Thursday 29th January
A bit of a non eventful day really. I went for a walk in the morning surprise surprise but this time the 100yen shop was actually open. So I bought a lot of the things that I need that I didn’t bring to Japan because of weight restrictions on my baggage and I knew I could just as easily get them here. And an alarm clock because I need to actually get up on time next week when I start school over here. Oh and I bought wool so I can make another scarf as I only brought one with and you really need one all the time when your outside. Um walked through the park as well and then home. Otosan and I went for a drive to Kanazawa this afternoon; really pointless I thought coz all we did there was stop at a service station so he could take a photo of it. And we are going there on the weekend for rotary orientation so I don’t see why that couldn’t have been done then but anyway. Then went for another walk... back to the 100yen shop to pick up something I had forgotten to get this morning and then visited the zoo again. Okasan got home really late so we went out for dinner to an Indian restaurant which was really good. A bit too spicy for my likings but anyway. So yeah that was my day.
Friday 30th January
Ok I actually have something interesting for you to read about again today. Yay! The morning was pretty boring really, did a load of washing, and vacuumed my room and the rest of the upstairs part of the house. And then figured out why the alarm clock I bought yesterday didn’t go off this morning. Turns out I hadn’t set it properly but hey I was reading all the instructions in Japanese and all it was, was that I had the words for right and left the wrong way round in my mind.
Okasan and I then went to the post office… she had some stuff to do there anyway so I used the opportunity to buy some stamps for the letter I had written and a stash for when I write some more. Also the atm is located at the post office so I used the opportunity to check that my visa does work over here after all the drama of being told it wouldn’t coz I need a 6 digit pin and various other things, I’d like to let you all know that it does work. We then visited the other supermarket okasan frequents and so I had to be introduced to all the checkout ladies there Yay! So by the time we returned home Otosan was home for lunch already.
Today we ate out at a ramen restaurant. Ramen is basically noodles in a soup I’m sorry but I’m too tired to explain it anymore than that and it isn’t ever 8 yet. We then came home and okasan and I just pottered for a bit before going on a sightseeing trip. First we picked up yet another pair of shoes for school. I need 4 different pairs because of the Soto and uchi rules … inside and outside and how you can’t wear the same shoes in both places and then just everyday ones and sports ones for each of these.
We then went to Zuiryuji temple. This is a Japanese national treasure. From there we went to Himi coast to a very popular lookout spot where you can see a little island. It’s hard to explain so just look at the picture. The most surreal thing though is standing on the beach amongst snow I really is I can’t begin to explain it and I don’t think it’s something you could appreciate if you haven’t experienced it anyway, no matter how well I explained it. The next stop was the Himi botanical gardens which were amazing. There weren't really any overly special plants there it was just that they are all like tropical kind of plants and there we were in the snow looking at these. Obviously in glass houses and what not but still amazing. And I managed to get a few really good photos there. We proceeded onto the Himi port which was basically a huge indoor fish market so hmm interesting but not all that great. That basically wraps up my day but I’m insanely tired I think it’s from all the Japanese I’m still not used to it and I don’t think it will be for a while yet but it’s getting there.

Saturday 31st January
Now that I sit down to write this I think wow I don’t really have that much to write but it’s been a great day. To start the day off we realized that one of the pipes that run through my bedroom floor was leaking and dripping through the ceiling onto the piano downstairs with all the rain we had last night okasan was also very worried about the roof in the front room which has also been known to leak at times. And as this is where her kimono is kept it was a huge concern for her. But after that was sorted we went into Toyama to meet with Riley one of the other inbound exchange students to our district. Riley is from Canada and has been here almost 6 months already we went round to her first host families house as her first host mum is Otosan’s sister. We then walked to a really nice little restaurant for lunch and then back to her house. Riley then invited me to hang out with her and her friends from school for the afternoon/evening so I did. We went to Karaoke which was great fun. 800 yen for unlimited time, in our own little room. We had so much fun and sung any and every sort of music in both English and Japanese. After several hours of this we went and did some purikura (photo booths) which was also great fun. We then went out for dinner at a restaurant which is a very popular one amongst the teens in Toyama as it is incredibly cheap and nice food. Unfortunately it was then time for me to head home but it was a great day and we shall be doing it again sometime soon. Especially as school holidays are coming up. Ha-ha I’m looking forward to them already and I haven’t even started school over here yet lol.