**Tap Dancing Kitties Slide by**

As you can see, though not fully understand, I have finally seen Cats, the  Musical. Although it was completely in Japanese, It was quite an experience  if you ask me. I went to go see Cats on a School field trip and Now I just  have to go see Cats when I return. I am not normally one to go completely  overboard with a performance, nor do I like Fancy feast or Caviar, its just  that Cats was truly a great performance, and if I liked it so much in  Japanese, I think it would be worth seeing it again in my native tounge. I  will finish this little spiel with my opinion that people should go see Cats  if they like musicals. (Obvious enough, I know, but its just something I  needed to say).

Moving on;

So far my stay in Japan is getting better and better, I am finally adjusting  to the way life works and I am quickly making more friends and becoming  acustomed to the way people are. I can actually get around on my own now, in  a country which I have yet to see entirely, I can travel from Prefecture to  prefecture like a local. Though, I dont think I will ever get used the super  crowded public transportation routes and the overly paranoid Japanese  business men and women that believe the train leaving at that moment is the  last one thus they will bumrush a sighseeing group of grandparents just to  beat them to the dangerously populated Railcar. (extreme hyperbole I assure  you, but I wouldn't be surprised.) But who knows, maybe by the end of my  stay, I too will rush to the traincar instead of waiting 4-8 minutes till  the next one arrives. (yea Right!)

Well, aside from the complaint, its safe to say that I have been traveling  around and doing some touristy type sightseeing of my own. I believe the  temples and towers and other attractions are great to visit atleast once.  Whats the point of visiting if you are unable to return with lots of cool  stories. But more often than anything, I have been hanging out with my other  Exchange friends and Rotex friends. We have gone to sport festivals, malls,  parks, even office buildings for a good laugh. (dont ask) Though, I haven't  neglected my Japanese friends either, I might have limited language  capabilities, but I think that japanese teens are a blast to be with. They  are energetic and unpredictable, and they LOVE taking pictures. I have never  seen any photosticker booths in all my life, and that was just in ONE corner  of a department store! I am starting a collection to see how many different  minipictures I can collect and maybe I can actually make a phonebook! Who  knows, I dont think I have much time to do that.

In the begining of my stay, it was a common point to hear other exchange  studnets and myself say that we get home from school and have nothing to do.  Some of us complaining that we go to sleep around 8pm from bordom. I dont  hear that anymore, now its been replaced with comments on How busy we are  and how we dont have any time to relax. Things speed up quickly when on a  foriegn exchange and I believe it is quite unexpected!

Though, I have not forgotten to atleast send some signs of life to my family  and friends back home to let them know that all is well and that I need more  money. I came to Japan with the idea to save up some cash, and now I see  myself doing nothing but spending because I MUST HAVE THAT! But never fear,  I always have a backup stash of cash that I dont touch, even when i think i  REALLY need it.

Well, I guess I have gone off on a tangent enough times and I hope that I  havent forgotten anything important. Thanks for everything and I'll be sure  to write more later when things happen.

Peace from the East; Home of the Rising Sun.

Frank