If your in Japan and you know it clap your hands!!!

Monday morning I had a terrific time at Yume's kindergarten. The kids there ranged from 4-5 years-old. I played with a group of them in the sand box for quite a while, and then I chased them around the playground. Several of the kids tried to convice me that the sand was delicious and that I should try some, but through my own childhood experiences, I knew better. There were about 10 students from my program who went to play with the children. In the afternoon, we all sang American children's songs and nursery rhymes. London Bridge was very popular. However, many of the children became very anxious while we were playing it, because, while they understood the concept of the game, they could not understand the words. Therefore, they never knew when the bridge was going to fall. Many of them cautiously approached us and then darted beneath our arms to keep from getting shaken up with salt and pepper. It was so much fun, because it's easy to impress a four year-old, and I like being the center of attention, so it was a win-win situation. I really wanted to be able to go back to the kindergarten and volunteer, but there is no time for it in my class schedule. This weekend, I am going to stay with a host family for 2 nights. My host parents are both nearing 60 and they have a 17 year-old daughter and a dog. I'm not sure I can impress the daughter (17 year-olds take more work than 4 year-olds) but I shouldn't have any problem with the dog (unless it's a dalmation, which are horrible dogs. I say this because there is a dalmation that lives near my hotel, but this is another story). I should have a good time with the family. Anyway, it will be a change, and I've been quite bored here latey. There's really not all that much to do in Iida, and so when I'm not in class or at rehearsal, I'm lazing about thinking about the next time I will go to class or rehearsal. I am exaggerating a bit. We have a lot of random activities that we participate in. I'm just not as busy as I'm used to being in Columbia, and it bothers me a little, but just a little mind you. In a way, I like being bored, for once. A good example of one of our random activites is our trip to the Iida Tofu factory that we took yesterday. They produce the majority of the tofu that is consumed in Japan, it was also interesting to note that the soy they use to make the tofu comes from the U.S., including Missouri. They walked us around the factory grounds and should us a video about how to make freeze dried tofu. The highlight of the tour was a 3 foot high model of a japanese castle made entirely out of tofu! What more could one person ask for?!?! They gave us some tofu samples, which I sampled and then passed on to someone who actually liked tofu. They also gave us some little snacks, but I gave them away because there were little dried fish in it that did not look very appetizing. Japanese food has been quite an experience in itself. Well I'm hungry now, so I think that I'll go have another experience....