I’m Philip Georgiou and am currently spending my gap year in Japan on an AFS Cultural Exchange program. I live with my host family in Obihiro which is located on the Northern island of Hokkaido. I arrived on the 22nd of March 2007 and will be returning to Perth, Australia on January 20th 2008.
This blog’s main purpose is to make it easier for me to communicate with family and friends in Australia as well as other exchange students in Japan. Enjoy!
I love the layout! So crisp.
Hi Phillip,
I arrived in Obihiro almost exactly the same time as you did, I found it funny how true your observations were as I read your blog. I`m starting Kyudo on the 10th as I work with one of the instrucors – Miss Yasuko, maybe I`ll see you there. Keep up the great blog and I wish you all the best for your year in Obihiro.
I am finding your diary very interesting and also very amusing. I can see there will be a place for you in your mother’s business back in Perth now that you are in the flower arranging club!!
Hi there Philip- what a fantastic blog! I have really enjoyed reading your impressions and observations- you are a great writer! I’m glad your experiences so far are reasonably positive. I think your blog would be really useful for students contemplating exchange to Japan- are you comfortable with me giving your blog address to applicants for 2008?
Hope the flower arranging is going well! That is so, so funny.
Best wishes-
Wendy W from AFS Central
Hi Philip,
Great reading! I haven’t read right through yet, however can we refer people, ie newsletter readers, to your website and secondly, can I take a few passages for inclusion in the newsletter?
Are you happy to have the AFS website link to yours as your blog is excellent and I think it would provide encouragement to other exchange students in all sorts of ways.
Yeah, of course that’s okay! I’d be happy for other exchange students to read it and I don’t mind the link in the newsletter. If future exchange students ever want to talk to me about Japan tell them to contact me!
Haha this blog is brilliant, AFS is really proud of you from what i gather, the meetings discussion always leads to whats phillip up to?
Was great to meet you (again) and the other exchange students during our brief time in Obihiro last week.
I must agree about the darkness factor, it got dark so bloody quick.
Enjoy the rest of your trip and say hi to Baba San for all of us.
“JENESY 07″
Hey, I was at the same Obihiro festival. I went for an exchange as well but it was very short, but I took place in the festival and the dance. Strange huh? Email me @ thelichking@gmail.com