Internet..... oh how I miss thee....

I haven't been able to write in my blog for ages!!! My life actually has been very busy lately, but the real problem is not having any conveinent computer access. My hotel has wireless internet, but I didn't bring my laptop, and I feel guilty always borrowing someone else's, and so, I have left the modern world behind. Suprisingly, I have adjusted quite well. No more internet, no more cell phone (even though sometimes I'd swear that I can still feel in vibrating in my purse!) The area we live in is fairly rural, as far as japan goes, and so it's kind of fitting. I have also had very little need for a cell phone because the city that we are living in is so small, we can deliver all messages by foot. It's good exercise. Staying in such a small town, we've all sort of become local celebrities. I've had my picture in the Iida city newspaper at least three times already. Foreigners really never come to this part of Japan, this is real japan. The area we live in (which is comparable to a state) is called Nagano, which is particularily fun because Nagano and Missouri are sister states. Although, I don't really see many similarities between Iida and Excelsior Springs....
My Japanese has improved some since I arrived here. Not a whole lot mind you, but some. I've become more comfortable in forming sentences, which is always a huge obstacle to overcome! My Japanese speaking practice mainly comes from conversing with various little girls from the community. I get to spend quite a bit of time with the family who owns the hotel that I am staying at. They have 2 little girls named Hime, 7, and Yume, 4. I spend many evenings chasing them around the dining room table and learning child's words that will never do me any good when conversing with adults, but will make me very popular at the neighborhood playground. I also spend a lot of time talking with three nine-year-old girls who I play volleyball with every Sunday afternoon and the community gymnasium. I call them my fan club. The first weekend that I went t0 play volleyball, they all latched on to me like an alcoholic to an open bar. Ever since then, they follow me around and give me little presents. Cute little pencils, notebooks, candies, and gifts you might expect to recieve from you friends and middle school. It's very fun to hang out with them because they are all very patient with me and laugh every time that I pull out my English-Japanese dictionary. Last Sunday, one of the girl's mothers offered me a ride back to the hotel, but instead decided to take me back to their home where I played with the girls for a couple of hours and ate snacks. Afterwards, her family took me out for a huge dinner at a japanese barbeque restaurant (everyone erase KC barbeque from your minds, it's completely different, but still very tasty!) I am going back to play volleyball again tomorrow morning, and I am greatly looking forward to it!
The rest of my time has been occupied with Japanese class and puppet rehearsal. Our puppet troop will be performing two different pieces, and being the center of attention that I am, I opted for a part in each (both of which are fairly large parts!) In order to prepare, I've had to attend rehearsals 3 times per week, but I don't really mind. Rehearsal is fun, and if I wasn't busy with class work and rehearsal, I would probably be bored, because there really isn't a whole lot to do in Iida (maybe that's the connection to Excelsior Springs!)
Since arriving in Iida, I've been trying to save money by limiting the number of times per week that i can eat at restaurants and mainly only eating food that I buy at the super market, but without having a kitchen, eating well has been a challenge. However, I'm finally mastering the art of cooking fine meals in a microwave. The last two nights my dinner has inspired envy from the rest of the table.
Life in Japan has been good. relaxing. In a way, I don't feel as though I'm in Japan at all. I am around so many Mizzou students everyday, it's almost as though someone brought a piece of Japan to campus. But, regardless of where i might feel that I am, I am somewhere enjoyable, and that's enough for me.