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Well folks, this is a special update.. partly because I am done with classes early, 
and partly because I have a TON to update about. So let's go.

First, I would like to apologize for how I portrayed my host mother in the last few
weeks' updates. She is not a bad person or anything. She is actually very kind, and a
very understanding person. I just don't think she is up to having me stay with her,
since she is alone now. With her kids grown up and gone away, and her husband's 
passing in May, it must be incredibly difficult for her to do anything, let alone
try and house some kid from America who barely speaks any Japanese and towers over
her by more than a foot. (By the way, I haven't hit my head on the doorframes since
the first few weeks!)

Anyway, Friday night I had my guitar with me, so I played at Nanzan all afternoon
until it was time to go to the party. I ended up playing for lots of people, 
including a few Japanese girls that I had met before..one of them I've sorta
developed a little interest in, so.. her friend plays the drums, and asked me if I
would like to join their band. She plays drums, the other girl sings, and another
friend plays bass.. but they need a guitarist, and who better than lil' old me? :)
Not sure if I'll ever get together with them, but I sure hope I do!

"Sorry, Mom..I can't come back yet. I have to finish up this leg of the tour. I
promise I'll visit after Okinawa." I really want to be able to say this in May.


That night, I went to the party at the Lazy Lizard Lounge.. it is run by New
Zealanders and they serve pizza, fries, chips and salsa(they were out that night)
and all sorts of drinks..including imported beers(Alex's favorite)

Well I didn't drink really, and just kinda hung around. I played some pool, talked
to people, and didn't want to hurry home..so I called and told my host mom that I
was gonna stay out all night. She said that was fine. 

After the bar closed at 2:30am, we walked back to the dorm near campus. One of the
guys lives there, and he said we could hang/crash in the lounge. We started walking,
and I was playing guitar. Jarret(the dorm guy) kept calling me Homer the Bard. He
demanded that I play a ballad troubadour style as we walked. So I did. And just after
we got some stuff at the Circle K, about 15 japanese college kids walked up. They
wanted to know if I could play "neebana".. which is translated from Nirvana.

I satisfied them with "Smells like Teen Spirit" and "Plateau." Then I played some
Mr. Big for them. I ended it with the Risu Song, a song I wrote at Notre Dame
about squirrels. It is in Japanese, so they loved it.

At about 5:30am, we left the dorm(after watching two taped episodes of the Simpsons,
and thereby satisfying me craving for some quality simpsons humor..) I got home around
7am, and slept until 2pm. Unfortunately, I was supposed to meet Alex and a few other
friends at the Nagoya Port to go check out the aquarium, at 10:30am. So I kinda
missed that. Saturday night, Paul and Alex and I watched Dumb and Dumber at Alex's
house.

Sunday, Alex and I went to the gym and worked out for two hours. I went home and did
my homework like a good boy, ate my dinner and went to bed. 

After a coupla days of classes and packing, I moved from my host mother's house to
my new host family's house on Wednesday afternoon. My host mom helped me move, driving
me to their house and helping me with my luggage. She has been very nice lately. I
think she is relieved to have me leaving. It had to have been a lot of stress!

Anyway, I won't write much more now.. I will finish up tomorrow. But I will give one
hint as to how I feel toward the new host family: piano.

YES!

Love you kids, and I miss you all. More tomorrow!
Chas

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