My posts have been a bit scattered in terms of sequential events, but I would really like to share the experience we had last night at the Welcome Dinner put on by the Fukuoka chapter of the Japanese Lacrosse Association. The pictures above are of teammates and new friends, my host brother Toshiki is in the 3rd pictures down in the blue shirt. I have been staying with him for the last couple of days in his apartment. We had great food and a lot of great laughs. Our coach Noah Fink gave a great speech introducing himself (interpreted for him). We ate and then met our hosts, and afterwards were called back to our seats. I was asked to speak on behalf of the team as a speaker of Japanese (last picture-me with the mic). I gave a pretty short speech which i prepared beforehand, it was greeted by lots of picture taking and applause by everyone in the room. It was pretty hilarious all together. No one, teammates or Japanese people, can believe I even bother to try to speak Japanese. My speaking has gotten very good, but listening and understanding is still very very hard.
2 comments:
Josh-kun,
Your mom mentioned your blog to me, so I read it and am very impressed. Not just with your trip to Japan, but with your success in so many areas: graduation, lacrosse, Japanese studies. Way to go.
I'm jealous that you're in Fukuoka because that is my 2nd favorite city in Japan (Hiroshima always #1!). I lived in Fukuoka for 8 months back in 1993 and loved it. I'm taking students to Japan this summer. We'll be there in July with the highlight being a day of sumo in Nagoya! Then I'm staying in Hiroshima with my in-laws until August.
I'm very happy for you. Have fun in Japan. Talk with you again.
Chad Christensen
thats tight dude, i didnt know Noah was your coach, that guy was my youth league coach for like 3 years haha
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