Hey Ducks, it's Sara! It’s been 3 weeks since I came to Japan, and man, does time fly! I can’t believe my time at Senshu is halfway through (Even though, as I write this, I’m in the midst of midterms– wish me luck!). I’ve been having so much fun meeting new friends, going to new places, and making lots of memories that I’ll keep forever. One experience that I had over the weekend that encompassed all three was my homestay!
Last weekend, I stayed with a Japanese family and got to experience a whole new, and just as exciting, side of Japanese culture. Although I was nervous going into it, my host family, consisting of a mom, a little brother, and the cutest little sister, was so kind and welcoming, and really made me feel like a part of the family for the short time I was there. On Friday night, I had sushi for the first time since coming to Japan (I know, it took me a while, but at least my first experience was special!), where I tried shirasu, or baby sardines, and whelk. Saturday, I got to go to the island of Enoshima, with a beautiful view of the ocean, and a large shrine. Actually I think I’ll be going there again in a couple of weeks, so I’m super excited! Anyway, Enoshima was really fun– I washed my money in the pond, which is supposed to bring me wealth, and I ate a salty cucumber on a stick– perfect for the hot weather! I also got to watch my host brother get a victory royale in Fortnite, and then proceeded to beat him in Smash Brothers. Honestly, when Sunday came around, I didn’t want to leave! I was having such a great time with my host family, but alas, all good things must come to an end.
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Aside from my homestay, I’ve also gone to a cat cafe, visited the famous Shibuya crossing scramble, marvelled at all the fashionable people at Shibuya 109, went to art museums, and experienced the beautiful Tokyo Teamlabs art interactive art exhibit (seriously, if you have a chance to go, I recommend it! It was breath taking). It hasn’t been all fun and games, though. First and foremost, the Senshu JLC program is for learning. While I’ve had lots of time to explore and hang around, I’ve also had to buckle down and study.
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Like I mentioned before, I have midterms right now, and they’re no joke. If you’ve ever taken a Japanese course at UO, you might be used to the fast-paced speed of the classes, but taking classes all in Japanese is a whole new experience that I honestly wasn’t prepared for (and am still adjusting to). It can be difficult sometimes, but it’s worth the time and effort to have the experience of learning a new language in its country of origin. That’s all for now! I’ll see you in a few weeks! じゃね〜
Sara Omer, Diverse Ducks Ambassador