VIVA! band camp!!1

Hi.

I will write about the first day of my wonderful band camp!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9

10:30am Gr.12 Band students load truck

(Grade10, grade11 and choral students took classes till period 2. I am in grade 11, but I am taking band30 too. So I helped loading truck. We carried about 200 students' luggage and sleeping bags, so I was a little tired)

11:40am All campers get their instruments and put them on the truck

12:15pm Load buses.

12:30pm Bus departs. Bag lunch on bus

1:45pm arrival at camp

(Actually, I guess we arrived there after 1:45am...)

And we carried luggage and sleeping bags to the lobby.

It took long time, so we were gonna our own rooms and have a break for one hour, but we couldn't.

As soon as we left our luggage to our own rooms, we had to set up rehearsal spaces.

3:00pm Set up of rehearsal spaces

(We had four rooms to play instruments or sing. For Gr.10, Gr.11. Gr.12 band and choral. We sat up chairs and music stands then)

3:30pm I joined "Symphonic band" practice.

4:30pm All campers meet in gym

Ice breaker activity hosted by Gr.12's

(We separated about 10 groups at random, then we played games to know each other.)

5:50pm supper

6:30pm announce of the formation of small ensembles and rehearsals

(Teacher divide some groups(According to last name). And we got a easy music. We had to perform in front of people by using this music the second day. Anything we like. I will tell you about that the next article)

7:30pm Don Berner Jazz Concert

(We listened to some Jazz music there)

8:45pm free time

(We could watch a movie, play at the pool and so on. I took a shower then and spent time with my friends(talking!))

10:00pm snack

10:45pm must be in our own room

11:45pm chaperons check

11:30pm lights out

I went to the bed on time. I guess.hahaha This was because my roommates and I were tired.

To be continued....

*noma*

a wonderful weekend*

Hi.
This weekend was a wonderful weekend!
On Friday night, Mai, my friend, came to my house and slept over.
I have a double bed in my room, so Mai and I slept on the same bed.
My host mom asked us, "Do you want the air mattress?"
However, Mai said, "We can sleep on the same bed"
So I was like, "I don't care"


On Saturday, I had my birthday party at my house.
All of my Japanese friends came here.
I invited Alex too, but she had the church event, so she couldn't come.
Anyway, I had a good time.

First, we watched a movie together.

After watching it, we had a cake.
My host mom made a birthday cake again for me, and everyone sang a song for me.
After they sang a song, my Japanese friends gave me presents!
They gave me "The sound of music" 's music book and CD.
I love this movie a lot.
My friends knew that, so they bought them for me!
I was happy to get them.


After eating cakes, we went to MIKADO(Japanese restaurant) for supper.
(We went there by bus. This picture was taken at the bus stop)
My Japanese friends paid money for me, so I didn't have to care about money!hahaha
I ate BENTO.

It was so good I was so happy to have Japanese food. Thanks, my friends!!!!!!
On Saturday night, Mai slept over at my house again.
Before sleeping, my host dad said to Mai, "You can make a international call to Japan with these machines if you want"
My host family has good machines to call foreign countries.
It is soooo cheap.
2 cent/ 1 minute!
I bought a prepaid card in the airport for $10.
I could call Japan for 43 minutes with it.
However, if I use my host family's machine, it costs only 86cents to call Japan for 43 minutes.
How cheap!
Why don't I use?
Anyway, Mai wanted to try it, so finally, she called Japan.
Her Japanese family was surprised at her unexpected calling, I guess.


On Sunday morning, Mai's host grandma picked her up and she went to her host uncle's house.


On Sunday, we didn't go to the church because of "general conference"
We can watch "General conference" on TV.
So my host family went to my host mom's parents' house to watch it.
Then, we stayed there all day because we was gonna have "Thanksgiving" supper there.

My host relatives came there for special supper.
My host aunt who always makes fantastic icing cakes made "pumpkin pie" for thanksgiving day.

After supper, my host grandparents prepared sweets(pumpkin pie).
Then they started putting some candles.
And they said, "Let's sing a song for Mari! Because her birthday was last Thursday"
I was surprised. What??
Then, they started singing and I blew out candles.(17 candles)
My host grandparents gave me presents.
I was happy to get them. Thank you!

After having dessert, we played cards.
This game is so fun. I wanna buy here and bring to Japan.

At 8:30pm, we left their house and I went to MariO's house to sleep over with my friends.
We watched two movies. They were good.
Finally, we could go to bed at about 2am.

Today, we got up at 10:30 in the morning.
Then, we ate breakfast + lunch at noon.

I left her house at 4pm.
I had a great time there.

As I told, I had a wonderful weekend.
I hope I can have like that weekend again!

Tomorrow, I am gonna go to the band camp.
My host mom prepared some snacks for me.
I am excited to go there.
I hope I can have a good time. No,,, I MUST have a good time!!!

*noma*

Happy Birthday to Chiho and me!

Hi,
Today, Oct. 4th, is my birthday.
Also, one of me good friends, Chiho's birthday!




In the morning, As soon as I got to the school, I went to my locker as usual.
Then, as soon as I got to my locker, I was surprised!
It was because my locker was decorated!
My friend, Eri and MariO did that yesterday.
Thank you so much.
I love it!


Some people who saw my locker said to me, "Happy birthday" even if we don't know each other.
Also, my friends in each class said to me, "happy birthday"
Anyway, I was so happy.



And my Japanese friends gave a birthday card.
It is so cute!
I was happy to get it.


My good friend in Canada, Alex said, "Happy birthday, Mari!!!"
Since I told her when my birthday was, she always said, "I will give you a call on your birthday"
I said, "We can meet at school on my birthday"
She said, "Oh, come on. You don't want me to call you?"
I said, "Okay, anytime..."

Seriously, she gave me a call today even though we met each other at school.

She sang a song on the phone. "Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Mari, Happy birthday to you"
It was funny but I was happy.

My host mom cooked my birthday supper for me and we ate.
Unfortunately, my baby host sister cried all the time.
She was cranky today.
She doesn't like me? So she cried???hahaha

My host mom also made a birthday cake for me and my host family sang a song for me.
My host boys were so cute when they were singing.


After that, my host family gave me a present.
I got a snack and CD!!
They gave me the CD of High School Musical 2 which is my favorite movie.
I was so happy to get it.
I will listen to it every day!hahaha

Oh, I got letters from my Japanese friends!
They are my good friends in Japan.
What a good timing!
I was happy to get it and I laughed a lot over reading it.
Thank you.

As I told, today is my friend, Chiho's birthday too.
How nice.
I know she is studying hard for the mid-term exam, but I hope she will also have a wonderful birthday!

Thank you for a wonderful birthday everyone!!!!

*noma*

busy!

Hi,
Long time no see!
I haven't written diaries recently.

I had a project in reading class and the due date was today.
I was done yesterday, but some of students haven't finished yet.
So the due date was changed. The due date is Friday!
Whichever, I could finish my project yesterday, so I don't have to worry about that.

Also, I am busy in studying social studies.
I am learning "the French Revolution" "Napoleon" now.

On October 17th, I have to do "position paper" in social class.
Theme is... "Did the french revolution and Napoleon era contribute to the rise of Nationalism?"
Well.... What???
Most of students were like, "We cannot understand!!"
Me too!
First, what's "position paper"???

I asked my social teacher to give me an example.
She said, "I will find one for you as soon as I can"

The position paper is kind of essay.
I have to write...-introduction -3 arguments -conclusion
I hope I can make it...

And... Guess what!
You know,(?) tomorrow is my birthday!
My host mom asked me, "What do you wanna have for your birthday supper tomorrow?"

I have no idea..
I can eat everything which you made so far, so anything is ok! I answered.

I hope I can have a wonderful birthday!

*noma*