8:39 PM

In Shock.

I wish this was just a bad dream. I can't believe that the year program for AFS has been cancelled. I was crying just when I thought it would be delayed, but after I got the call I completely broke down. The dream I had for so long was finally coming true, and then it was taken away just like that. I know that this is no one's fault and that there was no way to plan for this and that AFS is just doing what they think is best, and it's understandable. But I had planned on this for so long just as so many of you had, I was graduating early so I was working ahead in school. I was already packing. I had already talked to my host family over email multiple times. Everyone who knew me knew that I was going. I couldn't fathom something like this happening. Now I'm left here, feeling lost. I was all set to go. I will try to go on the semester program, I suppose.

12:07 PM

Oh my!

So as everyone knows and a lot of people are blogging about, Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake as well as a huge tsunami! It seems that Sendai was damaged the worst, but the videos and photos I've seen look awful. My heart goes out to everyone in Japan!!! The exchange student from Suwa that I'm hosting right now for a week was worried because her grandma lives in Sendai! I really hope that my host family is ok, and I think they will be because they're in Akita, but the exchange student from Suwa that I hosted last year messaged me on facebook and said that Akita was affected, and on the news it said that Akita was one of the prefectures where power had been cut off. As soon as I heard about the earthquake I emailed my host brother asking if their family and Akita was ok, and I anxiously await a reply. I wonder (like everyone else) what AFS is going to do about this situation and if the departure will be postponed. This is so awful! Luckily everyone I know that is in Japan was ok (because they are in Suwa) and my japanese teacher's family was ok, but I really want to know how badly Akita was affected. The quake hit the hardest in the northeastern part of Honshu and Akita is in the northwest, so hopefully the damage is not too bad.

9:32 AM

two weeks to go!

I can't believe that in only two weeks I will be on my way to Japan. It's crazy! (I should probably start packing...-.-;;) I leave on March 21st and then I spend the night in L.A. for an orientation there. The day after that everyone heads to the airport and boards the long flight to Tokyo. My orientation will be in Tokyo since I'm living in Akita. I'm really excited to meet everyone else, although I'm worried that I will be horrible at speaking Japanese compared to everyone else. And we're supposed to have a talent to show in the talent show that represents our country, but I can't think of anything I can do well as a talent that represents America!!! Anyone have any ideas? I'm starting to stress out about leaving!!

12:16 AM

Friends!

Last weekend my best friends decided to throw me a surprise party, which was so awesome! My friend Squee took total advantage of my gullibility and convinced me to go with her and my sister to a hotel, and then, SURPRISE! It was great, and I definitely wasn't expecting it. It meant so much to me that my friends care enough to throw me a going-away party, and I just wanted to share how much I love all of them :D d'aww.

1:15 PM

Akita!

So, I thought I'd post a little bit of information on where I'll be living and where I'll be going to school and whatnot. I think it will be more interesting if I have pictures! :D I'll be going to Akita Minami Senior High School: http://www.akitaminami-h.akita-pref.ed.jp/ , And just so you can see on a map:

I hope I find out more about my family and school soon. I have been emailing my host dad and host brother, in ONLY JAPANESE! I felt really proud of myself. XD And I've been emailing the exchange student from Japan which I will host for a week starting FRIDAY in only Japanese as well! I love getting so much practice with it!