suddenly, surprisingly, I am going to Tokyo this weekend with Ann. It should be really fun as we are going with no particular plans in mind, just a hotel and a train ticket.

Last weekend I went to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and it was really really cool. Usually you have to do an application to go. But this was one of the five days in the fall they just open it to the general public. So Elizabeth, Tomosuke and I went together. It was really pretty interesting. And SO big, and not to mention gorgeous with all the fall colors changing. Afterwards we trmoped on over to Kinkakuji, which was a jam-packed bus ride away. Man people talk about Japanese trains, they've never been on a Japanese bus. Just when you think another person cannot possibly fit on that bus, five more people will get on. Luckily Tomosuke and I escaped up the stairs, Elizabeth was not so lucky. But Kinkakuji was gorgeous with all the red and orange leaves. Too bad both Elizabeth and my cameras died simultaneously. So we bought a fujifilm disposible and took pictures with that, but now we have to figure out how to get them printed and to our computers.

And for no reason on Wednesday we went to Shinsaibashi, just to celebrate the finish of another round of tests and no homework I suppose. And on Tuesday it was dinner with Tomiko in Kyobashi, which was REALLY excellent. The resturant we went to was so delicious. A touch of karaoke afterward and that was a nice night. Add to all that Shamisen lessons and it was a full week. But we are finally getting the hang of this song, until the 12 mark, then the shamisen section is still struggling a bit but we'll work through it with practice.

Hello, I'm back again. This month we have had many days off. For the weekend of the cultural festival as well as for founders day so far. The festival was amazingly fun and I spent two very full days there eating and walking around seeing what the students were doing. We had a really good time and afterwards Jessica Elizabeth and I went with our friend Tomosuke out to dinner in Hirakatashi (I know more food right?). But it was very good and very cheap. I will have to remember it for another time.

Later on Sunday Elizabeth and I went to Fushimi Inari. SO many stairs. We were climbing and felt that surely, we must be getting near the top. Then we saw the map and saw that we were only half-way up, so we gave up after that and walked back down. But it was really pretty and we did get some pretty great views of the city. There was also a woman there selling kimono and accessories. She offered me a very pretty furisode kimono for 15,000 yen, which is pretty cheap. But I wasn't sure so I waited, and was very glad I did. When we went to Sanjo to just eat dinner a poke around, I finally went in the thrift store I always see, and was AMAZED by how many kimono they had upstairs. And also by how cheap they were. I got a furisode kimono I liked so much better for the same price. And it is almost like new. I still need to find an obi and an appropriate acoutrements, but I got the under robe there as well. I am very very happy with it.

This weekend it was visiting Tokufukuji, which turned out to be more expensive than we bargained for and then we ate what has to be the largest most delicious okonomiyaki I've ever had. I was stuffed! Then on sunday we went out for dinner and karaoke for Jessica's birthday. Dinner was fun, and even though Tomosuke didn't join us for karaoke we had a great time, Tadayoshi, her home-visit boy was really funny. He sang 'Selfish' by Koda Kumi with me and head-banged to 'Ready Steady Go' and was generally just having a great time.

And then this Tuesday, I went with one of the circle's on campus to a local elementary school. It was way fun, and I got a big surprise when Tomosuke was there. I had no idea he was in that circle. The kids were really really adorable though. I can speak semi-fluently with them, the second graders that is. :( I suppose its a good start though. I had a great time and if I get another opportunity I will deffinitely go again! It kind of felt like being a rock star because the kids were so excited to meet us.