Zoo!

9/18/2010
So I woke up this morning at Mizutani sensei's house, and then I went down to breakfast. She gave me a very large breakfast, it was really good. We decided to leave at about 10:00 for the zoo, we were going to walk. But then, I'm not really sure how it happened, but Mizutani sensei's friend came over, and took us to the zoo. So then we walked around the zoo for I think 4 hours. It is a very very big zoo, and there is a lot to see! I think it's the second largest zoo in Japan, it's called the Higashiyama doubutsuen. (doubutsuen means zoo)
I think my favorite thing was the koalas. I was a little disappointed that they were all sleeping, so I couldn't see their faces, but they all looked sooo adorable!
I also really liked the elephants. they had elephants from Thailand, and one elephant from Africa. The one from Africa was a lot bigger, but I liked the ones from Thailand better, they had really pretty eyes.
Another thing I really liked was the lion. Only the female lion was out, and she was sleeping, but the male lion was in this tiny little room, and it was hard to see in there, but he looked very unhappy, he was pacing a lot, and then after we left, we could hear him roaring. I know that this is a sad story, but it was really amazing to see.
Also, I haven't been to a zoo in America since I was rather young, but I don't remember them having as much stuff. the Higashiyama zoo has a ferris wheel, I think a roller coaster, a train guide thing, and a lake with pedal boats. Mizutani sensei said that it was a popular date spot. I did not see anyone there besides little kids and their parents, and couples. I felt a little out of place... but it was fun. Also, we ate some udon at the zoo for lunch. And then later we had some of those snow cone things, except the ones here are so much better than the ones in America! The difference is incredible! If I wasn't so tired right now, I would describe them to you, but I just don't feel up to it at the moment. Just know that they are amazing!
There is also a botanical garden connected to the zoo, so we went there too, and there was a concert going on at the time. Apparently it was done by firemen, I'm still not quite sure why though... They played a song from anpan man, and that song from totoro, and an arashi medley. it was amazing!
After that concert, we walked around the botanical garden a little bit, but we didn't see much because we were both pretty exhausted. We got to the zoo at about 10:30 am, and left at about 3:00 pm. We rode the subway, and then walked back to mizutani sensei's house from the subway station. It was such a hot day....
When we got back, I went back up to my room, intending to read my history book, but I fell asleep...
After my nap, I went downstairs for dinner, I had a whole bunch of inarizushi for dinner, it was really yummy. Mizutani sensei's husband had come home before my nap. He was away at their country home farming. So he brought back a bunch of vegetables with him. During dinner, Mizutani sensei kept asking me if I ate certain vegetables, and she started a bag of them for me to take home with me. Also, she had me eat an umeboshi that she had made from the plums they grow in their yard. She told me that you're supposed to eat one a day to keep your tummy healthy, so she put a bunch of them in some Tupperware and threw that in the bag with my vegetables.
I then brought down all of my bags, and was putting my shoes on, and Mizutani sensei gave me a cell phone charm, and a notepad thing. Then we drove to this place where I was told that my host sister would be doing a live show. Mizutani sensei dropped me off with my host mom, and akiko san, her best friend.
I have to say, it was quite embarrassing walking into that place with a backpack, a clothes bag, and a grocery bag full of vegetables, but everyone was really nice. I have never been to, seen, or heard of a place like this, so I will have to describe it to you.
We sat in a room that held maybe thirty people, all on couches and stuff. There were tables in front of us for food and drinks that we ordered. There was a piano at the front of the room, and some microphones. there was no stage, it was all on the same level as the crowd, and not far away, it was a small room. The waitresses were all dressed really nicely, which I found sort of odd, because they weren't in uniforms or anything, they were all wearing different pretty dresses. I soon found out why though, they all sing. When the show started, all of the waitresses plus my host sister sang an opening song. Then each of the waitresses did a solo, and then it was my host sister's show. She is a really amazing singer. She even sang one song in english, which I was grateful for, because I could understand it. Although trying to translate the lyrics was a fun game too.
During the intermission, the waitresses and my host sister came out to talk to the crowd, when my host sister came to our table, she asked me about the zoo, and said that it was alright if I fell asleep there. haha.
When we got home, Miyu and Taiki were here (the grandkids). I took a shower, and when I got out of the shower, and came to say goodnight to my host parents, I found my host sister in the dining room. My host mom was putting the grandkids to bed. My host sister then gave me a magazine with Nino on the cover, and like a bazillion pictures of arashi inside :D I was so happy!!! so then I said goodnight, and went to my room. But, as I mentioned in my last post, Arashi was on tv, so I stayed up to watch them, and wrote one post while I was up.
It's now morning, and my host dad isn't here. I think they said he left last night...? to take his friend to the hospital. Taiki and Miyu are still here. Taiki isn't scared of me anymore. When I woke up and went downstairs, he said "ohayou," and when Miyu didn't say anything/hid in her mom, he said "Miyu hazukashii."
Later, while I was eating breakfast, I was talking to my host sister, and she told me that for some reason Taiki really loves going to the convenience store, and he apparently suggested that I go to the convenience store with him. he's so sweet. haha ^^