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Ok.. here is another try at the whole formatting thing. My mother, as concerned as
she is about my well-being, has corrected me once again on the sidescrolling of my 
page. Anyone else have problems with this?

Well, last Thursday I went out with a friend, hung around, etc. Friday, we went to
Monkey Park, just north of Nagoya. Basically, it was a zoo...of monkeys. Monkeys in
cages, monkeys in open areas, monkeys jumping up and down laughing at you. There
were a couple of gorillas. There were also a few rides..sort of a miniature amuse-
ment park. I rode the ferris wheel. (Note: it was rickety, and I AM very acrophobic.)

After that, we looked at a temple, then went back to town for dinner. I had ramen.
Personal favorite. Then we headed to a dance club/bar. I was carded, and since the 
drinking age in Japan is 20 and I am only 19, I was not admitted. That was fine by
me, because I am not much of a dancer.q_:)

So I went home. 

Classes again this week.. communicating small things with my host mother is easy, 
but there are certain things I find impossible. It is very stressful when you have
to do something by the end of the week, and she needs to help you. But you don't
know how to say it. So you just sit there in horror at your incompetence, frustrated.

We started our religion class on Tuesday, and I found it very.. umm.. 
1) Interesting: I immensely enjoy the subject, and the information will be great.
2) Boring: The teacher is very knowledgeable, but too nervous about teaching well to 
actually teach well.

In last week's update, I mentioned that I purchased "Tuesdays With Morrie." That was
on Thursday. Between Friday night and Saturday at noon, I finished it. Great book.
Very emotional, very inspiring.

Last night I finished the Upanishads. No, not all of them. Only the ones in my book,
and those are the ones that were deemed important enough to translate and include
in the book. This morning I started, "Living Buddha, Living Christ." Alex lent it
to me. It is one of his favorites, and insists that it will be one of mine as well.

Books I would like to read: Camus' "The Stranger", Huxley's "A Brave New World"
The latter I saw in a reading room here, but someone borrowed it before I could. 
Thats ok.. after I finish my current book, I am going to reread the Gospels and
certain selections from the bible. Then I will worry about other books.

I am thinking of buying a cellphone. They are very inexpensive to purchase. Only 
about $20-$30 a month if you dont make calls. In Japan, receiving a call is free.
So I can give my keitai denwa number to people and they can reach me anywhere. 

Saw Cats last night.. originally, it was going to cost only 2000 yen. (About $20) 
When we got there, however, we found that the price was 10500 yen. And we paid it.
And it ended up being in Japanese! I paid a hundred dollars to see Cats in Japanese.

Luckily, I know the story and the music, so it was still enjoyable.

I need to go have my final registration form signed now.. I will write more next 
week. Peace, and prayers are always welcome.

Chas

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