Birthday [誕生日]　(Daniel) Getting old - it's an inevitable part of life. But, on March 23, 2013, I had an amazing time getting old alongside my Japanese friends and family. I think the last time I celebrated my birthday was when I was 10 or 12 years old. I realized at a young age that big birthday bashes were a big hassle, and I didn't see the fun in planning, organizing, and then running around the party to make sure my guests were having a good time. This year, however, my host family decided to throw a birthday party for me and invite all our HIPPO friends to participate. I was fine with that -- if someone else throws me a party, I wouldn't have to hassle myself or feel any pressure. Bring on the  part-tay! March 23rd, a Saturday, began like any other ordinary day. That quickly changed when the mailman came in the morning and presented me with a big surprise. Wow! International Mail Package #2! My parents (with the help of some relatives

Sakura [桜,櫻]　(Daniel) Springtime in Japan is marked by the blooming of beautiful cherry blossoms, called  sakura . For a couple of weeks in mid-March and early April, all of the cherry blossoms simultaneously bloom to transform the country into a wonderland of pink petals. Sakura is an iconic symbol of Japanese culture, often found in anime, manga, Japanese art, film, and music. It is a symbol of the start of spring, of a rebirth of life. Unsurprisingly, this is also the time when Japanese schools and companies start their new year. Explaining the beauty of the cherry blossoms is nearly impossible, so I've decided for the rest of this post to only include photos: