So, its more than a week later, and i havent felt like writing lately, but i've decided that I would right now. anyway....

First I have to add the fact that I've had badass headaches for more than a week now. I was actually convinced i was really sick, but after a day of rest (yesterday) and some deep thought into the matter, i've ruled it out as a mental thing. im guessing its either about me wanting to go home, or about not wanting to leave, im not really sure which one.

On monday I finally went to Dogo Onsen, but before that we went to a few temples in the area, like Ishite. At the second one we went to there was a public throwing of rice cakes and I got one. Its funny because the people there are really extreme about catching them, and I heard that Misato's aunt had broken her back there like 2 years ago because someone jumped on her to get a rice cake. luckily, nothing happened to me or Misato. When we finally got to Dogo Onsen, me and Misato did the second most expensive ticket where you get to wear the Yukata and you get to eat traditional Japanese sweets after the bath and drink tea. The only difference between that one and the most expensive is with the less expensive you eat Sembe, and with the most expensive you eat Botchan Dango (i'm thinking thats a kind that they only have here in Matsuyama). Now, the actually bath inside Dogo isnt anything like totally glamourous or anything, but im glad I went because now I can say that I've been there, since it is the oldest and most famous hot spring in Japan. I also got to go into the rooms and see the bath that are reserved only for the Emperor of Japan and his family when they visit Matsuyama. I also got to see Natsume Soseki's room in Dogo (I talk about him further down). After that we went to a restaurant right next to Dogo and had Matsuyama-style Japanese food. its was fucking delicious, notably the Mochi gyoza.

Anyway, school started on tuesday, so im back to my usual schedule, except that now the gym classes are nothing but running, and for the whole fucking period, so ive decided that its crucial for me to go to bed earlier, so ive been going to bed around like 10:30 this week. On tuesday we only ran like 6 or 7km, and it really wasnt that hard. wednesday was 5km time trial (five times around the school). It took me 23:00 exactly to do that, which isnt really good or bad. best time was about 15:30 by my friend Aibara in my homeroom. Thursday (like every week) there was no gym. then today, we ran around 15km in about an hour and a half. Im sure next friday will be somewhere around like 17km or something, since thats now the gym period where there's enough time to run that much. Anyway, after lunch, my homeroom went to the group home (known as the old folks home in america of course) near to the school and entertained the elder people for about 2 hours. I, being american, was afraid that the old people might not like and shit (because of the atomic bomb and the stuff like that), but i was totally wrong about that one. The elder people were so nice, and i had a good time entertaining them for a while.

I have to add in here that because I've been a bit bored lately, ive been reading alot more lately. they're famous Japanese novels, but translated english versions. So far I've read two books by Natsume Soseki, "Botchan" and "Kokoro." Both were very interesting. Botchan was quite interesting because about 90% of the book took place in Matsuyama (Its an actual part of the author's life), but it also reminded me alot of "Catcher in the Rye" because the main character hated just about everything, especially Matsuyama. It also reminded me of Hiro because the main character was from Tokyo and he hated all country people, just like how Hiro hated the kids from Nagano for the exact same reason. Kokoro isnt a true story (i dont think), but its still interesting. We're currently reading it in Gendaibun class anyway, so now I might be able to follow along at least a little bit. I did get to show the two books to Nagano Sensei after class on Wednesday and he asked me if I'd ever been to Dogo and if I'd eaten Botchan Dango and that kind of thing, and then he told me to tell him my thoughts about the two books when I was done with them. Now I'm reading this book of short stories by Kenji Miyazawa, another famous Japanese author (I think). We read a poem of his in Gendaibun a while back, so I decided to pick up a translation of one of his stories. Its a really really childish story, but Its still good.

anyway, thats about all there is to say for now. I've begun sending my stuff home already. I've already sent home more than half of my books and some of my games, but i still got alot more to send. thats all, later........