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I�m beginning to notice that it�s strange to hear English around me, either spoken by others or on the TV. It�s almost as if I find the hard vowels and nasal syllables aurally offensive. I wish English were a more �beautiful� and less harsh language than it is. I almost feel bad for all the Japanese attempting to learn English here both because of the difference in sound and the unfairness of mastering diphthongs and sounds that Japanese doesn�t contain. Pretty much every Japanese syllable except the L/R combination letter is included in English so English speakers only have to deal with grammar construction difficulty such as the desu/masu conjugation and sentence endings.

Hmm, wait, nevermind� negate what I just said about unfairness. English doesn�t have kanji.

In a way, I feel as if I�m becoming worse at the language right now. Although I�m speaking more, I�m also more often aware that I can hardly say what I want, especially via grammatical conjugation. Argh. Often, it�s just such an euphoric release just to speak English to someone and automatically be understood. Although I�m not eager to speak English with my family, they are pretty good speakers and it makes it easier to communicate.

Today we attempted tech support and gadget purchasing via direct translation. Oh God was that difficult. At least the students we went cell-phone shopping with had some clue about what we were trying to ask. My host mom, despite all her kindness and attempts to help, knows very little about computers� so I was left trying to explain the difficulty with my powerbook to her in broken English so she could translate to the salesperson at Big Camera (dun dun dun *sings the stupid little jingle they play every 5 seconds* La la laaaa Biiii-ku Ca-me-ra!) in Shinjuku. Anyway, I should have internet some time in the next few weeks. (like today! =D)

I also got my very own Keitai Denwa (�Carry phone�) today. It beats the MegaPants off anything one can get in the US by a bazillion dollars worth. Then again, it cost a bazillion dollars (~$115) because I�m too much of a gearhead to get the cheap or free phones here even though they�re still years ahead of US cells. My phone is one of the two top models on my plan and has such features as Java(Games), GPS, email, uber-photos/ video, text messaging (duh), and so forth. Unfortunately, I chose the Casio over the Sony Ericson and therefore sacrificed English features. But, damn it, it will give me a reason to learn some major Kanji via experimentation. Cell plans here only have a few hundered minutes for the cost of Unlimited Access in the states. However, here minutes don�t round up AND any incoming call does not incur charges or use your minutes. Maybe that�s just my plan (AU, for student discount) but I can�t be sure. Hell, I probably won�t use half the features I subscribed to (~$40/month) because I can�t understand the menus. I�ll figure it out sometime in the next 9 months. It is my MISSION!!! =D <3

I also changed my iPod over into Japanese and I might do the same for my computer just for more character exposure. Then again, with the kanji in menus, that might be a bit masochistic. Ahh, it�s nice to write here though and be able to form complete sentences for once.

I was rather feeling like I could do anything this morning, though. I took the Keio bus line from my house to Shinjuku and then rode the Yamanote train line in to Takadanobaba station. Unfortunately, this JR station is not the closest stop to Waseda� there�s another, much closer subway stop but the programme won�t reimburse the cost of the ticket for that line and since passes cost about a bazillion dollars a month (my bus/ train combined is about $100), I don�t think I�ll be doing that. I don�t mind the 15 minute walk from Takadanobaba station. In fact, it might be the most exercise I get for a while unless I suddenly start feeling like I need to fit going to the gym into my schedule. Right now, I don�t really care. With this food, if anything, I�ll lose weight even eating a trough full of it. On the other hand, my host mother does seem to delight in feeding me tons and tons of food. Not that I mind, but it�s a bit much.

Uh, anyway, the point of this raving is that this morning I commuted in Tokyo for the first time ever. Surprisingly, it didn�t faze me. The city itself in no way makes me nervous, probably because I�ve spent the last two years in and out of Seattle. I got a seat on the bus for the maybe 15 minute ride into Shinjuku and listened to my iPod while looking out of the window. It�s been blustery the last few days due to some minor Typhoon action (did I mention there was an earthquake a few days ago?!?) and the buildings were grey against the grey sky. In a way, I thought momentarily that it looked a lot like home�and then it finally sunk in that I�m HERE in TOKYO by MYSELF. And I�m OK. In that moment, I felt like the most powerful woman on the planet and simultaneously humbled by my own insignificance in this place so full of people that it�s like an anthill.

Nakano-ku, the prefecture where I live, is really close to Shinjuku. After looking at my tour-guide and talking to people, I get the impression that Shinjuku is really the most major hub in Tokyo. That makes me very happy to be so close. I still almost want to be farther away in a big house with a wealthy family and cute gadgets (and a more �Eastern� house) but I�m very glad to be where I am and I find myself constantly humbled and grateful that these perfect strangers would even want to accept me into their home.

It�s official now. I�m here and registered as an alien. Today I purchased national health insurance and secured my residency. I cashed some more traveler�s checks so that I can purchase an electronic dictionary, which will probably set me back close to another $200. Until I get reimbursed, that $200 is practically all my pocket change unless I dip into debit, which I already did for my cell phone. I ought to be able to make my budget work with what I have set aside, even without taking a part time job. But I want money for trips and to help cover hotel to stay with friends with the visit since there certainly isn�t room here. EVERYTHING HERE IS SO FRIGGING EXENSIVE. Except for the cheap stuff�and the cheap stuff is really, weirdly cheap. Like there�s these 100Y ($1) stores everywhere that have so many things for wacko cheap. Huh, go figure.

The Japanese don�t really talk about money, so I feel guilty trying to get my affairs/ budget in order all the time. Then again, most Japanese children are completely supported by parents so any money they get via part time jobs goes STRAIGHT toward clothing and booze. Gee, that�d be nice, eh? I hope I can experience at least a bit of that lax responsibility while I�m here now that I only have 2 bills (insurance/ phone) to pay and no food to cook. YAY!

Oh, God, I�ve been watching little pieces of Japanese TV often, too. I�m so surprised at how much I can pick up by listening. Almost everything, in fact, given the context. (With my eyes closed it would be another story.) TV really helps a lot with pace, colloquialisms and kanji. Today I watched some singing show called �Hey! Hey! Hey!� that featured practically every j-pop star on the planet. Who knew Morning Musume had like 50 members? Not me. I didn�t even know what a Gackt WAS, much less that the Japanese male pop stars who tend to dress like black gangstas in the US often sing soulful ballads containing Engrish such as �la la la laaaaa love you blah blah blah tonight giiiirrrlll�. Blah blah blah numbah one heaaaaaaaart.� I should have figured that but the style of dress threw me off.

I�m nice and settled in to my room now, with more than enough blankets to keep me warm, although I pray for a heater in here during the winter. Tomorrow is a day off that I will spend with my host family resting, traveling around and studying for the placement test on Wednesday. We�ll see what tomorrow brings as far as the continuing adventure. I haven�t been to three or four of the major Yamanote line stops and there are countless museums and shrines to see.

Right now, it�s time for bed!