Eaaaaarthquaaaake!!

I’ve noticed my English has been deteriorating since I’ve been here. I guess it’s because I really don’t have to read or write anything in English except for my notes in my non-Japanese classes, so my brain is dumbing down on English. My conversations are also such a mix of Japanese and English that both get used in random ways. At the same time however, I don’t think my Japanese is proportionately braining up, so I don’t know where all that extra space in my head is going to.

And after that random thought, I just wanted to mention that Japan is awesome. Have I said that already?

I experienced my first earthquake this week, though it was only a really tiny one that lasted all of a minute. I had no idea what was going on at first, so it was sort of creepy. I had just woken up and was sitting on my bed texting my parents (more on that later), when I thought I felt my bed shaking. That was weird, so I checked to make sure I wasn't accidentally shaking it. I wasn't, but then the lamp cord started swaying and somewhere in my mind it vaguely occurred to me that it might be an earthquake. It's not at all like the cartoons depict it where the floor is shaking up and down and things get rattled around; it's more of swaying sensation, like you really feel the tectonic plate sliding under the earth. Of course, for me the swaying sensation might have come more from the fact that I was on the 10th floor of a really tall apartment building during an earthquake. Okaasan said that the buildings in Japan are built to sway and not break, but I have to say the swaying felt sort of odd.

I bought a cell phone, and it's sooo cool! I only got the cheapest pre-paid phone they had, so it’s not one of the spiffy 1000 gadget ones that the Japanese carry around. However, this thing is awesome. Even though it’s a pre-paid phone, I can take videos and pictures, play music like an I-pod, and send and receive e-mails. Not just texts, but e-mails!! I have an email address, so I can send messages to anyone I want to for free, including to everyone back home. I’ve already used this a lot with my family, and I have to say it is most convenient. I do have to say that by the time I get back to the US I will be a world champion in texting. I really wish my new phone would work in the US, because it’s so much better than the silly thing I have at home. I’m going to be really sad to leave this phone behind, and even sadder to take it with me knowing that it won’t work. Cell phone charms are so cool too! They’re all the rage here in Japan, and even the men will have something cute and jingly on their phones and not even think twice about it. I currently have three on my phone: a deer from Nara, a Taiyaki fish, and a little Pooh Bear from Jackie’s friend Yuri.

I'm happy to report that I am no longer craving American food, and have instead found a lot of good substitutes. Most of it is snack foods, which is funny because at home I almost never snack on things and just eat meals. One of my favorite things to eat in Japan is anko. Anko is sooo amazing! It's basically just bean paste, so you just take red beans and mash them up to make a paste out of them. It may not sound good, but it's actually sweet and tastes really really good. I was recently introduced to something called taiyaki, which is mochi (rice gluten, or pounded-up rice) formed into a fish shape and filled with delicious fillings such as ANKO (black or white, I like either), custard pudding, chocolate (more like pudding), and green tea (pudding). I also found taikyaki ice cream, which is an ice cream bar (fish shaped like the snack), with vanilla ice cream, anko, and chocolate covered in a shell that reminds me of a sugar cone.

I also found a church here I can attend! After attending the Morman church (which was all in Japanese) with my family the first week, I went in search of a Protestant and hopefully English church. What I came up with was Agape International Christian Fellowship, a small church that meets in a room of the local train station. Everyone was really nice, but more importantly the service was in both Japanese and ENGLISH. The pastor would say a line in English, and then say the same line again in Japanese, and his entire sermon was like this. The songs were of the praise and worship variety, and a verse would be sung in Japanese before being repeated in English. It took a little bit of getting used to, but by the end of the service I was fine. My host family also went with me, and Okaasan said the service was amazing and wants to go back.

Well, I know Nara, last weekend, and tons of pictures were not included in this post as I had promised, but right now I've got to run and catch my bus. Normally I would have a little more time on Friday afternoon to do a really big post, but not today because I am FINALLY going to see the BAGPIPE BAND!!! I'm so excited to finally meet them and play my pipes again and not just chanter quietly in my room. (Dr. Sprague, if you're reading this I want to let you know I have been taking care of my pipes and have been checking them often to make sure things are ok!). I have to catch all the right trains though to reach Osaka so I need to get going on that. I PROMISE there will be an update on Monday with pictures and stuff, so be prepared for a long post.

Ja ne!! (see you later!)