Christmas!

Today is Christmas day. A few days ago, I recived a nice present from my hostdaughers.I am very happy to received it.

There was a homemade card.What a cute card it was!

Christmas is not a holiday in Japan. But today is Saturday(weekend),so Many Japanese celebrate Christmas.Families and friends and hold parties with cakes and nice food.

Parents with small kids give them " gift from Santa Claus" In my family's case, we ate nice food yesterday.

We will eat cake today. Probably it will be very crowded in the cake shops. I ordered cake in the Inet shopping webpage.

Along with the New Year holidays, it is a big event of the party season!

The weather is very fine in Japan. But it is very very cold.

How do you celebrate in Christmas day,everybody???

surprising Wednesday

I went to Kyoto to visit my grandparents grave alone this Wednesday.I usually go there twice a year( at the begining of Janually and Obon season in August) The weather was very nice on Wednesday so I decided to go. It takes about 1.5 hour from my house to grave. I made use of car and train.

At first I went around on foot near from Kamo river.Kamo river is well known to everyone. There were many people who were running,walking, taking a rest,playing musical instrument.

Second, I went to swimming school club because I had been learning swimmimg from elementary school to
high school student. After I graduated from high school, I never visited there.
I saw an old building. My heart was filled with emotion. I noticed that there was a man near from me.
To my surprising, he is my good friend husband. He is working in the swimming school.
I talked to him about 15 minutes. He also has children who are the same age as my children.
We enjoyed chatting.

Third, I went to Yasaka Shinto shrine because my grandprents grave is located next to it.
There were so many Japanese school trip students and travellers. I saw many red leaves.
I arrived at grave. I cleaned it and pray (talk?to my grand parents).

When I was about to return, I heard someone was talking in English beside me.
I saw 2 foreign female travellers.
I tried to say hello to them."Can I help you?"

One woman is from Germany and another woman is from Australia.
According to them, they got to know each other for 2 hours ago at the train station.
That was amazing. I suggested them to go sightseeing together because I wanted to guide them.
We decided to go around kiyomizu temple.

We saw some Maiko in Gion. There are many Geisha and Maiko in Gion area.
Geisha are traditional female entertainers.The trainees are called Maiko.
I asked them to take a picture together.

☆about Geisha and Maiko☆

They are performers of the traditional arts.　Geisha start out as a trainee.　You can tell a Maiko from a full Geisha by the length of the sash she wears on her kimono.The Maiko wears long,hanging sash and a full Geisha wears a short one.After some years of training, Maiko become Geisha.

After that we went toward kiyomizu temple. There were too many travellers. We visited some souvenior shops, took a rest to have some tea, taking some pictures.

I could not imagine that I was able to enjoy spending time with foreign travellers before I came to Kyoto.

Time went by very quickly and I had to return home.
When I said good bye to German woman, she gave a gift for me.

I was very glad to see them and that was surprising day!  I think that probably grandparents gave a nice present for me...

Talk about my good friend's kindness

Let me talk about my friend. She is one of my good friend. When I was a runner, I got to know her. She is very kind. When I have some troubles and dissappointed, she always helps me.


She runs towards embankment for trainnig. She often finds many homeless kittens. Whenever she finds them, she brings them home. If they have some troubles( injury), she took them to the vet hospital. Then she takes care of them for a while and appeal on her webpage.
”Is there anybody who will take care of this pretty kitten?"

In fact she looked for them and took homeless kittens to their house about 50 times.It is amazing.

http://www.kcat.zaq.ne.jp/aaadd101/nekosan1.html

This is very impressive story for me.

This kitten whose name is Sachi　was picked by her. Its eye was injured. My friend took it to the vest hospital soon.The veterrinarian removed its eye surgically. He got better although he can't see in his left eye.
She looked for somebody who would take care of it.

Fortunately one kind woman who lives in Hokkaido contacted with my friend. "I would like to take care of it" she said.　My friend went to Hokkaido to take it by airplane.
Although it is very far from Kansai area to Hokkaido, she decided to give it to kind woman.

Now this kitten is very happy. I have never met such a kind friend before. Actually she helps and supports homeless kittens as a volunteer.She can't abandon homeless cats.

Recently it is said that some traders bring homeless cats back and sell them somebody to get money.
Cat's skin is used as a Japanese musical instrument's leather.
I don't want to imagine that cats were killed by traders. I know how my friend feels.

Anyway I respect her. What I want to say is we should help someone(something) when they need help.　Supporting others is very important for our life.

English cafe?!

I went to Ryuoh town in the afternoon yesterday to attend a trial lesson.
As I told you, I got to know an English teacher last month, she invited me her English school's lesson.

According to her, English zone is held at her school once a month  on Saturday. It means that students can experience semilar to go abroad to study in Japan.

When I arrived at her school, nobody came. After that one female young student came. I said hello to her and introduced them to  each other. I knew that she was a high school student and the same age as my daughter.

I told her that my daughter had been to Austlalia when she was a junior high school. To my surprised,
she told me that she also had been there and participated in the same program. And she remember my daugher's name and face.That was amazing! What a small world it is!

Next, another young woman came. I said hello to her. She told me that she knew me because teacher yumi
was talking about me to her at first. So we could easily introduce ourselves.
We were talking about our hometown. To our surprised, her hometown is very closed to mine.
And we knew that we were born in the same hospital! Wow! I was very surprised to have an  accidental connection.

Finally, an  English native male teacher came. Although that was my first experience to have a lesson in Ryuoh, I had ever seen him before. That was amazing,too!

I told him that I remembered his face and I am a member of Koka city International society.
He also lives in Koka city and he has something to do with Koka International society.
I was very very surprised to have a lot of in common with him.

He was talking about Halloween.I am a Japanese person,so  I didn't know about it. I was able to know
about the origin of it.We were talking about a lot of topic and time went by very quickly.

The manager who was Yumi's husband served us. We had some tea and cakes.
Now teacher yumi is in china and enjoying her trip.

The teacher gave a small present (snack) to us. What a nice day it was!

I will attend a cafe lesson next month with my friend.

I went to Ryuoh town

I went to Ryuoh town today.Ryuoh town is next to my city.That is because I made an appointment to see an
English teacher whose name is Yumi.


At the end of last September, I went to Ryuoh junior high school to see the group who come from Sault Ste
Marie in Michigan. When I went to Sault Ste Marie and visited Washington elementary school, I knew that
some students and leader would visit in Japan soon.The principal told us about it.I decided to see them after I come back to Japan.　And　at that day, my son was at home, I also decided to take him to there.

At lunch time, I was able to say hello to them and have a lunch together. It was only 1 hour. I enjoyed chatting together.

http://ameblo.jp/teacheryumi/

There was an interpreter whose name is Yumi.
Before I went to Ryuoh jyunior high school , I happened to see her webpage.So I was very surprised.
I was also able to get to know her at school.

After that we sometimes send a e-mail and talking about English and other things.
I went to her English school today and enjoyed chatting.

I think that connection is very miracle.
Ryuoh town is not my city's sister city. Whenever I go to Ryuoh, I use the expressway only.
I could not imagine that I was able to meet a new person in Ryuoh.

I always try to look for good connection(relation)for me. I have to challenge next stage.

I happened to see my friend last Sunday

When I was driving in my car last Sunday, I saw my friend on the street. She is my good friend whose name is Belinda.

She used to be an English teacher in my daughter's high school until this July.

I got to know her 2 years ago when a sports festival was held in her school. At that day, I went to her school alone to see the sport festival. I happened to see a foreigner teacher and said hello to her suddenly.

(It is unusual in Japan.Japanese people don't do this action...)

We were talking about a lot of things although we just met. My daughter and her friends found us and they were disgusted because I talked too much instead of seeing the sport festival^^;

After that we had some chances to go to christmas parties together.
Recently I was told by my daughter that she quit the school and I did not know where she lives now.
So I was very glad to see her on the street.I asked her to come to my house and chat because I was free in the afternoon. I took her to my house and enjoyed chatting for a long time.We were talking about a lot of things.

At first I talked about that trip to Michigan and showed her many photos. I told her that I had many valuable
experiences in Michigan. I also told her that I learned a lot.

She started talking about Japanese life. She has been staying in Japan for 5 years. She loves Japan so much. But she sometimes does not understand something. For example, why don't Japanese people enjoy so much in their life after 5 and every weekend? Why do Japanese people work too much?Why do they have a closed society?And so son.

I know how she feels. I sometimes feel it is boring in Shiga(Higashiomi)
When I lived kyoto for 13 years after I got married, I had many chances to meet new people.
And I was able to enjoy my free time.

( I belonged to running club, Batominton club, excersise club, art flower club,and so on)

I always enjoyed my life.
Actually my neighberhood (housewives) are working as a part time job or full time job.
Only old people stay in their house.I am a very rare case.

Belinda told me that she wanted to meet new people but she could not in Shiga.
So she is trying to decide if she will stay longer or return to Australia. Japan and Australia are very different.

Of course in Japan there are many good places and many good festivals that we can enjoy.
But we have a specific rule and life style and personality. So foreigners sometimes can not follow and are
confused.

We enjoyed chatting and having some tea.
I thought, even though our dreams come true, we face some troubles and difficulties.It is reality.
Her dream was to visit in Japan someday. She is in Japan now,but she faces some troubles.
Is is normal that people have some toubles in our life?

Anyway I was very happy to see her by chance and talk to her.
By meeting people, we can know about many things...

difference

As we know, we have many different things from Japan and America.When I went to Michigan,
I realized a lot.

This was my fourth time to visit America. But all trips were normal sightseeing. I did not learn a lot about American culture actually.

I think that Americans are very friendly.When I had some chances to meet new people and see someone,
I was able to talk to them. And Americans shops staff are also friendly. When I went to the Wal-mart, one of the staff talked to me a lot. I enjoyed talking to him.
In Japan, clerks are not friendly.They seldom make some jokes in front of customers because they care about person's eye.I prefer American style to Japanese style.

I think that Americans often speak well of others. I was spoken well of by them many times in this trip.
I was very glad to hear it. But I was sometimes confused. I was wondering if it is a compliment or not.
"Which is right?" In my case, I sometimes speak well of others. But not very often.

I had some good friends many years ago. They spoke well of me every time. I felt so happy.
But one day, they suddenly reccomended me to buy their pyramid club goods.Or they suggested me to join
the religious group. I was too much dissappointed at that time and after that I always pay attention to the people who spoke well of me. Probably many Japanese people have the same experience before.
But in America, it is common. It is probably American culture.

I think that Americans love to have a party. And the participants are many types of people.
In japan, some people like to have a party. But their members are only their friends and family.
They are a very closed group.

I haven't gotten used to American style yet.  When we had a farewell party in Sault Ste Marie,many participants were there. Probably I didn't know half of them.
I wanted to say hello to new people but I couldn't. Japanese people can't interrupt thier conversation.
We hesitate to say someting to new people and join thier conversation, it is Japanese culture.

They seemed to be enjoying themselves. I always care about my husband because he is very shy and quiet.
I could not leave him alone and stayed with him. After the party I regretted not talking to them.
And I thought. It is very different. When I host to foreigners in my city, city hall staff prepare some interpreters for them.When we have a welcome and farewell party, we always care about guests.
If some guests seem to be boring, we try to talk to them. Japanese people's case, NO1 is not my self.
I am  NO2 or NO3 or...last.We may not enjoy so much.

I think that Japanese hesitate to say no thank you.
Even though we have much patience, we don't usually complain.
When we went to Lake Superior University, the host took us on a laboratory tour. Assistant explained about very difficult things to us(technology, infrared rays,engineering and so on)
We could not understand at all and could not say"it is too difficult for us,so let's see another place"or something.We had no courage to say so.

When we go abroad, we can realize a lot of things.We can't realize the difference in Japan.

I learned a lot in this trip.

homestay in Sault Ste Marie

We moved from lancing to Sault Ste Marie.It took about 6 hours by car.It is located next to Canada.
It was my first experience to stay with hostfamily's house.I was so excited.

The house is like vacation  house.It is very large and there is a Lake in front of the house.So we were able to see the very nice view from the house anytime!

My hostmother is very powerful and energetic woman. She can speak Japanese very well.I did not have to

worry about language

She cooked very delicous breakfast for us.

There are 2 spaces for guests and hostfamily's.My husband and I were able to use our private bathroom.

My homestay's image is family's house.But we felt as if it was vacation house.How lucky we were!

We stayed for 5 days.

Trip to Michigan

This was my first visit to go to Michigan.In this trip, there were about 50 participants.There were all kinds of
generations.I was so excited.

After our long flight, we went to the Hotel. We had a dinner party. To my surprised, governer KATA also
welcame my group. I could not believe that she was in the same room. It was very impressive to me.

After the ceremony, we enjoyed having dinner.It was so delicous,but very large size.We eat something in  the plane 5 times and before we arrived at the Hotel, we were given some sandwiches and apple,so we were full

all the time.

After the dinner,governer KATA said hello to every one.She is so nice woman.

We moved from the room to our own room.My husband was too exhausted and fell asleep.I was also tired, but I wanted to go somewhere.I decided to explore alone!

There was a pharmacy next to the Hotel. I saw many members were going around and going shopping.

I enjoyed seeing in the pharmacy shop.

My energy suddenly was gone and became so sleepy,so I decided to come back to the Hotel.

It was very short exploration to me.

count down

I will go to Michigan from this Friday for 1 week. Sponser is Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization.

http://www.s-i-a.or.jp/

Shiga prefecture is located in the center of Japan.Shiga has the largest lake in Japan. So that is why it is said that Shiga has been communicated with Michigan State in a friendly relationship for many years.

Shiga has many cities and towns,and most of them has a sister city in Michigan.
(But depend on the city.Sometimes they don't have a sister city in Michigan)
http://www.pref.shiga.jp/b/kokusai/koryu/shimai/shicho/index.html


My city has been communicated with Marquette city in Michigan.
Actually some Japanese who live in Higashiomi went to Marquette as a small group tour in this summer vacation.At first I had a plan to go there but I gave up because I had to take care of my children especially in Summer vacation and I had many tasks.I really want to visit Marquette someday.

I told my husband that I wanted to go to Michigan this year. Actually people who live in Higashiomi have 2 chances to go to Michigan this year. First chance was go to Marquette in July  and second chance is to go to Michigan  as big group tour in September.
After that he said to me." You can go, and  I am thinking I will go with you if it is possible".

I was very surprised to hear it. He is very quite and shy.And he is very busy business man.I was worried if he was able to take some holidays or not.But after that he started to study English during his commute.He had no confidence to use English at all. I was very happy that he made his effort to study and wanted to go with me. I could not imagine this situation.

In my case, I have been hosted some foreingers as a hostmom over 4 years.
Actually  some JCMU university students from Michigan  came to my house and stayed.
Last year, male student stayed for 3 month. He is very smart student and I enjoyed taking care of him.
I always host a guest,but I have never experience to stay with hostfamily's house in other countries before.
So it will be the 1st experience for me.  I hope that we will have a wonderful in this trip.

By the way, I usually go to an English conversation school in my city. The teacher is an American and
he originally come from Michigan.
http://decc.ca/

Yesterday I went to his class. And he gave a homework to me.
His house  is located in Ithaca ( 40 minites by car from lancing). While I will move from lancing to another city, my homework is to find his house!According to him, his house's  color is brown and go over polk road and we will see his  house  in the right side in the forest.
Can I find his home??? I hope not to become sleep in the car^^;


P.S  At  first  my daughter had a plan to go to Michigan in September.
       But she gave up to paticipate because of some reasons.
       I hope she will  stay in Michigan after she become an university student.

Today is...

Today is my son's birthday.　I had a baby for 14 years ago. I feel a little sad because I can't spend with him.However I am very happy to celebrate for his birthday.

He is the first son. My daughter was 3 years old at that time.I didn't care about my condition and enjoyed
going somewhere with my family too much. When I was in the sixth month pregrancy, I had a serious problem of threatened premature delivery  and I had to stay in a hospital for a while.
I cried every day because I could not see my husband and daughter.

There were many pregnant women who had serious problem. Many of their birth were very dangerous.
And their baby was born as a premature baby.I was very nervous and so disappointed.

Fortunately my son was born and good health.I was relieved.
After 14 years, he is very fine. He enjoys spending time in his school and dorm life.
I love him and want to watch his grorth from now on,too.

valuable flag...

The ancestor remembrance festival is one of the most important annual events  for the Japanese family.It is held over a few days in August.This period often means summer holidays.Many people return to their home towns.In my case, this town is my husband's hometown.So we don't need to return.We usually spend in my house in this period.

We welcomed my parents to my house and had a lunch party all together last Saturday.My husband's big sister's family also came to my house.We enjoyed eating lunch and chatting.
At that time, my father in law was talking about war.He is now 79 years old and he will be 80 next month.
He showed a flag to us.This is very old and valuable  flag.

To tell the truth, he had a plan to go to war as a soldier.He was 15 years old and very young boy.
In his friends and neignborhood  were sure  he would go to war.So they wrote their name to the flag and
they wished he was able to come back home safely.
However he didn't have to go to war because it was the end of war.

As we know,the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6 1945. The second was dropped
on Nagasaki three days later.It is said that the two bombs have caused nearly 400000 death as of September 2007, and many people are still sick today.
My mother in law's big sisiter who had already passed away 's husband never come back home  because
he went to the war as a soldier at that time. Too many people were died because of war.

My father in law said to us.
"I am fine but when I remembered at that time, I feel so sad.I am very sorry that many people are still sick today. Young generation don't know about war very well. I can't forget those days..."

If my father gone to war and never returned home,
my husband and children would not exist right now.

Historical events change our fate.
We must not forget the terrible war.
We should think about how to finish war.

summer vacation

We usually spend summer vacation in this season.  My son came back home from Hakodate on 20th this month.He has only 26 summer holidays.He has to return to his dorm at the middle of next  month.

My daughter has about one month summer vacation.She sometimes has to go to school,but she usually stays

at home. I am very busy to watch their homeworks.

By the way, we went to the new shopping mall with them today.It is very near from our house. It is opened recently.There are many nice shops and many many people were there.

My daugher enjoyed so much going shopping. I bought a nice shirt for her.She loves this shirt!

Suddenly it was raining cats and dogs. We did not bring  any umbrella. We decided to buy new umbrella.

After that it stopped rainning. It was an irony?!

It is a lot of fun to go somewhere with my children.

I also enjoy studying with them in our house.

I had many tasks

I have been very busy. I did many tasks.
At first,an American boy student came to my house and stayed in my house for 1 week.
I did my best to take care of him.But at last I gave up.That was my first  dissappointment experience.
I couldn't imagine that high school student didn't take care of himself.
I think. "It is necessary for him  to know common sense at first before he  come to Japan"...
I hope he will realize his faults and he is able to take care of himself.

After he left to another hostfamily,Canadian junior high school student came to my house.
He is "Sansei" His grand parents are all Japanese and he was born in Canada.
He inherites Japanese genes from them,so he is very modesty and polite.

I enjoyed spending time with him for 1 week.

←My hostson and his friends.
They came to my house and eating nodle(ra-men) in my house.
I cooked cold nodle for them.

I am a hostmom and my city International society member.This was  my third time to host Canadian from Tabor town.This time, most of the hostfamilies were beginners.They didn't know how to host them.
So I was very worried about guests if they were too exhausted.
We learn by mistakes. I advised some hostmoms not to take care of them too much.I asked them that guests  needed some rests.
And also they can't understand and speak English at all. They were very
nervous about communication problem.
In my case, I started learning English after I finished hosted the first Canadian guest from Tabor.Because my English was too bad and I  could not communicate with him.If Japanese families want to host foreigners, they need to learn as much as they can,I advise.


Volunteer is very wonderful but at the same time it is very difficult.Some people enjoy volunteer for their own joy.At first I did and I thought.But after that I realize that it is wrong.Our task is  to give much happiness to them without asking for  rewards .We have to think about thier joy  better than my own pleasure.

I was a MC(master of ceremony) in Japanese.I want to try next time in English.That was very good experience for me.

write a diary in Japanese

超多忙続きでまだもう少し忙しくなりそうな私ですが、今回の日記は日本語にて失礼致します。
6月25日にアメリカミシガン州からの交換留学生として高校生の男の子をあずかりました。元々この話は全くなかったのですが、先月末に急に滋賀県庁教育委員会→娘の高校→我が家と連絡があり、今年の9月から3週間ミシガンに行ける席が2席空いてるので何とか行ってほしいという依頼があって本人の気の進まないまま引き受けてしまいました。日本人はなかなかNO!が言えない国民だと思います。去年このプログラムに申し込んだもののインフルエンザで中止になった事や、今年は高校2年という事で多忙なので無理だと言う事だったのですがそれでも引き受けてしまいました。

県庁からの連絡がなかなかなく、やっとマッチングで生徒さんが決まったのも1週間前。女の子だと最初わかったのですが、娘のクラスメートのお父さんが異性は自信がないので替えてほしいと言われて、　お願いを受けてしまいました。娘としても男の子だと気を遣わなくていいのではと思ったようです。なので我が家は男の子が来る事になりました。

サイズが何と5XLもある男の子、我が家の普通車では狭すぎます。100kgを越えていて相撲取りのような体型です。それでも何とか連れて帰ってきました。文化祭や体育祭前の多忙な時期ですが、ミシガンからの生徒は各学校の生徒の所にホームステイして一緒に学校に通学します。朝5時半起き・・・という日もあり2人を一緒に学校に出すというのは今回初めての経験で大変でした。

17歳の子だと娘より1学年上なので何でも出来ると思ってました。しかし朝寝坊は当たり前、夜もご飯も食べないでバタンキュー、そして夜中に起きて夜ご飯を食べたいと言う、真夜中4時半に起きてテレビを音量大にして聞く、もちろん私達は起きてしまいその後全く寝れず、娘の部屋に何もノックしないで勝手に入ってくる、洗濯物を出すように言っても何日もためて部屋がすごい臭い、いびきが夜中ずっと聞こえてみんなが寝れないなど、大変な日々が続きました。
私は寝室を移動しましたがそれでも二階までいびきは聞こえ、私と娘は1週間で寝れたのはたった1日で寝不足と過労で食事までのどを通らなくなってしまいました。

それより何より娘の学校ではどこ行く時もトイレまでついてきて全く離れないとの事、お友達としゃべってても邪魔をする、朝から晩まで”何でそんな冷たいの、何で1人にするの”とすねる、朝1から君はどうして毎日寂しそうな目をするのと1日に何回も言う、道を渡る時にも車に全く気をつけないで
渡る、注意しても全くきかない、電車の中でも寝てる人の横で大きな声で鼻歌を歌う、などで娘の
ストレスもピークに達してしまいました。それでも引き受けた以上は頑張って私は世話をして、何か
問題があればどうにかなるようにアドバイスをしてきました。でも全然通じないしわかってもらえないのです。

”私達の生活スタイルに合わせて下さい”が1番のお願いだったのですがその趣旨も違う方向にいきます。早く寝るのは結構ですが夜中起きるのは問題です。でも夜中起きてしまうと何かしたいのに我慢してると言うのです。
私に何時に寝ますかと聞かれ12時前後というとその時間まで起きて頑張ると彼は言います。
頑張ってもらっても何の意味もないし朝を寝坊しないできちんと起きてもらえればいいのですが
全然それも出来ません。帰宅後も暇そうだったのでパソコンがしたいと言う彼に貸してあげると
何時間でもアメリカの友人と大騒ぎ。それはまあまだ良いのですがご飯ですよの声かけしても
まだし続けるし、私が用意してても何度も呼んだりパソコンでゲームしたらとかyoucubeの画像をおもしろいから見たらと言います。全く空気すら読めません。

金曜は朝5時半起きの日でした。前の日に毎晩確認してきましたが彼は起きてきませんでした。
たまたま娘が過労で全く立てないほどでその日は学校に行けない状況でした。彼は6時半に普通に起きてきたので私は我慢の限界で彼に言いました。

”昨日私が何時に起きなさいと言ったのを覚えてますか”
”うーん、覚えてない”
”あなたは私の言うことを毎回覚えてないんですか”
”いや、覚えてます”
”じゃあ今日は何故又寝坊しましたか”
”アラームが動かなかったからです、時間がアメリカ時間だったので”
”日本に来てもう1週間たつけどアメリカ時間のままなのですか”
”はい”
”あなたはアメリカで毎日お母さんに起こしてもらってるの？”
”うーん”
”あなたの寝坊のせいでうちの家族が迷惑してるのをわかんないですか”
”ごめんなさい”
”ごめんなさいですべておっけ～と思ってるの”
”はい”
”夜中1度起きたので寝坊しました”
”私は毎日ほとんど寝てないけど毎日朝寝坊しないで起きましたよ。私が毎日寝坊してごめんなさいと言ったらあなたは私の事を許すの”
”はい”
”おかしいやん！子供じゃないんだし朝起きるのは当たり前でしょ”
”ごめんなさい”
”あなた娘に毎日トイレまで追いかけてますね。冷たいとか寂しいとかずっと言ってるけど彼女はあなたのお母さんじゃないんだよ、迷惑なのわからないの”
”彼女をもっと知りたいからです。なのに彼女は私を避けます”
”日本ではね。つきまとってまで知ろうとしないの。彼女はあなたのものじゃないのよ。何故彼女が
しんどいと思ったか考えた事ないの”
”彼女を守ってあげたいし知りたいからいつもずっと一緒にいたいんです”
”もう私はあなたの面倒を見る自信が全くない”
”いえお母さんなら出来ます。絶対出来ます”
（本当はここでI  have no confidence to take care of you any moreと言ったのだけれど　I don't want to
take care of you any moreと言うべきでした。日本人の私は傷つけないようにやんわり言ったので
これが誤解の素でした）

もう限界だと思いました。ホストファミリーは彼で11人目で今は5年目になります。今回はもうギブアップしました。娘の学校の担当の先生にお願いし、県庁の教育委員会の方とアメリカの引率の先生、その他の方が3時間半その日に協議されて英語の先生のおうちにホームステイすると連絡がありました。金曜の7時に先生と彼が来るから荷物を取りにきますとの事でした。
整理に時間かかるかなと荷物もスーツケースに入れていきました。スーツケースの中にはこぼれた
シャンプーかリンスもありべたべた、その辺から小銭もじゃらじゃら落ちてきたし、カメラの大事なメディアもごみの中から出てきたし。。。もう情けなくって半分泣きながら片付けをしました。
彼と先生は7時に来ましたがお世話になりましたとかありがとうの言葉もなく帰っていきました。

金曜の晩に1週間ぶりにご飯もちゃんと食べれよく寝れました。娘も金曜は1日ぶっ倒れてましたが晩には少し食べれるようになり。。。
こんななんだと色々あって我が家は本当に大変な日が続いてました。何事も経験だと言いますが
今回で思ったのは高校生でも自立出来てない子がいると言うことです。朝自分で起きて晩もきちんと寝る、家族の生活に合わせるなんて普通の事だと思ってたのですが現に出来ないお子さんもいるんだなあと実感しました。今回のプログラムで娘は彼の家に滞在の予定だったのですが、こんな事態になったのでもう行けないと思います。ミシガンに縁はなかったのでしょうか。
そして最初からしんどい、きついと愚痴りながら1週間頑張った娘に申し訳なく思います。日本人は
嫌だとか物をはっきり言わない人種です。優しいといえば優しいですがそのせいで異国の人には誤解を招く事もたくさんあります。彼が今回の経験で成長してくれるかはわかりませんが、我が家はこれにこりず又英語学習とホストファミリーは続けていく予定です。

さて次回は頑張って英語で日記書かないと。

surprising present

We won a prize of sweet from remodelling company this morning.It was so delicious!

The other day,remodelling company advertised to their customers.

My daughter wrote  sweets on a postcard and applied.

This is a picture of hers.It took for her to draw about 2 hours!

Happy Sunday

I  went to go shopping with my husband and daughter today. My husband usually stays  in my house and enjoys taking care of the garden. My daughter usually stays in our house or goes somewhere with her friends.

So it was rare case.

At first he went to barber. While he was having his hair cut, my daugher and I went shopping.After that we went to "GYUDON "restaurant.We see many "GYUDON"restaurants in Japan and prices are reasonable.

There were many people and enjoy eating lunch.

My daugher ordered "MAGURO YUKKE DON"

My husband ordered"SUMIBI TORIMAYO DON"

I ordered "OROSHIPONZU DON"

These were very delicious!

I was very surprised because the clerk served soon as soon as we ordered.Probably within 1 minutes...

We went shopping next to GUDON restaurant.The supermarket is very new and popular in my area.

We bought a lot of things.

At last, we went to the cake shop. Last week, we did not celebrate my daugher's birthday. She is 17 years old now. Today(6/14) is my wedding anniversary. 18 years have passed since we got married.

At night, we celebrated our memorial days and ate greentea decoration cake!

reunion and general meeting

I went to Kyoto with my friend last Sunday to attend my old school reunion and general meeting. I have not visited my old school since I graduated high school, so I was very excited.

 The participants were many kinds of generations(from 20～70) The classmates are my friend and me only.

It is located in a scenic area.

After general meeting,we were able to listen to an orchestra music.Performers are students who belong to orchestra club.When I was a high school student, I was a member of the club.So I remember those days and I was so moved.

We ate Japanese traditional lunch and walked around inside the school. A teacher guided us. The school was so large and we were about to get lost.According to her, many students are active in her school club.There were many trophyes.

At last we had some tea and Japanese sweets.It was very very delicious.The view was so good.

                                   I enjoyed so much. I wanna attend the reunion next year also.

lunch and chatting

I went to the Itarian restaurant with my friend last Saturday. This was my first time for us to have a lunch.
She used to be a student of my English school 2 years ago.




One day I happened to find her blog on the Internet  and left my comment.After that we sometimes sent some E-mail each other. At last we were able to enjoy eating lunch and chatting!
The lunch was very delicious.It was good atmospher.


By the way we have a lot of in common. I am very surprised of it.
She also sometimes receives foreigners in her house.
I have two children and she has two children.
I have some favortite movies and she also likes the same movies!
We also  have the same common things except these.It is amazing.

So we enjoyed chatting for some hours and time went by so quickly.

talk about our house and...

I am living with my family(husband, daughter pet cat)now.My house is very old  Japanese style.My parents in law used to live for many years. It was built for 38 years ago.

I moved from Kyoto to Shiga with my family for 5 years ago.
Before we moved, we lived in a very small apartment in Kyoto.
We had only 3 rooms,so my children were not able to have their own rooms,so we decided to move here which is my husband hometown.

At first we lived with my parents in law.But after a few month, I was depressed because I had much stress at that time.
My parents in law loved their grandkids.So when I scolded my children,
my father in law and I often argued.

My husband came back home late every night.They went to bed at 9,so my mother in law was not able to sleep,so she also had much stress.


One day, my father in law happened to buy a neighbor's land because next door senior person moved to another place.We were very lucky because the cost was too cheap like small car.

At that time, my mother in law had been wanted to make her own small house.But my husband and I did not  agree with her.If we would build a small house, probably my parents in law only use it.
We suggested them to make a family size house in neighbor's land.

They asked us( my husband and I) build  and design   a new house.We received their suggestion and thought about the new house plan.We decides to live separately.

http://blog.livedoor.jp/nakamurateien/archives/cat_50036646.html

This is my parents in law house!
It was built for 1.5 year ago. My husband and I designed it.I believe my parents in law love it.
We seldom argue each other. It is good distance.
We have a good relationship.
When my parents in law go on a trip, I use this house.I invite my friends and have some tea or lunch.

The other day, I invited my city International society members and had a lunch.We enjoyed talking about a lot of things.
These members off course support and help international friendship.






Any way, I enjoy spending my life.I started receiving foreigners after we lived separately.
There are 9 rooms in my old house.We can offer some rooms. Some guests (from Canada,America,Germany)came to my house and stayed.
If my parents in law and I continued to live together and bear that situation, I have not been active as a hostmother.

Time went by very quickly

Time went by very quickly last week.We had to say good bye yesterday morning.Probably they have arrived their hometown.

I have been very busy for 1 week,but I was able to enjoy a lot.At first I had no plan to follow their group sightseeing.But when I took them to the city hall and station, I decided to follow them.

Although I have been staying in my city for 5 years, I don't know about my city well.Actually it is known as

town of merchant and there are some  famous pottery shops.I enjoyed going sightseeing and could learn about my city.It was very good opportunity for me.

We were able to see my city mayor last Tuesday.He welcomed them so much and
enjoyed having a pleasant.

One student asked him that what is the reason why he wanted to become a mayor.
He replied that he wanted to help and support citizens and wanted them to thanks for him. I thought it was good question.



Every evening and night, we enjoyed eating dinner and chatting.I often made them laugh.My English was sometimes broken especially when I drunk "Cyuuhai" I did my best to cook for them.And when I was busy, my mother in law cooked  for us.It was very delicous!

We had great time and I can't forget such a wonderful memory like this.

I hope to see them again!

Kite-flying festival

The weather was very fine today.We went to the kite-flying festival.It is the traditional festival in my city and well known in Japan.It was held in a dry river-bed.There were so many people from all around Japan and other countries.

Our students group was introduced in front of the audience.

My international society president also made a short speech to the audience.

At first we had to register to pull a rope. The kite is very large. It means that it measures100 pieces of Japanese tatami. This size is amzing!

We had some free time, so I went to another place with K-san and O-san. Other foreign students enjoyed going around there. K-san suggested for me to eat bamboo. I have never tried to eat such a delicous food like this.

About 100 people applied to pull the rope.At first they failed because there was no wind.Other audience members were supporting and watching.They tried again.The big Kite was flying in the sky.It was so nice.This is my first time attending.

I enjoyed watching Kite-flying festival.I was able to get to know some people!It is a lot of fun for me.

host family's day

The weather was very fine today.We went to Kyoto (Nagaokakyo-City). At first we visited my parents' house and ate lunch. My mom made some delicious rice balls for us. After that, we went to "Nagaoka Tenmanguu shrine, it is said that this shrine is the god of learning. There were not so many people because this is the normal season now. There was a large pond and there were many carps and turtles. It was a nice view. There was a Japanese traditional restaurant which is named "Kinsuitei." My mom told me that this is used as a drama many times.The other day, the Japanese emperor came. It is not very popular, but it is known as a good place.

After we came back to my mom's house, we returned to my city by using highway. It was a little crowded.
When we came back home, I noticed that it was colder than Kyoto. My mother in law cooked delicous dinner for us.We enjoyed eating dinner! My students are both vegetarian.I enjoy eating vegetable recipe.

They took so many pictures. I enjoyed today very much.