New Friends and New Experiences!
I’m Chanh (though some call me チャンちゃん or チャハン, It’s all fine!)
On March 7th, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience some wonderful things, such as meditation (which hurt a ton) ring-making, and wonderful Japanese games, I’ve never done anything similar to this stuff and it was a ton of fun to do, of course but to me the best part was definitely 100% spending time making new friends. I got to arm wrestle a fella who had an arm like a cannon, and I got to really test out my middling Japanese skills! (Despite what all the Japanese would say.)
The worst activity for me was certainly meditation, it was pretty intense, but I was getting along with everyone. I was especially impressed by the pain resistance of the students, while I was sitting down and screaming internally everyone seemed cool as ice and I thought it was funny seeing some of the adults not be able to do it or even being nearly unable to get up. It made me feel both young and old, somehow… But truthfully the event was in my eyes a bit boring and painful! I think I need to give it more of a chance though.
As for the best though, I think it must’ve been when we could just play Japanese games together and the bento. As a catholic, I prayed before I ate and one of the first things I got asked is, “Was that a Chinese way of doing いただきます?” which got a real chuckle out of me (ᕑ﹆ᗢ﹆ᓫ) and I then proceeded to explain that I’m Catholic and then they all got it, the people I decided to hang out with were あずみ、やすお、and たいよ. We had an absolute blast getting to know each other and I even got to take a picture with them. Though to be fair everyone was great, and I wish I had talked to everyone more! Honestly, I miss them all a ton. Thankfully, I have a picture to keep as a memory!
