with a height of 6ft 1in and the average japanese male is 5ft 7in while the average female is 5ft 2in, so compared to the average japanese person, I'm very tall, so tall that I have to duck when entering and exiting certain trains and or temples and now my host family's house (thankfully my host father made the whole house gerst-proof). My neck and my knees are starting to suffer from all the ducking. To put it into a better perspective, the comparison of japan and me is that of two foil characters, meaning that one exaggerates the other physical or mental features. My height gives away my presence always because from a crowd of Japanese people you will be able to see a head and two shoulders peaking above the surrounding crowd. Because I'm the tallest, I have to be in the very back of our 20 people traveling group because it helps Mr. Van krey know that everyone is between both him and I. Overall, the view is always nice and clear.


Kokusai Joho high school, our sister school:

I have hosted 2 students from KJ and they both said that ETHS was bigger than their school, and now having witnessed their school, I totally agree with them. Compared to ETHS, KJHS is small in so many things, for example the student population for all grades is maybe the same number as the number of freshmen in ETHS. Their school doesn't start until 9:10, which is really nice but the twist is that the periods are 48 min long and the passing periods are 7 min long, which is somewhat unecissary since each classroom is right next to the other. However, instead of the students having to walk all over the school in order to get to their next class, the teachers are the ones who have to get some exercise. Despite it being a Japanese school, anybody could navigate them self throughout the school with ease, one being that KJHS is a small school and that every classroom is clearly labeled that anybody could find their own classroom, it took Daniel, melody, and I 2 min to find our students classroom.


Staying in the Nakamura household:

I am staying in a western-style home with a family of four great people. My room is located in the house's tatami room which has a tv, kotatsu (leg warming table), a wood stove and my futon (bed/mattress). Compared to my home, it is a bit smaller but the Nakamura house makes up for its size with its extreme comfort and warm rooms. The only bad thing about the household is that all of their door frames are at the same level as my forehead, and I have already hit myself many times already. Despite its size, I might end up wanting to stay in their house than my home. Not only is the whole house warm, the people who live in it make the air warm with their smiles and laughs. My host father in on a whole new level of comedy compared to my father, a feat that I never thought I would live to see, and my host mother is one of the most sweetest moms that I have ever met. She is a great cook, making the best japanese dishes and bentos, and understands that I need japanese to be spoken slowly to me in order for me to understand. Despite speaking slowly, she constantly challenges me with difficult question and words and my speaking and listening skills have further improved thanks to her. It seems that I now have added a Japanese family to my vast family tree.

5 comments:

  1. Hi, Alex! I'm loving your trip! The photos make me want to jump on a plane and join you. Take care. Teta & her boyz

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  2. アレックス、こんにちは!
    日本で元気に過ごしているようで、とてもうれしいです。
    写真はどれも素敵ですね。
    日本でたくさんの思い出を作ってください。
    とても忙しいと思いますが、体に気を付けてください。(宿題する時間はあるかな?)

    アレックスも写真やメッセージをこのホームページに載せてください。
    楽しみにしています。

    お母さんより

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  3. Hi Alex, hope all is going well. Hard to tell since we haven't heard from you. But don't worry, I read about your judo experience from Daniel's blog. ;)

    Love...Mom

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  4. You are right about trains, Alex. In fact, most forms of transportation are startlingly late in the U S.

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  5. Hi Alex, I agree with you. I grew up using train constantly. They are a great way to get around either by yourself or in groups. Furthermore, most train stations are in city centers, so they convenient to access too. Can't wait to see the picture!
    Love, Dad

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