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Here's the link to another blog site that we have been keeping up. Please visit it to read about our adventures.

http://web.me.com/junko.yokota/ETHS_2009_Japan_Trip/Blog/Blog.html

Getting lost

Got lost in the castel of matsuyama, as it was closing , not even lying, it was so amazing

First post since... now lol

Japan is really cool, I like it here so much! This trip has really opened my eyes up to another perspective! All the sights we visit are priceless, and I am extremely glad I came on this trip! 10 more days left, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next!

Photos posted

We have posted a few photos at:

http://web.me.com/junko.yokota/ETHS_2009_Japan_Trip/Photos.html

Day One: Yokohama!

Today's bloggers: Nell, Sho, Luke, Kevin, Brian

We almost saw "Jerry" at the airport! But we don't really know who he is. He's obviously very popular since many people were at the airport to greet him.

First observations:

Taking a bath was our first interesting thing we did. We expected there to be a shower head but there was a set of low faucets, and the tub was a lot smaller than we expected. It's awesome and we like it a lot. It's very relaxing. Free shampoo but it stings our eyes.

In the morning, we had hamburgers for breakfast. They were good but very little. We had "nihongo-dake" for our first hour of the day -- which means, we could speak in Japanese only. That was hard. But, we all ordered our breakfast and ate while talking to each other in Japanese.

Then we met Margaret, who is a former student and had come on the trip two years ago, and now she lives here in Japan.

Then we walked to Chinatown. Most of the stores were closed at first but that gave us time to go look at temples. They were intricately designed and very decorative all the way around, with carved animals in the stone. Once the stores opened, we shopped! We bought Chinese masks, food, shirts, jackets and sunglasses. And a tie. It was smaller than the one in Chicago. We kept seeing the same group of Japanese school students who were on a field trip -- all throughout the day. We talked to some of them and took pictures with them. We stopped at Happy Lawson's, a "combini" convenience store and rest area where we stopped and journaled (except for the chess players and a few others . . . )

Kevin, Margaret and Nell ate a pumpkin ice cream. It wasn't good. We ate shuumai (Chinese pork dumplings). That was good. Some of us walked to the other red brick warehouse building where there was an art gallery and we got to meet one of the artists.

Then we passed the amusement park that was closed . . . :(

The ferris wheel was huge and pretty to look at when the lights came on at night.

An Amusement Park

Fun times are thought to happen

Regret; all are closed.

An original haiku by Luke

We took a super fast elevator at the Landmark Tower up 69 floors in 40 seconds, 750 meters per second! It is the second fastest elevator in the world (used to be the fastest)

But the most exciting thing today was the Pokemon Center! It took everyone back to their childhood (well, almost everyone.... ) Didn't take some back at all (Luke, for one) because they are still very into it. It was pretty high tech and there was a really fun game that got really intense. Then a trip into the Anime Store and Tottoro Store.

Dinner at Japanese McDonald's, Wendy's, and some of us (guess who?) went to a Japanese restaurant.

Then Margaret left. Then we went back to our Youth Hostel for bathtime! Some of us worked on our presentation for KJ School, some of us blogged, and the rest ?

What do we like about Japan after day one? The volleyball game on tv, the atmosphere of the country, and no trash receptacles anywhere. Jabari likes . . . no, he LOVES . . . the apple juice. Nell does, too. But not Kevin (He's allergic . . .)

Tomorrow: Kamakura!

I'm out the door...

We're going to JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow

In only twelve hours, we will be in Ohare Airport meeting and making sure that no one is lost or missing. In fifteen hours, we will be on the plane. I still don't believe this is actually happening, not until I am actually in Japan do I think I will finally comprehend. I still have to gather all of my homework that I need to do on the plane, and I have a couple more things to stuff in my suitcase. But I am ready. I'm ready for the flight, I'm ready for eating delicious food, I'm ready for struggling through the Japanese-only hours, for making friends with people completely different from me, for not having homework due for an entire two weeks. I am nervous and scared. But mostly... I'm really, really excited.

~Gaby (なみ）