KIZUNA project @ Host family # Maebashi, Gunma, Japan

Yeap.. 6.12.2012 was the last day I spent together with my dear dear friends. OMG. Can't believe how time flies. It's a sad case :'( Anyways, the end also indicates the start of something new - home stay with host family! :D :D

7.12.2012 : Start of something new

It's so sad to be apart from my friends. In the morning, we departed to Gunma. Those who are going to Nagaoka shared the same bus with us too. Anyway, yeah.. I still get to be with my friends for a few hours in the bus so it's like BOO YEAH! :D :D I was totally excited about the homestay a few days ago, but I am starting to have colly wobbles on the bus. OMG! I'm starting to get all nervous. Frankly speaking, before I went on this program, I don't even know what host family or host school is @@ N of course I don't have homestay experience so.. It's kindda like a whole new thing for me. We stopped at Nagaoka for our lunch and a quick shop 1st before we reached Gunma. 

Eating the snacks I bought from the vending machine in the snow?? XD LOL!

When we reached Gunma, they gave us a brief orientation at Keyaki Walk. After awhile, my host mum & host sister came & fetched me.. HOME! ^_^ It was sooo awkward in the car since I don't really know how to start a conversation. But my host mother a very cheerful person so we talked on the way home and I got less awkward by the time we reached home. When we got home, my host sister couldn't have her dinner because she was so sick >< Kindda feel bad cuz can't help anything out. Keep asking her "Daijoubu?" (means "Ok?") Later on, I decided to give her the Happy Yellow Terubou I bought at Nagaoka the next morning to lift her spirit up and perhaps this lucky mascot can make her recover from her illness. 

* If u hang this on your window, the weather will be sunny ^_^ *

8.12.2012 : Party tonight! :D :D

This morning, I gave my host family a lot of gifts I brought for them from Penang like batik handkerchief, dresses, T-shirt, pewter photo frame, Penang pewter plate, Penang har mee, "bak kut teh" & I think that's pretty much all. I gave my host sister the Happy Yellow Terubou & she is very happy with that present. Aw... She is soooo amiable!! She got better in the morning so my host mum decided to bring us to Mount Haruna. We went to the shrime at there & I prayed sincerely. 

At Mizusawa Temple with my host sister - Yuna, & me :D :D
This temple is founded over 1000 years ago 0.o

Snacks we bought on the way ^_^

Turn it 3 times, & your wish will be granted *_*

Part of their praying culture

Just one shot, so hit it right! :)

1.. 2.. 3!! Hit the bell once & your dream will come true

Maple leaf!! :D :D Posing in front of the shrime (not sure it's the front or back)
For more info, visit : http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7479.html

Had lunch at this restaurant ^^

Wearing "I <3 Penang" shirt in Japan. How sick was that? XD Eating udon, a type of Japanese noodle. It's so YUM!! :D When my host mum took this pic, I was totally unconsious about it -_-

There's a Daruma in the restaurant! :D Yatta!

Daruma is a kind of Japanese traditional doll. According to the legend, it was said that if u want your dream to come true, u have to paint one eye for the Daruma at the starting of the year. After your dream came true, u gotta paint another eye for Daruma.

After we had our lunch, something like a miracle happened - IT SNOWED!! My host family said this is a weird scenario. My host mum said the snow is for me XD Wow.. It was soo lucky!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ~~~ *_*

After we went to God's museum (the museum has a lot of God's statue), my host mum wanted to bring me to the hot spring, but the snow was falling quite heavily that time, so she asked me whether I wanna go or not. My host sister secretly whispered to me that she wanna go, so I said why not? ^_^

Ikaho (hot spring)

Walked about 200++ steps of stairs to reach Ikaho. World record! Yeah! XD

My host mum says the hot spring is natural & the water contains nutrients that will make your skin smooth :)

When we went Ikaho, it stopped snowing. When we wanna go home, it snowed again. WOW! It's really lucky ^_^ Thank you God!

At night, we attended a party for all AFSers at Gunma together with our host families.

I wore baju Melayu to the party ^^

HEEYYY!! Do we look like a family? XD Nah, just kidding.

 P.S. The guy standing beside me is Clinton btw. Hehe..

Happy family? 0.0 This pic looks so wrong XD

9.12.2012 : Shopping & cooking day (Me? Cooking? Yeah right XD)
Today, we decorated the Christmas tree in the morning after we had breakfast. ^_^

My host sister took out for a walk in the neighborhood before we decorate the Christmas tree. Nice pic!! Love it sooo much <3.<3

It's the 1st time I decorate Christmas tree so I was kindda high~~~ OMG!! :D :D

The pretty ornaments :D

Kawai host sister~

Um.. I'm up "high" XD

Ta daaa! It's beautiful right?

In the afternoon, we went shopping at "Smarks".

Aww... Why is my host sister sooo cute??!!

It's a HUGE shopping mall. Endless! Haha! >_<

Went Uni Qlo to buy a couple of winter clothing for my host sister ;)

It was the 1st time I had a "crepe". Delicious! ^_^

~~ :0 :o :0 :o ~~

A famous cartoon character in Japan!!

Bought a lot of stuffs at the shopping mall, including a "kakuremomojiri" folder (although it looks kindda creepy XD). My host mum bought a Daruma doll for me.. Aw.. It was so nice of her :')

That night, I cooked "bak kut teh" for my host family (gulp 0.0) Yeah.. Me cooking.

Chop Chop!! Sorry meat, I know the knife hurts ><

Played girls' version of monopoly with host sister. SUGOI! :D

Luckily my host mum says she likes the "bak kut teh" I cooked. Aw.. "gam dong" leh.. XD

10.12.2012 : School day!!
A little bit excited + a big bit of anxious. It's like one little me VS whole class of student. OMG.. I dunno how can I "dissolve" into their community T.T My host school is Maebashi Commercial High School btw :) But I am quite thankful that some of my friends are coming to the same school with me too. Owen, Clinten, Anissa, Khao Fang & Mai ^_^ When I arrived at the school, they said my school uniform is cool, awesome, nice.. Haha.. Thanks for the compliments guys ^^ (I'm sure my school authority would be happy about the compliments XD)

All good people :D :D The headmaster is the second one from the left. The man with darker complexion is our sensei (the teacher that was assigned to take care of our team). He's very funny xD

My class! :D

 I think I've been worrying too much because everything turned out to be fine n I get along quite well with my host classmates ^_^ I mean.. How well could I have done in ONE DAY? LOL. But the students there really friendly larh. The boys are very funny n the girls are very helpful & they are very easy-going :D :D I've had English class, Marketing class, history class & MUSIC CLASS!! Yatta! Although I don't understand Japanese (sukoshi wakarimasu ka >_<), but they really made me feel like I'm part of the "community".

Nice pose of my music teacher ^^ They are having a concert during this year's Christmas (I think). I wish that their concert will be successful!! I have faith in them!! :D

They are eating their "bento" in class 0.0 In my school, we're not allowed to eat in class so it's kind of a werid scenario to me.. The "bento" my host mum made for me is DELICIOUS!! >_<

With some of the closer host classmates :) My legs are shimmering *.*

Yayoi asked me how I felt about this boy. I said "Kakoii!" (Cool, awesome ex.) Aw.. I forgot his name but it sounds something like - Her Guitar - XD

My whole class!! Yatta!! :D :D

In the computer room :)

Then, they brought us on a tour in the school. Maebashi Commercial High School (Maesho) is a very big & awesome school. The school even have elevators, big sports field & a lot of cool facilities!! :D :D 

Thumbs up because a big fraction of students cycle to school!

Thai boxing in the judo arena XD Owen & Khao Fang.

In the shinto arena. Aw.. Clinton is not in this pic :(

Playing badminton with Mai at the badminton court

OMG! Big fields 0.0 The sky's colour is so beautiful <3

Brass band practicing for their concert :)

They have washing machines in their shcool. COOL! :D

Whoa.. The day at school was fun. On the way my host mum fetch me back from school, she bought me a very delicious pancake in the shape of a fish! :D

Mine has custard in it. Delicious!! <3.<3

Singing Christmas songs with host sister before having dinner

Had a hot dip in cold winter :)

11.12.2012 : Last day with host family :'(
Last day with my host family. They've been so good to me that I think our relationship is gonna last for a lifetime. I really cherish everyday I spent with them but time flies when we're having fun. We took the shinkasen (bullet train) from the Takasaki station to Tokyo. I arrived early at Takasaki station so I went for a shopping spree with my friends at the sourvenirs shop at Takasaki station and bought a lot of sourvenirs for my family and friends.

I got the one in a million golden candy!!!! :D :D Thank u for everything host family!! Love u guys!! :')

We went to Nikko Hotel again that night. Aw.. It seemed like just yesterday we went to the same hotel & we're just about to start our journey in Japan :'( Something miserable is gurgling in my stomach as I felt my throat tightened. I hope this fuzzy feeling goes away soon as I don't want to return to my home country with tears. Hopefully not..

12.12.2012 : Back to Malaysia
Everything seemed so blur, tears are all that's left. Memories, host family, friends... People, places, incident... Time just doesn't freeze just because we wanted that moment to freeze. Everything went as planned as the cruel time keeps on ticking. But no matter what happens, the memories will always be in the bottom of our heart :)

~Thank you AFS Malaysia, Su Yin, Japan government, JICE and most of all, my friends! If it isn't for all of you, these wonderful things wouldn't have happened. I really cherish everyone of u that made my trip to Japan so wonderful. Melanie, Khao Fang, Su Ying, Faith, Mary, Mallory, Jazz bro & a lot more. Going on this program made me realize that, I can be different from anyone & I surely can make a difference. It's the matter of fact that I WANT or NOT. I also realized that, how I've wasted my time on worthless things & I could have used all those time to do something worth the time. KIZUNA taught me little things that would change my perception, probably change my entire life. I also learnt to be brave & more confident, even if it's only putting up a brave front XD I would surely participate in more camps & volunteering activities after this participating in the program. I really cherish the bond between me & my host family & friends all over the world.~
~I would always be filled with gratitude for every memory, experience and friends I made from this program that were never able to be bought with money. For every magical scent I breathe in this very moment, I thank God for such blessing, that I had the chance to go on to this program at Japan.~

Stories always end with -happily ever after-, but not this. This, is a never ending story ;) Forever is only the beginning, for all of us!

Don't stop believing! ^_^ May the odds be ever in your favor!