OH thats how it works.

So apparently in Japan. If you want hot water to come out of the shower. You have to use an electrical panel to turn on the hot-water... and then you can adjust the hot-water nozzle. I find this out after nearly a week of cold showers...

First off, I forgot to take my camera with me on monday so I don't have any pictures from then. But no worries, I'll make it up with more pictures from the rest of the week. Monday I went to go meet up with my host family from when I came to Japan 2 years ago (this is where I regret bringing my camera). My old host-bro was actually in Canada and so I didn't get to meet up with him, but hopefully I'll see him tomorrow (Thursday).

Their house was actually just a 15 minutes train ride from where I am currently living and I didn't even have to switch trains on the way. I'll definintely have to visit more often (especially since I got a free Chinese restaurant dinner and lots of cake out of it). It was rewarding if only because, last time I was there I couldn't even communicate with my host father since he didn't speak any english and I couldn't speak any Japanese (not that I'd claim to be able to speak now either).

Tuesday I met up with Tomo (he homestayed with me back in 2005). He took me to the 'Japanese Times Square' in Shinjuku. Of all the things to be famous for, this place features the only Krispy Kreme in Japan. And it always has a full line. Its all pretty ridiculous considering that you can buy a box of donuts for 5$ back in the states. Starbucks on the otherhand can be found at every street corner in Japan. It might even have a stronger foothold in Japan than its has in the states.

I also received my Japanese placements score today. I ended up doing better than expected and making it into the intermediate class. (Good thing because I already got the book). So it looks like I'll be taking Japanese 3 hours a day... 5 days a week. Hopefully a fraction of the Japanese I'll be exposed to will manage to sink in. I even met one of my classmates today (Juan Pablo Ruiz Velasco Enriquez). He's from Mexico, and really I just wanted to share his name because its simply amazing (like every stereotypical name packed into one super-name).

As for today, I met up with my friend Shoko. (I also met her back in 2005) She goes to Tokyo University which is the equivalent of the Japanese Harvard. If I tell a Japanese person that I'm going to meet my friend from Tokyo University, they are instantly impressed with me. As if I somehow am just as smart by association.

We went to Shibuya, had some Udon, and then she showed me around. I also bought stationary (Japan has some really unique and colorful pieces of stationary), which some of you just may receive over the next few months. Lastly we stopped by this statue of a dog (his name is hachi) who was apparenlty really loyal... and therefore a statue was made for him (? I'm unclear about the details here). Then I piced up some Melon bread from the bakery. I'm quickly developing an addiction to it. Its like a sweet bread that kinda tastes like fruit too? Its hard to explain, but if I could ship a crate back with me, I definitely would.

As for school, I'm really enjoying all the nuns and f

athers that walk around campus (it was founded as a jesuit school). Its a weird mix seeing so many temples and shrines around the city and then the campus church all mixed into one. (I'm mentioning this because an priest with a heavy irish accent just came up to me and made sure I wasn't hurting my eyes typing on my laptop here in the dark).

-Dan