ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS...

``I'm learning a lot about myself being alone, and doing what I'm doing.``

Hello guys, how are you all?
I am good but little bit getting worried because more than half of my term is over and I am always thinking why is it going so fast...
Someone truly said that ``Exchange term is like a blink of an eye.`` My sincere appeal to the future exchangers that don`t wait for any opportunities, no one will come to you. You should create opportunities by your own. There are 100`s of work for an exchange student. So, all the best to those students.
So, the first thing I want to tell you all is I changed my host family.
I changed my host family on 28th of January. My new house is in a different state, Saitama. Thus, I don`t live in Tokyo. Though, my school is in Tokyo. So, everyday it takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach school. My daily schedule is very hectic. As, more than half of the day, I am outside of my house. I am really thankful to you all for suggesting me. This time I had many changes and still more to come.

3RD HOST FAMILY

As I said, I am no longer living in Tokyo, my new host family is in Wakoshi, Saitama. In my host family, I live with my host father, Mr. Takeo Chikama (I call him PAPA), he is an Architect and he works in house in his office. He was a rotarian but later, he left due to his work and office. 

My host mother, Mrs. Miki Chikama (I call her MAMA), she is a secretary in cheif in Rotary Club of Tokyo Setagaya South. She is also a member of Rotary Club of Tokyo Akebono. I am very lucky because after my arrival at Japan, every week I visited my 3rd Host Mother to study Japanese. She taught me many things in Japanese due to which, slowly slowly, I can do a conversation in Japanese.

I am really thankful to her. She was also a (RYE) Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Australia. So, she knows about Rotary and RYE better than me. These family is kind, polite and strict to me. But, trust me this is the best family for a Youth Exchange Student as this family itself can understand how is the life of a exchange student.

I gave them the Indian Traditional Gifts on the first day.     

MY DAILY ROUTINE

*Note - JST (Japan Standard Time) is 3:30 hours ahead of IST (Indian Standard Time)

Everyday I woke up at 5:55 a.m. (I know its odd time but I need 5 minutes to open my eyes.) So you can take 6:00 a.m.

Then, getting fresh, taking bath, wearing clothes till 6:30 a.m.

Then I take my breakfast at 6:35 a.m. ( My daily breakfast can be cereals or bread jam or bread toast etc. and coffee.)

It takes around 10 minutes to take my breakfast. And, at last, I take my bag, wear my shoes and leave the house at 6:50 a.m. It takes 10 minutes to reach the station and I have to stand in queue for 10 minutes. So I can sit in the 7:10 a.m. train.

TRAIN SCHEDULE 

The nearest station to my house is Wakoshi. It can be encoded as F01, Y01, TJ11.

This abbreviation means,

F01 - Fukutoshin Line, Station Number - 01,

Y01 - Yurakucho Line, Staiton Number - 01,

TJ11 - Tobu Tojo Line, Station Number - 11.

Daily, I take Fukutoshin Line for going school. As, its the first station, I can sit in the train easily but for that I need to stand in queue 5-7 minutes before the Train`s Departure or I can`t sit.

From Wakoshi, I need to go to Meiji-Jingumae (The Second Last Station in the chart). Meiji-Jingumae is the 15th Station in the Fukutoshin Line, So its encoding is F15. The brown line which you can see is the Fukutoshin Line and the Yellow Line is the Yurakucho Line. You all can observe that Fukutoshin Line and the Yurakucho Line shares the same station till Ikebukuro (F09 or Y09). So, I need to wait for the 15 stations.

Then, from Meiji-Jingumae I need to change the line. So, I take Chidoya Line (C) which is around 5 minutes from the Fukutoshin Line.

In Chidoya Line, Meiji-Jingumae (C03) is the 3rd Station and I need to go to the Yoyogi-Uehara (C01), the first station. Then, from Yoyogi-Uehara, I again need to change the line. Then I continue with the Odakyu Line (OH). It takes around 1 minute to change the line.



From Yoyogi Uehara (OH05), I need to go to Izumi-Tamagawa (OH17). So, I need to wait for 12 stations.

Now, once again I need to change the line...

Haha...Don`t worry its over.

The nearest station to my school (Komae High School) is the Izumi-Tamagawa. It takes around 5 minutes from the station to the school. So I start my train travel from 7:10 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. My school starts at 8:30 a.m.

So this is my morning train schedule and I have to perform the same task after my club acticity. I meant at 3:30 p.m. my school gets over and I need to go to my club activity (Table Tennis). It gets over at 5:40 p.m. Then, I need to change my clothes and leave for the station. At 6:00 p.m. I again have to do the same thing but in the reverse order. And, Finally I am at my home at 7:20 p.m.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3RD FEBRUARY 2017, FRIDAY

Rotary Club of Tokyo Omori, asked my Youth Exchange District 2750, for inviting all the exchange students to the elementary school. They asked us to explain the elementary school students about our countries. The students were around 8 to 10 years old. They were soooooo cute. Some of them also knowed the indian salutations. I was so happy getting along with them on that day.

IKEBUKURO WITH HIIRAGI SAN (ROTEX)

5TH FEBRUARY 2017, SUNDAY

(Note :- `SAN` is a suffix used when you want to give respect to your elder.)

(`ROTEX` is also a Rotary Term, it is used when a person had completed his/her exchange term.)

On 3rd, as you all know, I went to Elementary School and there I met her (Though, it wasn`t my first meeting with her) and we decided to go somewhere and hang-out together. She is 4 years elder to me though we are very good friends. We really freaked out on Ikebukuro Streets. She is very kind, and always helped me. The best thing is, everytime she points my wrong Japanese.

She really wanted to eat Indian Food and she really loved Indian Naan (おいしい). So, she asked me to find out Indian Restaurant nearby. Being an Indian, I did Google (by the way, there is no relation in both sentence, Just for Gag...LOL). Laterly, I was able to find a restaurant but we need to walk for 15-20 minutes. Maybe, you all know that I am sooooo introvert that I can`t be silent more than 5 seconds and she was the same. So, those 15 minutes were utilized very quickly. Then, we came near that Restaurant and we saw that it wasn`t Indian Restaurant but it was a Pakistani Restaurant, `Marhaba`. So, I asked her was that okay? She said Let`s try it (やさしいね）. We entered the Restaurant and choosed our lunch. One thing she noticed was whenever we asked the manger of the restaurant for something, he never smiled. As if someone robbed his smile. We both were really beaming after seeing his face. Then, after paying, we were about to leave and what we saw was THAT MAN SMILED AND TOLD US - ``PLEASE VISIT AGAIN``. We were like we will surely visit him to see his smile.  

 Then we went to McDonalds which was near to the station (From where we started our day). We went for drinking a milk shake and Hiiragi San bought a milk shake for me (やさしいね）. And, I was like...

When we left that place, I saw a board on which it was `Chatpata Indian Restaurant` and she simply said - ``Next time I will be the Google operator`` (LOL)

We also visited to some outlets like, Zara, Gap, BicCamera, and so, but bought nothing. 

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

10TH FEBRUARY 2017, FRIDAY

Rotary Club of Tokyo Kunitachi, asked my Youth Exchange District 2750, for inviting all the exchange students to the elementary school. They asked us to explain the junior high school students about our countries. The students were around 12 to 15 years old. I was so happy getting along with them on that day.  

VISIT TO NATIONAL SUMO CENTER AND MUSUEM

11TH FEBRUARY 2017, SATURDAY

On that day, inbounders went to National Sumo Center with the district committee. After that, we went to the musuem where we made finger ring.  

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

22ND FEBRUARY 2017, WEDNESDAY

We had District Conference in Shingawa. Though, conference was of two days but I was said attend the second day's conference. So, on 22nd February 2017, Wednesday, I had to reach the venue at 0830 hours. It was little bit early so I wanted to meet the district governor personally and I was so lucky that I got chance to meet him in his busy schedule. I also gave him the traditional indian gifts which I brought from India. He was very happy by receiving it. We also exchanged our visiting cards. Then, at 1000 hours I met my host club president. As i couldn't attend any meetings of my host club for the month of February therefore i didn't received my monthly allowance so on that day I received my monthly allowance. And, the most amazing thing was my host club president gave me a PASS FOR TOKYO DISNEYLAND\DISNEYSEA as a gift. It was really heart touching. Then, at 1030 hours I met my YEO (Youth Exchange Officer) and he was very happy by seeing my progress in Japanese language. So, he gave me the official pin and scarf of THE CENTENNIAL YEAR OF ROTARY as a gift which was really remarkable. Then, 1045 hours we joined the conference and we sang the national anthem of 6 different countries. You all will be glad after hearing the the cheif guest of the whole conference. He is RI President's Personal Representative (2016-17), TRF Trustee (2016-2020), RI President (2014-15), none other than MR. GARY.C.K.HUANG.I was surprised by seeing him. I really wanted to meet him personally. So, once again I met YEO and requested him to do something for this matter. You all won't believe your blessings for me really made my day. I was so lucky because I got 5 minutes for meeting him. I also gave him the indian traditional gift and he was so so so happy receiving it and in return he gave me a official pin of his project -"WE ARE ONE". I also showed him the photographs of his and Rtn. Ashish Ajmera (DG RID 3060 2014-15) and he quickly recognized it. It was stupendous moment for me. At, 1200 hours I had my lunch with my host club. At, 1400 hours I went to the bowling center (arranged by my district committee) and I played bowling. At, 1600 hours, we returned at venue for the practice of the Japanese Traditional Dance "Soran Bushi". You all will be glad to know that I had to lead the District 2750 Inbounders group for the dance. I was standing and performing in the center of the 1st row. Even, my entry and exit was totally different from other inbounders. It was a breathtaking experience because in front of me RI President (2014-15), Rtn. Gary.C.K.Huang and DG (2016-17), Rtn. Tetsuya Otsuki were sitting. I was really depressed but my youth exchange district committee trusted me and I also didn't let it down. It is because after my dance this time Mr. Huang personally visited me to for appreciating my dancing efforts of Japanese Traditional Song. He said - "Being an foreigner and new to this country I did my task awesome." He also recommended me to visit Taiwan (He was from Taiwan ). After that dance, everyone appreciated me and my group and one of the committee member gave me a Table Tennis racket as a gift (As I played Table Tennis in school) and I felt so lucky. I even took his autograph on the tacket because he was one of the Top 15 Table Tennis players in Tokyo. At 1900 hours, we finally had dinner followed by closing ceremony. At 1930 hours, finally we dispersed.

TRIP TO CHIBA (KATSUURA)

24TH - 26TH FEBRUARY 2017,

I went to Katsuura, city of Japan in Chiba prefecture, with my family. There I went to the castles, temples, and also the Pacific Ocean. I also wore the Japanese Traditional wear in the castle. I even met Tokyo Akebono Rotary Club, Mrs. Yuri Tanaka at the Chiba. I even went to her house.   



   　         

   AKIHABARA (CITY OF ELECTRONICS)

28TH FEBRUARY 2017, TUESDAY.



So, I had many holidays in this month. So, I wanted to go somewhere because I was getting bored. I asked my parents to suggest me a place where I can go alone.

They suggested me to go to Akihabara. It is the largest town collecting all kinds of electronic appliances and devices in the world.

I went to electronic shop, PlayStation, KFC and many more places.

TREE PLANTATION AT KOMAE HIGH SCHOOL

1ST MARCH 2017, WEDNESDAY.

From the last week of February, I wanted to do a project in Japan. It was the tree plantation. I expressed my idea to some of the dignitaries of my sponsoring district, sponsoring club and sponsoring school.I am really thankful to following people,

IPDG Rtn. Parag Sheth,

IYE Chairman, Rtn. Devang Munim,

IYE Short Term Chairman, Rtn. Dharmesh Chorawala,

R. C. Bharuch President, Rtn. Amardeep Singh Bunet,

Interact Club of Bharuch Chairman, Rtn. Vikram Premkumar,

C. M. Academy Vice Principal, Mr. Rudrendra Basak, for approving my idea.So, after being approved I started to look for the convienient place for the project. My school allowed me to do so in the school premises. I also asked my school for the flowers and plants which they need to plant in school.They suggested me some of the flowers, plants and grasses. Some of them were bought by me and and some were sponsored by school itself.My special thanks to both of my schools, Sponsoring School, C. M. Academy,and, Hosting School, Komae High School, for advising and guiding me for this project. Even, one of my host school teacher helped me in this project.

I did tree plantation in name of -

1. R. I. District 3060

2. DG Rtn. Hitesh Jariwala

3. IPDG Rtn. Parag Sheth

4. Rotary Club of Bharuch

5. Interact Club of Bharuch 

6. C. M. Academy

YOKOHAMA

1ST MARCH 2017, WEDNESDAY.

Yokohama is Japan's second largest city with a population of over three million. Yokohama is located less than half an hour south of Tokyo by train, and is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture. So, I went with my Host Aunt. She came to my school in her MERCEDES. We went to Yokohama in her car and there I met Hisako San (Member of RC Tokyo Akebono) and her daughter Haruka San. We went to amusement park and then the Sky Building.

ORIENTATION AT OLYMPIC CENTER

5TH MARCH 2017, SUNDAY.

There was my orientation on 5th. We had to listened to the outbounder`s (Students who are going to visit the different countries in 2017 from Japan) english speech, we had our last district japanese class, and then we visited to perform the parasports (Sports which are played by the disabled and the handicapped people in the olympics).

INDIAN RESTAURANT WITH SOICHIRO

7TH MARCH 2017, TUESDAY.

Soichiro is a japanese boy who is coming India in July, so I was helping him by giving the details of the place he is going to visit. And, we had Indian Naan and Curry.

Then, we went to the play station for getting refreshed. Then, we had the Crepe. It was very delicious.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR OFFICE AND YOGA



7TH MARCH 2017, TUESDAY

After coming to the new family, my host mother always asked her colleagues to take me to the new places in Japan. So, she asked her bestest friend, Rtn. Miki Sekine. She works in Rotary District Governor Office and I got a chance to see the Rotary Office.

Then we went to Yoga Club for the yoga and excercises.

We had dinner and then, Dessert.

By the way, her daughter also went as Rotary Youth Exchange to Belgium, Yuriko Sekine. Though, we haven`t met each other but we are very good friends. I call her Riri.

We often contacted each other using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and etc.  

DINNER WITH CLUB PRESIDENT

10TH MARCH 2017, FRIDAY

My club president invited me for the dinner at Kyodo City.

VISIT TO FIRST HOST FAMILY

11TH MARCH 2017, SATURDAY

In Morning, I went to my first host family`s home. Firstly, I played with my host brother. My first family also bought a new dog, Shawn. So, I also played with him. Then I went to the Fire Station with my Host Grandfather. At night, he was going to make dinner for us.

By this I am ending this blog, I am really very sorry for having such a long gap.
My next blog will be in Last Week of May and this time I will try my best to complete it within the time period.
Its because from February, I was so so so busy. Infact if I show you my schedule you will also cry😂😂

Thank you so much to all of you for reading my blog. My blog also reached to the 2000 in terms of page review.

Please like it, share it, and comment. And offcourse your suggestions for my blogs will be taken into consideration.
Infact in this blog, I made many changes by reading your suggestions.