Thanks, mom
I remember the last time (and only time) I was in a room with the other Oregon students and their host parents. It was the first time we all met, the end of the week after we arrived in Tokyo. I was terrified and insecure. I scanned the room before we were introduced, looking at the parents waiting for children and judging them based on their facial expressions, their clothes and their overall caricature.

When I found out the name of my host family, my heart fell because there was only one person, a rather plain-looking woman, there to wait for me. I took this as a sign that things would only go downhill from there. I now can say that my defeatest attitude was honestly and completely wrong and for once my expectations were by far succeeded.

After tonight's dinner and half-embarrassed impromptu speeches by students and parents alike (alas, only Host Mom was able to attend), I left feeling sincerely that my time with this family was truly something of which I could be proud.

I want to express my sincerest thanks to my Host Mother for her bright smile and positive supportive attitude. She's much more than a guardian now... she's my very good friend. While everyone's experience speaks differently to them, I'm being honest when I say that tonight I had the feeling that my Host Mom is really the best of the bunch.