Off to Woodstock

Every time I hear that name I immediately think of the 60's and Joplin. The the second image that comes to mind is Snoopy's pal (the bird).

My wife had plans to meet one of her friends near the gate entrance to the fair sometime around 10 a.m. The weather for the most part should cooperate, though there is a chance of showers.

Aya told me that her memorization of all 50 states and their capitals must have worked for she said she had gotten a 100 on the quiz. (She said it so matter-of-factly, I think she was confident that she would get a good grade). Regardless, I showed her I was proud of her.

Sheep sheering, pumpkin weighing and sand castle building, oh my!!

There was a lot of walking around, we stopped for drinks every 2 hours it seemed because it was a bright day and it didn't take long to get parched. We ate at one of the many food venues. I usually hit the caramelized nut stand and go for the roasted Almonds or Pecans. Then we got Fried Dough and I got a caramel apple.

The "Bird of Prey" show was neat although it was limited due to the fact that there was a nature hawk interfering with the show display and the Falconer felt that the show birds would be lunch.

We skipped the rides because we were on a tight budget and the fact that these rides were only put up for 3 days, who knows the safety record.

There was a Karate exposition and an Old time fiddle and banjo band all of whom were over 60 years old.

Homesick

We were told during pre-orientation and in the Host Family guide book this time would come. It is one of the phases a young student goes through, during their stay aboard. If it were only a few weeks, it may not have a chance to kick in, but a stay like a school year will definitely have an effect.

I think I realized she was feeling a little blue during the past 2 weeks or so, but haven't actually spoken to Aya about her feelings of homesickness due to the fear of just asking about would bring it about.

She told me that a classmate from her High School in Okinawa who is now with a Host Family is extremely homesick, which started the minute he left from Okinawa to Narita (Tokyo).

She told me she had cried on the flight over to the United States, but seems to have recovered well which is why I didn't notice. I think today she might have phoned him (using her calling card) and by just talking to him and emailing him caused her to realize that she too missed Japan (its food, its lifestyle and its TV programming).

You can see it in her eyes (holding back moisture) - she longs for eating Mochi and enjoys watching old shows on YouTube. She even has text books that are written in Japanese that her mom sent over that has English on opposite page to aid her in studying U.S. History and others which are just Manga and other magazines (comfort items).

This in conjunction of her staying in contact with her Japanese friends (exchange students in the U.S. and friends from back home) causes more emotional confusion.

Per the guide book, we are supposed to limit her contact with her home and email; it will only cause her to withdraw more so instead of being more outgoing.

I asked Aya if there was anything bothering her. She said she felt a little animosity from my oldest whom she shares a room with during her stay. It seems my oldest daughter is trying to keep ties with her friends, yet keep a connection with Aya. Allies friends seem to be winning. This only exacerbates Aya's feeling of isolation.

I spoke with Aya and told her that there is 3 years age difference and as a Freshman, Allie is going through a lot of changes (new school, old/new friends) and sometimes it can be overwhelming when she has to choose how to keep everyone happy, including her parents. The whole maturing process.

Somehow Aya feels like Allie is upset with her. I know it doesn't help when Allie's friend asks to go places without having to have a tag along - this includes our youngest daughter as well. We did explain to Allie that she would have to understand you can't just turn on or off your NEW sister because you want to go hang-out with your friends. This is part of the experience and part of the learning curve both sides have to adjust to.

We (my wife and I) questioned Allie alone about how she felt and if she was upset with Aya for anything. She told us there was no issue that she knew of. Allie had tried to invite Aya to go to the movies or mentioned that her friend wanted to go to the Spencer fair and that she was welcome. Each time Aya declined. I can only think that maybe Aya is getting the feeling from one of Allie's friends not to be included. /sigh girls...

It may be a long road to cheer Aya up and make Allie understand that we have a NEW person in the home living with us; we can't make her feel like she's not part of the family (for they have no where else to turn or go).

In the past week or so, my wife and I have noticed Aya retreating to an quiet area I set up in the downstairs entertainment room to study with desk and good lighting - a place to just get away. Some people can study just fine with music on a bed or on the floor (like Allie), where as Aya seems to be accustomed to studying at a desk in a library like environment.

Handwriting

I know I have tentative plans this weekend to maybe go to Boston. I know Aya's been longing to go and quite frankly I haven't been since early Summer and would like to visit a day.

I had not mentioned this to the family yet, but I am sure most would be willing to go. Aside from all the fairs Aya may attend and Boston a possibility, I would like to have her spend at least 2 hours practicing reading cursive and writing cursive. I found this website that talked handwriting being a dying practice amongst all the technology we have today. Honestly I haven't written in so long I nearly forgot how to properly do a Capital "Q".

My feeling on the ability to learn quick, is that as an adult she can absorb much more and quicker (say 3 days) as opposed to a 3RD grader who in maybe a 3 weeks period will learn to write the whole alphabet.

The Shisa

A few days after Aya's arrival, she presented us with several gifts. One in particular was a set of statues of a lion looking creatures. She told us it was unique to Okinawa and their culture - I asked my mother (who is from Kyushu) if she knew what it was, but she did not.
Curiousity got the best of me so I did a little research which I found comes with the story of linked here "The Shisa"

Matsuri 祭 - Festival (Fair)

Tomorrow we plan on getting up and headed towards our next fair on the list, as I've stated earlier we usually start out small and work our way towards the biggest - there can be some argument as to which is bigger between Woodstock and Spencer, but there can be no argument that the Big - E is simply that.

Wales, MA (Old Home Day Fair)
Brooklyn, CT (Fair)
Woodstock, CT (Fair) <-------------(Friday)

Spencer, MA (Fair)
Big - E (Eastern States Exhibition) - Springfield, MA

U.S. History Test Today

Aya brought to my attention that she had to prepare for her History Quiz today, it was on the States their capitol cities.

I snickered at the ease of it or so I thought. I had helped her study by use of some flash cards which had more information on each state and the geography each etc. However, I quickly realized I don't even know all the capital cities of all the 50 States, though I bet any 5Th Grader would since it most likely would be fresh in their minds.

She did fairly well, though she had not budgeted her time to studying these as intensely as she could have (she had 2 days for wrote memorization). I think in her mind, she was done with school in Japan and this was more of a visit/site-seeing than an earnest attempt to work hard in a U.S. High School.

I am sure her attitude will change, but for now she is looking forward to going to Boston, New York and other attractive cities if possible. During the studying of the states, she mentioned to me that she had hoped for a stay in some of the mid-western states (Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska).

Aya told me at 13, she had visited Hawaii for a 3 week "Home stay" in Honolulu and hope to get a chance to visit there again soon. She had stayed with another Japanese student who was 18 at the time. (I can only imagine it was like a real nice vacation: Beach, Surf, Clubs, and Sightseeing).

She also has some math homework to do and something as simple as "the square root of 10" stumped me without the use of a calculator as I forgot the most efficient way of doing this. She is required a Scientific Calculator, which I couldn't not remember where I stashed it from college days; so she had gone out to purchase a cheap on at Wal-mart "Casio". I can remember these things used to cost more than $40.00, it is now $19.99 and have more to offer including solar power.

I stumbled across something I never knew Google to be able to do, in the search I just typed
"Square root of 10" and it displayed like a calculator. Other information such as dealing with squares, was helpful for finding the Square of 10 the without the a calculator . Amazing what kids have access to these days. Even something like "convert 10 miles to feet" produces answers.

School Daze

I called home to the family from work, because I couldn't wait until I arrived home to hear how the 1st day of school went. As this Blog is more about the exchange student and not my own kids; I will refrain from putting their experiences here.

Aya told me she thought that the first day was pretty good and in another sentence she said it was fun.

I was later told by my oldest that Aya was hunger after coming home from school, for she missed her lunch because she had a great deal of difficulty with the locker combinations. Apparently she's never seen a dial (numeric combination) before that we were all accustomed to - if so she's never used one.

We tried to explain to her that the numbers given were X-Y-Z and that for X you have to turn the dial Clockwise (which for some reason, there was no translation to) and for Y Counter-Clockwise and again Clockwise for Z.

She expressed great distress over this and said she was still uncertain on how to go about it. In between classes she needed to put things in her new locker, but there was no one around to help her on the floor where her locker resides - they were all in class at that time.

Gym class doesn't issue a uniform which seemed odd to her as I assume they get one back in Japan since ever time I've seen students they wore a uniform to school for normal class, that having an issued gym suit would be natural.

She though parenting class was fun and that the Math class was a little strict; translation the teach seemed to be a prude.

Another problem for Aya was that a lot of the work assigned or some items of discussion was written in cursive (handwritting) on the black or white board. Apparently Aya has not been taught in school what they characters are supposed to look like when linked. This will be yet another task which she will have to quickly master in order to continue, as I don't see that the teacher will print on the board to accomodate her.

The calm before the storm...

Tonight is the night before the start of school. I noticed Aya hasn't said much this evening, I believe she is mentally trying to prepare for school tomorrow.

I don't know why, but I have sympathetic nervous feeling about the whole ordeal, not unlike the first time you put your kid on a bike without training wheels and let them leave your grasp. It must be the fatherly instinct in me or just the compassion for another humans plight into the unknown.

I honestly think I could get sick to my stomach just wondering how the day will progress tomorrow. My oldest, Allie will be attending the High School for the first time as well, but as a Freshman - oddly I have not fear that she will do just fine. Part of the reason I have the most confidence in her there, is the fact that she knows a lot of the students there since they were part of the Junior High last year.

All I can ask is that God be at her side and always have communication go both ways with clear understanding. We want to debunk the "Tower of Babble" and hope things will go smooth. (Fingers crossed)

They both should go to bed early tonight for I will have to wake them bright and early at 05:00 a.m. - this ought to be interesting.

Wish us luck...

A Bed Time Story

To help Aya with her language we choose a more subtle approach. We started Saturday night with her reading a bed time story to my youngest daughter who will be 10yrs at this months end.

At first we though Dr. Seuss would be fun, but there were a lot of unusual made up names that rhyme with sounds and other oddities that confused Aya. So now we resorted to the Clifford series.

Although the words are simple, we are just trying to get her to read aloud to our daughter and correct any odd intonations and pronunciations.

It kind of cute listening to her read - she was having the hardest time with Emily Elizabeth and any other "L" or "R" sounds. We tried not to chuckle, but it was nearly impossible not to; we assured her that we weren't laughing at her just tenacious attempt to reproduce our sounds and dialect. She learned from someone with an English accent - so it was a little harder to hear our New England accent versus what she was used to.

I wouldn't say we have a Bostonian accent, since our family grew up in Southern Connecticut (which to me doesn't have any geographic accent that I can tell). I can tell even places like Hartford or Bristol Connecticut has a different dialect than say Norwich, Connecticut.

It was a fair day after all...

My youngest celebrated her birthday at her grandparents house. It was a rather "muggy" day, as Aya picked up on the unusual word. Now she knows it is similar to humid.

I spent a good 10 minutes before I really got into the pool after grilling the burgers for lunch. Both my daughters were trying their best to pre-soak me before I entered the pool. They had giant squirt guns and some foam guns that were basically giant syringes filled with water. It came down to a soaking from the garden hose with cold tap water (I reigned king).

Aya wanted to come and join us but felt a little reserved - so she sat this one out. The remainder of the family jumped in the pool as well just to cool off.

After during the drying process our youngest hastily opened up her presents - there was much rejoicing. She got mostly cash, to which she will spend on what she likes instead of getting something she didn't really like. It seems this is what our family does most of the time, not that we can't be thoughtful about gift giving - but sometimes you can't always pick what a person likes and this saves the return process.

The sun was getting low in the sky, so we headed down from southern CT and drove to Rhode Island to check out the beach, for this would be Aya's first time on the Atlantic Ocean.

Standing on the sand watching gulls fly above and the surf pound the shore. We got sandy, sticky with salt and wet all at the same time - but it was worth every second. For people who grew up near the ocean it was nice break from the land-lock feeling of being in the center of New England.

I found it strange when Aya told me that they do not have Sea-Gulls at her ocean in Okinawa. I joked with her and asked if they had become a food item or were shot by fishermen - she assured me that neither my guesses were facts.

After the short ocean visit, which was more of a tease because we had to start heading back to Massachusetts, we headed for a fair in Brooklyn, Connecticut.

We as family typically start out at the smallest fairs and work out way up to the largest. This year the list includes:
Wales, MA (Old Home Day Fair)
Brooklyn, CT (Fair) <-------------------------(today)
Woodstock, CT (Fair)
Spencer, MA (Fair)
Big - E (Eastern States Exhibition) - Springfield, Ma

This was Aya's first agriculture fair. There were barns filled with chickens, rabbits and cows. There were tractor pulls and oxen team pulls. Not to mention all the vendor stands and food stands. They had country music jamming at the larger venue (not sure who was playing). Prices are going up though it was now $10.00 per head just to get in and $5.00 to park. Things never seem to stay cheap for long.

Party Time

Yesterday we took the Kayaks out on the lake again which she enjoyed, though she does more sightseeing than paddling, as my arms can attest to that - it was a good work out none-the-less.

As the end of Summer draws near, you can start to see some of the leaves start to change. She seemed excited to learn that the leaves here in New England turn various colors (Red, Yellow, Orange etc) but did not really know of Evergreen trees which remain green throughout the year.

Today we prepare to go down to Connecticut and have a pool party for my youngest. Its just with family, but it is her birthday.

Typically we just burger and dog it up then jump in the pool and have water fights. Just a lazy day for the most part - but this will be something Aya would enjoy.

Although she lives in Okinawa and by the beach, she tells me she doesn't go swimming much, to add to this, she doesn't really own what we call a bathing suit. She told me that the kids her age just wear T-Shirts and shorts to go swimming in public and that she only wore a bathing suit in her school only. She said she feels strange out in public with a bathing suit on and most likely won't wear one here.

Leaving early to get a head start; my wife wants to pick up some groceries on the way down and of course hit up Dunkin Donuts (cause America runs on Dunkin).

Shorter days and time is short.

The mornings are cooler and we can start to see the turning or some of the Maple tree leaves. It is sort of depressing if you enjoy Summer and realize that you've either worked through most of it or that it just seemed to go by so quickly.

Aya is officially out of her first bankroll after using most of it on clothing and foods that she likes. She is expecting to get more wired money, but neither of us realized that it would take 4 days to get money deposited from a foreign bank into a U.S. Bank.

Aya as of late, has been allowed to use the Internet a little more freely. She writes to some of her friends and checks some of the Yahoo-News in Japan. I understand we are supposed limit her access to friends and family of her native country because it may rob from the immersion effect and/or possibly worsen any homesickness she may have.

She sat and played Monopoly with my daughters; we could see that they seemed to be more open during play time. Aya won the game and my daughters seek revenge. Apparently Monopoly is an internationally known game - Parker Brother's get around.

The Elements

We've covered more ground as far as getting Aya into the elements of New England nature. We live in a fairly low populated area with woods, lakes, streams and bugs!

This past Saturday there was the exchange organization meeting, which was essentially a getting to know the other families who host in the area (of this specific organization) and meet their exchange students.

It was interesting to see the children from other countries, most of whom were from Europe. There were boys from France, Germany and Thailand and girls from Switzerland and Germany. It was also interesting to note that the stereotypical fair skinned, blond hair and blue eyes were actually present that day, as I realize there are all hair types and eyes colors in Europe, I just thought it was ironic.

I spent most of my time talking with the other host families. I was also elected to grill all the burgers, sausages and hot dogs for the meal (can anyone say "Too Pink")?

The meeting house was on a lake and the students were offered an opportunities to go for a ride on a Jet Ski, Motor boat ride and to go tubing.
All the student went on one of the something, most of which was just the boat ride. The weather was a bit breezy and although being August the chill off the water was bit unusual, some of the student bundled in "hoodies" (sweat shirts).

Aya seem to feel the cold the most, we told her just wait until Winter. We did learn a new word in Japanese those: Tori-Hada meaning "Goose-bumps".

A few days later we went shopping, which seems to be Aya's most favorite thing to do. She used her debit card, which he had never had in Japan - I am guessing it was due to the fact she's always carried cash or wasn't old enough to apply for a Credit Card/Debit card. It was her first day using it.
She thought it was the most convenient thing; swipe, type and buy.

I told her its a double-edged sword since sometimes people get into trouble because its so easy, they don't realize they are overspending and people become deep in debt.

We took her to our favorite ice cream store: Cold-Stone Creamery. They make the most flavorful, textured hard/soft ice cream there and free waffle cones (to die for). She enjoyed it, but said it was too sweet. I think the Japanese tongue isn't used to all the sugar American put into their diet, because there were several other times where she said something was too sweet.

She enjoys the clothing line Roxy and seems to buy only items from that line, unless there are no other options. I've never really paid attention to fashion, so I am not sure if this is just a popular brand in Japan or it just hasn't taken off big on the East Coast of the U.S. I am beginning to think she owns stock in the company.

On Sunday the 19th, we took a Kayak ride out on the lake. We have 2, one of which is a tandem boat and the other is a single. It was a day of firsts because my oldest daughter took the single Kayak for the 1st time and this was Aya's 1st time in a Kayak. I had a feeling we would have to attend the store pictured below first.

All seemed to go well, taught her some basics in paddling and steering, though she didn't paddle for long as I was doing all the work in the back seat. I felt like I was a Gondola pilot showing off Veince in Itlay.

Our neighbors preparing to board their Bayliner and asked if the girls wanted a ride, to which they excitedly departed the Kayaks and went on his boat. (They even had an opportunity to pilot it for a short time, which was thrilling to her.)

Reservation not required

Regrettably it's been several days since my last post. It seems like time is flying by, though I want this month to chug along a bit more.

Aya had her Math Placement test on Tuesday the 14Th, the experience was odd according to my wife. She was brought to the school in the morning and there were about 15 students awaiting to take the test in the lobby or cafeteria. My wife asked Aya to go sit with the other students waiting, but she froze - didn't want to go in to sit with the other students. My wife had to ask Aya 3 times before she moved, ever so hesitantly.

Finally the Math teacher came down to greet the students and told them they had to proceed up to the 3rd floor; all but Aya started walking towards the stairs. My wife told her she had to go with the students and that she couldn't go with her or support her during the test. I don't know why she thinks there will be someone with her during her testing or schooling, though we've explained that to her already. I am guessing she's got 2nd thoughts about all this, but wants to suceed.

That evening I spoke with Aya, asking her about the test. She said it was little difficult because there were some word problems, but the answer sheet were (fill in the circle) multiple choice which made it easier. The questions (equations) were fairly easy she said (as I knew this since her math back in Japan seemed to be like 1st or 2nd year of college here).

Aya seems a little more relaxed now, however a little more reserved when it comes to certain situations. She does the dishes every night and shares that responsibility with one of our daughters, switching between rinsing or washing.

We sat down one night and created a chore list and either assigned or asked for volunteers from the children (ours and the exchange student). Granted we don't have a lot, my own kids make it seem like it's the end of the world and I am driving them to the bone. Sadly I had double their chores when I was their age as I am sure my parents had triple mine; we seem to be breeding children who expect more and do less with each generation.

Aya says she's lives in the country side, but somehow I don't envision that being an island and near cities and tourists year round. Who am I to argue, I've never been, but can view on a map (I've tried Google Earth, but it doesn't show a lot of detail in other countries as well as North America).

The other night I started to practice her English again, but I think she didn't really review the words nor looked up the definitions as we talked about. Not sure if she's becoming lazy, bored, forgetful or has this feeling that she may miraculously do well and doesn't need to review anything.

She seems to retreat to her room often; sometimes reading some Japanese subject books (little guide books from her High School or write in her daily journal), sometimes napping through parts of the day.

During some of our discussions, I get the feeling she goes places all the time with her friends back home and must have envisioned her stay in America to be the same (New York & Boston) or any other major city in the United States. Many things to do in those cities, where as in the small town of United States, we've got corn, woods and the activities she's used to are missing. Shopping, mall walking, arcades, beaches, hanging out where there are a lot of people, movie theaters and bus/train stations.

I don't feel my sole purpose here is to keep her entertained, but I try to keep her comfortable.

I've tried to explain to her this isn't really a site-seeing trip or vacation, this is a one-year sink or swim in an American High School taking American studies: U.S. History, Literature etc. all in English, taught by English teachers. She assured me she understood, but still acts nervous when we discuss it.

Eve before Math placement

The past couple of days have been leisurely for the family, where as I started work on Sunday so I wouldn't say it was exactly fun for me (12hr Days).

Last night I noticed Aya preparing for her Math Placement on Tuesday. I gave her several old text books I found that my wife had in her General Studies courses for Algebra I/II which Aya said she had done a while ago in grade school - and would have to brush up.

She also has this booklet, sort of a guide book in Japanese for Math that she used in the High School back in Okinawa. I couldn't read it, only could see the equations and some of the examples (which is what she said our text books look to her when she is trying to study).

The English is more complex for math books than what a normal text book would have and for her to understand a "Word Problem", will be a problem unto itself.

Currently she said she's doing Calculus but didn't seem to versed in Trigonometry and Statistics and Probability. Quite honestly its been many moons since I've laid eyes on problems like those and I would be drawing a big fat zero on my test, if I were to take it.

After I came home tonight I was trying to prepare her for English understanding.
For example:
I choose a text book on management skills and read excerpts (basically one or two sentences at at time) to have her listen then write (print) them on a notebook, then later check her auditory skills and to digest and reproduce to the best of her ability. I had also had her underline the bigger words or words in general that she didn't understand. This way she will be forced to look up the definition and maybe have a chance to review it later.

Oddly enough, she didn't learn cursive and prints everything - including her name. As I found out when we went to get her bank account the other day. They said sign here and sign here...
There was an odd silence as she printed her name in both places. Fortunately, then second bank accepted her application and allowed her to sign in her native Kanji.

I am not sure if this is a tried and true method, but I want to give her a fighting chance during her stay with us and if she wants to be able to hang with the homies at the school and keep up with teacher/student interaction.

I will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out how she faired on the test and what and if the teacher(s) had any input as to her ability to follow / understand directions well.

Yard Sale, Tag Sale, Garage Sale its all the same.

Today the town is holding a "Town Wide Yard Sale" as well as Massachusetts is going tax free this weekend as an incentive to buy more.

In the past years, we've set up a lot of unwanted items and they still became unwanted items which we ended up donating to The Salvation Army.

Allie has to tend to a neighbor's yard sale and my wife will be tending a small table at our home, I think Aya and my youngest will drive around checking out the other's around town. I fully don't expect her to look much or buy much. I've gotten the impression she likes new things and budgeting hasn't hit home yet. I presume her spending money comes from her family for now until she works full time.

Small town in New England...try to cope with it.

It's raining today and overcast, the temperature dropped to around 58F. Had to take my wife to the outpatient for pain management (back, Sciatica, hip and referred leg pain). She's been pretty much immobile for the past 4 weeks now (hoping a solution can be reached). Treating the symptom versus the root cause will not help the issue.

The kids played some Nintendo Game Cube down stairs - a game that used to play as a kid (RAMPAGE). My daughter's tend to gravitate toward watching the T.V. a lot, where as Aya doesn't watch much T.V., as she explained she doesn't watch much at home.

She seems anxious to do stuff - typical bored teenager, more exaggerated here in this small town and the fact that 58F is cold to her she is confined to the home. I asked her what she does at home in Okinawa. She says she does a lot of shopping at local malls and shops. She said she loves to just hang out on the beach or in the malls with friends.

She comes from a larger populous and is used to lots of things to do in a larger city, but here in this quiet little Podunk town in Massachusetts there isn't all of that and for teenagers even locally - they become bored.

Local teenagers here do any of the items on the list if they can't drive themselves:
- Walk around town
- Read
- Bike and skateboard
- Hang-out at the skateboard park (other side of town)
- Hang out at the basketball park (other side of town)
- Boat and swim (lake near by)
- Fishing
- Surf the web and IM, text message, MySpace and YouTube
- Play PC games: World of Warcraft or WoW, Counter-Strike, Battlefield and more.
- Console game: xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation III
- Play in a garage band or attend a jam
- Hang out (anywhere around town, looking menacing)
- Board games and playing cards usually at the bottom of the list

All of which seems boring to them. We get the same old line from our kids: "We're bored", "I'm hyper and don't know why, I just want to do something - go somewhere."

I guess you can say, welcome to the World of Teenagers or WoT. Which is a cruel game of life and pretending you didn't hear what your parents asked of you. ["WoT" = "What?"]

To be continued...

As my main PC is still dead - missing its power supply I haven't been playing any online games. I think I am going through some sort of withdrawl, like a smoker with cigarettes or something.

On the bright side, I actually did more around the home than I had in the past year, as far as unpacking boxes we had in a storage room from when we moved that last 2 times, made office space for Aya, tightened up a wiggly Foosball table, put together shelving - free time can be dangerous. (Need more level 70's !!)

Positive message in a kids song for Naruto!

ALIVE: by Raiko

Raiko - Alive (Ending naruto)
Uploaded by onikari

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii

Everyone makes mistakes at times

It's not something embarrassing

Don't waste these scars

Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
kono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time

(RAP)

That's right, breathe in a silent breath

Look to the vast sky, jump in

Take a break once in a while when it rains

Let the wind take the destination

All the regrets you carry

Can't let these scars go to waste

Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go as long as we love

That's right, from here on is the Show Time

ah iroasete kono PORA naka de ikiteru kako no jibun toka
itsumo TSURU nde hi no nai you ni
ibasho mitsukete hiataru you ni
konna kanji de hibi kattou ippo fumidasu beki ganbou
makkou shoubu jibun ni muke issou koko de kono uta hibikasou

Ah Like the past that lives in this fading polaroid picture

Just like the days we hung out

We searched for a place so we can sit in the sun

We fought every day like this

The one step you gotta take for your desire

A real fight for yourself Let's sing this song forever in this place

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii

Everyone makes mistakes at times

It's not something embarrassing

Don't waste these scars

Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
kyou hajimari o tsugeru asayake yume to genjitsu no hazama de
What's Say kono koe kareru sono hi made
korogari tsudzukeru Another Day
shuppotsu shinkou kamase in o shindou kaitaku michi ippon yeah
yagate toori ni hanasake soshite mirai ni mugete habatake
genjitsu omoku nokkaru ga mezase chouten Like a No Culture
saru ga saru ni shikanarenai Oh
jibun wa jibun ni shikanarenai Yo
asu o ki ni shite shita muku mae ni
kyou no jibun no ki no muku mama ni
saisei kyou wa chou kaisei nanimo nayami nankanaize

(RAP)

Morning dawn tells you the beginning Between the borders of dream and reality What's Say until the day my voice dies away

keep on truckin' Another Day

All aboard ready to go Develop a single road yeah

Soon flowers bloom along the way And will spread its wing toward the future Reality burdens real heavy but go for the top Like a No Culture

A monkey can only be a monkey Oh

One can only be himself Yo

Before you worry about tomorrow with your head down

Be what you wanna be today

Rebirth, today's a fine day I've got nothing to worry for

omoku no shikakaru genjitsu ga
ima no boku o semetateteru
kantan ni wa ikanai na
sonna koto kurai chouchi shiteru yo

Reality leans heavy on me

And it's torturing me

Nothing comes easy

I know that well enough

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
takusan no koukai o matotte
aji no aru hito ni naru sa
kanashimi mo kaze ni kaete
tsuyoku susunde ikereba ii

Everyone makes mistakes at times

It's not something embarrassing

Don't waste these scars

Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

With all the regrets I've gone through

I'll be a person with taste

Even turn sadness into a wind

Keep on going strong, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
sono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time

(RAP)

That's right, breathe in a silent breath

Look to the vast sky, jump in

Take a break once in a while when it rains

Let the wind take the destination

All the regrets you carry

Can't let these scars go to waste

Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go as long as we love

That's right, from here on is the Show Time

Day of R & R

I awoke fairly early this morning, mostly due to our dog begging to be let out.

Grabbed quick bowl of cereal and started my coffee in the Keurig, which IMO is the best invention in a long time for non-morning people.

I used to grab a coffee at Dunkin' Donuts or make a full or half pot, wasting the rest of the coffee. (I think I am saving money)

Browsing the web through some email, blogs and Japanese links - I saw this YouTube video that I thought was hysterical. As I notice I will soon come to the realization that getting older is a permanent situation, but hair is only temporary.


It's 9:25 a.m. now and the eldest girls are still fast asleep. I figure I will let them rest since they only have a few more weeks until they have to wake at the crack of dawn.

Sort of a lazy day around the house, Aya and youngest shot a few hoops then came indoors for a little Foosball action; it was 2 on 2. I teamed up with my youngest and Allie and Aya teamed up. It was entertaining, its a wonder why won't don't play it until friends come over. I do miss a real pool table or even a good Air Hockey table.

There is a tentative plan to go out on the kayak's since the weather is good today and will rain Friday and Saturday, but the girls left for some errands.

I did accomplish something today; I set up a study area for Aya as she requested and as I stated in an earlier Blog, I had planned on doing. (Something positive came of it - hurray!) She has a very large desk to use cleaned off with a matching bookshelf and its in a quiet area of the home away from all the activity. It's hard to tell, but I think she's happy about it.

I could be a cultural thing, but after dinner last night (one that my wife made), she didn't say whether she like it or didn't like it. I know guests and friends usually say I like this (even deep down inside it could be something they didn't really care for, but to be polite people say these kind of things). It feels a little odd there is no real expression (a deep in thought look), little eye contact is made often unless directly spoken to. Only when asked did she say she thought it was good.

I think it will take some time for all of us to adjust, as the guide book stated - we will notice and expect different reactions and events than what actually comes to surface. I am sure she expected something totally different as well in every day family living.

I had some MP3's of some Japanese music from a Anime show I watch and enjoy, though I am a grown up called Naruto. I know we have the syndicated version in America - but I prefer the subtitled Japanese version, it has more feeling to it.

In one of the several car rides we took this week, I played a song I like the most from a set of 10 different theme songs. I was surprised she never heard of the song and when she asked what it was from I told her Naruto. She laughed and said she doesn't watch that show, boys do mostly. (Oddly she admitted to watching Dragon-Ball Z and Pokemon) - which I thought to be boys cartoons as well.

Above are the Lyrics with English translation (not by me) and a video clip. Surprisingly a lot of the songs have a positive message regardless how coarse it may sound.

The Day

Rise and shine; actually it's raining out and kind of dreary.

Woke Aya up promptly at 07:30 in order to be ready by 08:30.
My other daughters I decided would be best to drag them out of bed, for comfort and reassurance. We know she will be nervous.

One thing I recall from being in Japan is the house slippers - Aya is wearing them now while she is preparing her bowl of cereal. She bought all the girls them as well which was wonderful.

I notice that most Japanese guys or girls walk in those slippers or Zori's with a shuff-shuff sort of walk as the heels sort of never leave the ground. At my work there were two guys from Japan that helped us install and repair machines; and they too walk with the same shuff-shuff. Its sort of funny, but as a kid my dad used to yell at me for doing such a thing.

Pick up your feet! You are acting lazy and I will not have that in my house!

He'd say as I instantly ceased from such activity.

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And off we went to the High School with my two daughters or should I say three.
There was some obvious visible anxieties, since we fully expected to meet the Principal first thing.

To our relief we met the Guidance Counselor that put together Aya's schedule yesterday.
We did notice another exchange student there from Thailand and Alli noticed another student there yesterday at her orientation who is from Brazil. (I have a feeling that both students may speak more fluent English, which may compound some anxieties).

We spent a good portion of the 2 hours in the cafeteria on some hard plastic seats. As I recollected one of my college professors state that the brain will absorb only what the butt can endure. (I think that statement has more meaning with age.)

Most of the orientation was about schedules and classes, location and how to read your schedule and how many credits is expected by the end of the school year. Afterwards we took a tour around the high school 3 of the 4 floors worth, seeing all the different sections. I knew the High school was large, but it felt even larger once within its walls. Compared to my High School which was more of a Voc-Tech High School it was gi-normous.

After orientation we set her up with a Bank Account at another banks, it seems the 2nd Bank is more flexible when it comes to foreigners and the ease of working with exchange students etc.

We were even able to obtain a Visa Check card (debit card) from them, where as the other bank we tried she was only limited to just an ATM card.

We stopped by McDonald's for lunch, we believe it was her first time in the U.S. , but as well all know McDonald's has already spanned the globe. Fillet-o-fish was her sandwich of choice; she had mentioned that she is missing Japanese food now. Which might explain why last night when given a choice of what to eat, she choose the Ramen package in the cabinet.

I understand that she wants to have Sushi or other Japanese foods, more as a comfort food while in a strange place, but as it had been explained to us from the Exchange Program, that we need to treat her as one of our own and not as a guest - thus not cater to all her desires.

I am finding this one of the hardest things to do. How do you not treat someone who is staying with you not as a guest? I think it will take time, though I don't want it to take too long before we figure how to do this or else it will become expected.

She is asking for a quiet place to study with desk, as my oldest daughter's room is a little cramped and has only a computer desk and is in close proximity to the kitchen / great room which is where most of the family's activities take place, hence it may be too noisy.

Alli has found that studying in her room was no problem, though as an American teenager she can study on the floor sitting Indian style or half on the bed and half off. It never affected how well she has done in school (an honor student).

But I suppose I can't expect Aya to just mimic that way of studying and doing her homework. I presume at home she has a quiet place to get away from it all and study.

In the next coming days, I think I will clean up and organize our Entertainment area in basement where there is a desk I got from work - and make it into a study area, just that it will be rather cold in the Winter time down there (heat is limited to a propane heater).

Just when you think you have too much in life to do, God plays a joke and add just one more item to your task list.

As a treat, I brought the girls to one of the larger Malls in the area. Aya says she loves to shop, it wasn't much later that day when I didn't see her leave the stores with items that she meant she loves to check out stuff at the mall, but only buy what is necessary. Window shopping comes to mind.

To fill you in girls these days like stores like:
- Claire's
- Pac Sun
- Hot Topic
- Spencer's
- FYE

There may be more, but they weren't interested in what I thought girls were interested in like. Aeropostele, Abercrombie and Fitch, DKNY, Banana Republic etc. They told me those stores are for older women. (I was stunned a bit and realized I was considered OLD, but I am and will always be a kid at heart.)
-------------------------------------------------------
Checking email's tonight I received some encouragement and morale support from Eric and family. - Thanks guys :)

The day before "The Day"

After waking, commuting, working, commuting and eating, I discussed the days events with the family.

Aya (the exchange student), was brought to the High School for her Guidance Councilor meeting and course selection for Senior year, then our oldest daughter (Allie) went to the High School for her Freshman orientation about 2 hours later.

Aya choose her course selection with some assistance - as she choose:
Algebra I, Spanish I / II, Food (Cooking and health), US History, American Literature, Parenting (Life skills)

We discussed it later that evening and my wife and I thought that aside from all the reading that will be required in American Lit and US History, Spanish would be cumbersome. It didn't make sense to us, that she was trying to learn our language attend our school yet take on another foreign language taught by a foreign teacher (at least foreign to her).

That would be like someone shooting a target with a crossbow held by the guy across the street learning for the first time, but being instructed by a different person on a cell phone giving the instructions in broken English.

Awash all that senselessness, I am focused now on tomorrow. We have to bring Aya to the school and meet up with 2 other foreign exchange students and meet the Principal (whom I have gotten the impression has a low tolerance towards foreign exchange students and their abilities to keep the pace, since the school really can't afford to provide any additional support) for the new kid orientation.

She is very nervous and when she gets like that it is even harder for her to communicate, the words don't roll off the tongue and sentences are cut mid-stream. I wanted to give her fair warning that the principal may interview her just to see what his teachers may be in for.

Going to say a little prayer and hope that the other 2 students are just as fluent or less to defuse the focus of attention.

The saga will continue.

Work is a four letter word!

Up early and on the road - work day. (I'd rather beat on a drum all day)

Some relieving news at work today: A safety violation that occurred a few weeks back will not result in someone being terminated. Just the fear or threatening discussion of whom to single out for this non-conforming and unsafe act is nerve racking.

Basically the company wanted to make an example and utilize this firing to show what lengths the company is willing to go in order to maintain a strict safety policy.

I guess the second grey - good news is that the pandemic phobia of the company closing its doors within the next year has been pushed off for maybe 2-3 years; if not further based on new ideas and products that will use older technology.

Glad to be home again regardless.

I discussed with my oldest daughter about what activities were performed today, because I feel like I am going to miss something. It felt oddly like when a parent has to return to work and their baby takes its first step as witnessed by the new Baby sitter.

You want to see the language barrier start to break down, the communication throughout the day improve and the student leave her shell and feel more free to explore.


TODAY'S ACTIVITIES:
- Visit another American Student's home
- Walks with American teenagers
- Playing Volleyball
- Reviewing Mathematics, due to an upcoming Math Placement test
- More English reading and TV viewing
- Doing the dishes (sharing responsibility with my oldest)

I noticed our youngest daughter is starting to increase her attitude and reluctance to perform normal chores or requests: Like being told she's seen enough TV, set the table, feed the pets and brush your teeth.

I suspect the fact that the attention is now drawn away from her and to the new exchange student in the house, thus acting out a little more for attention.

Spent the later part of the evening reading other peoples Blogs. (OPB)

- Signing out: Good Night All

Come bearing gifts.

I worked today and returned home to find the family waiting for me.
Not really to see me, but so I could finish my re-warmed meal and clear the table, in order for Aya to present us with gifts she brought as a "Thank You" for hosting me.

We were quite pleased and surprised with the variety.
(We really weren't expecting anything - seemed to break the ice a little more)

- Men / Woman's Yukata's


- T-Shirts
- Okinawan cookies (CHINSUKOU)

- A poster of Hiragana (alphabet as it were) but with a twist
It had this normal everyday words, plus the Okinawan word for the same thing.
- Origami
- O-Hashi's (many types)
- Maps and site-seeing pamphlets
- Other items

The children were quite tired, as my eldest daughter spent the past 2 days at a campground with her friends (which means being up all night girl-talk) and today they rode bikes around the neighborhood.

Anticipation is growing for the Orientation this Wednesday at the High School. I gave our student, Aya some math books to look over (older books from our High School/College years) just to refresh since next week she has to take a Math Placement test.

It seems reading the Math instructions and word problems will be challenging. It seems they are familiar with the Math and may even be taking some at higher levels - but its hard to say.

Personally I think it would be best, if we could or the school could get examples of homework and lessons from her High School and we could bridge the gap and compare what she will be getting here.

Reality Check

Today I feel the sense of urgency of trying to get our student's communication skills up to speed. She will be attending school at the end of the month and has to be self-proficient in order to maintain her position at the school.

From all of the information we've received she has had one of the highest scores as far as Japanese children her age goes for the English Proficiency testing, however it is known that compared to European and South American countries - Asia seems to be a little behind in the verbal and written language.

Not to take anything away - I couldn't imagine getting immersed in a Japanese school and only speak and read Japanese and be able to pass any class or even get my point across except maybe to ask where the bathroom is.

This weekend and the coming weeks we will try to get her to read aloud and converse more openly in English. I speak a little Japanese and sometimes have thrown in the mix words here and there - I don't want to have it as a crutch for her, but to maybe ease her mind a little before a full fledged dunk.

I've Googled through the web to try and find an English teaching site that she could use a few hours a day - I haven't found one that seems user friendly or intuitive. One of which was all in Spanish (which even I can't read, to get to download the software).

At this point I am open for suggestions of anyone who teaches English to Japanese students.

Dawn of a new day.

This morning I awoke by 06:20 a.m. after forcing myself to stay up until 03:30 without any sign of the Luggage Delivery van. It felt like Christmas, getting up and sliding across the kitchen floor in socks to get a peek outside to see if the "luggage" was delivered. Sure enough it was, sitting there in the cool August morning.

Promptly I brought it in and rolled it into the bedroom where both children were asleep, one of whom was more sound asleep than the other. (Jet lag has a firm grip)

We traveled to the local shopping Mall after she awoke just to give Aya an overview of what was out there, we also stopped and stocked up on about $120.00 of groceries - encouraging her for some input. For the most part, she seemed to be fine with whatever was purchased. Of the items she chose herself: Miso Soup, Cocoa Puffs and Apple Juice

She got to wittiness our youngest daughter get her ears pierced at Claire's. Then went looking at other stores after I pointed out where my oldest daughter likes to shop: Hot Topic and

In the evening she offered to help with post dinner clean-up and did the dishes with our youngest daughter.

The longest flight..the longest claim.

And so it begins, our exchange student arrived today in Hartford, CT.

We've been anxiously awaiting her arrival and counting down the days. Even keeping tabs on the weather in Okinawa and the main land of Japan to ensure there would be no anticipated trouble. Just a week earlier there was a Typhoon that made landfall in Okinawa and we were tracking yet another that hit Kyushu and the Main Land just after she had departed from Tokyo to the U.S.

The drive to the parking lot was interesting, we approached the hanging height signs that stated 6'8" high and thought, no problem this little SUV has done this before. Jokingly I said, "Kids hold your breath while we go under the Height Warning Signs". Just then we heard a - BANG, and my wife pulled over, just then realizing we recently purchased and attached a Kayak carrier which fortunately did not break upon impact. (I climbed out and promptly started to remove them and fortunately my wife kept the wrench handy). I must say that was a moment that was slightly embarrassing.

We greeted her as she came through the arrivals doors candidly as to not startle her, for the long flight can make anyone a little groggy. Though there was a Chicago get-together and a over-night stay with other exchange students, she still only got 1 hours rest due to the excitement and anxieties. Adrenaline and anticipation sometimes trumps pure exhaustion.

She arrived with another exchange student from Thailand and we greeted him as well as we were waiting with his host family just outside the security check point. The weather was an oppressive 92F (Humid). She seemed to fair the weather well since she said Okinawa is usually this warm as well. (At this point I have not gotten how humid it is there in comparison).

There was movie and photo opportunities, small conversation and off to the Baggage Claim or lack there of. As we arrived at the luggage carousel with Large and Small baggage just starting to make their way around, we waited patiently....and waited and waited.

Then a small man approached, who looked like a shuttle bus drive by the way he was dressed, telling us there is no more luggage from he Flight that just arrived. We were directed to file a baggage delay claim at the claim department.

Surprisingly she handled it well as did the boy from Thailand who was missing 1 of the 2. This was rather unusual for me, since I've flown United Airlines over a dozen times coast to coast for job related reasons and never experience a loss.

In my mind, I could only picture the sinking feeling of your soul possessions from home lost somewhere between Chicago and Connecticut, being this is your first time in the Continental United States.

We slowly made our way towards home - stopping for Dinner at The Olive Garden. At the time it seemed like a good idea, for we were all hungry. The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was off-key, there was a table next to us with small children who were allowed to scream and blurt out random noises unchecked and a parent who did seem to know the meaning of being firm. Needless to say, we ate and quickly departed.

Arrived at our home, her new home - proceeded to contact the Baggage Claim at United. We had called back there over 5 times to confirm first if the bag was ever found and then to solidify a delivery time. We were told somewhere between 08:00 p.m. and 02:00 a.m. - which I see as a very large window.

I stayed up and waited, all the while assured by Customer Service that the Luggage will be delivered in that time frame.

As I type this line, the time is currently 02:34 a.m.

(someone is bluffing).

They have our Phone number and Cell number yet we did not receive one call yet. The thickness of my patience is that of melted butter.