Piczo

The Best Birthday Ever!

Okay so I woke up and felt like a typical 15 year old girl on an exchange in Japan. Come to think of it, that's not really typical... at all. Anyway, today was never meant to be ordinary. It was my 16th birthday! And in America, that's a pretty a special day. Sweet Sixteen. SInce I'm a young for my grade in America, most of my friends had already celebrated their Sweet 16 with big parties. I had never planned on having a big part for my 16th, because I'd known for a while I would be abroad during the occasion. Things change pretty quickly, when you are living in a different country as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. On the morning of the 17th, I quickly got dressed and before I headed to school, I received HAPPY BIRTHDAYS from my host parents. I was suprised and delighted. Not that I expected them to forget, but I was really happy I wouldn't have a '16 Candles" scenario. After my daily morning walk through the Obiyamachi shopping arcade, I arrived at school. My friends and classmates all cheered for me and wished me a happy day. But that was it. Then they kind of went back to normal and forgot about my birthday. Not to sound disappointed, but they had all been talking about it for weeks. Some time during the day, Yurie came in my classroom, and screamed HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN. After that occurence, I then spent most of the day explaining the significance of a Sweet 16 to my teachers. The day kind of drifted by slowly, at lunch I ate with Shiho and Kaori and we joked about how Shiho is so young. She won't turn 16 till February 20th. I'm pretty sure she is the last 15 year old in our year at school. So technically that still makes me one of the young ones. Finally last period of the day came and I anxiously waited until the end of class. Then halfway thru Yano-sensei suprised me, he stopped teaching and announced to everyone it was my birthday. It seemed like everyone knew, and I realized why they all virtually stopped talking about it earlier in the day. They had been planning this... Yano-sensei then called me up to stand in front of my 43 other class mates as they sang to me in English. It was the most off key terrible version of a wonderful song, and yet I stood up there looking at 43 girls laughing and cheering for me. After the song, Yano-sensei announced they had all pooled some money to buy me a gift. I thought that was the most suprising part of the day... I was dead wrong. The present was the nicest most beautiful gift I could have ever even imagined. I slowly opened the package, causing my classmates to stir and urge me to go faster... and... then... "Oh my god!" I said as I pulled out my present. My 43 classmates bought me a beautiful Japanese Yukata, or summer kimono, and 2 handmade hair clips. I mouthed a few thank yous but not much- I was too busy crying tears of joy. Looking back I feel a little bad that I couldn't thank them more. It meant that much to me. Life as an exchange student has taught me that when you get suprises, hold onto the moment, feel and remember it. Looking out at my friends, tears streaming down my face, that is something I know I'll remember. Then my teacher, Yano-sensei, whom I really enjoy having as a teacher, handed me another package. He had bought me a really cool lamp "for studying" and an pretty picture frame. I wanted to say to everyone "You don't know how much this means to me. You've just given me an amazing birthday and I can't thank you enough. I love you all so much and I'm so thankful I have been given an opportunity to be in the same class with you all." But my Japanese skills are a bit on the poor side so they all had to settle for "Thank you..." with a few tears and sniffles. I asked Yano-sensei if I could give them hugs and he replied no, Japanese people hate hugging. Standing in the front of the room and looking out at 43 of my classmates laughing and smiling at me, I felt like the happiest 16 year old alive. I may not look or act like the majority of these girls. But I fit in here. I have the best friends here, and I wouldn't want it any other way. After class ended, I fullfilled my school duty of cleaning and headed home. At home, the Masakis greeted me with more Happy Birthdays! There was also a package from home waiting for me. Inside were some little gifts from home, which included clothes, a bracelet, and Verona news, More things to add to my wonderful day. I decided to take a little rest. Later on for birthday dinner we made my favorite meal, Okonomiyaki with a side of Takoyaki! I don't think I have ever eaten so much food in my life. It was so much fun to make the dinner with my host father as he clowned around. Making Okonomiyaki is easy, but Takoyaki is a bit more difficult. You basically fill little ball platters with mix and octopus and let it cook. Then you have to flip it it so it turns into a good ball. Otosan is a Takoyaki fiend, as for me, for my first time, I didn't do to bad. After dinner we decided to wait until midnight for Naoko to return to eat my cake. Then I took a Japanese style bath tub... and I realized why everyone is calm... haha. Next we watched Moulin Rouge. What a great movie! At midnight I went with Otosan to pick up Naoko at Kochi station. I got a big hug and a Happy Birthday. We caught up on the ride back home, remembering when we last lived together at the apartment. And back at home my family sang happy birthday to me and gave me a nice chocolate cake. The cake was so cute, chocolate and covered in fruit bestowing Happy Birthday Jurie in Japanese. It was really wonderful! For presents I received some under armor for my uniform and a totoro towel and stuffed animal. My Obachan bought me a beautiful traditional fan. Tired, we all went to bed. I fell asleep feeling like the luckiest girl alive. The next day I celebrated my second birthday. In theory it was November 17th in America so it was justified. When I got to school I was hung out with all my friends for a few classes. It was great because everyone was really excited about my upcoming party. I kept thanking my classmates but they all just brushed it off as no big thing. But it was big thing to me. After school, my friends stayed behind to eat lunch and I hurried home to get ready for my party. Soon we left for the Shin Hankyu Hotel, also the nicest hotel in Kochi City. There I was dressed in a fancy Kimono as a present from my Rotary counselor. Obachan, Okasan, and Naoko were in the room with me getting ready. It takes a long time to put on a kimono, luckily the Kimono teacher had patience, which I suppose is the main requirement for Kimono teachers. Anyway, I picked out a beautiful blue Kimono with traditional flowers on it. The teacher then set about the task of squeezing me to death into the Kimono. For the hour and a half that I wore it, I'm not sure that I got much of chance to breath. Still in the dressing room, Okasan, Obachan, Naoko, and Me took a ton of pictures. They then put my hair half up and half down. And to be perfectly honest, I looked absolutely gorgeous. Then I had to wear those stupid traditional flip flops, and I'm suprised my ankle is not broken right now. In the elevator down to the party room, Yurie gave me an amazing tiara to wear as a present. A true Japanese princess... hahahaha. When I walked into the party room, all of my friends cheered for me KAWAII! and had me take millions of pictures. I was supposed to do a speech in Japanese, but I forgot to prepare one so I did a speech in English about the fact that Sweet 16 is a little bigger than normal birthdays because everyone seems so interested in that fact. And I thanked everyone for coming. Yurie translated everything and added that I attended her 17th Birthday Party in America and how special I was. Geez- Stop flattering me! Matsumoto also did a speech about my time thus far as an exchange student in Japan. I repear "Stop flattering me!" Afterwards the chef rolled out my ginormous cake. And by ginormous... I seriously mean that the thing was bigger than a typical wedding cake. I think it might have been a wedding cake also. But it was covered in fruit and white chocolate bestowing "Sweet Sixteen Julie!" All of my friends came to where I was standing and we took a bunch of pictures. Yurie told them all that I loved hugs. So a bunch of Japanese girls went outside there comfort zones to give me hugs. Aimi was the only one who wouldn't give me a hug, but I told her I would get her to crack and give me a hug by the end of the night. I told her by the end of the party I would get her to crack and give me a hug, she told me fat chance and we cracked up. They placed Sixteen Candles around my cake and lit them... a fire hazard if you ask me. Then everyone sang the wonderful song for me. I was so happy and excited I couldn't acurately describe it. I was surrounded by 20 of my best friends, all giving me hugs, my loving host family, my kind new family, and a few Rotary counselors. Then the chef gave me a sword... okay a giant knife... and had my cut my cake. I sliced in and everyone cheered.. it was truly wonderful. It was time to sit down and eat after that. I sat at the head of the party with Yurie and my left and Masako on my right. Masako brought her Ipod and played terrible Rap music... just like American sweet sixteen parties. Waitors came around and gave everyone huge plates covered in sweets. Then bowls of Ice Cream. Then pieces of cake. The meal was my wonderful Birthday Cake, Vanilla Ice Cream, various Fruit, Crepe, Choclate and Vanilla Cookies, Pudding Bread, mini Parfaits, whipped cream sugar fruit, and Almond Crackers. My plate alone could have fed an army. Everyone ate just a little bit of what was served. But me- heck- I ate everything! It's my birthday and I can do whatever I want! After the meal I went around and took pictures of the tables and joked with my friends. I wanted to be the best hostess I could be. First I visted my track friends. Early in the day, as a early birthday party present, they gave me a great Kimono material frame with a picture of the Ichinensee Track Team. It was really cute. And I thanked them immensely for it. We also repeated some inside Track jokes. I got numerous hugs from my track buddies, Yuki, Waka, Kagetsu, and Natsuke. Then I talked about the school trip with my Ninensee friends, Sara, Muita, and Tomoyo. I then made fun of the nicknames of Crazy Shoko, Misa Mosa, Whiteeyes, and Band Dork. Okay so I'm probably the only one in the whole world who understands what I just wrote, but oh well. I've never been so happy at a party before- and the best part was that it was my own party. My own Super Sweet Sixteen! After that I sat with Naoko and Obachan for a little while. Then I went to speak with my new family. They seem really great, and though I'm incredibly sad about leaving the Masaki's, I know I am going to do great with the Ono family. Because I want to make it work. And looking around, and seeing how many great friends have, the wonderful relationship with my first family, and the fact that Rotary is spending a huge amount of money on a fabulous party for me, all of these are products of me wanting to make it work. It being this year, my exchange. That's just how life in Japan is for me. Exchange is what you make it. I'm having the best year of my life. So I think I'm doing a pretty good job. After a little while I decided to change back into my school uniform and it was back to a thousand more pictures. Yurie had the idea to get everyone who got me a present come up and take a picture with me holding the present. I kind of burst into tears of joy again. I don't know why but I was feeling just so loved.. I guess. More hugs and tears and pictures covered the next 15 minutes. And then like the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end..." Matsumoto-san, my counselor, said it was time for the party to finish. As all of my friends were leaving, they all gave me more hugs. Even Aimi gave me a hug... I succeeded in cracking her hahs. I'm pretty sure everyone had as good of a time as I did. I overheard my friends saying that it turned into a good party. And I agree 100%. I just had the best Sweet 16 party. Otosan, Naoko, and Me waited in the lobby for Sakioka-sensei to give me his present. 3 Harry Potter books, which Otosan cracked up about and told Sakioka-san I had already read them. After 3 months, he knows what I've read.. pretty crazy right? Back at home, me and Naoko opened my presents. I don't want to sound spoiled rotten but the happiness from my party was turned into sadness. This is because everything I opened I quickly packed away. As for presents... well random is a bit of an understatement. But that's the Japanese for you. Not that I don't love everything I got with all my heart. My track friends bought me a great scarf, Shiho baked me a cake, Nanae bought me a plastic Christmas tree, Masako got me a Totoro stuffed animal and towel. I also got Cookies, chocolate, and Anpanman Doll, pajamas, a mirror, a mini Star Lab, a pencil case, Miss Bunny Frame, sunshine Mug, Christmas candles, and a handmade stuffed dog. I'm sure I forgot some other stuff... and I'm sorry for that. When everything was all packed away, the fun decided not to end. Otosan took up all to the movie theaters to see "The Devil Wears Prada" which is a great film... I went to bed that night thinking that these past two days may have just been the most fun days I ever had...