Interview with Hugo 2

Konnichiwa, Hugo.

Konnichiwa.

Tell me something about Grade 1.

Um.... It's weird. I like that there's lunch recess and snack recess.

What do you take for lunch?

Um, kind of the same thing, well, like a bread roll, some soba noodles, soybeans, cheese cubes.

Who packs that lovely bento for you?

Mommy.

Did you notice anything weird about the weather today?

Typhoon hit the shore today.

What was that like?

It was rainy back where we live.

I'm wondering what kinds of foods you are liking here.

Sushi. And chicken meatballs. And chicken hamburgers.

Tell me something about Japan that you didn't know before you got here (that you know now).

That there's a sushi conveyor belt restaurant. And that the sushi there tasted way better than American style. Because Americans made it by Americans, so it didn't taste as good as the Japanese stuff, sushi, because that's where sushi was invented. They gave sushi to China even though they invaded it really badly back then. They spread sushi to China.

Sounds like you've been studying some Asian history.

Hmmm..That's about it.

What do you think about our bath situation here at home?

It's awesome.

How come?

Because I like the small and deep bath...because it's deep.

Do you want to tell people what we are going to try to do tomorrow?

Go to Arashiyama and watch them catch fish with birds that I forget its name.

Cormorants.

Yeah, cormorants.

What other thing do you want to tell everybody back home?

That's enough. I'm done.

Arigatoo, Hugo.

Arigatoo.

Interview with Alek 2

Konnichiwa, Alek.

Uhn.

Tell me about the party at school today.

There was ginger there. There was melon there. There was cherry there.

What are you talking about? What are these flavors?

They are the kakigori flavors!

Who made the kakigori? Who ground the ice?

There were these ice containers that grind up the ice and put it into your cup. Then they put the syrup on it, and then they ate it. Shunsuke-sensei and Mr. Ammon did it.

Tell us about the walk home from school.

The walk home from school I got Match Match from the Pocari Sweat vending machine.

Did you like it?

Oh yeah, I did.

What are some of the other drinks you have tried?

I have tried Cherry, and Fanta Zero, and Fanta Grape, and Mets Wild Charge.

What do you like about your school so far?

I like the clubs. After school. Like futsol, and snack club, and papier mache club.

What about during school? What does Ms. B say?

She calls us "sweet peas." I don't know why though.

Maybe you're sweet?

I know, but why does she put "pea" at the end of it?

Alek, Instead of sweet peas I accidentally typed sweat peas.

We are sweat peas! We are peas with a lot of wrinkles on them.

Tell us something about Japan that you didn't know before you came here.

Um...I know that there are vending machines everywhere.

Finally, name one food you like here.

I like seaweed. And tofu, and tuna. And whitefish.

Arigatoo, Alek.

Now what?

Interview with Max 2

Konnichiwa Max.

Hi.

Tell me something about the food here.

It's Japanese-y. Some of it is yucky.

What foods do you think are yucky?

Um...what's that sweet and our chicken called?

It's called karaage.

Karaage.

Karage is yucky huh? I love it.

I don't.

Which foods have you liked best so far ?

[Thinking....thinking.....] The shaved ice stuff (kakigori)

What's our house like?

Small. The upstairs is hot.

What do you think of sleeping on futons?

It's a teensy bit uncomfortable. It's like camping every night of your life.

Do you think you are over your jet lag?

No. Because I'm really really hungry at breakfast, and at dinner and lunch I don't eat much at all.

Max, tell us three things about school today.

There's no rules yet. I had to wear indoor shoes. And...it was hot.

Thanks Max. Arigatoo.

You're welcome.