My trip to Japan!

Please excuse my Spanish, it is not my first language but I'm going to try to write this experience in Spanish because, after all, I am in Spain! You can also read this in English if you'd like, because I have a copy. Let's go!

I'm going to tell you about a heartfelt experience I have had... The best experience that I have ever had, one that has opened my eyes to a world that I could never have imagined. An experience that has filled me with so much happiness and joy, one that I am sure I will never forget. This trip took my breath away every day with something new and exciting. Finally, it changed my life for the better. I can't describe everything, but I am going to try to in this short account.

It all took place in the city of Kitakyushu, Japan.

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When I was 17 years old, I had the luck of being offered the opportunity to live in Japan for 6 months on a scholarship programme. The programme was to live with a host family, to study at a Japanese school and finally, to learn Japanese. 10 people were selected out of hundreds, I had such good luck! For me, it was a dream come true because I had always wanted to go to Japan. Finally I had gotten my chance... Words couldn't express my joy!

I left England for Japan and I was thrown into a totally different world. As soon as I got off from the plane I knew that I wasn't in Kansas anymore! Everything about Japan was different: the people, the food, the style of living, the culture, everything. The country was interesting and fascinating, but I was also scared. I spend a week in Tokyo (which was intimidating at first) learning about what I was going to be doing whilst I was here, and also revising my Japanese. Japanese people are very sincere and they welcomed me very quickly into their lives. However, culture shock hit me like a tonne of bricks. It was September and the weather was so hot! The food made me sick and I couldn't leave the hotel or do any exploring. During the nights I could see a thick layer of fog and smoke covering Tokyo's dazzling lights. I already feel nostalgic talking about it... I had a bad start, but I was determined!

We met our host families and we all left for different parts of Japan, with me heading off to Kitakyushu, which is in the north of Kyushu Island.

Here's a map to the island: www.japan-guide.com/list/e1108.html and a photo:

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My host family was very good to me, almost like a normal family. They were all about 70 years old and they still played tennis twice a week! Over the time that I spent with them, I had very happy moments, but also bad ones with arguments. However, I could not have asked for a better host family! During my first few weeks in Japan they were so understanding and kind to me, and for that I am so grateful.

Kitakyushu is a marvellous city and I loved exploring it. It is not an enormous city, but it is not small enough to be classified as a town, either. I spent so many days exploring every corner of it and taking photos. The centre of the city was a swarm of activity. Every Japanese person looked at me because I have blonde hair and blue eyes, but I didn't care - everything was so amazing in the city! Obviously, at this time I was too young to drink (the legal age in Japan is 21, no matter what), so I didn't explore the existence of any bars or clubs. I found pleasure nonetheless, in walks along the river, when visiting the Kokura castle, and divulging in Japanese culture. You can see the Kokura Castle here in this link: www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/japanese-castles/kokura-castle and a photo here:

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There were many places I loved in the city. "Riverwalk" had plenty of shops and restaurants and a beautiful river. At night, this was the place to be: a walk on the bridge over the river was awesome.

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A short bus ride took you to a huge shopping center called "Izutsuya" where I went many times to buy chocolate! I spent hours browsing through the bookstores, especially all the different Manga books and Anime cartoons, which I'm really interested in. There was also a district in the city where the shops were more traditional, where I bought some Japanese style pyjamas that I still have today and they are so comfortable! I also visited so many beautiful temples, which are places full of solitude and thought.

I enjoyed trying the different types of Japanese food during my trip. Personally, I love Japanese food but trust me, you haven't tried it until you eat some in Japan! The fish, the noodles, the soup, everything was delicious! Even the raw fish was a delight. In most Japanese restaurants you have to decide what you want to eat before entering the restaurant. You have to look at plastic versions of the food shown in restaurant windows, and then buy a food ticket in a machine before entering. Once sat down, you eat the food and go, because you pay first. I also loved the Japanese food made by my host mum: it was so delicious! One speciality from Japan that I loved was "Yaki-Nikku, " which is a special kind of restaurant and it's so delicious! They sit you on tables that have big grills and you order raw meat dishes instead of cooked ones, and you cook the meat yourself on the grills in front of you, just the way you like them!

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Being a student in a Japanese secondary school was in fact, an experience in itself. At the start I was very scared, I had to wear strange uniform, even different shoes to wear inside the school! The classes were so difficult to understand, but I enjoyed learning Japanese calligraphy and Japanese art at least. I was terrified of not making any friends, but I soon met people who had the same interests as me. Fortunately, they were able to show me some of the hidden gems inside the city, such as the best restaurants, the best karaoke and even the best concerts. These people made my life fun, especially when I did not understand a word that the teachers said. My friends introduced me to the Japanese thing "Pirikura". "Pirikura" is going into a photo booth with your friends, taking pictures in different poses, and then drawing on the pictures with electronic pencils to take fantasy pictures. It was a lot of fun and every Japanese student does it!

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My host parents were good enough to take me on some trips during my stay. I went to the top of Mount Aso, which is an active volcano! The views were spectacular from there. I also had the opportunity to go to a mountain near my house by a cable car. There were the most spectacular views of Kitakyushu from up there - it was so exciting! I also had the traditional experience of visiting the thermal baths, which were so relaxing, I could have fallen asleep! It was like being cooked in a lobster pot.

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My host parents also took me on an emotional visit to Hiroshima. Here I had the opportunity to visit the museum that houses objects left behind from the nuclear bomb, as well as the remains of buildings that were strong enough to survive. It was very emotional to come here, and when I looked at all the shrines to those who died, it really made me think. It was visits like this that make me think more deeply about how I live my own life at times. There was a large shrine to a little girl who had died from radiation poisoning, and she was covered in paper cranes, origami, because she had promised to make a few thousand of them. The shrines are still covered in paper cranes to this day.

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During my stay in Japan I had so many good times, but I also had difficult times as well. I was saddened when my host mother and I argued because of cultural differences, sometimes she thought I was lazy, when I didn't really understand what to do. I also remember how uncomfortable I felt going to a Japanese wedding and how sad I was celebrating my 18th birthday and Christmas without my family. But the good times outweigh the bad ones, and the celebration of a traditional Japanese New Year more than made up for it. I dressed up in a kimono!

It would probably be the longest story in the universe if I told you all the things I did in Japan, all the friends I made, and the experiences I had. But all I know is that it was the best experience of my life, and if I had the chance, I would go to Kitakyushu again - you wouldn't have to ask me twice!

Kitakyushu is a beautiful city with many things to do. It also has its own amusement park! I would recommend it to anyone, as Kitakyushu maintains Japanese culture very much over the big city near Fukuoka (which is very good and comfortable for foreigners), which is a nice and wonderful city.

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If you ever visit Kitakyushu, I would recommend these things:

1. A trip to Riverwalk (especially at night! )
2. A trip to the huge Izutsuya store
3. Do Purikura!
4. Go to Karaoke
5. Eat Yaki-nikku
6. Drink sake (a very strong Japanese liqueur! )
7. Visit the shrines and temples
8. Relax in the hot springs

If you would like to know more about Kitakyushu, here I have a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitakyushu

For me, Japan will always have a special place in my heart.

Until next time, thank you!