I did home stay at Santa Barbara for only a week in September 2003.

This was my first trip alone even first fright (not Acrophobia).

I arrived to Los Angels at 9:00, I'm going to visit Los Angels downtown
and watch an entertainment show there.
At first I looked for storage to keep my baggage at the airport,
I asked some people where storage is but my poor English didn't get
understood to them. I found a person who seemed to be staff for an
airplane company and he understood and show me about storage.
It cost 18$ for keeping my two bags. I don't know this is cheap or not.
Then I got taxi and went to the entertainment show pub, but this pub
wasn't open because it was night club. This was natural but it wasn't written
in web site. I only took a walk alone around downtown for a while.
I called the taxi driver who brought and gave me his mobile phone number,
but he didn't come to pick me up and his friend did instead of him.
In the taxi, my husband Hide and host mother Marietta called me,
I was so grad because I was getting miss.
When I checked in a hotel near LAX I booked, I took a shower immediately
and went to bed. I didn't go to a restaurant in the hotel because 
I had been to a restaurant only once so I didn't like to go to have meal alone.
I was hungry though, I was watching TV and reading some book and called 
to my family in Japan. I was really missing my family.
It was getting from midnight to morning but I couldn't sleep till 8:00 on 
Sunday. After I took 2 hours sleep, I made a decision to go a restaurant to 
have a breakfast. I was really hungry. 

I made a decision to go to a restaurant in the hotel so I got up and took a shower.
I fell so hungry when I dried my hair. I very needed a breakfast.
The restaurant were empty, a few customers in there, I went for buffe and took
scramble eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruits and stuff.
I sat down on seat near windows, a waiter brought a fork and a spoon.
After that a waitress asked me getting coffee, so I said "yes, please" and she served
coffee to me.
I thought it was really easy thing I had a breakfast alone.
After I ate all breakfast on my dish, I paid with chip and left the restaurant.
Today, I'm going to Marietta's house by long distance bus for Santa Barbara.

I returned to my room and made a baggage after brushing teeth.
I went for LAX by shuttle bus.
I called Marietta when I arrived to LAX, and then I got the bus for SB.
Every American people are really friendly, I talked to old couple while I was waiting 
the bus. In the bus, I wanted to see all view in SB, America but I had got sleep almost 
time being in the bus. But I could see ocean view and some surfers when I woke up,
I was really excited and I couldn't believe I'd been there.

We arrived to Goleta bus stop near Marietta's house, I could find her and her sons, 
Christopher from window. I found them I'd never seen them, though.
They were surprised at my baggage were only two also not trunk case, but I said
"I like simple!" and her husband Bernd said "OK, OK" He was really funny and Marietta,
her son, too.

After dinner 

The dinner they served first night I arrived to their house is American steak.
I love steak!! I thought American food was simple and big. They don't have
rice or bread (sometimes with a few bread), menu is steak, mash potato, asparagus.
But this was my first American life that was really precious to me.

After dinner, we went out to beach near their house and they showed Channel Islands
Surf shop I love and had asked for Marietta to bring me before. I was so excited that I could say
nothing. The shop was closed but I was really grad just see it.
There were no wave in the beach and I wondered where I could surf.

We returned to home and I gave some present for them, a tapestry painted Gogatsu
Ningyo (it's Japanese doll for boys) for Tango no Sekku, a small box with drawers made of Japanese paper, 

card case and stuff.
I had heard Americans like big things but the gifts I gave were not big. I worried that.
They seemed to be happy, though...

I couldn't sleep well because I had jet rag.
Christopher had to go to preschool week day morning, 
so I had to wake up early, but I got up at 8:00.
We left home at 8:45 and went for preschool.
After that, we went to cafe and bought coffee, then
we start studying English when I returned home.

Today's studying is using calendar of SB, we were studying for
2 hours and I was introduced to Marietta's neighbor Crystal, then
we left again to bring Christopher. Crystal was really friendly and her style 
was so good, I envy her.
We had a lunch at Subway (America also has them!!) before
we bring him. But it was a little bit hard to order a sandwiches I liked and 
I was surprised at attaching snacks when we ordered drinks with free. 
Humm America's bosom is really big.

After we picked Christopher up, we had drive for a while for Christopher
taking nap. I could see some noted place in SB that we studied with calendar.
I was really grad seeing various beautiful place there.
This was routine work with us while I stayed there.

I went to downtown with Marietta after we picked Christopher up from preschool today.
We completed English study while he was in preschool, and we had a lunch making sandwich.
Marietta was Counselor for financial planning, so she doesn't use money waste.
It was good for me. I think keeping money is really important, too.

At downtown I'd like to visit channel islands surfboard shop there and to buy a surfboard for my
husband and other stuff. I heard his size match to a board, but there wasn't it same as his
size. Therefore I bought trainers, T-shirts, etc. for him and my friends doing surfing.
When I paid for everything with visa card, I wanted to pay them by installment, but I didn't know
this word "installment", so a staff didn't understand what I said. I was embarrassed that I don't have 

English speaking skill enough to explain to native speakers.
So I had to searched this word in a dictionary when I got home.

I could eat Japanese food when I was getting miss it, the food was Gyoza.
Actually it is Chinese but almost getting Japanese food.
The rice Marietta made was nice, I made a riceball using left rice for next breakfast,
a material for in the riceball is an American pickles.
It seemed to have surprised my host family and their friends, Crystal, too.
But it was really good.

The night, we have a dinner with Crystal and Kate is Marietta's ex-co-worker
and she will work for Bernd's company of shoes. She came here for consulting about working contents with him.
After dinner, we all women went for a walk around neighborhood.
I like to listen them talking because it is real native speaker's talking.
It is real learning for me that I have life here.

I went for a walk with Crystal, Caroline, her daughter and their dogs
around neighborhood. Caroline's daughter Lexy was 1 year old and got
in a baby car. She sometimes talked to us with pretty voice and imperfectly
words like "Bee, Bee". She was so cute, all foreigner' babies are so.

Marietta went to meeting of mama's circle while I went on walking in the morning.
After taking a walk, I visit to Crystal's house and talking to her about her hometown
Bermuda. I had to write report of interview her about Bermuda, it was my 
homework from Marietta. It was really a fun homework.

We went to have lunch before picking up Christopher at American restaurant,
and I ordered the most like American food, Sparerib and coke.
It was so great volume that I was really satisfied it as a great eater.

I was writing a report of talking to Crystal while Christopher was taking a nap.
I really think all people in the world are same even they have difference culture.
My report said almost about this especially about women have children.

Marietta checked my report after Christopher went to bed and we have talking 
various things as woman, I feel getting the dearest friend for me.
I don't have friends I can call the best, I always make some block to them and 
I never talk real my feelings. I don't know why, but I had been thinking only I know
myself, nobody know me thinking.
Marietta and Crystal and their friends are all really friendly and talking various kind
of topic and having party frequently. It is so nice. I'd like to, but I wonder I could do,
but I feel like taking all things I have to do easy and relaxation.

I went to downtown with Marietta after we brought Christopher to preschool today.
And we had a lunch tacos there.
We had a fun time to go around in downtown and looked various beautiful shop.
I bought T-shirts for my kids. Every shop has really good atmosphere.

We were going to go to Santa Barbara zoo tonight for it's 40th birthday party.
I brought my camera. The zoo was small, Marietta said so, but it was not small for me,
and a small train go around the zoo had long distance. there was not so many animals
but we had a fun time for American barbeque and a hot dog was really good.
We could get a chocolate cake was so big that I was surprised.

Marietta seemed to be a little bit tired, so we had few study after we got home,
but we enjoyed talking anything like our husband, ex-boyfriend, and stuff.
It was more fun than study. ahaha.

I also went to downtown after bringing Christopher to preschool for booking
a rental surfboard.
We were going to go surfing tomorrow.
Before we visit a surfboard shop that located near channel islands surfboard shop, 
we went to Big dog shop to buy suvenior for my kids and friends.
In Big dog, there were many clothes that was really cheap, so those were nice.
I bought T-shirts, keyholders and beach sandals.
And then we went to pia to have a lunch at a beach restaurant that had nice
menu for fish. There were many people sightseeing at pia. I took many pictures
around there. I'd like to eat fried fish there again.

Coming a time to pick up Christopher, I wanted to leave there so Marietta
went to preschool leaving me alone and after did it, she would return to downtown
with Christopher.
I went to souvenir shop at pier to buy some goods for my kids, and try again to buy
surfboard at channel islands surfboard shop while she was picking him up.
I already decided to buy a surfboard that was shown last time I visit.
It was designed like Nemo, potted orange circle and near size what my husband wants.

This time, I had success to buy it, and I described for bring it by myself.
To tell the truth, I wanted to ride on it instead of a rental board for surfing tomorrow, 
because the rental board was not good, a little bit expensive especially we would have to 
rent this before going to beach tomorrow, that wasted time.
So I called my husband when I got home for asking to ride this new Nemo board.
He was going to surfing when I called, and he permitted me riding on it.
I couldn't wait for going surfing!! wao!!!

We had barbeque with Crystal and her son tonight. I ate two hamburgers and much 
vegetables. I had to take a walk and said "my fat made me keeping warm", therefore
Marietta said "Give me a break!" I got how to say this phrase.

Actually I worried about Marietta know good beach for surfing that had waves.
Some beach hadn't enough waves for surfing near channel islands shop or 
her house. 
But she already asked friend doing surf about good beach for it, and we went 
to there with Christopher. He brought a body board, too.

At the beach, almost surfers rode on long boards and waves were good for 
long board. But I wasn't a expert rider, it was good for me.
Every surfer were really friendly and we were talking while waiting for waves.
It was so good that I envied this and we Japanese need this for surfing.

We went to have dinner with Marietta and Bernd to downtown without 
Christopher, he left with his baby sitter who was also his swimming teacher.
So tonight was last night staying at Santa Barbara and at their home.
It was really short stay for us.

I'd like to write so much but I can't do about this, because it is really 
precious and wonderful night for me.
I can't forget this forever.

Last night I was getting missing for leaving from Santa Barbara
and saying good-bye to Marietta and her family.
I spent a time at living room with Marietta talking anything and
having a last English lesson.

America has everything was big and spacious so they have room 
in their heart and are really kindly.
I can't believe that some of them have guns and they said it is 
more dangerer than Japan. I think we have much more people who are
upset always for something in Japan than in America.
I really hope that I live in here someday even me alone.

Actually I fell home sick once while staying here, and I could have a work
for living here with my family.
If I were a high school student and do home stay here now, I would be
going to look for a foreign boy or a man would be my husband, or I would 
make decision to study English more for enter to a foreign company.

Or I will travel around many country from now with my sons.
Many kind of people are in the world that I'd like them to know.

Marietta gave me an apple for break fast the departure day.
I ate it in a bus for LAX, that is my last experience like America.