Ansley Presents Japan

Here is Ansley's essay!

My trip to Japan was a fun experience. It was different than any other trip I’ve been on. I had a lot of fun. I would defiantly go back. My favorite part about my trip to Japan would have been my home stay. I love my host family, and I know that I don’t need to go back as a peace ambassador to see them again. 

The language barer was a little bit difficult because only my host dad, Otousan, spoke English. If I could have changed one thing about my trip to Japan I would have changed the language barer. Even though it was difficult to commutate I still had learned a lot, taught a lot, and had a lot of fun. The languages we speak are what make us different. It’s what makes us individuals.

I really enjoyed meeting the kids at the exchange/marine camp. I really enjoyed playing soccer with them. I met a lot of kids from different countries. I enjoyed exchanging cards even though I ran out on my second day. I wish we could have stayed at the exchange/marine camp for a little longer but have gotten to spend the same amount of time with our host family.

When I was at my host family’s house I didn’t feel the least bit home sick because my host family, kazoku, treated me like a real family member. My host sister, Sue, and I even made up a hand shake. I taught her a few card games like speed and war even though she didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Japanese.

I learned that some of the things we have in America they have in Japan of example: One day my host mom, Okaasan, and my host sister, Sue, took me shopping. I got hungry so they took me to get ice-cream at Cold Stone, which is an ice-cream place that I often go to with my mom and dad.

It was unenviable how close everything was. My Kazoku had one car and they were still able to get around. Sue’s school was in walking distance. My brother’s school was about two miles away, and so was my Otousan’s work. They both rode to school and work by bike every morning.

Like I told my parents I don’t know if my Kazoku’s way of life was different because I was there. They were very kind and treated me like family. I can’t wait for them to come here to America and get to see what Georgia is like. I’m very excide to get to see them again. We’ve sill kept in contact with each other and I still love and miss all of them.

I liked the camp because you got to spend time with kids from different countries. I especially liked the people from Fiji, China, and I guess New Zealand. I liked how in the Marine Camp they put the Atlanta delegation together it felt safer because we were with people we knew. I didn’t like how in the Exchange Camp they separated us from our delegation because before I would go and do well anything I would go and find somebody I knew to go with me. Also the language barer in the rooms was difficult because only one person spoke English and my room leader barley spoke English.

I will say that I thought that the Marine camp was way more organized than the Exchange Camp. I liked how you got to go up and pick the food in the Marine Camp, but in the Exchange Camp you got your food in a box and ate in a crowded room. I had fun at both though.

by: Ansley McCoy