First update from Tokyo

It has been a week since I've been in Tokyo, and now I can finally

really tell the difference between hidari (left) and migi (right) and not get lost

after getting off the train on my way back home. I'm definitely learning how to take advantage of body language, face expression, and even my tone of voice to communicate.

Kohei(left) and Mio (right)

I have two host siblings, Mio (8) and Kohei (4) who are the most adorable children that I have ever seen. Mio is a little bit shy, but she is very bright. The first day I arrived in Japan, she surprised me by introducing herself in flawless Korean. It turned out that my host mom is very involved with a club called Hippo, where people gather together to learn languages from all around the world. And since my host mom is particularly interested in Korean, Mio naturally learned some herself. Kohei is a happy little boy, who is not afraid to express his emotions. When he is happy, he is happy. When he's upset, he is upset. The other day, I saw him cry for the first time. I was wondering why he was crying when my host mother told me that

Kohei is crying because he feels sorry for the puppy doll he didn't get to play with when

he was outside. The puppy doll must have been so lonely without you Kohei. I wonder

when was the last time I thought like that.

Everyday after class is an adventure. In a foreign world, everything can be so interesting.

Foodwise, I am getting my fair share of sushi and soba. We're bound to hit something refreshing rain or shine. In fact, it was on a rainy day I came across Meiji shrine in Shibuya. This Shinto shrine was indeed impressive although I was told by a friend that

Emperor Meiji did some terrible things to Korean people, and therefore I should not be

so impressed.

I also went to the Ghibli Museum, which is famous for featuring Japan's most famous animations including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited away. There were rooms filled with "neko" bus (an imaginary cat bus featured in My Neighbor Totoro and sketches of animations all over the place) and short films that can be seen by quickly turning the handles. Flashes of colors and motions put together create narratives to be thoroughly enjoyed by millions of children and adults.

But going to cool places is only half the story. Meeting new Japanese people and making new friends, getting used to the fact that my host dad cooks better than me, and also realizing that Japanese is a lot harder than what I thought are what make my Tokyo experience more complete.

At Lock-up

Japanese-style pizza