Hey everyone. I'm writing from the school computer lab. The keyboard is normal so I don't have to worry about changing into characters, yea! So yeah, this week I've been exploring Tokyo. Monday I went to get my alien registration card and saw an old Buddhist temple. On Tuesday I went to Akihabara and got a cell phone. If anyone wants to know my number my parents have it, I feel I shouldn't post it on-line. Cell phones are way better here, I got a really cute phone that can take pictures, shoot videos and send lots of emails for 1 yen. Most people her send emails to each others cell phones rather than calling, because actual calling minutes are quite expensive. But incoming calls are free if anyone would like to call me. :-) Then on Wednesday I went shopping in Shibuya which is a crazy busy shopping district. I bought two pairs of earrings but everything else was pretty expensive. For once in my life I'm actually trying to stay within a budget, so I don't have to get a job here. We'll see how that works out. Thursday I went to Yokohama, which is actually the second largest city in Japan, and only a short way away from Tokyo. They have a famous Chinatown there that I went to with my host mom and a nice park called Yamashita park that overlooks the bay. It was a very nice visit. Things with my family have also been good. Isao and Fukiko are both really nice, and say very funny things from time to time. They have traveled a lot and been to a lot of places in the United States and speak English fairly well. I've met some other really nice students too. Mostly I've been hanging out with the girl from Massachussetts who lives almost right next door to me. It'll be interesting once I get in classes with other Japanese and foreign students. Random fact: it seems as though Starbucks are almost as abundant in Tokyo as they are in America, I think they might be taking over the world. I don't mind though, I really like frappacinos, they taste like home. Well I hope everyone who is reading this is well and I will try to update again soon.
P.S.-I saw a Japanese midget at Yokohama the other day, I just wanted to share that.

Hey, things are going really well here, sorry it took me so long to post, but for the record, I wrote something a few days ago and then accidentally deleted it cause all the buttons are in kanji. Anyway, I`ve been hanging out with my family a lot, they`re super nice. My host mom took me to a really pretty river in Tokyo and we walked alongside it. That was nice, reminded me of the Mississippi. There were a lot of people down there, even a random Japanese man playing a trumpet next to the water. I guess it was too noisy for his apartment. Now I know where to go when I have an uncontrollable urge to play a trumpet. My host parents have a piano that I could play anytime, but my Fukiko`s so good it puts me to shame. So I don`t think I`ll be doing that anytime soon. Besides that I went to Akihabara, the big cheap electronic shopping district and went in a giant Japanese department store. It was huge, and incredibly busy. I`m going back there tomorrow to get a cell phone, so I`ll let you all know my number if and when I successfully get one. Then today, I went to an old temple near my house. Quite different. I think that`s one of the coolest things about Tokyo and Japan in general, the interesting mix of old and new, tradition and innovation. I also had my orientation and met people from all over the world that are in my program and can speak English. :-) Also, on my way back from Akihabara the other day, I totally slipped and fell on my ass, right in front of a bunch of Japanese people who just looked at my like I was crazy. I hope you can all picture it. Peace out.

I arrived in Japan two days ago and everything has been good so far. My flight was good and a really nice girl named Yuki came to pick me up at the airport. My host parents have been very nice and do speak some english, which is good cause my japanese is awful. Yesterday, I visited my campus and went shopping in Harajuku with my host mother, which was fun. I now know my way to school and back on the very complicated train sytem, which is good. I had orientation today and met people from all over the world. So far things have been great and I will write more when I can. To all my friends and family, I love and miss you!