First off, I’ve update the Photo Gallery now, so check it out if you’re interested!  Only 7, but there should be more coming soon.

So far not an extreme amount of stuff has happened since my last update.  I know it’s been awhile from my last update, but school is now pretty normal and there have been a lot of preporations for the Bunkasai [spelled wrong] Festival.

Basically the school festival is for a reason unknown to me, but each class works on an activity or food to sell to their school mates and guests that come.  There are tickets that we use during the festival that are worth 20 yen each.  I bought 20 tickets.

My class did a “maze”, which was really just the classroom divided into four sections with large makeshift walls.  There was the first room, where people would wait in line to enter, the “Yen Drop” which was set up with two fish tanks and you had to drop a 1 yen coin into a bowl or cup to get a stamp on your sheet [the room was also completely decked out with balloons, the next room was an "Anime Quiz" in which we'd play a clip from an anime's opening theme and people would guess what it's from.  That room was all decorated with anime posters and stuff.  The last room is where you got a little snack, from a variety that we had bought.  Because my class is so awesome we made it free.

Some other classes did a homemade Horror movie, foods from India, Korea, US, and more, and then there were different activities set up in the classrooms.  I tried Korean food I think, which wasn't too bad, and I also got two water Yo-Yo's.  Otherwise I really liked helping in my own class's Maze.  I learned how to say "Chotto mate [or matte]” which means “Just a moment”.  Very useful.

So that was all yesterday, and really awesome.  I had been getting home from school at around 6:30 or occasionally 7 because of working on it and/or Japanese class.  So now back to getting home at 4:30.

A few other things that happened were me trying to get into the Kendo Club, which will hopefully work out fine.  Also I have Judo at this school, which I think is pretty cool.  AND I have a lot of friends.  Now that I had to introduce myself at the assmebly, I’ll get people that just say “Poru” and start talking to me.  At least they know my name!

Also, I’ll get random people on the street talking to me, which usually really surprises me.  It’s happened more than once, where an English speaking Japanese person will just be like “Hi” and start asking me where I’m from and stuff.  I think it really has to do with how few foriegners there are there.  Literally, it’s odd if I see a white person outside of school.  It’s basically more Japanese than Cannon Falls is white [My town needs more diversity I think].

So overall, awesome time, and right now I’ve got to go shower so I can go sightseeing in Osaka with my older host brother!  That’s how I’ll be spending my Sunday.  Miss everyone!  Stay safe for me!

- Paul