Sakura’s Magical Homestay in Hobart
Level 2
Here is a rewrite of the story as a level 2 (elementary) graded reader:
Sakura’s Magical Homestay
July 24, 2024
Dear Diary,
I am so upset with Mom and Dad. They are making me go on a homestay trip to Australia for the whole summer! As if staying with strangers won’t be awkward enough.
“You spend too much time gaming and staying inside,” Mom lectured me. “This will be good for you to make new friends.”
Yeah, right. I’ll probably just feel like an outsider the entire week. What will I do without my games and anime?
At least I packed my Switch to bring with me. Hopefully this host family has good WiFi so I won’t be bored out of my mind.
I do NOT want to go on this trip. Living in a different country with a new family sounds so lame. But Mom and Dad would not listen when I tried explaining how much I dread it.
I guess there is no stopping it now. The flight leaves for Hobart, Australia tomorrow morning. Maybe it won’t be as terrible as I’m imagining? Though I definitely won’t be making any “friends” like Mom hopes.
More likely I’ll just count down the days till I can come back home to my normal games and routines. This is such an unfair punishment!
July 25, 2024
I am in Australia now. It was a long flight from Japan. My host mom is Emily. She gave me a big hug when we met. She seems very nice.
In the car, I saw new trees and houses. Everything looks different here. Emily’s house is so colorful! The windows even changed colors. “What do you think?” Emily asked with a smile. I told her it was pretty.
July 26, 2024
Today Emily told me a big secret. Her family are all wizards! They can do real magic. I could not believe it at first.
Emily’s husband Jack said, “It’s okay, we know this is strange at first. But we want to teach you about magic.”
Then their kids, Liam and Emma, showed me a magic trick. Emma waved her hand and made flowers appear! “Pretty cool, right?” she giggled, giving me the flowers. All I could say was “Whoa!”
July 27, 2024
Emma took me outside for my first magic lesson. She made a wand appear in my hands with her own wand. “Wave it and repeat after me,” she instructed.
I waved the warm, wooden wand and said the magic words. A gust of wind blew Emma’s hair! I made real magic happen.
“You’re a natural!” Emma cheered. “Most people’s first spells don’t work that well.”
I just shrugged shyly. But I felt very proud and excited inside. This trip is already way cooler than I expected!
July 28, 2024
Liam took me on an adventure today. We had to sneak past a grumpy old wizard first. “This is where they nest,” Liam whispered when we reached the forest.
He waved his wand and chanted some words. Suddenly the ground started shaking! A giant dragon appeared, roaring loudly. I was scared at first, but Liam just grinned. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
Liam used his magic to make stairs up to the dragon’s back. Then the dragon flew up into the sky with us on it! We really rode a dragon. It was the most incredible thing ever.
July 29, 2024
I got in big trouble after our dragon ride. Liam and I are not allowed to do magic for two days. His parents were very angry because it was dangerous.
To make it up to them, I helped Emma cook dinner using magic. “Focus your energy to make it heat up,” she told me as I stared at the soup pot. Slowly, some steam started rising from the pot! I did it – I made the soup hot with magic. Emma was impressed by how quickly I learned.
July 30, 2024
Today was hard. Emily taught me spells for cleaning and gardening around the house. Her magic made flowers bloom and dirt disappear easily. But when I tried, nothing happened right.
I felt bad that I was not good at it yet. The spells were very difficult and made me tired. “Your magic energy is still waking up,” Emily said kindly. “It will get easier if you keep practicing.”
I do not know if I can get as good as Emily. But I will keep trying my best!
July 31, 2024
My last day in Australia started with a big surprise – Emily and Jack gave me my own crystal ball for magic visions! “Well done on your studies,” Emily said.
I stared into the cloudy ball, trying to see pictures like Liam and Emma can. At first, it was just fog. But then, I thought I saw my parents back home, having a fight. It looked like my mom was upset about something.
“Focus more and you may see symbolic visions,” Emily advised. “Or it could represent something real happening at home.”
I felt worried, thinking about my parents arguing while I was here having fun. I miss them, but I have loved learning magic too. I do not want this adventure to end!
August 1, 2024
For our last day, we went to a magic village in Hobart! It was like something from a storybook, with witches and wizards everywhere.
Liam gave me strange coins to go shopping with. I bought magic supplies and souvenirs. We explored all the curious shops selling things like wands, spell books, and potions. Everything felt like a fantasy come to life.
I am sad this incredible week is over, but also so thankful for this experience. I have seen and learned unbelievable things about the magic world. I will never be the same after this!
August 2, 2024
Back home in Japan, my room feels small and ordinary now. After witnessing real magic, nothing looks the same.
The Wilsons gave me tools like this crystal ball to keep studying visions and spells. They said with practice, I may even awaken true magical abilities one day!
I cannot wait to show my friends what I have learned. Maybe I can levitate a pencil for them, or make my video game characters look like they are really casting spells!
This trip has opened my eyes to unseen wonders all around us. I feel so lucky to have had this adventure. It has made me excited to explore more and discover my full potential.
There is a whole universe of magic waiting for me. And I am just getting started as its newest student!