Finally.. an update..

Well everyone, I'm terribly sorry that this post has come so late. I have been constantly busy with school work and the little time I have when I'm not doing homework is devoted to volleyball. I have neglected my duties to report back to you, but I will give it my best shot now. The last time that I wrote in this blog was during midterms. Those went well and I have scored high marks on all the ones that I took. Japanese language, Japanese Art, and Japanese Society were the classes I've had them in so far. The rest will either have one large cumulative test or project at the end of the semester. Class has not been limited to only indoor work however and I have gotten the chance to travel to a few new places with my fellow classmates and teachers. With the Society class, we checked out a museum dealing with Japanese society and the relationships that exist within and abroad. The museum was in Osaka and so we spent the morning checking out the museum and what it had to offer. After that, we had the rest of the day to ourselves so we had Okonomiyaki(Egg pancake kind of thing that I really can't explain) for lunch and went exploring after that. As I said before, it's starting to get really hot here and I needed a few more lightweight shirts so I went shopping that day as well. I ended up buying 2 button up, shortsleeve, extremely lightweight dress shirts. They were around 30 dollars each and I really can't believe I got them for that cheap. Clothes prices over here are just ridiculous so if you plan on shopping for wearable things here, you better have saved up first. Usually, the shirts like this would cost at least 80 dollars but the store that I went to was having some kind of crazy sale and I came away with a "steal." Jeans were another thing that I wanted and the cheapest pair went for about 150 dollars... Very extreme to say the least... Prices on things are strange here because things you would expect to be cheap are expensive and vice-versa. Well, actually not really vice-versa, let's just say everything here is expensive. It's no wonder that Osaka is the second most expensive place to live in the world next to Tokyo. I don't understand it either because average income isn't that high for people working here. For example my friend working a part time job at a convenient store only makes about 6 or 7 dollars an hour. In America, that's a little on the low side, but in Japan, that is just unfathomable. How can they afford to buy such expensive things when wages are sooo low? Cell phone plans are steep here too (even though my stereotypical thinking thought that since everyone in Japan has a cell phone that they would cheap, or at least reasonable). Well, enough with the complaining, on to other things.
A few weeks ago, my grandfather on my dad's side died. It was sad to hear but at least he passed peacefully. Probably the most difficult thing about him passing away was not being able to be at the funeral. It would have been nice to see and talk to the people that came to his funeral but studying abroad has made it difficult to do such things. I got a copy of the eulogy and even though there were a few words from me listed, I regret not being able to read them myself. From what I read as well, the things other people had to say about my grandfather were wonderful, kind, and inspiring words. I just hope that those close to my grandfather are doing well and even though I am not there physically, that my thoughts go out to them as well. As I slowly age and get older, I realize that death (but not necessarily my own) gets closer. It is sad and scary at times, but I remind myself that it is "thankfulness" that outweighs all other things. I do not ask God to give more life to a person because I am already grateful for the time He has given them. I do not feel empty inside when someone dies, but instead find myself filling my mind with the many warm memories I have of them; and I am not sad that my grandfather died, but rather greatful that I got to know such a caring and loving man.

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