From November 23 to 25, I stayed at my new host family’s house. Honestly, I wanted to spend it with my past host family last semester, but they already left for Spain, so this time I spent with my roommate, Mika’s host family. They treated me kindly, so I had a really good time with them. They prepared a lot of food of Thanksgiving for us for 3 days and they took us it “Black Friday” at midnight and fireworks near Coeur d’Alene in Idaho.
On First day, we made a pecan pie and on next day, we made a banana cream pie for Thanksgiving. Also Host father baked a big Turkey. It was a first time to see and eat pecans, but the taste was really good and I liked that. Also, it was a first time to make pies and it was so fun. On Next day, we went to church and everyone brought some food and ate them. There was a lot of food I have never eaten, such as stuffing, deviled eggs, and cornbread. I was curious about these kinds of food, so I tried every food as much as possible. But the taste of every food was good, I thought I was really happy to experience Thanksgiving food. While we were in church, some people spoke to us, also while eating I could communicate with people who are in church. It was also^ good opportunity not only eating but also to introduce myself and interact with American people. Whenever people want to eat, they eat these kinds of food, both children and adults played volleyball. Before such an experience, I thought Thanksgiving is formal, but people hung out together and enjoyed talking over the meal. On Third day they cooked more Thanksgiving food, because we were still staying, so they gave us more experiences to cook Thanksgiving food. We cooked turkey again, mushed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and corn bread. Through the cooking, I was asked by host parents, “Do you have any similar holiday in Japan?”, so I answered, “It’s New Year’s Day.” I explained about Osechi which Japanese prepare food for 2 or 3 days and eat them, praying for fortune on New Year’s Day. We could exchange about the food culture between America and Japan. It was very interesting. On the day, we set the table and candles, like I imagined before and we surrounded the table and ate.
On Thursday at midnight, we left home and went shopping, called “Black Friday”. My host family had a lot of advertisements and went to 3 stores. I have never heard about Black Friday just before Thanksgiving, so I was curious. I was also asked by my host mother, do you have similar bargain in Japan? , so I answered, yes, we make a long line to buy cheap merchandises early morning on New Year’s Day. However, like Black Friday, Japanese went shopping at midnight, so it was also a rare experience and I could observe the atmosphere of Black Friday.
On Last day of home stay, my host family took us to a Thanksgiving parade and fireworks in Idaho. 30,000 people who gathered downtown and near Coeur d’Alene watched big fireworks. I have never predicted I can watch fireworks in the U.S., so I was really excited. Even just after Thanksgiving, there were decorations of Christmas. People count down and turn on lights and fireworks are shot off over the lake at the same time, as I imagined before. It was fantastic.
In conclusion, if I were in Japan, I couldn’t experience such a valuable experience. I appreciated my parents and my host family. I had a good opportunity to touch American culture through the homestay.
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| Enchanting Fireworks! |
On First day, we made a pecan pie and on next day, we made a banana cream pie for Thanksgiving. Also Host father baked a big Turkey. It was a first time to see and eat pecans, but the taste was really good and I liked that. Also, it was a first time to make pies and it was so fun. On Next day, we went to church and everyone brought some food and ate them. There was a lot of food I have never eaten, such as stuffing, deviled eggs, and cornbread. I was curious about these kinds of food, so I tried every food as much as possible. But the taste of every food was good, I thought I was really happy to experience Thanksgiving food. While we were in church, some people spoke to us, also while eating I could communicate with people who are in church. It was also^ good opportunity not only eating but also to introduce myself and interact with American people. Whenever people want to eat, they eat these kinds of food, both children and adults played volleyball. Before such an experience, I thought Thanksgiving is formal, but people hung out together and enjoyed talking over the meal. On Third day they cooked more Thanksgiving food, because we were still staying, so they gave us more experiences to cook Thanksgiving food. We cooked turkey again, mushed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and corn bread. Through the cooking, I was asked by host parents, “Do you have any similar holiday in Japan?”, so I answered, “It’s New Year’s Day.” I explained about Osechi which Japanese prepare food for 2 or 3 days and eat them, praying for fortune on New Year’s Day. We could exchange about the food culture between America and Japan. It was very interesting. On the day, we set the table and candles, like I imagined before and we surrounded the table and ate.
On Thursday at midnight, we left home and went shopping, called “Black Friday”. My host family had a lot of advertisements and went to 3 stores. I have never heard about Black Friday just before Thanksgiving, so I was curious. I was also asked by my host mother, do you have similar bargain in Japan? , so I answered, yes, we make a long line to buy cheap merchandises early morning on New Year’s Day. However, like Black Friday, Japanese went shopping at midnight, so it was also a rare experience and I could observe the atmosphere of Black Friday.
On Last day of home stay, my host family took us to a Thanksgiving parade and fireworks in Idaho. 30,000 people who gathered downtown and near Coeur d’Alene watched big fireworks. I have never predicted I can watch fireworks in the U.S., so I was really excited. Even just after Thanksgiving, there were decorations of Christmas. People count down and turn on lights and fireworks are shot off over the lake at the same time, as I imagined before. It was fantastic.
In conclusion, if I were in Japan, I couldn’t experience such a valuable experience. I appreciated my parents and my host family. I had a good opportunity to touch American culture through the homestay.