Japanese lessons all around :)

**I can't avoid feeling short, even in Japan. Now, thats depressing! Ha Ha**

Well this week has been great. However, not as eventful as last week. Very academically oriented. Tuesday evening I began Japanese lessons! My friend Rie's friend Mika told me about a community center in the town over from Itako. The teacher speaks English and is sooo sweet! Classes meet from 7-9 in Kashima. There are 5 Philipinos, one Mexican, and me! That is insane! :) Wednesday was great!The class costs less than $10 a month!!!!!!!!!! I began my private English lessons! They are so nice and really interested in learning English! The class is from 5:30-7:30. We were all hungry after class so we went to a little Japanese restaurant! They paid for me :) As always, I am falling more and more in love with Japan!

Wednesday also was my first day at Hinode! Hinode is the 2nd of my 2 junior high schools. I get to walk to school! How fun?! It is no more than a 3-5 minute walk. I can see the school from my apartment! The teachers here are very nice and the students also. I think since I am so outgoing the students gravitate to that! :) I have been giving my self-intros this week and I give my school wide self-introduction on Monday :)

I needed to go to Itako 2nd yesterday. The students were running up to me and telling me how much they miss me. They were giving me hugs and begging me to return! I laughed and told them it had only been 2 days!! I gave them hugs :) Osato-sensi had sent me an e-mail earlier in the day telling me the students were missing me! It feels so good that I am making such a great impression on the students! They are always waving, smiling, laughing, making me laugh, and always saying hi! It is wonderful to feel so loved and important! I really feel like I am actually making a difference here! Students that were not writing a single sentence in some of my classes are now taking notes and writing during the exercises!

I am going to hang out with Erin tonight :) 94 yen Sushi and then top gun! I think I am going to spend the night at her apartment! She lives in Kamisu which is about 30 minutes from me. We are then going to the firework competition tomorrow night! More details and pictures to come :) Just wanted to fill you guys in on my week! I will be helping Aki celebrate her birthday on Sunday :) Her birthday is actually Monday but we are going out on Sunday!

Miss you guys!