Category: English 10

Here is my descriptive paragraph about a memorable experience I had in Japan in the spring of 2016, that I later made into a SWAY presentation.

As we rolled forward, the cabin twitched and shuddered. Seatbelts made certain to be fastened and tight. As the pilot’s droned voice informed the braced passengers, we all heaved backwards as the plane inclined. As we floated calmly amongst the wispy clouds, I beamed with excitement for where we would later land. I could just see the gorgeous, foreign country in my mind, and I could hardly wait to experience it with my own eyes. After the never-ending flight finally landed, the thrill and eagerness grew more and more inside me. I couldn’t wait to emerge into the city on the other side of the broad airport walls. My family and I briskly strode through the building. The pungent smell of the plane seats had adhered to us, and we were all anxious to freshen up. After what seemed like forever, we made it out of the airport and into the breath-taking city of Tokyo. As we headed to our hotel, I glanced around, and witnessed such an amazing view. Numerous skyscrapers filled the horizon, surfaces ranging from lustrous metal to glimmering glass. Hundreds of busy people bustled around; a growing murmur in an unknown language occupied my ears. As I continued to look about, I noticed so many interesting and unfamiliar things; the odd yet intriguing storefront displays of new and inventive objects, the melodious tune of cultural music played live on the streets, the mouth-watering whiffs I caught of gourmet cuisine lingering nearby restaurants. I was so ready to experience it all, and very enthused for the upcoming 2 weeks. Once we arrived at our hotel, I was truly taken by surprise at how amazing it was. The corridor was filled with sparkling chandeliers and bouquets bursting from the vases. The halls leading to our room were lined with more potted plants and eye-catching art pieces. Our room, simple yet practical, had a stunning view of the city skyline. The beds were so comfortable, the cushy mattresses soft and squishy, so much that it was very easy to fall asleep, especially considering the time change. The powdery peach and pink colours of the sunset’s were such an enjoyable sight to watch at night as well. Over the next few days, we had decided to explore the city, and when you’re in Japan, how could you not indulge in the food? Every single meal was such a lovely surprise. The new and fresh flavors melting in your mouth, making you want more and more. Of course the sushi was spectacular, each roll served looked as if it was a piece of artwork. The sushi chefs would embellish each roll with drizzled sauces and floral garnishes, making your experience not only delectable but also visually appealing. When you walk along the city streets, you are greeted by the humblest of people. Despite the fact that we were travellers, many people were kind enough to treat us nicely, which made us feel very welcome to the unfamiliar crowd. The various kiosks along the road held the most quaint and peculiar items. One stand sold beautiful white flowers, dyed all colours to look like rainbows, and another simply sold fresh fruit arranged prettily on wooden sticks. As unexciting as that may seem, it was a nice change of pace to appreciate the smaller things in life. One day, we visited a beautiful traditional temple. Its structure, aged yet sturdy, consisted of gorgeously unique twisting and turning patterns, colored black with the addition of a stunning vivid vermillion. Beside the temple was a cute little market, where vendors sold handcrafted goods such as oriental treats and good luck charms. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, those of which were planted around the entire area. As much as I enjoyed site seeing, I was very excited to go shopping in the various “untypical Canadian” stores. As we approached the massive, street-long building, I was so incredibly curious to see what was inside. The interior of the shopping center was unlike any I’ve ever seen before. The levels of the mall were each lined with dozens of stores, selling any single item you could think of. They had stores filled with cool futuristic devices, and clothes that your pets could wear. They had store upon store of the cutest, cleverest inventions, and the most glorious stationary sections I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. You can faintly hear the music of each store humming in the background, and the sound of laughter all around. For a person who loves to shop, it was pretty much heaven. One of the biggest parts of the trip was seeing our family. The main reason we had come to japan was for a reunion. It was so nice to see our relatives, and have them show us their favorite places in the city. They brought us to an eccentric Japanese-Italian restaurant, that at first had us hesitating, but ended up being quite enjoyable. Japanese pizza, though being thin as paper, was a surprise that speaks for itself! The day of the reunion was a very memorable one. The event room filled with friends and family was beautiful, and the scrumptious planned dinner was happily devoured. Even with a language barrier, I felt very belonging with the group, which made the day so much better. Overall, this trip was such a wonderful experience. I hope I get to go back soon, and create more memories to one day share.