Host Family/Placement Information!

Yesterday was easily one of the most exciting days of my life because I found out my host family/placement information, and I couldn't be any happier! I will be living in the city of Hatsukaichi in the prefecture of Hiroshima! I was provided with very basic information: My host father is Masahiro Yamamoto (a company employee), my host mother is Chika Yamamoto (a saleswoman), and I will also have two host sisters (ages 16 and 14)! I am so excited to have a host sister that is my exact age and even a younger sister also!

Hatsukaichi is a city of about 120,000 people and is home to the Itsukushima Shrine (on Miyajima Island) which is considered to be one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan! After arriving in Tokyo on June 17th I will stay in a hotel overnight and then travel to Hiroshima by train on June 18th! I am actually extremely excited about taking a train from Tokyo to Hiroshima because it will be a great opportunity to see the different sights along Japan! The train ride will take several hours (probably between 4-5 hours).

I was only provided with my host family's phone number so I just called them last night at 9 PM (10AM in Japan- 13 hours ahead) . It was a very interesting and amusing experience. My host father picked up, and I said in Japanese, "Hello! My name is Shamrin! I'm from America! I speak very little Japanese!" and then he said something in Japanese (I didn't understand). I asked for his e-mail address but he again said something in Japanese very quickly (which I also did not understand!). I then asked in Japanese, "Do you speak English?" and he says in Japanese "I don't speak English". Next, there was a terribly long silence, and I say in English, "I don't know what to say!" I then said "sorry" in Japanese. I finally say in English , "Okay! I'll talk to you later! Bye-bye!!"

I wonder if he even knew who I was! I probably should have mentioned YFU or told him that I am an exchange student, but it was so hard to think in the situation! So, my host father definitely doesn't speak any English! I wonder if my host mother or sisters do? I don't think anyone else was home when I called because it was completely silent in the background. I don't really know what to do! I'm going to call back tomorrow night (the next morning for them) and maybe someone else will pick up!