Not me! But it’s definitely time to post an update. So much has happened in the last few days, the most exciting thing being meeting and moving in with my host family.

 But before I get to that… Friday I went to Kyoto and found out that it really is beautiful. A group of us went together with a Japanese student to guide us around, show us how to use the train, etc. We saw the Kiyomisu temple and looked around. It’s so nice, and really different from any other historical sites I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to learn about everything in my Japanese architecture class.

After we got back from Kyoto at about 8, we had dinner at a restaurant by the station (the kind of restaurant where you buy tickets for what you want and then give them to the cook) and then stopped at the dorms’ local pub called “Daddy’s Shoes” which holds maybe a max. of 18 people.

 Saturday I bought my first cell phone! Or mobile, as they call them here. Anyone at home can email me on my phone, but it does cost 15 yen for me to receive it. That’s only about 15 cents though, so not a big deal. It’s waaay cheaper than calling, and I can get the messages right away. Anyone who wants my address and doesn’t have it, leave a comment and I’ll send it to you.

I’m going to pimp my cell phone out Japanese style with stickers and dangly things. It’s totally cool here to do that.

 So yesterday (Sunday) I met my family! My host mom and dad (I call them Okasan and Otosan) came to the school to pick me up then took me to the train station to buy a commuter pass (only about $20 for a month… cheap!) Then we went to their little tiny house and they showed me my room. Okasan understands English, and speaks a little (but is very shy about it) but Otosan hardly knows any. They’re both really cute and little, and look much younger than they are (about 56-58 I think). I have a host sister, Kyoko, who is 26 and a host brother, Akira, who is 29. They both live at home and work. Kyoko goes to school still through correspondence to be an English teacher. Her English is really good and she is the one who communicates with me the most.

 I gave them the maple chocolates and cards I brought from home, and showed them photos of the house and Mom, Dad, Luke, Gramma, etc. They’re really interested in my life back home so I’ll show them more pictures later on my computer.

We had a really good dinner last night: a big pot of boiling water in the middle of the table, and big plates of chicken, fish cakes, mushrooms, udon noodles, carrots, chinese cabbage, onions… all put into the boiling water to cook and then mixed in our individual bowls with sauce, hot peppers, ground sesame seeds. Very good, I ate a lot. And they were impressed with how well I handled the chopsticks. I just need to work on slurping the noodles.

For breakfast I had white toast, one fried egg, half a banana and some kind of pumpkin soup (they always have to throw one random thing in there). It was good though, it’s nice to have breakfast sitting on the table for me.

Some things I’m planning to do:

• the university ski trip, organized by the japanese students’ ski club… 2 days skiing in Nagano, Feb 12 and 13
• trying Maiko in Kyoto, another activity organized by some japanese students… i get dressed up like a geisha with the makeup, hair, kimono, everything… it costs about $150, but I think still might do it
• shopping in Kyoto with my Speaking Partner, Sacchan… she’s going to take me there and show me some good places to buy clothes, and we’re going to find boots that fit me cause they have awesome boots here in Japan

I have my first class this afternoon, Ceramics. Then I’ll take the train/walk back home which takes about 50 min. Kind of a long commute (by Saskatoon standards) but not too bad.

Anyway, that’s good for now.
Cheers,
Jillian (aka Japanada)