"Pilot"

From left to right- Okasan and Obachan, my host mother and grandmother.
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A few weeks ago I stepped onto a plane and roughly twenty hours later I was in another country in an alien culture, understanding roughly less then one percent of all written and spoken launguage- in short, it was the beginning of an adventure.

It is difficult for me to know exactly what to say at this point- all the work I had put into my life at home has been reset to zero for my short time abroad and I am essentially at square one.

It feels like a cop out, but suffice to say I am squarely at the beginning of whatever is to come; though what that is exactly I do not know. To begin I will briefly introduce my host family.

Chiro the dog- she is 17 years young.
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Mrs. Chaki (Chaki-san in Japanese and Okasan, or mother, to me) is the head of the household. Okasan cooks wonderful food (and lots of it) at every meal and has been very helpful and accepting me.

Obachan (or grandmother) is Chaki-san's mother in law. While she is very nice, I havn't been able to talk to her to much because I speak very little Japanese.

The final member of my host family is Chiro a seventeen year old dog who seems pretty healthy for her age. Every day Chiro eats homemade yogurt (sugar-free since I arrived) and some manner of wet dog food (which she doesnt seem to care for).

This is the hosue where I will be spending my next year.
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I am sorry for the relative sparseness of this first entry, but it is very difficult for me to find words at this moment- the event to large; the time is too early.

What I can say is that I am finnaly comfortable with the subway system, I know where to find good food, groceries, a place to wash my clothes, et cetera. The city is very pretty and very large- thre is always something going on and the lights at night are amazing.

Now it's about 10 00 at night, I am watching arrested development online and will be writing emails soon- I have an early day tommorrow with class starting at 8 50 and lasting four hours (!)

The Eagle City Pachinko Parlor- !After Dark!. Pachinko is the easiest way I know to lose alot of money in very little time with very little reward. Notice the sign says, "Are you addicted?" I am sure theat many people can say yes.
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Until next time,

Jerod J De Mara