Hey,

So today I had big plans to go ice skating at Hirakata Park with some friends. But then it started raining this morning and those plans got cancelled. But we all met at the train station anyway and found something else to do. First we found a Starbucks in a bookstore and had coffee while looking through Japan guide books. I read some stuff about Hiroshima because I’m going there on March 10th weekend. Then we walked around near the station and found the best thrift shop. It was so cool… tons of stuff and really cheap… we spent probably an hour in it and all bought stuff. I got a black and white plaid winter-ish coat. It’s pretty nice.

Later on we parted ways and I came back home. It feels so cold here it’s hard to believe that it’s not even below 0 degrees and I’m complaining. So I was cold and tired, and it was raining, so I was looking forward to being home and putting on pyjamas and just sittin around all night. So that’s what I’m doing now.

Oh, and today my host dad made okonomi yaki, which is like a big pancake of cabbage, onions, bean sprouts, ginger, squid, pork… all mixed together with egg and flour and fried… like a big pancake! Then you put okonomi sauce, mayonnaise, fish flakes and dried seaweed on top. Then you eat it… and it’s soooo good. It probably sounds sort of weird, but it really is good and everyone loves it here. It’s really common in this area. My family was telling me that I should make it when I go back home, and let me help fry some of the pancakes for practice. I don’t know if I’d be able to make it as good as they do, but I’ll bring home some of the sauce and fish flakes, and see what I can do.

Tomorrow I’m going to Kyoto again with my host mom and sister. My sister is doing grad school in education through correspondence, and has to go there tomorrow to write an exam. So my mom and I will meet her after and we’re going to go see Kinkakuji Temple (aka the Golden Pavilion) and maybe go to the Kyoto National Museum of Art. Unfortunately it’s supposed to rain again tomorrow, but I can live with that I guess.

Alright, time for bed.