Host Family Comes to Hikone! and Earthquakes
My host family came last week to visit me one last time before I go back home in August. It was the third time I have seen them since I've been here.
The first day they were here I met them in Osaka at Universal Studios Japan (USJ). I wasn't too keen on going because USJ is almost always packed and I've been to the Universal studios in Florida. I decided to go anyway to get some time with my host sister since the last two times we didn't really get to do anything.
The lines were huge, about two hours or so to ride anything good. We rode the new spiderman ride first which my host father kept saying was "the number one in the world". It was cool, but not insanely good...maybe I've been spoiled by Cedar Point. It was a "4D" ride, or basically a roller coaster with 3D screens set up along the way and special effects like heat and water to make it seem more real. It did have some cool parts that made you feel like you were falling or flying around though.
After that we went to see a sesame street 3D movie, which was all in Japanese. I learned that Oscar the grouch is incredibly mean in Japanese.
After a short break we rode on the only real roller coaster at USJ. It was decent, the real interesting part was that they had speakers in the seats that each person could choose their own music and listen to while they ride. I picked that Eminem song from 8 mile because it was funny. My other choices were the beatles, Bon Jovi, or two Japanese bands I've never heard of.
After that we really only had time for one more ride, so we ran up and rode the Jurassic Park raft ride. And that was it. In a full day I was able to ride 4 rides...oh well, I look at it as an investment to spend time with cool people who I won't see again for a long time.
My family spent a few days in Osaka and Kyoto and then came up to stay with me in Hikone. I took them to YAB's bar where my host father got a call from his friend who lives two prefectures away, they decided that we go up and visit them the next day. The next morning they rented a car and we went to Hikone Castle (it's the 400 year anniversary), then we drove about 2 and a half hours to this other prefecture. We had a really good Japanese meal at a ryocan style place where you sit down and they serve you multiple courses and drinks. Following dinner we headed out for karaoke at a snack bar (apparently the kind of place my host father likes to drink). I had a good time though singing with my family and eventually with other people in the bar.
Some local thugs were there too. One guy grabbed my arm and started pulling up my sleeve, he asked "Where are your tattoos?" When I told him I didn't have any he looked shocked and then told me that he had many. Another burly looking guy requested that we sing John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" together. Which I obliged and he actually wasn't too bad.
We went home early in the morning because my host parents had to catch a plane. It was lucky that we left when we did because the prefecture we were in is where the big 7.1 earth quake happened. We left about an hour before it happened and didn't feel anything while driving home. So incase anyone was worrying about me, I am fine. My host father's friend was fine as well.
Here's a few pictures.
The first day they were here I met them in Osaka at Universal Studios Japan (USJ). I wasn't too keen on going because USJ is almost always packed and I've been to the Universal studios in Florida. I decided to go anyway to get some time with my host sister since the last two times we didn't really get to do anything.
The lines were huge, about two hours or so to ride anything good. We rode the new spiderman ride first which my host father kept saying was "the number one in the world". It was cool, but not insanely good...maybe I've been spoiled by Cedar Point. It was a "4D" ride, or basically a roller coaster with 3D screens set up along the way and special effects like heat and water to make it seem more real. It did have some cool parts that made you feel like you were falling or flying around though.
After that we went to see a sesame street 3D movie, which was all in Japanese. I learned that Oscar the grouch is incredibly mean in Japanese.
After a short break we rode on the only real roller coaster at USJ. It was decent, the real interesting part was that they had speakers in the seats that each person could choose their own music and listen to while they ride. I picked that Eminem song from 8 mile because it was funny. My other choices were the beatles, Bon Jovi, or two Japanese bands I've never heard of.
After that we really only had time for one more ride, so we ran up and rode the Jurassic Park raft ride. And that was it. In a full day I was able to ride 4 rides...oh well, I look at it as an investment to spend time with cool people who I won't see again for a long time.
My family spent a few days in Osaka and Kyoto and then came up to stay with me in Hikone. I took them to YAB's bar where my host father got a call from his friend who lives two prefectures away, they decided that we go up and visit them the next day. The next morning they rented a car and we went to Hikone Castle (it's the 400 year anniversary), then we drove about 2 and a half hours to this other prefecture. We had a really good Japanese meal at a ryocan style place where you sit down and they serve you multiple courses and drinks. Following dinner we headed out for karaoke at a snack bar (apparently the kind of place my host father likes to drink). I had a good time though singing with my family and eventually with other people in the bar.
Some local thugs were there too. One guy grabbed my arm and started pulling up my sleeve, he asked "Where are your tattoos?" When I told him I didn't have any he looked shocked and then told me that he had many. Another burly looking guy requested that we sing John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" together. Which I obliged and he actually wasn't too bad.
We went home early in the morning because my host parents had to catch a plane. It was lucky that we left when we did because the prefecture we were in is where the big 7.1 earth quake happened. We left about an hour before it happened and didn't feel anything while driving home. So incase anyone was worrying about me, I am fine. My host father's friend was fine as well.
Here's a few pictures.