Hug!

Now, I'm in America and I'm so happy to come back here. I received a lot of warm welcomes from many people with their big smile and hug! When I met my American friends again, they gave me a hug. I was so happy. When I met some teachers again, they also gave me a hug. I was really happy, but it was kind of strange for me, because I'd never been given a hug by my teachers in Japan!



In America, I often see a lot of hugs. I saw RA gave another RA a hug at commons. When I go out of the campus, I often see a lot of hugs. On the other hand, when I greet my friend in Japan, I just say, "Good morning." I'll give a hug to my friend, if the day is something special, for example my friend's birthday. If the friend is a boy, I never give a hug to him, even it is a his birthday! We don't have a such as custom, so actually I felt strange when my host mother gave me a hug at first, we just have been together for only 3 days. I really enjoyed spending a special time with them, but I felt strange and I was little embarrassed. I really remember that day I said to my host family, "Good bye," before I went back to Japan, because I gave her a hug! At that time, I felt I was an American. I think it's really a great custom to hug friends, parents or teachers, because it makes me happy, and I think it is a way to tell that I love them without any words!



When I go back Japan, I want to give a hug to my parents and my sister, I really want many people who don't know this custom to understand a very warm hug! To hug someone who I love is one of my favorite American cultures.