So today we started our true emersion into the Japanese way of life…. By going to school. Yes school on a Saturday something that is never done in Australia and thus a truly foreign experience for us. Our buddies collected us from our meeting room and took us ona tour of the school… their library is totally awesome, they have a set of tv’s to individually watch dvd’s on. As well as a big plasma for a small group to watch. We also went and saw the gym, Kendo and Judo areas. We then went to class. I had physics and English. We had a physics test today, on which I did alright on. And then in English the teacher just got me to talk to the class and answer their question about me and Australia. After class on our way to the lunch room we ran into niina, a dear friend of mine that I first met when she came to Australia in 2005. So as you could imagne I was very happy to see her. However I was disappointed at not havig found sachi (my host from last trip ) today. However niina says that I will get to see them noth on Tuesday… Monday is a public holiday. For lunch today it was mizo soup(of which I am not a fan) and pork on rice. After lunch and the official end of the school day, huruka had club… Badminton. 
The badminton teacher, Mr isoza spent the first hour trying to teach me how to play. He was a very good and paitent teacher so I gave him a present and something little for his 5 children to show my appreation. He then took me to watch some of the things that they kendo and judo clubs were practising, befor okasan (mum) came and picked me up. We caught a traint o Shinjuku and then a bus to closer to their house and walked the rest of the way. 
Once at home we spent some time sharing photos with each other, which really helped to stop me about being so nervious and broke down the language barrier. 
I was introduced to two of harukas cousins that live with them, they were sooo cute. They taught me a hand clapping game, like the ones I used to play when I was little, it was good fun. 
We then went back into Shinjuku by taxi, met up with Haruka and her friend momuko and then we went to a resutrant in one of the department stores. They had “proper” shoe lockers (as seen in the photo above) and this was actually my first experience of them, you put your shoes in there and take the key out of the door. They key has a kanji on it and that same kanji is on the locker,to help you remember which one your shoes are in. we had so much to eat at the resutrant, all traditional Japanese foods, seaweed, egg and chese omlet, egg and pork, udon(noodles), squid, tempura, chicken kebabs, (raw) seafood platter, octopus dumplings, fried cheese… really nice, soba(different type of noodles), and more chicken. (the photos shows most of the dishes.... i think)
All of which I at least tried, the squid was the one I realy didn’t want to try but I did, however I know I wont rush back to eat anymore of it because in all honestly it was like rubber, hard to chew and very tasteless.
Soon after we got home, haruka, momuko and I went to the public bath. Which was a very intresting experience. After we had had our baths there we had a drink there… I think mine was tropical flavoured milk, which was nice enough till you thing about it.
We then came home and went to bed.
The badminton teacher, Mr isoza spent the first hour trying to teach me how to play. He was a very good and paitent teacher so I gave him a present and something little for his 5 children to show my appreation. He then took me to watch some of the things that they kendo and judo clubs were practising, befor okasan (mum) came and picked me up. We caught a traint o Shinjuku and then a bus to closer to their house and walked the rest of the way. Once at home we spent some time sharing photos with each other, which really helped to stop me about being so nervious and broke down the language barrier. I was introduced to two of harukas cousins that live with them, they were sooo cute. They taught me a hand clapping game, like the ones I used to play when I was little, it was good fun. We then went back into Shinjuku by taxi, met up with Haruka and her friend momuko and then we went to a resutrant in one of the department stores. They had “proper” shoe lockers (as seen in the photo above) and this was actually my first experience of them, you put your shoes in there and take the key out of the door. They key has a kanji on it and that same kanji is on the locker,to help you remember which one your shoes are in. we had so much to eat at the resutrant, all traditional Japanese foods, seaweed, egg and chese omlet, egg and pork, udon(noodles), squid, tempura, chicken kebabs, (raw) seafood platter, octopus dumplings, fried cheese… really nice, soba(different type of noodles), and more chicken. (the photos shows most of the dishes.... i think)
All of which I at least tried, the squid was the one I realy didn’t want to try but I did, however I know I wont rush back to eat anymore of it because in all honestly it was like rubber, hard to chew and very tasteless.
Soon after we got home, haruka, momuko and I went to the public bath. Which was a very intresting experience. After we had had our baths there we had a drink there… I think mine was tropical flavoured milk, which was nice enough till you thing about it.
We then came home and went to bed.
