Well, I have been here for almost a week now, so I guess it is time to put pen to paper (figuratively, of course) once again.

After a week here, the slight culture shock is wearing off. Though, aside from the shower in the toilet (which, I am told, is not actually typical) and the cars driving on the wrong side of the road (someone is sure to get killed that way!), not much has surprised me. I guess that is thanks to my solid William and Mary education.

Since classes have not yet started, I have had a lot of free time. I have been to the store a few more times, out on the town twice, walked around the campus, and played tennis and frisbee. This is aside from the omnipresent Japanese benkyou, or study, and a bit of computer programming. While recently on the subject of tennis (okay, a passing mention is not exactly on the subject), let me explain the difference between Japanese and American tennis courts. In America, a tennis court, unless referred to as a grass court or a clay court, is made of concrete. The same is true in Japan, except this concrete is covered with the same artificial grass matting that is often used at swimming pools. Okay, so this is a simulated grass court. Fine. However, adding insult to injury, Japanese courts have sand sprinkled on top! What this is supposed to be, I know not, but this strange combination makes for some quite tenuous footing. While walking about the campus, I also noticed a "clay" court, which was actually just dirt. The same for the football (soccer) pitches, which are otherwise quite nice.

Speaking of football, there is an Englishman and an Irishman who also live in the Kaikan (International House, remember?) and quite enjoy football. We have plans to play on the next clear day. (It is raining today.) Amazingly enough, one of the Aussie girls enjoys (and is quite good at, I might add) hackysack! So, I am not alone in my holy quest to spread the sack to Japan! If you do not work at ChainMail, you may well have not understood that last bit, so allow me to explain. Hackysack is a sort of game in which the participants, or hackers, stand about in a circle, the hack circle, and kick a smallish knit ball which is filled with beads, about the circle. You may use any part of your body except your hands to play the hack (sometimes referred to as the sack). Using your hands causes another player to pick up the hack and throw it at you. During this penal session, you may not attempt to block the hack. You must accept your punishment. Similarly, if you say the taboo word, "sorry," you also must accept a penalty shot. This is hackysack, sport of Internet start-up companies.

Hmm, it is now a few days after I started this writing, so I am not sure where to pick up, exactly. I guess I will introduce you to my new friends here. I hang around with an Irishman (no surprise there) named Mark, an Englishman (big surprise, though!) named Stuart, and an Aussie (no real prejudice here) named Adele. We tend to play a lot of football (soccer) and Ultimate Frisbee.

Today was the first day of classes for me. I had Japanese language today. I am in the C-2 level after the placement test, which is the highest placement that could have resulted from the test that I took. It seemed a bit on the easy side today, so I am going to give it a go for a week or so, and if it remains easy, I might move up to level D. (F is the highest, but that means you are basically fluent already, which I am not!)

I must confess to eating at McDonald's twice so far. I just love a good bit of American-style food every now and again. And the cheeseburgers in the local McDonald's is very similar to those in America. The only difference is that the burgers here are actually hot! Imagine that...

Well, that is about all I can think of to talk about this time. See y'all next week.