A friend from Japan

Postby **Kireihana** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:45 am

Ha, I couldn't think of a good title...

Anyway, my cousin's family has been hosting a Japanese transfer student for the last couple of weeks (unfortunately her last host family didn't treat her very well, so my aunt and uncle were able to take her in). They came to visit us this weekend and we had a blast!

I now own a Japanese fan, two magazines, and some traditional art that Hiroko gave to me. (I gave her a Seventeen magazine and an American Shonen Jump (she found it very amusing)) We also made copies of each other's CDs (I copied Hikaru Utada and Spitz) I couldn't believe she didn't speak any English when she first arrived here. It was so fun to learn about the major differences between Japanese and American culture and traditions.

Anyway I just thought you guys would be interested in hearing about that. If you want I can scan some pictures of the magazines and stuff.

Oh, and I can type our names in Japanese:

ケリー
(Carrie)

ひろこ
(Hiroko)

クリスティアーナ
(Christiana - my cousin)

スピッツ
色色ごろも
(Spitz, Iroirogoromo - the name of their CD)　

Postby **Hoshika** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:36 am

This is awesome! This is HUGE! Ah, how I envy you. Yes, post everything! Tell us all about it.

Postby **Debitt** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:46 am

^_^ Awesome! I'm sure that was quite the enlightening experience~ :hug:

I'd love to hear more about it.

Postby **haru_bay_nay** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:54 am

DUDE!!! You're so lucky!!! Do you have a pic of her?

Website · Postby **Alice** » Tue May 31, 2005 12:36 pm

Actually, something very similar to that happened with our family. The exchange student went to live with one of my mom's friends after her first family... somehow didn't work out... and my brothers and I went out to eat sushi with her once or twice. I also loaned her some manga and stuff.

Postby **Kireihana** » Tue May 31, 2005 3:56 pm

Here are some scans of the magazines she gave me. The first one is　Cawaii ( カワイイ ) , a girls fashion magazine. The second one is Screen, a movie/tv magazine that has tons of pictures of actors and posters (mostly Hollywood films) but in Japanese.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Tue May 31, 2005 5:28 pm

XD thats totally rad!

Postby **Hoshika** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:24 pm

Ah! Just one more thing which Utada Hikaru album did you get? Was it Deep River or one of her singles?

(Hikaru fan... sort of)

Postby **haru_bay_nay** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 12:54 pm

Man...that's so awesome!!! The closest experience like this that I've had was a while back when 2 Malaysian women came to live with us for part of a week. They were in some International Rotary thing my mom was involved in. Their American names were Melanie and Michelle(they changed their names so that they could be pronounced easier, I guess). Melanie was surprised and amused at my anime posters; she didn't think it was big here. :lol:

They were cool... They both knew some Japanese, as well, and gave me some cool Malaysian stuff(including a totally frad pair of nice chopsticks! Way better than the cheapo kind ya get at restaurants).

Still, a Japanese girl would be better. Do you have anything else you can show us?

Postby **Kireihana** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:56 pm

Ah, sorry you guys for not replying sooner but I was out of town. Anyway I don't really have any other stuff to show, so I figured I'd scan some pages from the magazines. In order:

1. A taste of the Japanese fashion scene... I think "Jane" is a clothing brand.
2. Ack, Ugg boots are everywhere!! I think she's wearing an Abercrombie sweater too.
3. It's true, the Japanese have the cutest cell phones. *envy*

Hoshika: The Hikaru CD was her Singles Vol. 1 album. It had most of her popular songs like Traveling, Hikari (from Kingdom Hearts), and Sakura Drops.

Postby **Kireihana** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:58 pm

Ok, some more scans! I didn't realize that you could only have 3 per post (look at previous post for the ones from Cawaii). These are from the Screen magazine:

1. Some Japanese movie posters (there were pages and pages of these; I only chose 3 of the most popular ones)
2. Interesting how they call it "Mr. Incredible" instead of "The Incredibles". Hiroko said that it is pronounced like "Incurediburu"

Postby **Anime Dad** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:19 pm

That's awesome. My kids have had the opportunity to have Japanese exchange students stay, but we haven't been able to do it yet.

However, in my job I have a lot of contact with Japanese suppliers, and i've struck up a friendship with a young Japanese guy who also speaks good English. He's been able to pick up some manga (DBZ actually) and some magazines for my kids.... it's great! He brings it when he comes over on business.

Postby **Heed** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:32 am

I looooove JApanese stuff... when I was in NYC I found this net little Japanese 7-11 type store, except EVERYTHING was imported Japanese stuff.. Japanese Soda, snacks, magazines... the magazines are REALLY thick...

I have a few Japanese fiend sI have met in the area wher eI go to college... I am sad because my one friend Miki is leaving for Tokyo on June 29 and I am goin to Japan on Jul 10 but I won't be able to see her cause I will only be in Tokyo for 2 hrs before leaving for Hamamatsu City... Yeahhh.... I kinda like her too and I think she might like me @_@ We keep in touch with e-mail and AIM... she's good friend ^_^

Postby **Kireihana** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:25 am

Heed wrote:I looooove JApanese stuff... when I was in NYC I found this net little Japanese 7-11 type store, except EVERYTHING was imported Japanese stuff.. Japanese Soda, snacks, magazines... the magazines are REALLY thick...

I have a few Japanese fiend sI have met in the area wher eI go to college... I am sad because my one friend Miki is leaving for Tokyo on June 29 and I am goin to Japan on Jul 10 but I won't be able to see her cause I will only be in Tokyo for 2 hrs before leaving for Hamamatsu City... Yeahhh.... I kinda like her too and I think she might like me @_@ We keep in touch with e-mail and AIM... she's good friend ^_^

I know! I couldn't believe how big their magazines are and how much stuff they have in them! I thought Newtype was unusual; I never thought that all Japanese magazines would be like that.

Hiroko is leaving in two weeks... we're all pretty sad. I only really got to know her for 4 days but we became good friends in that short time. Christi and I promised to some day make it to Japan, but she also said that she plans on coming to America again in the future (though she will be going to college in Japan.)

Postby **Radical Dreamer** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:42 am

Oh my gosh, that LOTR poster is so awesome...!! I wish I could have an exchange student stay at my house! There's actually going to be a Korean exchange student at my school this year, though. Anyways, that's so cool!!

Postby **Kireihana** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:46 am

I'm sorry to dig up this thread again, but I've got some amazing news!

Hiroko left to return to Japan last week. But my cousin called me and told me that on her last day there, Hiroko asked to recieve Christ! My uncle's a youth pastor, but my cousins family never pressured or prodded Hiroko into becoming a Christian; that decision was entirely her own. She said the only reason she hesitated so long was because she was afraid of what her family and friends back in Japan might think. But her parents are totally cool with it.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with everybody. I'd been praying for this and my faith was also encouraged when I heard what God had done. I'm sure that Hiroko would appreciate it if you'd keep her in your prayers.

A friend from Japan

A friend from Japan

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