2016年7月13日水曜日

Today I woke up with a headache and stayed in bed until after lunch.  The teachers brought up breakfast and lunch to me, and were very kind.  I am pretty sure I have managed to make some friends, as everyone is very nice.  All though there have been some times here and there when I have felt very alone and honestly just wanted to run back home, I think I have started to get settled in by now.  School was very fun.  Although I unfortunately missed a day due to a minor asthma attack, all of the students were very kind.  It took them awhile to get comfortable talking to me though. I suppose the idea of a naturally blonde none Asian person speaking Japanese was a bit out of this world for them.  I am rather upset I was not able to spend more time at the school.  When I became bored one day, I started singing.  Everyone made comments like "You`re really good at singing", "Are you in a chorus", and a single "You should audition for the voice or the x-factor.  I`ll cheer for you." After that, Ooyama-sensei asked me if I would be willing to sing song at the open house, so a couple of kids who brought instruments with them and I will be preforming for everyone.  i`m really happy I came to this camp.

Grace 7/13

4 件のコメント:

  1. Grace, I'm so sorry that you had a headache. I hope you are feeling better now.
    I'm sure you have made some friends. It looks like you are having a good time in the photos. It seems like the other kids have been going for several years and know each other already. I remember studying in Germany. I was 19 and sometimes I felt very alone, like I was so different than everyone else. Not quite like your circumstance of course.
    I'm glad you are going to sing at the Open House. I wish we could come to visit. I hope you won't be the only student without visitors. That doesn't seem possible, but if it is, I hope you won't feel sad. I know you will sing beautifully. What will you sing?
    I can't wait to see you again. Papa is ok. Only one more week left of treatment. Then recovery. But he's going to be ok.
    I'm so proud of you. I love you. Mama

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  2. Hi Grace! This is my second try posting a reply to your message. I hope I get it right this time.

    First of all, I am so sorry that you have had a couple of rough days at camp. I had hoped that the cooler mountain air would help keep you comfortable. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you are healthy for the rest of your trip.

    Why am I not surprised that you enjoyed going to school? I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope that you have as much fun for the next couple of weeks now that you have broken the ice with your singing. Which song will you be performing with the other students? Which instruments do they play?

    Be sure to take some pictures so we can see everything through your eyes when you get back. We love you and miss you. - Papa

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  3. Sorry I`m not writing much. I should honestly be in bed already, but the 4 paragraph long reply I wrote got lost when the computer wouldn`t let me submit it. I was rather upset, and honestly still am. I`ve had a lot of fun preparing for the performance. Hana(clarinet), Louise(guitar), Roi(trumpet), Miyu(drums) and Sara(piano). We`ll be preforming "Hana wa saku" which is a traditional folk song from the Tohoku region.

    Since coming here I`ve been a bit ambarrased of my Japanese, including everything from kanji to conversation. I can understand practically everything people are saying, but when I try to reply to them, I can`t form the correct words. Everyone is a lot better at kanji than me, so that`s definitley a bit downputting. When I get back I`m going to have to buckle down and study like crazy. I hope I can come again next year, but if not, I hope I can atleast meet some of the other campers again. Hana, Louise and Ryu-un in particular are people I really enjoy being around.

    I`m glad to hear that you`re alright Papa, I was a bit worried. Is Julia having fun at Oma and Opa`s? Are you alright Mama? I hope you`re all in good health. Love you. -Grace

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  4. Hi Gracie--
    Of course you can go back next year if that's what you would like to do!! I'm sure it would be more beneficial than the GFES trip would be.

    I'm sorry that your Japanese isn't as good as you would like it to be, but I'm glad that you're inspired to study harder. It's good to finally be around students who are better than you are in order to be challenged.

    And I'm really glad that you've made friends. Are Hana, Louise and Ryu-un from America or other parts of the world? Maybe you can talk to them via FaceTime or Skype once you get home. That would be a great way to build your conversational skills. Kanji should come from studying. There are lots of great apps and workbooks that we already own.

    Julia has had fun but she's ready to come home. Miss Donna and Abby are driving out to pick her up tomorrow. They are spending the weekend at an amusement park called Dollywood and driving back on Monday. I think she misses seeing her friends.
    Guess what--this is her year to do cotillion. Don't pick on her. No horror stories. The only way I'm going to get her to participate is if several of her girlfriends do it. You know that Abby will refuse to wear a dress, so she is out. :(

    We miss you Grace. Have fun!! Please take lots of pictures!! I wish I could see what you are seeing. You write so beautifully as well. My friends think you have a future in journal writing. ;)

    Love, Mama

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