When I first found out I was going to Japan I was in denial, because I thought that people were just joking around with me, but then I got called up to the school hall about a meeting. At first I got there and already I was confused because there was a bunch of year 11 and one other year 12 student in there and our high achievers teacher, now I know I was a high achiever but this was like a puzzle a genius had to figure out, this was because I didn’t know what on earth was going on. Then suddenly the news was broken to me and the nine other students and I were over the moon.  For months we had been preparing for the trip and the final day came upon us and it was time to go to Japan. I was soo excited I forgot about saying goodbye to my family, but luckily they came upstairs with us and I said my goodbyes and it was KA KITE NEW ZEALAND AND, KONNICHIWA JAPAN!!!  It took a while and trust me the wait was worth while, we finally arrived to Japan and I couldn’t wait to have a shower, and then I couldn’t wait to explore. The first day was the best because not only did we get to meet our country mix but we got to go to our first location in a bullet train or as the Japanese say shinkansen, we travelled to Kyoto and we were, well some people, were tired but I wasn’t I was still excited and because I had just finished eating a “few” packets of chocolates and lollies.  My experience of Japan is one I will never ever forget, I got to meet a whole new cuture and a lot of lovely and awesome people. People from different cultures and backgrounds they were just awesome, the best thing about it was the vending machines, food and the host family experience and I’d like to thank AFS for this opportunity I know I won’t ever forget the friends I made from the other countries and I definitely won’t forget going to Japan, hopefully I get to fulfil my goals one day to go there to study.  Thank you so much AFS New Zealand and AFS Japan this wouldn’t be possible for me if it weren’t for you, so once again I thank you.