So. Where to begin....How about the fact that its already September?! On Monday I get to meet all the other exchange people and head off on our big adventure together! We get to tour San Francisco, which is cool because I've been to CA once before but I've never been to SF! I spoke to Caitlin two nights ago, and Renny last night. Renny seems to be a lot like me in the way we think and he likes rock music too haha. Everyone I've talked to so far (I haven't talked to 3 of the people) seem nice.

Hehe I'm getting excited. But at the same time I'm getting a bit stressed, because I feel like i have a lot to do (but really I guess I don't) with so little time. I'm sure tomorrow will be stressful because I've got a lot going on. Apparently the C-J is going to take the picture then...the photographer called to confirm it this time so maybe it's actually going to happen??? Oh yeah, and I was in the Record today. It was just a tiny little thing about me under the Youth Events section.

I finally got the Japanese copy of my host mom's email!! Instead of buying a printer, Yumi sent my email to a friend of hers and he sent it back to me. This is what she wrote:

"Hello. I'm glad my letter got to you safely. That is good. So the email address written on the documents was wrong, huh? (she originally tried emailing me but they had the wrong email address haha) Today my daughter has come home becaus she is so pregnant (haha literally she said that she had a large stomach lol!). She has planned to stay for 37 days after the delivery. Yesterday when I saw my cousin, I found out that her daughter is probably in the same class as you (seems like it IS really small since everyone seems to be in the same grade as me haha). Her name is Hiromi Hakkai. It would be nice for you two can be friends. When you come to my house, it would be nice if I would be able to learn a little bit of English from you. Please teach me, okay? (haha she said "Oshiete kudasai, ne" which means "Please teach me" but the 'ne' part is looking for agreement, so I guess she kinda expects me to teach her some English?) Well, I am looking forward to seeing you. Good-by (hehe she typed that as her only English word and she spelled it wrong lol)"

Hmmm sounds like my host mom really wants me to teach her some English? Ah well I don't mind as long as its not out of control or something. I am coming there to learn Japanese afterall. She is doing me a big favor, so I wouldn't mind sitting down like one day a week and trying to help her with English. It's the least I can to.

My mom today got stung by a bee or wasp and freaked the hell outta me because she got all flustered (she's allergic to them). Since I can't drive, she had to drive herself to the walk-in clinic, which is fortunately near by. She had me sooo worried! eee! But yea she's fine now.

Anyway when I got an email from Yumi's friend, he said that Yumi said the following about me, "Yumi told me a lot about you.  You are the best student of hers.  She is proud of your having been chosen as one to go to Japan for great experience.  In the mean time, she is sad to let you out of her hands even for a year.  Be good at Japanese language and one who understand Japanese mind." (As you can tell, his English isn't perfect but its still understandable so I'm not going to fix it for you). I was embarrassed--yes embarrassed--to read all that. But it also made me happy that Yumi thinks so highly of me. In a way--which my mom has said this once before, and I hadn't even said that to her--I am like Yumi's daughter. Yumi doesn't have any kids and I see her a lot. She's always very caring and concerned about my well being. I'll be sure to learn Japanese really well so I can come back and speak to Yumi without a problem! hehe

Well my 4th to last day is almost gone. All I'll have now is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...then on Monday I leave. I had some more good-byes today. I said good-bye to my sister and her hubby. Like my farewell to my bro, it was pretty unemotional. Haha. I might get emotional at the airport though. Who knows.