One of the first things I needed to do was make sure I have some yen for when I firs
t arrive in Japan. The word yen literally means "circle" in Japanese, but it is also the name for Japanese currency. Just like American money, yen comes in bills and coins. Japanese people don't use decimals points like we do, instead they just keep counting up. So instead of have $10.50, you have 1050 yen. But here's where it gets even MORE confusing... 1 yen does NOT equal 1 dollar. Instead, the value of the yen in relation to the value of the dollar changes every day. Today, 1 dollar = 101.366 yen, and tomorrow it might be something different. So today, $10.50 would actually be about 1,065 yen, but tomorrow it might be more or it might be less. How confusing!! To make things easier when I first get there, I went to the bank and used dollars to "buy" some yen.
t arrive in Japan. The word yen literally means "circle" in Japanese, but it is also the name for Japanese currency. Just like American money, yen comes in bills and coins. Japanese people don't use decimals points like we do, instead they just keep counting up. So instead of have $10.50, you have 1050 yen. But here's where it gets even MORE confusing... 1 yen does NOT equal 1 dollar. Instead, the value of the yen in relation to the value of the dollar changes every day. Today, 1 dollar = 101.366 yen, and tomorrow it might be something different. So today, $10.50 would actually be about 1,065 yen, but tomorrow it might be more or it might be less. How confusing!! To make things easier when I first get there, I went to the bank and used dollars to "buy" some yen. Something 
else I've done to get ready for my trip is take the pictures off of my digital camera and save them on my computer so I have lots of memory to take new pictures in Japan! I love taking pictures and plan to bring two different digital cameras and a video camera. I've been known to take pictures of everything, including the FedEx truck that I was stuck behind on my cross-country trip this summer! :) Madame Carroll, one of the French teachers at Pennsbury High School, has already asked me to take lots of pictures of the food we eat in Japan, so you can plan to see plenty of those posted on here!
Over the next few days I still need to put together a photo album with pictures of my family and of our home at William Penn Middle School to share with the Japanese teachers I will get to meet. I also need to double check my packing list, make sure everything fits in my suitcase, check over my flight schedule (I leave BRIGHT AND EARLY Sunday morning!), and spend lots of quality time with my cat. (She's been known to try and jump in my suitcase before!) For now, however, I am going to take a break from thinking about Japan to make some popcorn and watch the 2nd Presidential Debate. I can't wait to hear what you think about it tomorrow!!
else I've done to get ready for my trip is take the pictures off of my digital camera and save them on my computer so I have lots of memory to take new pictures in Japan! I love taking pictures and plan to bring two different digital cameras and a video camera. I've been known to take pictures of everything, including the FedEx truck that I was stuck behind on my cross-country trip this summer! :) Madame Carroll, one of the French teachers at Pennsbury High School, has already asked me to take lots of pictures of the food we eat in Japan, so you can plan to see plenty of those posted on here!Over the next few days I still need to put together a photo album with pictures of my family and of our home at William Penn Middle School to share with the Japanese teachers I will get to meet. I also need to double check my packing list, make sure everything fits in my suitcase, check over my flight schedule (I leave BRIGHT AND EARLY Sunday morning!), and spend lots of quality time with my cat. (She's been known to try and jump in my suitcase before!) For now, however, I am going to take a break from thinking about Japan to make some popcorn and watch the 2nd Presidential Debate. I can't wait to hear what you think about it tomorrow!!
5 comments:
when i went to virgina over the summer, i took lots of pictures of random things!
Also, i may be good at math, but converting dollars into yen would give me a major headache =)
Hi Miss Brazina,
This is Lynn's Mom. I just wanted to wish you well on your trip! I've enjoyed reading your blog. I know you will go and make Pennsbury very proud.
Lynn's Grandpa used to be stationed in Japan, back in the dark ages. My parents went back about 20 years ago and had a wonderful time. Just be prepared to be one of the tall ones in the group when walking around the locals!
It might help to remember something I had to learn about other cultures when I lived in Germany with my husband.... "it's not wrong, it's just different."
Have a great trip, we'll be reading!!
Thank you, Mrs. Evans! I passed on your words of wisdom to some of the teachers I am traveling with who are nervous about elements of our stay at a Ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) at the end of the trip.
Where was your father stationed in Japan? It must have been a very different experience when your parents went back later, and I'm sure it is very different now than it was 20 years ago! If you have any pictures from their trip it will be interesting to compare them with the pictures I will post from my trip. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hey Ms.Brazina!
I hope you have a great time. I'll be very interested in all of your posts and pictures. Especially landscapes and scenery. They're always very pretty. Like all the Cherry Blossom trees Japan supposedly has or the cool archways. Even all the...what're they called...Oriental/old fashioned Japanese buildings...? Well you probably know what I'm talking about!
-Priscilla
Dear Miss Brazina,
This is Oliver's sister Bridget - I think your blog is extremely cool! This is my first ever post on a Blog!
In Girl Scouts we are working on the Money cents badge and I have been logging onto a web site to see the value of the yen compared to the dollar - exactly what you were talking about!
My troop will be studying Japan for Thinking Day - a day we remember that there is Girl Scouts all around the world. Let me know if you see any Girl Scouts or if there are any Girl Scout Troops at any of the schools you visit!
Thanks for letting us post a blog!
Bridget Pelosi
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