I went for the interview in mid year of 2006, and got this goden opportunity. I really enjoy throughout the process, the writting test, the interview, the blazar measurement, the minute when i knew i got it, the moment i went to the airport, the moment i met my host family and many many more events that i would like to share....
Haha...but at the 1st day, which is the 16th of Dec, things really went out of my expectation. Arriving 1st at the airport before others, but end up last checking in. All because i m in my cargo pants...and the attire required should be FORMAL. Harsh words by the Lions nevermind...still i had to end up buying a mens long pants at BONIA!! haihz...there is NO ladies boutique in KLIA, and there is no other shops other than BONIA, which is the only 1 which sells formal attire....
GOODNESS ME.....spend more than a hundred.......i will remeber that for my life time to be more careful in attires....haha...worst still, i m the 2nd one who kena, no wonder i got much more scolding than the 1st one..(met her in BONIA too....)
Friends on the same group(some of them) to Fukuoka..at Singapore Airport
Then, after that we depart to Singapore in MAS. From Singapore, we took a transit to Fukuoka, Japan in Singapore Airlines. There were 5 batches to Japan, Nagoya, Kansai, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Narita. Others took direct flight from KLIA to their destination in MAS except us, who need to take transit with SIA because there are no direct flight from KLIA...it was an enjoyable flight, although it is my first time flying for so long. I get to sit by the window to watch the horizons...haha....it was quite fun actually, to watch the clouds beneath us.....like 'jakun' ....never see before..... Flight is from 0110 (M'sia) till the next 6 hrs.....which is 0815 Japan time. Legs ache like anything, (that's the disadvantage of sitting by the window, u couldnt get out, unless u woke the other two beside u...) So i really sit still, through the flight.... Didn't get enough sleep, cause got flu....it was bad, sniffing all the way ....Overall, i m in BAD condition........
One thing good, the plane food is luxurious!! and it doesnt taste as bad as i thought, itis delicious!! Orange juice pissed me off, 1st cup was refreshing, but the next, and ....like no ending........can feel the layer of my teeth peeling off (after effect of acidic drinks)....i took tea later on..... -_- I got to see the rising sun!! haha...maybe the 2nd time in my life..., i even saw the snow flakes on the window pane!!! looks like the ones u always see in christmas tree decoration *.
Looks like a crack on the window pane from here.....It was stated that it was -54 c outside...cant immagine.....haha...stupid question---why doesnt the plane froze....that was what i was interested in when i was in the plane.... then the temperature started to rise as it reaches ground. Snow flakes melt into small drops of water later on...
Out of the window, lucky me , sitting just on the wings..
As we reach Fukuoka airport, we got a big supprise!!!Lots of cameras flashing at us....wow....1st time( jakun...again) like star....haha..Blazar, although it is warming, but it did not cover my hands, it was freezing, and who says gloves make you warmer?? it went worse!!!But then, we got a real warm greeting by the Lions of Japan. We went to the conference room in Fukuoka Airport...lots of host families were waiting there, holding banners and all.... All of them seem to look alike to me, can't tell who is who...While seeking 'High and Low' for my host family in the big crowd, i hear lots of my new made friends calling out saying that they found theirs already...Then i end up with nobody......all alone...haha...i was soo depressed at that time, then a Japanese family offer me to sit beside her...( felt like unwanted orphan)...haha...at least i get to know the taste without family, or somebody beside me. But then in the end i was with a group of friends who also dun have their host parents with them. And nearly fainted, when they told us we had to take another flight to eah of our destination!!!! i thought our family was just coming late..didn't even inform us that we are going to take another route...plus plus together, we took the most flights among others---6 rounds, where others who went to other destination only took to and fro --2 rounds!! Serves me right for always saying that the best part in a travel is during flights to destination..but i didnt know i would get so much at once.T_T Still, i think it was the best part..haha...maybe not at that time...........
My destination is to Miyazaki, which heard from the Japan Lions, will need 3 hrs of driving, and the other group, ( there were 2 groups) to Kagoshima, 5 hrs of car ride, so impossible to go by car ...at first we still think going by car, that time really think we 'habis' already ....so tired, still need to sit in car for so long...there are total of 7 ppl that are taking this 2nd transit.including me, among the 40 of the rest of them, so, i m damn "lucky"...probability is 7/40 , and i got it!
Took this at fukuoka Airport, before taking domestic flight to Miyazaki.
First Sight of Miyazaki.....i am still sitting on the wing...couldnt get a better sight..
At last, we (3 of us from the total of 7) arrive after an hour ride with JAL. I met with my host parents. As there is only 3 of us, so 3 host family lo...not yours then mine dy, not much option..haha...my banner was there( er...small cardboard la...), another aunt who was not in the photo surprise me with a hug...wow...i was quite.... (er...i dun know u well enough...) but that was before la...then my main host father and mother..plus another 2 lions which one of them is a manager of "Aya" no Jou's Onsen( it is a place where alot of visitors come to visit, something like disneyland, but nothing to do with disney or mickey mouse, just the city form that looks alike lar.. , which i will visit later on...
The next thing i know is, we are eating in a I-Think-So-Damn-Expensive- French restaurant, btw my main host, although he is a manager of 3 old folks home, he drove a long Benz...I think car quite cheap there ( i think only la...)..cause most of the people i see seem to be driving big cars, no Protons or kancil there...haha... 1st time so embarrased, cant finish the food!!it aws damn expensive and the district Lion who took the bill for us...felt soooo bad...but really CAN'T finish!!!
After that, we we part with the district Lion, and went off with my host family.(* i will announce them as family from now). The aunt still with us, and i m damn curious why is she sticking with us, she look around her 40s, looks very typical Japanese, and really delicate and proper look.. They took me off shopping. Which was the last thing i want to do at that moment....Still i said hai hai, and went with them. The shopping they meant turn out to be at a supermarket, lots smaller than Tesco or Giant, maybe u can say it is a minimarket..but the price is no minimarket. haha...i went round and found Mentos!!! er it is more than RM3 by conversion...The aunt seem to be more like my host parents, was really warm, and i felt weird... she stuff lots of things which she bought under the name of 'us' into my room..
The first shop i went into in Jp.. the expensive 'minimarket'
My eyes nearly drop when the aunt said 'next' when we abroad the car..( i understand most of what they spoke, guessing game also play big roles in understanding) they turn to the BAKERY... remember...is Bakery!! and there is a wedding going on next door. They immediately said ikimassho! and pull me out of the car into the wedding hall. The wedding ended, but there were still some ppl( relatives i think..), drunk, for that old man.i remember him most. Went in and talk so much to the people there, took pics with the bride and bridegroom ( the bride was real prety, bridegroom also not bad..er..more to the preety side), introduce each other to me. They even gave me a small wedding gift which they distribute around...AND, which i found out later, that... they totally dun know each other, although living in the same place(sumthing like within Petaling Jaya)!! i thought they were relatives or what...neighbours>>??? hah...and they talk like they know each other for yrs....
the couple.....---haha....^^Just Married^^
THEN, ANOTHER SURPRISE. I seem to get lots of unexpected on that day...
I am not staying with my host parents, but with the aunt. Actually quite near from the aunt's house(* will name her Tanaka fr now) so, which means that those presents that i brought from Malysia , everthing has to split into two. Not enough to distribute!! when i arrived, another surprise. She is a nurse, her husband is a doc. They own a hospital just beside their house, and some pharmacies further down in the same road. Hospital connected..to house. 
The 'genkan'(maindoor) beside on the right is the Hospital
the view of the hospital...half view from side.
1st time see.(definitely not from jakun's prospective now. i never seen any in Malaysia) They even provide a room just for me. And Mrs Tanaka got her staffs to decorate for me, thank her alot...and the staffs too, which means i made lots of friends.The room,plus a TV. I NEVER get personal TV in my life before le.. Then later, i learn that i will be staying in the aunts house for a longer period than my main host family. Called my parents, just to inform that i arrive.i really dunno how to explain the whole story of where i ended up when they ask me how was it. They didnt quite get what i mean actually, which i learn from them after i returm home. haha...they said, as long as they hear that i got a house to stay, got food, got ppl around, then OK!, Told me to take care , then say bye bye....(sweat....) I was so scared of being sold off le...cause goes into different hands mar...haha...
During night time, my main host came to Tanaka's house to pick me up, to introduce my self to their family members. (* they will be the Yoshino-s) actually they was asking me to walk over, but as they saw my dumbstruck face....haha...no joke walking alone in streets of Malaysia at 8.30 pm...
By the time i reach home(Tanaka), it was late. and then only i saw Mr. Tanaka. the doctor from next door's hospital.
I had a really exhausting first and 2nd day....no more surprise during bed time then, the whole day was full of unexpectations.At last get to sleep...
but my legs ache like anything!!!! ( due to the long sitting in plane, no leg stretching for such long hours...)and i felt like dying... tired and pain as well...
The temperature is around 6c, although with warmers ( hot-cond---hot air conditional) on in my room, i felt icy cold in hands and legs. Got up during midnight to wear LongJohns ('siao' dy...after the 1st 2 days, i wore night cloths that i wear in Malaysia to sleep), gloves, and socks(wool), but felt no better, still soo cold...
haha...it was exhausting.....even when i come to think of it...never had such days before . real time experience.
PS: Different country different smell, and i like the smell of Miyazaki.....
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