Quick update

So tomorrow I have my kimatsushiken (final exam). I haven't updated all week because nothing's really happened...just basic schoolwork, watching anime, eating food, breathing, etc. Nothing really to write home about. We did go visit the Linear Motor Car last week, which is supposed to be one of the world's fastest trains, going at around 500mph. They had one of the more interesting gift shops, with little kitsune (foxes) that you can dangle from your phone, with each different colored kitsune having a different meaning (being able to read all the kanji that described what type of luck each kitsune wished was very satisfying, proving that I am actually improving :)). I hadn't seen those the first time I went there, but some of the other ryuugakusei had bought some. One of the ryuugakusei bought a very attractive light-pink kitsune, which wished luck in relationships, for his girlfriend back home. I'm currently putting together a care package to send to the-girl-back-home-I-was-dating-prior-to-coming-to-Japan, that would be one of the best gifts to give, so I went back there today with Fumi-san, one of our instructor's whose sole purpose is to make sure we have fun. Now all I need to find is a sensu (a folding fan) and I'm set.

My hair is extremely long...I can't remember the last time it was this long. Unfortunately, when my hair grows out, it just literally does that - grows out. There's no unity to it; I constantly have that bed-hair look (think Tristan Ruppe). I was going to get a haircut today but realized that it's approximately $30 for a simple hair cut! (I might be able to talk them down since I'd just want a buzz cut, but it'd probably still be north of $20.) Instead, tomorrow after my kimatsushiken, Fumi-san's sons are going to give me and another ryuugakusei a buzz cut since they have a buzzer. Machidooshi (I can hardly wait)!

I just exchanged emails with my teacher Shima-sensei. One of the students was feeling like he was being picked up, despite us telling him that all the jests at him were in good humor and endearing. Seeing as how I've become the unspoken leader of the ryuugakusei, I felt it was my duty to make sure everyone was in good spirits. It's a position I often find myself placed in, and am now trying to explore the various ways of being a better leader in any and all positions, not only for my own well-being, but also for job possibilities down the road, where I had considered an assistant producer / producer position. Anyways, she responded explaining exactly what we've been telling him - unfortunately he's too nervous and shy to have gone up earlier and done something about it. She'll be one of our teachers in the coming months, so our relationship with her should still be healthy. I'm not going to tell him I talked to her on his behalf (I also asked that we keep the emails confidential), because I feel that her praise towards him, seeming to have come straight from her instead of resulting from my influence, would have the most beneficial effect. Moreover, as I'm finally realizing that I can become an even better leader if I put in the effort, I feel that it's important that someone be able to do something nice and not try to get credit for it - that, to me, is the sign of a true leader. Sure, you might say that posting this is in some ways going against that philosophy, but this message was intended to be more of a "I'm going to try to realize any sort of leadership skills I have while in Japan" instead of "Hey, I just did a good deed, listen!"

I made brats and curry tonight for dinner. Sure, it's not like it was very lavish, really just a bunch of microwaving, but the dogs' taste reminded me of the ones we usually eat at home. I really want to become a much better chef. Whether or not I'll have enough time in Japan to work on my culinary skills and continue further down the path towards Iron Chefhood I can't know for certain, but I know that when I get back home I'll be closely watching Dad (okay, and Greg) at each meal preparation. I feel like being able to actually cook meals makes you that much more of a mature, responsible adult. Also, the girl back home has a 19-premier meal plan, which means she gets 3 meals a day weekdays and 2 meals a day on weekends. Being college students you rarely eat breakfast and you often skip meals or go elsewhere to eat - assuming that we're still together when I get back, that'll allow me to still have access to the oishii (delicious) UCLA dining commons. In return, I'd like to be able to prepare really nice meals for us when she wants a change of pace from dorm food. So, konpai (cheers) to furthering my daidokoro no jutsu (kitchen skills)!

Finally, next week is our week off before the next half of our schooling begins. Most of us are traveling around. My current travel plans are as follows:

Friday: Kimatsushiken, haircut, basketball, memorize speech

Saturday: Present our final speech in the morning in front of our host family, Takaguchi-san (our main head instructor), the tutors, and anyone else who comes. Saturday afternoon we go to Toukyou for a piano recital. After that, we're free until the 1st of October, when the second half begins.

Sunday: Go to the Toukyou Gemu-shou (Tokyo Gameshow), which is a big display of a bunch of videogames from a bunch of different companies. Going with a few friends, should be a lot of fun.

Monday: Do some more shopping in Tokyo since I'll still be there. Planning on going to Asakusa, Shibuya, Harujuku, and Akihabara. Monday night I'm taking the red-eye bus to Kyouto.

Tuesday: Travel around Kyouto with some other ryuugakusei to see a few temples. Head over to my friend Ryota's house in Oosaka (alias Captain Jack, Japan's #1 Super Smash Bros. Melee (a videogame) player). There I'll be spending Tuesday night, possibly Wednesday too, depending on how it goes.

Wednesday: Do the Oosaka thing - eat the famous food, shop in the famous districts, etc. See how much time I have left, possibly return via red-eye bus back to Toukyou, Wednesday night, or stay another night if I'm playing a lot of Super Smash Bros. Melee with my friend and leave Thursday night.

Thursday: Up in the air, possibly stay in Oosaka again, possibly be in Toukyo / return to Tsuru to rest up.

Friday / Saturday / Sunday: Possibly go to Nikkou with a few other ryuugakusei and Japanese students. Nikkou is about an hour north of Toukyou by train. There you'll find natural waterfalls, onsen (hot springs), and a bunch of different sites to visit and hands-on things to do, like pottery or wood carving. It's also known for its various wildlife, especially the saru (monkeys), who will apparently jump right on in the onsen with you. (They'll also steal food from stuuuuupid travelers.../free present to anyone who caught that reference, probably only Greg.)

So, I probably won't be updating at all next week, since I'll be all around Japan...till then, wish me luck on my final and my speech!