Friday morning. T-minus one hour until the official beginning ceremony for Kansai Gaidai. You should see me all dressed up in the nicest clothes I brought. Classes begin on Monday; I have this weekend to really let loose before I have anything like homework to think about.

I'm living in an international dormitory. We're basically a bunch of Westerners dropped into the middle of Japan. Many of us have no idea what we're doing. I'm living with people from all over the states as well as Brits, Australians, Canadians, Albanians, Estonians, Norwegians, Swedes, and many other nationalities I'm sure I'm forgetting. I think my dorm is fascinating; I'd love for someone to do an ethnography of it. It's interesting to me how easily the diferences between each Western culture are put aside when us honkies are faced with something as different as Japanese culture.

However, don't take that to mean that I am only hanging out with international students. I'm beginning to make Japanese friends as well. This weekend I think I'm going to a Japanese party! Too psyched. I've been meeting Japanese Kansai students in the weirdest ways -- on the plane, on the street asking for directions. They're all so nice, so helpful, and truthfully so happy to be talking to an American. I almost got lost yesterday but for the grace of a few Kansai students who took pity on me and my obviously-confused countenance.

I'm going to buy a guitar today I think. I've been going through withdrawal. Thankfully a dorm-mate (who is moving into a homestay today or tomorrow) had a nylon-string that I was able to play for a few minutes yesterday.

Anyways I'm rambling and hungry and I should go get some breakfast. Thank you for reading this!