bu bu bu bu... er!

So Japan is pretty cool. The first few days were rough. I was missing people a whole lot, but just recently I started to settle in. I was able to listen to As Tall As Lions and not cry. There are still times that it's hard-- nighttime tends to be the hardest, but then again it always has been.

I wandered around Akihabra the other day. The good deals are off the main drag. I randomly went directions down back-alley vendors till I found some good shops. I found a computer fan for 780 yen while most of the ones in the department store are 8000 yen+.

Today we went as a group to Harajuku. Japanese fashion is interesting. They love ruffles and billowy things and nothing really matches. I found a couple of shirts for a REALLY good price. But to be honest I bought them because I had to break a large bill for an ice cream crepe.

Classes are going well. I got placed in a rather low course, but I'm alright with it. These placements don't carry over to Doshisha and my basics could use some refreshing. I have three different teachers and all of them are pretty funny.

I'm starting to think I'm going to get fat here in Japan. The food is so good... I can't help but eat a bunch. I think what will keep me skinny is my skinny wallet.

Speaking of wallets, money is kind of annoying here. They have large denomination coins. I'm so used to coins being fractions of dollars that it's hard to connect in my mind how much I'm actually spending when I use those coins.

I met up with Hiro. That was super fun even though we didn't do too much. Getting a cell phone is going to be the death of me. We walked around shinjuku station for a bit while Hiro recited "pussy pussy pussy pussy..." It was quite amusing, but I don't care as much as he did when we were spouting "Tekkoki." I told him he was uptight. He half-heartedly agreed.

I haven't gotten to meet up with Jannice yet which is sad. I'm hoping Sunday maybe, but we'll see if she's feeling up to it. Saturday I go climbing at Takanaosan. It'll be a good workout. Maybe I'll work off some of this delicious food.

I'll write again Friday maybe, but probably Sunday in all actuality.

I love and miss you all! More pictures when I get my computer back!