Apple pizza

This weekend was awesome! I was at such a loss of what to do because it's hard to contact everyone. Most people don't have a cellphone here and lots of people don't have internet. But it ended up being fun regardless!

On Friday, I went shopping with some friends and I, the geek that I am, bought the DS & Wii magazine. On Saturday, I had waterslide noodles (nagashi somen)! Well, basically, noodles that go down a bamboo waterslide that you have to catch and put in your soup. I then played Pokemon way too much with Matthew. Later that day, I went out with my host family to look for Tanabata (7/7 holiday) celebrations but all we found were hosts and hostess, who were still really fun to look at. Then on Sunday, I went to the Ishikawa zoo with Cristina and her host mom. SO CUTE. I wish I had brought my camera. But I DID bring it to this awesome pizza place where we had apple pizza (on the right!)

I'm having such an awesome time here and I really hope I can try for a year-long fellowship in the next couple of years! There are so many aspects of Japan that I love so much. I wonder what it is exactly? I love the tiny everyday things like the food, the music, the tv dramas. I also really value the sense of pride Japanese people all seem to have. I feel like many Americans lose it, or don't prioritize things correctly. But this could because my life in America consisted of being in a magnet bubble in a high school where everyone else was shortsighted and ended up with babies or murders or gang memberships while the bubble went onto Ivy Leagues. Whereas my life in Japan is in a program of top-ranked schools, with caring approved host families. I'd probably feel different if I grew up here, and probably feel suppressed and controlled. That's why my mom left Japan. But then I, as Wilma, could have never had a normal life in Japan because I'd always look like a foreigner so I'd always be treated differently. People automatically speak English to me here, though I understand why. In a ways I really like the homogeneity because then at the end of the day, you can't tell the difference between a billionaire and a convenience store worker.

These are sort of controversial ideas though! I'm sure most people woudn't agree that homogeneity is the solution to racism. But though ultimately, imagine 1000 years in the future when everyone's of mixed race and you don't have to bubble what you are into a scantron anymore and have that affect where you go. Anyways fun stuff. I hope this posts answers your question mom. Until next time!

Oh and I've allowed commenting for everyone. So anyone, feel free to comment!