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Last Family Night At The Osaki's

From February through May, I lived with my third family, the Osaki's. All in all, I had a wonderful experience, and I know that I want to keep in touch with them as best as I can. There were times in those months, when I was convinced that the didn't like me, though. Eventually I realized it was just differences in cultures. One thing that this family excels at is family life. There are 4 kids, Yu, Kaho, Maako, and Hikari, 2 parents, 2 grandparents, and 1 cousin and her mother. Even though at some occasions I can't help but be shocked at the way they treat each other, the majority of the time I am amazed at the level of togetherness they have. Probably once every two weeks, usually on a Saturday or Sunday night, the entire family gets together for a big dinner. Sometimes, they have a reason to have a big dinner. For example, when I arrived at their house, when my Mom and Nana came for a visit, when I left, and when the Short Stay exchange students came to Japan. For most of the time, they just hold the dinner for not set reason. Unfortunately, I never got around to putting up an entry about exactly what happens while I lived with the family. It's unfortunate, because, these dinners are alot of fun. I love spending family time with Ebuki, Maako, and Hikari. But I was in luck. Because I leave in 12 days, and because the Osaki's son, Yu, is heading to new Jersey for a few weeks, they decided to have a double Sayonara Party. It would be my last Osaki Family Night, and the last time I would see Yu while staying in Japan. At 6:20, Hikari called my cell phone to tell me to meet Okasan at the Sunny Mart outside my host house. I quickly got dressed, and ready and ran out the front door for the giant Store. Knowing the Osaki's, they would be be late, but I still wanted to be ready. As I waited on a bench outside the Supermarket, I took pleasure in knowing that I didn't have Yosakoi practice tonight. Don't get me wrong, I love dancing. But not when the teachers are psychotic and competitive. And as if the teachers were sitting right behind reading my name, suddenly the music we dance to came blaring on. Mama township is known for playing music in the middle of the afternoon, but not for haunting gaijin. Pretty soon, the Osaki van pulled up, and jumped in the vehicle. It didn't take Hikari and I more than two minutes to catch up. I immediately began making fun of her for resembling a raccoon. Since she has intense 5 hours Synchronized swimming practice in the scorching sun, no matter how much sun block she puts on, the lines on her face from the protection of the goggles are hilarious. As for me, no matter how much tanning lotion I put on, or how long i stay in the sun, my skin remains a puke white. When we arrived at the house in Kouda, I walked out of the car and came face to face with a 5 year old neighbor boy. He took a look and me and began screaming, "Mom GAIJIN!" I looked at him, and then at the mother and screamed, "Hikari NIHONJIN (japanese !)" The mother shot me a dirty look, while the Osaki's roared in laughter. They scurried off, as I headed for the house. I couldn't even walk through the door, when Hikari chucked a balloon at my head. We were soon in the middle of an intense round of volleyball with a McDonald's balloon. After suffering major losses, Hikari called a redo and moved the game inside. It amazes me how the Osaki's don't even flinch when I enter the room. It's like they think I never seem to have left. I don't know how to accurately describe it. But if I was thirsty, Okasan would give me a look clearly stating, "You know where the fridge is, get it yourself." I guess it's a good feeling knowing that it's like you never left in the first place. I just hope this stands the test of time. Soon, Hikari and I were loitering in Obachans room. She kept murmuring to herself how quick a year goes, and how old she's getting, and how at her age she needs to start doing more traveling to visit all her friends. I have a faint idea that she is in the works of planning a trip to come and visit me. No surprise to anyone, Hikari announced she was hungry and it was time to eat. We all headed up to the second floor, where the food was spread out on the dining room table. Maako had woken up from a nap, and we were only missing Ebuki and Kaho, who were stuck at a strict Yosakoi practice. Chizuko Aunt had already arrived and was setting out the dinner. There was an enormous plate of Ohm rice, being covered in Ketchup, 2 plates of Nagoya Sesame Chicken, Pork Salad, and plain salad. Before everyone was seated, Hikari had helped herself to the chicken, and was nearly finished with her 5th bone. We all began eating, and I dug into the pork salad and smothered it with Goma sauce. It was delicious. Yu, next came down stairs and picked up the plate of Ohm rice, which mind you is the size of a small elephant, and poured more than half of it on to his own plate. Yu Osaki is probably the most disgusting eater in the world. He must consume well over 8,000 calories at dinner alone. Sure he practices Karate for 3 hours a day, but still, he should be enormous by now. The rest of of us took smaller portions from the plate. Ebuki then arrived home, and we had a cheery reunion. I have not seen Ebuki since May, and it was great to see her again. I really do think she is probably the most personable of the bunch. She was exhausted on this night after a 6 hour tennis practice, followed by a 2 hour Yosakoi practice, and an hour of biking to and from. She and Yu had a race to see who could the most food, unofficially of course. Throughout the meal, Otosan Osaki asked me various questions. He wondered what my favorite Japanese food was, and I told him Okonomiacki. He also asked me what my favorite part of Japan was. Now this is an unfair questions. I told him I didn't know, because it is too complicated to explain my real answer, which is everything. He asked me if it was school, and Okasan butted in, that I didn't enjoy school al that much because I was always in self study. This is true. I liked school alot, but Tosajoshi is definitely not a good school for exchange students. It doesn't have a good program for learning Japanese. I think I have a pretty good knowledge of the language, but it is all because of myself. I was ALWAYS in self study. He also told me that Rotary is again having trouble finding host families, and the Osakis were asked to host from November till February. They said no, but would be willing to do it in a few more years. I think it is unfair, because Rotarian families are only supposed to do it once, and now Rotary has the nerve to go and ask the Masaki's and Osaki's to do it again. It is true that they had a wonderful experience, and would be great host families to another student, but that's not how the Japanese Rotary program is supposed to work. After we were finished eating, Obachan began clearing the table. A knock at the door, found us looking over a letter about Yu's trip to New Jersey. Since the typhoon is going to hit Japan and probably delay the flights on Shikoku, he will be leaving tomorrow rather than Friday, when he supposed to. Only a day before he leaves, and he finally gets his host family information. I watched as Okasan opened the information with total fear written all over face, she explained to me how worried she was letting her son go off to America. She claimed it was because he couldn't speak a word of English, but I know it was because he is her first kid. I tried to comfort her and tell her about the first time my Mom let me go of on my own. I was just 11 years old, when my family sent me on a 2 week trip to California with People to People Student Ambassadors. I sit here now, on a computer in Japan, because of this program. At just 11 years old, I was given a taste of freedom, and forced to open my eyes to the world. I caught the travel bug, and caught it bad. Even though, I got incredibly sick in California, causing my mother to burst in worry. She realized it was the best thing she ever did for me. 2 summers later and I went on a 3 week trip to Australia with the same program. And 2 summers later I left for Japan, for a year. I told her this and told her, that her son, 15 year-old Yu, is older than I was when I left for California and Australia, and the same age I left for Japan. And he is independent and in much need of seeing what there is out in the world. I think these words actually helped her. When we looked at the list of Yu's families, I jumped for joy, and held more assurance that Yu would be just fine. His first family, the Case family in Chester, have a son, Robert, who I befriended when I he came to Japan on the Short Stay program. His third family, the Tilak's, have a son, who actually lived with the Osaki's during the Short Stay program. Both boys were really nice, in my opinion. And upon hearing these words, I think Okasan, finally accpeted that her son would just fine in America. For a few minutes, I sat on the couch with exhausted Ebuki and talkative Hikari and Maako. Then CHizuko Aunt brought out dessert, Mochi bites, or glutinous rice cakes filled with flavored cream. Hikari and Maako both got Chocolate, while Ebuki took Strawberry. Only I tempted fate and got Sweet Potato, which was very tasty. Really. Time was getting away from us, and since it was fully dark, it was time for the fireworks. We headed outside, and behind the tiny post office, where we lit off the the tiny dollar store fire works. Obachan kept telling the girls how lucky we all were to be watching fireworks on a cool August night, in the presence of each other. A year ago, had you told me I would be spending August the 1st with an enormous Japanese family, eating, playing, and setting off fireworks, I would hae told you you were mad. Life is so unpredictable, and being around a big loving Japanese family, reminds me of one thing. That family is one of the strongest bonds you have. Out of 4 host families, 3 of them are the closest things to a family that strangers can become. It was my final Family Night at the Masaki's on my exchange year to Japan. But something tells me, that it isn't the last one of my life.