Day 1
“ I see them! I see them! They’re finally here”.
Excitement brimmed my entire body as my friend continued to finish the class work. My seat opposite to the window allowed me to see a peak of the exchange students from our Japanese sister city, all sporting blue jackets. For months, I envisioned the days and nights playing around with the student I’m hosting and other students.
This time around, my friends were also hosts so we could all go somewhere on the weekend together. My cheeks flushed as I awaited for the clock to click to ‘ assembly’.
1:04pm.
We all rushed into our class lines, eager to catch a glimpse of the students. In front of our quite massive school of 1000+ students, they all sat politely, quietly and studied the environment. After all, they would be coming here for the next 10 days.
We studied them too.
“ He looks like you”, “ That’s my student”
“ That one seems crazy”
Little did I know that the ‘ crazy’ one would the same boy that would become my very first love.
After the assembly, we, as host sisters and brothers, were asked to officially or casually meet them in the Japanese language room. As we walked, each step was met with a bouncing heartbeat and nervous chatter.
What if they didn’t like us?
What if they’re secretly rude?
How are we going to start the conversation?
As we approached the room, the soft smell of Subway cookies and wafting scent of fresh subs welcomed us. Each exchange students sat on a chair as we all awkwardly waddled to the side in a line. My cheeks felt increasingly warm as I kept on whispering to my friend.
The teacher suddenly smiled and spoke
“ Students... these are students from our sister city... we will now introduce you one by one”
Of course, weeks beforehand we chose our students so we knew of their names, faces and a bit about themselves. I chatted with my student via email and then through the messaging app, LINE.
My fellow friend wasn’t contacted by his student so he assumed he forgot about him. Apparently as I found out after, he was too busy.
Anyway, my name was finally called and I shook hands with her, before quickly taking an official photo that would be used in a PowerPoint. Before taking our seats, we exchanged a few words and then sat in a group.
The lunch was quite nice, although it felt a bit too healthy for me. There were laughs, jokes and words shared and although there was a language barrier, it felt like there was another connection.
As I got up for another cookie, I heard a small “ hello”. I brushed it off, thinking it was a hallucination however it was him. The one who was smiling all the way in assembly. I turned my head back and timidly replied “ Hi”.
After lunch, the boys decided to play ‘tips’ while we toured the school. After a while, they stopped for a break and I heard
“ Is she half Korean?”
It was the same boy. Apparently I look half Korean and he was curious. Smiling, I lightly shook my head and whispered “ Chinese, full Chinese” and he seemed to understand.
Another hour passed and it was finally time for them to head to our homes for the first time. My friend took one of my friends home and before they left, the same boy, let’s call him E, yelled “ Bye Susie”.
Knowing that he was copying my friend’s nickname for me, I quickly waved before rushing myself into another car.
That was the end of Day 1.
