Just A Quick Update

Just 5 days left until Jesse and I have been in Japan for a month and I am still loving every minute of it. Before I left people would occasionally say something along the lines of, "Japan will be quite a bit different than what you have idealized it to be" and I have to say to those people that you are both wrong and right. Strange eh? Let me explain. I have found everything I thought I would find here; temples, shrines, beautiful mountains, friendly people, fascinating history/culture, cool hole in the wall restaurants and shops, vending machines of every variety (alcohol, cigarette, soft-drinks, etc., and everything else that you can think of. Every little thing seems to make me laugh. As I write this, I am sitting next to an empty can of "Happy Happy うれしい（Happy)　アップル　（Apple) Joyful Fruit Drink", and a bag of "American Popcorn". I don't know how they get so much of that red, white, and blue taste in to one bag. The bag seriously has all the a fore mentioned colors on the label.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, let me explain some other things that I have noticed in Japan. First, people are very very friendly, and it is not uncommon at all to have little friendly chats with people you meet places. There is always a lot of bowing and saying "excuse me", and everyone gets along great. I have never feared for my safety at all when walking around anywhere at any time of the day or night. Now that I have explained that, let me explain what else I have noticed in regards to people; you are seen by all but approached by few. I'm talking about life on campus itself. Not once in any of my days on campus, have I had anyone just say, "hello, how are you" (Japanese tutors aren't counted in this figure) or "where are you from?". It just hasn't happened yet. It may be that they are shy around international students. There are only 3 American students on campus; Jesse, myself, and Jake (who has lived in Japan for nearly 4 years and who is very fluent in the language). I don't even think he is on an exchange program. He takes regular courses in Japanese. The language barrier is a strong one, and people are afraid to approach it. For as melancholic as my musings may sound, have no fear, these are things I know will soon disappear. It really is amazing how much people will open up to you once you approach them and try to learn more about them and their interests. Compared to when I left, my Japanese skills are really starting to grow quickly and with much better results. Tomorrow I will meet with some of my Japanese friends on campus for an evening of communicating and laughter (I do have friends here) This weekend will bring me a new bicycle, my cell phone, hiking/picnic/hot spring, and dinner in a nearby town with one of my friends. I look forward to all of it, and I will let you know how everything goes. Take care everyone.

A strange eye-shaped basin found inside a little man-made cave in the mountains. I don't know what it represents. Behind it, near the wall of the cave, is a white stone marker that has no legible writing on it.