first day!

well its 4.30 in the morning and there is alot to recap. this will probably be mundane to most but its more of a record for myself than anything.

so it was a long day, and my throat never got better, my voice is still funky and i'm putting all my energy into not getting sick, even though i think i might be. i got rediculously lucky with the plane, i had a window seat and the seat next to me was empty. moving the bags was troublesome but i still had less then other students. i had alot of fun with the UH students on the bus ride, and trying to use our phone cards. some tried to stick their student cards in the machines, we had no clue. then everyone bought tasty drinks from the vending machine and we drove to machida.

the school is gorgeous, its very fancy, and shiny. but right when i found out we could use the office phone to call home, i got dad's machine. and right as i was going to call larisa's phone, my host family arrived. they are awesome. sorry dad! they already have asked me to be on first-name basis, it is Yusuke, Miho, and their daughter Kaede. oh and the dog is a schnauzer named Moko (fuzzy) and is shaved like a poodle. its interesting because they have a cage thing for it, like a baby-pen, and he has a kitty-litter box-thing. Kaede is adorable, and both Yusuke and Miho are very kind, and funny. they were excited to find out i play video games and watch anime, because they both do so. they have their manga collection here in my room actually. between their "small" english and my "skooshi" nihongo, we get the job done. and i'm picking it up really fast.

now, for interesting specs about the apartment. its a brand-new apartment, and is a nice size. i am so very glad that they don't hang their cloths out to dry like 90% of japanese, their washing machine both washes and dries... you put in clothes, and soap, and then you can either Wash, Wash-to-Dry, or Dry. so it will automatically wash and dry your clothes..... its amazing. the bathroom is high tech, and thank god the toilet is 12" from my door, because the plane food got to me. they bought me a brand new futon, and for dad its not like american futon, its a foldable cushion for the floor. and its amazingly comfortable. i have my own air conditioner/heater, and it doesnt make a sound. my biggest problem, is that the closet is like.. 14" wide... and only has one shelf and a few hangers... so i have to get creative with how i unpack. but i have a mini flat screen tv, (like 11 inches) a cd player and a nice little table for working.

we already went and got my commuter pass, for 6 months so i'm good. and they are showing me how to go to school in the morning, and even made a stop to buy me corn flakes last night XD!!

well, im rested-enough, and going to try to move things around a bit for the next hour and a half before breakfast, the jet-lag is rediculous, but i think after two nights or so i'll be fine.

oh and dad, they've never tried cognac! so i am excited, they were very pleased as well. and they have these wine cooler things here that come in cans, and in pretty much any flavour you can imagine, i had the choice of Pineapple, Peach or White Grape tonight. i had pineapple and it was sugoi desu ne!

i think the last thing is to go over the rules they set, it's all really just common sense.
- dont be too noisy
- the last train home is at 10:55, if i ever stay out later-call in advance, and take a taxi home. if there is an emergency, call their cell and they will drive to get me.
- when leaving the house, make sure-basically everything- is off, including the gas stove.
- they take their showers at night too.. so we're gonna do a switch thingie, every other night i get to shower. but since they arrive home so late from work, i think ill take my shower around 7:30 or so, which is fine for me.
- oh and i got a key.

its amazing, they get up every day at about 5:30, and work till 7:30. eat dinner at 8, and get to bed around 11 or 12. and Kaede does the same, she goes to nursery all day. but they are very kind and fun, and hardworking. i got to see a cell-phone program Yusuke created, its for reading stocks. and Miho's brother worked on animating Pokemon! XD!

i'll be able to get a cell phone next week, but till then my skype name is : Halcyione, and i can get online pretty much anytime im at the apartment, and i find out about the school wifi today.

well, sorry for the rediculously long post, but its been a rediculously long day, and i already feel better. the thing in my throat has subsided a tad, and my tummy isnt crying anymore.

so, i love you Dad! and David! Larisa and Chap!

gambate ne!