I HAVE ARRIVED

As all things must go, I have arrived. Indeed, the fact that I am sitting here, connected to my host-family's internet and writing at my - or their son's - desk is evidence enough.
The flights were... shall we say "a challange", moving from one airport to another. I went from Edinburgh, to London, then to Hong Kong and finally Tokyo. I had a four hour wait in London, so I shopped, after getting the rather interesting shuttle bus over to the third terminal from the fifth. Which isn't as bad as it is made out to be.
Following this, was my more gruelling flight to Hong Kong, which was ten and a half hours. I expected seven, but it was way more. I saw four movies, all of the new releases I wanted to see, including Inception and I now understand what everyone says about it. The ending is truly interesting, and really the only way it could work out. If that dradle hadn't spun like that . . . I won't say any more. And Descpicable Me is absoloutely amazing. Very funny and silly.
I arrived in Tokyo, getting through customs easily enough - after my five hour flight upon which I slept and watched Toy Story three - and was met by the kind Fukuhisa-sama, who organised the exchange I took part in earlier this year, if any one remembers Mizuho and Mika. She actually bought my ticket for me (I paid her back, do not worry), which was much cheaper than I expected, and showed me right onto my train to Nagoya. And I was directly met by another Hope International Worker upon the other end. And finally, I met Lowell Sheppard. I am very grateful to him for all of this. A month ago maybe I was nervous. Now I feel very at home and in great company. I am determined to learn everything, from the language to the directions around my town, and I am sure it will all be fine.
So today, I got up a little later than I wanted - half nine, but it is to be expected with acostomising myself to the time zone. At half-ten Lowell and his lovely wife Kande came over and showed me the general area of where I live. They live in Seto, and I live in something with two words in it, which I am unsure of. I'll figure it out.
They took me to a huge supermarket, that sells everything, where I bought a bag, a beautiful, very "kawaii" back pack for every day use, costing me only 1990 yen. I now have these tiny coins with holes - ! - in them. Very odd, or just Japanese! And I was kindly taken out to lunch to a sushi bar. Complete with the revolving plates, and the raw fish. Very different to British versions of sushi. Even the rice actually tastes different, and they use a lot of wasabi. How did I cope? . . . Well, lets say it is going to take time for my stomach to adjust. I suppose it would be the same for everyone. Raw fish is not my forte I think.
And I have also found out that Shibata-Okaasan, my host-mother, is part of an art class, and is an artist. There is a beautiful red-clay sculpture by her in the dining room, that looks rather like "the bather" by Rodin. But Japanese. Everything here is just as they say. Lights, the signs, the crazy colours and the absoloutely beautiful architechture. No house is the same. I think everyone builds there own, and all of them have balconies.
So yes, I am having a good time, aside from my reaction to raw fish. But I shall adjust, strive and conquer - Mwahahaha - and be a good foreigner in these parts. All is well, I am happy, and smiling. The world is beautiful. So is my room, I basically have a fluffy quilt for my bed. I love you mum and dad, I hope you are too. And I wish you would all see this place. It is a dream.
Love you and Taidekimasu,
Ailsa