My Host Family♥

Today, as a sort-of last-minute surprise, I met the rest of my Host Family!♥

So, as a little bit of background, I applied for a Host Family for the rest of my time here, but this is a bit different than a Homestay. Homestays are where you stay with the family, but this is more like a "Home visit" program, where I just get to meet up with my family and do various things with them. So, I get a glimpse into a Japanese way of life, and also get to have a sort of "family" for while I'm here! :)

Anyways, so this past Monday I met the most adorable おばあちゃん  (grandmother), and she had given me some pictures of the rest of her family that wasn't able to meet up that day. Also, I gave her some gifts from Hawaii, and she was so surprised and thankful, she actually gave me a hug!! This was shocking for me, since I've come to see that Japanese tend to not do that. But, it was so awesome, and a very good sign that I got placed with the perfect family. :)

I had thought I would only get to meet the rest of them next week Friday, but thanks to a couple emails exchanged with the mother (Ayako), we found today worked and I was invited to have dinner with them!!

I actually traveled outside of Kobe to meet them. Which, was a bit far (it takes me 25 minutes to walk to the station, and then was a bit over 30 minutes to get to Akashi), but it was cool to be able to finally have gotten outside of Kobe, in the Western direction!!

As I exited the ticket barrier, I saw my obaachan and one of her grandsons - and was greeted by another hug!! ^^ Anyways, they have two boys - ages 11 (Atsushi) and 14 (Satoshi), and they were both super excited to meet me. The older one was cute and would use a bit of English with me (he greeted me with "Nice to meet you", though was super shy ^^), while the younger one is like a ball of energy and actually greeted me by running up, coming to a stop by jumping, and shouting "ASHURI-SAN!" xD

Then, we had a lovely Japanese-style pasta meal, walked to look at the Akashi Temple, and bought yummy cake to bring back to their house, which is in Maiko (also a bit far from my home, but this will all be WORTH IT ^^). 

和風 (Japanese-style flavor) YUMMMMM~

CUTE, RIGHT?!?! Hehe, Atsushi looks a bit like a deer-in-the-headlights in the pic, unfortunately, but he's adorable (and super crazy, lol), trust me. x) 

I got to play piano at their house, which is so cute!!! Also, the mother is a piano teacher, and wants for me to learn a duet so we can play together! I don't know how well I'll be able to do that (dang it, I wish I had kept up my playing right now... T^T), but I'll try my best! ><b

Then, we had cake and tea together, and watched some of their home-videos (like of an Aladdin アラジン play Satoshi had been in, and a sports day event Atsushi had been in just earlier that day!), and looked through some photos from a trip the grandmother had taken to Nepal a couple years ago.

And, we just talked, which was so exciting. They had been worried about how they were going to be able to talk with me (which is silly, because the mother's English is actually quite good!), but were super happy that I could converse with them! I'm sure I sound silly (which is kinda embarrassing, with the little boys and their  Japanese being so much better than mine, lol), but they keep saying I'm so good (ohhh, such typical nice Japanese people... ^^).

I stayed with them quiteeee late! They drove me to the station (OMG, I GOT TO BE IN A CAR AGAIN! IT HAS BEEN SO LONG! lol), and gave my an umbrella just in case it might rain (not needed, but they insisted ^^). And, the grandmother even walked me up to the station and, against my wishes, bought my train ticket home.

Totally amazing kindness. The entire night.
And, they were so welcoming, I feel like I'm already part of their family. This is just AMAZING. ♥

So excited for my remaining time with them. I'm sure I'll be posting a lot about my Japanese family-experiences in the future. :)