|
| |
 Conrad Troha Jr.
|
 |
2008-09 Outbound to Japan
Hometown:
Palm Coast, Florida
School: Flagler
Palm Coast
High School, Palm Coast, Florida
Sponsor:
Flagler Beach Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida
Host: Okayama-Korakuen
Rotary Club, District 2690, Japan
|
|
Bio
|
| August 26 Journal - "I
am bigger than they anticipated. I hit my head on EVERYTHING! I have hit my
head on the light above the dinner table...all the doorways in my house, and
even a ceiling or two." |
| September 20 Journal - "I
was the first one off the train and clumsy me (it was too early...) stepped
in between the train and the platform, leading to me face planting in front
of EVERYONE!" |
| October 30 Journal - "I
have to say I love my chopsticks! It's simply more fun eating with them.
Hah, when I get back to the US I will continue to use my chopsticks, I
refuse to use a fork!" |
| |
Conrad's Bio
|
 Hello
World,
My name is Conrad Troha and I have lived in Florida for my
entire life! Moved from Daytona (which is where I was born) when I was about
4 and lived in Palm Coast ever since then. I love it here, but I have always
wished that there was a way I could get to see the world...
THAT is why I'm so absolutely excited and honored to have
been accepted as a Rotary exchange student! I'm fairly well rounded and very
easy to get along with. About 5 times a week I attend jukido jujitsu, it is
the thing I enjoy most in my life! It has helped me with friends, grades,
and even home life, definitely the most beneficial thing that I have ever
done! After my training sessions at the dojo (training hall) I stay to help
the youth of Palm Coast gain respect for themselves and others and improve
themselves in their daily lives as they train.
When I get back from my exchange I want to be a teacher.
But I plan to teach language so I will study Spanish in college and I will
study the language of wherever I am going so that maybe I could teach it as
well! I have never been more excited to leave home in my life! :) |
August 26 Journal
|
|
Japan...where do we begin?...
Ah yes! the airport! So it was Friday night and time to
say my goodbyes. The truth is that I didn't think that it would be as hard
it was, I would say to myself, it is only a year, I will be back in no time.
Haha..yeah right. I said "I love you and goodbye" to my mother at home then
my dad at the airport...both times letting out more tears than expected.
Nevertheless I was on the plane to Chicago. 3 hours wasn't
so bad. Met up with an agent from Bokoff-Kaplan in O'Hare and other
outbounds going to Japan! We walked around and got to know each other for
the three hour lay over and I went ahead and exchanged for about 9000 yen.
Before we knew it, it was time to go, we boarded the plane and endured the
13 hour flight to our knew homes. I ended up reading a book and watching a
few movies but do you think that I slept? No way! I couldn't, I was too
energized and excited even though I hadn't slept for a day prior to the
flight. Tokyo, Narita...that was my next stop and where I would say goodbye
to my fellow outbounds. Truth is though that goodbyes never happened, after
we went through customs and immigration we got separated so fast I have no
idea where they went! Nevertheless I found my way to the connecting flight
that would land me about an hour away in Osaka, Itami Airport.
After getting off the plane this is where I was supposed
to meet up with my host family, but coming through Customs I didn't see any
signs or Rotarians at all! I was so confused...so I asked as best as I could
where a telephone was and the airport attendant kindly showed me the way.
After a lot of struggle in figuring out how to use the phone I called my
host father Kobayashi-san. In broken Japanese I told him that I was at the
airport and after much confusion he assured me that he was on his way. Two
and a half hours later a taxi pulled up containing my host mother and father
with a very big greeting! I was so relieved to see them! Come to find out
the next day I had arrived at the airport a day earlier than scheduled! We
are still figuring that one out.....
It took about 2 hours to get to the hotel in Okayama which
my family owned. That is where I would stay the night and after 2 days of no
sleep and stress I would have the best night's sleep of my life. I had a
dream that night of a normal day back home and thought that I was still
there when I awoke the next morning! Then it hit me that I was in Japan!
That first day was hard, I was very homesick, and missed my friends and
family more than you know, I figure it was due to the lack of communication
with anyone in US. My parents were worried too, I know, seeing how it took
me a day or two to figure out how to call internationally from my house.
Thankfully though everything worked itself out. I have to say though that
the food is very strange here. I had Tako (octopus) for the first time, and
we went out to the super market and bought some fresh octopus tentacles for
dinner hah, I have to say though it wasn't bad. It has been 5 days and I
have been so many places I don't even know where to start.....
Korakuen garden - My first day there my host family took
me to one of the most famous gardens in Japan. It was absolutely beautiful -
the fish, the birds, the trees, and Okayama castle! That is where I had my
first cup of traditional Japanese green tea and kibi dango. It is....rather
bitter, kind of like drinking mashed up leaves I could swear they made me
eat grass too.....anyway! Unfortunately I didn't have a camera at this point
because I left mine at home....took me a day or two to get my host parents
to understand that so the next day, me and a Rotarian and my host father
went to the electronics store and I bought a Japanese camera, luckily it has
English settings or I would be done for!
Joypolis - This is a very very big arcade close to the
supermarket in Okayama, my host mother was showing it to me asking me if I
knew about anime and about sonic (there is a giant gold sonic statue in
there!) and mario hah, it was interesting. So she asked me if I played
arcade games and I told her yes so she asked me to show her by playing a
gundam game....I lost....very badly....
7/11 - That's right 7/11! It is a convenient store
here...not a gas station and it was sooooo different. That is where my
father took me to get lunch the other day, we had Onigiri (rice cakes). The
best food of my life....I could eat onigiri allllllll day long. Oh and if
you ever go to Japan and are eating rice, do NOT leave rice in your bowl
when you are done...you better eat it ALL! I learned that the hard way....
Okayama University - It is a very famous school in Japan,
right down the hill from my high school. It is MASSIVE! My high school is
uphill so when you look over the side you get a beautiful view of all of
Okayama city, it is absolutely amazing! I was introduced to my high school
principal and vice principal. And there was a gentleman there that I thought
was Japanese until he said "Hi, I'm Zack". I was shocked, until he told me
he was the English teacher there! He is American and extremely helpful. They
are going to put me into a language school down the hill from my high school
to help me every day and they had to measure me for my seifuku (school
uniform). I am bigger than they anticipated. I hit my head on EVERYTHING
too! I have hit my head on the light above the dinner table...all the
doorways in my house and even a ceiling or two...
According to Zack sensei, jetlag takes a few weeks to wear
off and I am still extremely tired. School starts on Monday, I hope that I
am prepared, hah I hope I can even find my way there! I have to walk to the
train station and then ride a train to the bus stop where I will ride the
bus to school....that is not going to go well I already know xD. But I am
taking pictures of everything, my family laughs at me when I stop to take
pictures of things like like signs and vending machines, but hey it's all
new to me! :)
Everything here is sugoi (amazing) I don't know how else
to explain it. The Japanese are interesting people, they don't need to worry
that cigarettes and beer are in vending machines because they know that no
one under age will even think of taking them, I haven't seen one police
officer in the time that I have been here. And I have never seen so many
bikes either! The sidewalks are lined with bicycles - it is insane, everyone
here rides their bike. Needless to say I haven't seen one fat Japanese
person yet :D
Everyone bows and says thank you, everyone is polite and
smiles. It is truly amazing. I have befriended my dictionary as well, I
don't go anywhere without him, and the Rotarians here were kind enough to
give me an electronic dictionary to use during my stay even though I can't
read it :) Anyway, my rambling has to end abruptly due to the fact that it
is dinner time and I have to go. More entries will come soon and so will
some pictures when I figure out how to get them onto the computer! Arigatou
Rotary for everything, I already know that this is going to be the best year
of my life! Until next time journal....
Ja mata ne
-Conrad |
September 20 Journal
|
|
OK everyone.....It's me again!
All in all it is very hard to organize my thoughts over
the period of a month but I will do my best! Where did I leave off last
time.......
Oh YEAH! School! Now you might be thinking oh woopdy doo
it's school....but if you are, you are COMPLETELY wrong! School in Japan has
more differences than I can imagine, and for the most part, I like school
here way better! I have to wake up every morning at about 7 to eat breakfast
and put on my uniform and leave the house by about 7:30, 10 minute walk to
the train station, train ride to the central station in Okayama city then
it's on a bus to school. Worst experience I have had with the train thus far
was a couple of days ago...I was the first one off the train and clumsy me
(it was too early...) stepped in between the train and the platform leading
to me face planting in front of EVERYONE! My phone flew out of my front
pocket and both my bags flew out of my hand....I was alright...but boy I
will never be more embarrassed than I was then....
On to a happier memory! =) School starts at about 8:50 and
there are 7 classes everyday.....the problem is that every day the schedule
is completely different D= I have to keep mine with me and look at it every
day between every class! Nonetheless it is a private school but it's more
laid back than Florida public schools! I was amazed when our math teacher
just didn't feel like showing up to class one day...so he didn't...we just
hung out and talked until the class was over.
My absolutely most favorite class is my 書道 (calligraphy)
class! Yes I said calligraphy...that means a piece of paper, a brush and
some ink! It is amazing. I went as far as to join the Calligraphy club after
school every week! Nonetheless, every day is a new challenge, Japanese is
difficult and easy at the same time, some things make a lot of sense and
others I just don't understand at all =) Some things I can't help but laugh
at though...my teacher was amazed when I told him that every street in
Florida has a name... That's right...only main streets have names in Japan!
(with the exception of Kyoto)
Ah, so a few days ago I was able to officially say that I
turned 18 on the other side of the planet! :) My birthday was a blast, the
kids made a cool card for me and signed it, my host parents bought me a
birthday cake and got me presents - it was a lot of fun!
Every day my Japanese gets just a tiny bit better, but I
still have an incredibly long way to go...it's amazing how one word can mean
4 or 5 different things....somewhat aggravating too -.-; I think everyday
that my Japanese gets better my English gets worse though...'tis a funny
cycle....
Today is the first day that I am out in Japan by myself as
well!!!!! I can simply walk around and just enjoy the sights...check out
some cool stores or go to the arcade (which I might do when I am done with
this ^^)
My cellphone is my best friend by the way....hahahahah it
comes with me everywhere! It's pretty sweet, I don't use the internet on it
though simply because I am paying for it annnnnd....yeah no thanks, but I
like to use it to write messages to mah Japanese buddies....I like to think
of it as a study tool. =P
My school was also kind enough to hook me up with some
Japanese lessons at a school not far....just a bus ride down the hill! (My
school is basically on a mountain, thus I have the most amazing view of all
of Okayama city from my classroom!) But yeah those lessons will start first
thing next week, hopefully my Japanese will pick up a little faster after
that point.
I have now decided that the greatest invention in the
history of mankind is Onigiri...I'll explain: You have your favorite kind of
fish - for example my favorite onigiri is tuna and mayo...then that is
wrapped in a rice ball...that rice ball is then wrapped in seaweed...even if
you don't like fish or sushi, I guarantee that you will like Onigiri....it's
that amazing....I am going to buy as much onigiri and bring it with me
before I have to leave Japan in 10 months!
There are Konbini (convenient stores) literally on every
block...if you have a wallet and two feet to get you there you can go and
buy anything you want to eat for extremely cheap, it's rather amusing. I
have found myself making quite frequent trips to the local Konbini. (Yes, to
get me some Onigiri!!!!) heh
My house!
Right....Japanese homes are extremely compact...it's
rather amusing - there are secret compartments in the floors and ceilings so
that they can store stuff, yes...it's really that small! Hhahahaha
TV
Talk about amusing, they have some of the craziest game
shows you will ever see in your life! It's so funny...I will sit and stare
at the TV for hours trying to understand what is going on...But at the
moment it is Sumo season so you could say I have been rather attached to
television. Sumo is incredibly big in Japan, but the reason I like it so
much is that you can see Japan almost embodied within Sumo...the actual sumo
match is only one aspect...a real treat....
!!!!!!
I have been here for an entire month! I have no idea where
the time is going...it's insane...It definitely is going to be over before I
know it, which is why I have to go out and explore the wonders of Japan!
Next I think I will visit a local book store and see if I can't pick up some
(more or less) easy Japanese reads so I can study!
Until next time Everyone!
今良侍 - Conrad (that's my kanji name) =)
P.S. Still haven't gotten used to the cockroaches in my
house xD (Not a joke...) |
October 30 Journal
|
|
Hi everyone!
So it turns out I'm not very good at writing these
things...my head goes blank and I cant remember what I did xD not to mention
the fact that while I'm typing in English I forget English words and use bad
English grammar.....but here goes....
A lot has happened this past month and it has been
incredible! I'm slightly worried about the fact that I'm not even the
slightest bit homesick....but I have a feeling that the homesickness feeling
is going to come in a month when I have to change host families for the
first time...I'm absolutely dreading it. At this point, when I am at home I
actually feel like I am at home! It's hard to explain, but you know that
feeling you get after a long day - you walk into your house and you're
simply relieved that your finally home and can relax? Well that's finally
how I feel when I am walking up the hill on our incredibly narrow street
knowing that I am almost at the house that I have been living at for the
past two months and I am almost with the family that has been so incredibly
kind to me no matter what the circumstances. I didn't think that I could
develop such an attachment to people I hardly know. My host mom is a blast,
me and her make fun of each other almost nonstop....it's a lot of fun! =)
School has become a lot easier, I like gym class the
best....It's the easiest to understand! We were playing handball the other
day and the ball almost went outta bounds so I dove for it and threw it back
in, everybody started screaming 'sugoi sugoi' and started clapping...I dunno,
I just felt like 'I was part of the team'... sounds corny but it is an
incredible feeling to be accepted by my classmates, absolutely incredible! I
went and hung out with the girl from my class the other day, we went to the
arcade and she ended up forcing me into the purikura....(basically a camera
room, and after you take pictures you can draw on them and make
them.....unique xD) it was interesting....after that I proceeded to win a
giant stuffed stitch doll from one of the grabber machines...took me about
1000 yen....I was determined -.-
AH! So I went to the onsen for the first time about
3 weeks ago! Needless to say it was highly awkward! We went into the little
locker room (this onsen wasn't coed by the way) and found our
lockers, then my host father proceeded to strip right then and there! I
looked around and their were naked old men everywhere! I hadn't even noticed
it! So....I took my clothes off and had my little hand towel covering what
was left of my dignity, then we went on into the shower room. It wasn't
weird to them though, fathers had their children in there and it simply
wasn't anything abnormal. There are little stations in the shower area where
you sit on a tiny little stool and there are shampoo and body soap provided,
and you wash.....everything, total scrub down. After that you proceed to the
actual hot spring itself. At this point the fact that I was naked didn't
bother me anymore...It just was. And in the hot spring, there are various
kinds of hot springs - some are outside some are inside, some have massaging
bubbles and there are even little personal tubs you can relax in if you
want. Come to think of it....I really rather enjoyed myself! And am
definitely looking forward to going again! (Bradley when you come to visit
next summer I'm taking you to one whether you like it or not! xD)
So I definitely think I'm going to be fat by the time I
get back to America...after dinner every night me and my host mother make
sure to enjoy some Ice cream! Just for future reference....Japanese Ice
cream is 10 times more delicious than American ice cream! I came to find out
though that sweet foods are associated with women and bitter foods are
associated with men....that made me sad...because I love sweets! There is a
kind of chocolate in the conbini (convenience store) that's actually
called 'men's bitter chocolate' ......It's disgusting! X(...........call me
a girl if you want, I like the sweet stuff! Speaking of bitter foods though,
I have become rather accustomed to tea without sugar, traditional green tea,
and nearly black coffee. As disgusting as that sounds...it's not half bad
once you get used to it! One thing I haven't gotten used to is the slabs of
fish they put in front of you and expect you to eat! It's not the taste
either, I'm actually rather fond of the taste of raw fish.....it's when they
give me cooked slabs of fish and there are little bones in it! I feel like
they are trying to kill me, it takes forever for me to eat too because I
have to find the little bones and pull em out, I don't know how they do
it..... I haven't mastered the art of noodle eating either....the Japanese
eat their noodles really really fast, I'm pretty sure they don't chew, they
simply inhale.....But I have to say I love my chopsticks! It's simply more
fun eating with them. Hah, when I get back to the US I will continue to use
my chopsticks, I refuse to use a fork! >=D
I can't believe it's already in the third month though! I
am rather disappointed in my Japanese thus far, but I know that it's just me
being picky with myself! There are times when I understand what people are
saying without thinking about it and times when I feel like its my first day
in Japan again! It's a funny system...but I love when I can't remember
English words! It's amazing! I was talking with a couple of other exchange
students in English and forgot how to say vending machine.....'uhhh uhhhh.....you
know that thing the drinks come out of! x(' It was hilarious! Because I
would say it in Japanese and they had no clue what I was talking
about.....=) Every Monday and Friday I have a special Japanese class down
the hill at a language school for exchange students, there are only two
other people in that class both from America and their Japanese stinks =) so
the class is extremely easy for me, the teacher goes ahead and makes up
harder reading and writing assignments for me. And I just found out that
apparently they want to throw me in a Japanese class at the university every
Thursday to see how I do ;; Not gonna be fun!
I'm getting too used to the walking on the opposite side
of the road thing....I have a feeling that when I get back to America it's
not going to be safe for me to drive.....I'll be driving into oncoming
traffic! =) I learned not too long ago that to get your driving license in
Japan it cost like 200,000 yen.....that's like 2000 dollars! I was
appalled....but it's for the driving school, which is apparently really
difficult, but it's a good thing they go to driving school in Japan because
the roads are incredibly narrow! And I don't know how they do it but
Japanese people can fit the biggest cars in the littlest places at
incredibly high speeds.....it's scary to say the least....
All of my friends think that I am crazy...I LOVE the fall
weather! It is absolutely amazing! nice and chilly, the leaves are
absolutely beautiful! It's an amazing experience. The mountains are covered
in forest so it is absolutely amazing, something you definitely can't see in
Florida!
I went to Osaka about a week ago as well. It was with my
grandpa's host club though, so I felt really awkward....luckily I had my
host mom there to keep me company and talk too. We went to one of Japan's
most famous aquariums. It was absolutely amazing and beautiful. Seen
everything from penguins to otters to sharks and octopus to crabs.....it was
neat! But a little strange cuz my host mom (the entire time) kept pointing
at things and telling me how badly she wanted to eat it....highly
disturbing!
Two days ago, with my host club we went to see an old
traditional style play called kyougen. There actors dialects were
very strong and were very strange, it's the oldest style play in Japan so it
was very difficult to pick up what they were saying, but even though I
couldn't understand the verbal part of the play I understood the body
language and I found myself laughing along with everyone else. Came to find
out later that because of the way the actors were speaking it was even hard
for the Japanese to understand....I didn't feel so bad after that =)
And today I discovered the book off! Its basically a store
with any comic or video game you can think of at incredibly low prices!
Needless to say I was in heaven! ^^ Call me a dork, but I have found that
reading comics is an excellent way of studying the Japanese language and
picking up kanji and different expressions!
I have to say, though I am not homesick....I do miss my
friends and family dearly! I can't wait to see you all again! But at the
same time...I really don't want to have to leave my new family....
I am torn....
|
|
