Kaimonosuru no ga sukiii ( I like to shop! )

The last few days kind of roll together as the activity dies a little. The party, my misunderstanding, was an introduction party where everyone introduces themselves and by the end, you are supposed to be all acquainted with each other. There were adults and children and I am beginning to make some Japanese friends. Shugo-san (the furniture shop's son) played guitar once or twice for everyone and is showing me around Kyoto next Saturday. Then, Hitomi-san is an art teacher who also speaks pretty good English. We end up using Japlish a lot. We made takoyaki--which is squid. Good thing I like sea food. It's cooked in a special cooker (we have pancake griddles, they have takoyaki griddles) and it ends up being a ball that is soft and warm on the inside like a hard boiled egg, with a piece of squid. Very good with sauce. 

The next day I wanted to go to AEON, the largest mall in Kansai with 300 shops and only a mile or so (max) to Ogawa's. After a long process of dropping off a guest who spent the night and his two little kids (he offered to take me sight seeing around Nara with his English Teacher friend, Kevin. Woohoo!) Ogawa took me and Taketomo to AEON. At first, I was a really distraught that we were going shopping together because for the last 6 days I was always with new strangers and I just wanted some alone time to figure out and take in the new aspects I am experiencing. Also, for their sanity's sake, they don't want to shop with me. No one does. We agreed to meet outside the Disney store (loooved it) and I went on my way. It was a very different experience, and a lot of strange stores. Lots of accessories (one store was called Pink Latte so of course I had to go in). Then, I went into a store called "Axes" and slowly fell in love with everything in the store. It was a little on the expensive side but the sales were totally reasonable. I picked some things out and when I went to try them on I goofed with the shoes ritual--apparently when you enter a dressing up (one small step up) you must take off your shoes. Well I didn't know but the girl working was kind enough to say in English "Ah shoes!" It is also customary to put a sheer cloth over your head when trying on the clothes so you don't get makeup on their nice clothes. I can live with that. But I'm starting to get annoyed with shoes! Good thing I didn't bring tie shoes... Anyway, Aki, the girl who helped me at Axes knew some English so she was very sweet and we stumbled together. I ended up buying a white dress and I definitely want to make a second stop there. I said I would ask for her! Lastly, it's super amazing being average size now. All the clothes are just meant for me... Everything is in petite! I love it!

I started to get hungry and I knew immediately--I miss the heck out of coffee. So I found an Italian store and got in line. I didn't know what I exactly would say but again, I stumbled through it and successfully even got it to go and it was absolutely delicious. And then I walked down the rest of the mall and found Starbucks. Oh well, it was cheaper and delicious, but I'm definitely adding Starbucks to my list of things to try here. Must compare. 

Today was also my first day on the "farm" although I say farm loosely. It's more like a long empty lot with 6 rows that will grow vegetables under the black tarps. We laid down three more tarps and it was hooot. And of course, we stopped for a tea break. If there are some things I have learned about the Japanese it is Tea, Rice, and Shoes. 

Tea--forget milk. Forget pop. Tea is IN everything and IS everything. (I even ate a macha chocolate chip cookie today...)

Rice--at every meal. Then, I've counted 4 rice cookers for this family alone. Rice is also in almost everything. Sweets, etc. 

Shoes--take them off when in doubt. Don't let them touch the house. Don't let them touch carpet. Then you should be okay :) 

Farm time again tomorrow. Hope its cloudy. 

I have also resorted to writing my name on my special foods (they serve me thick bread for breakfast since it's the second alternative to rice. Cereal also barely exists here). But on the bright side, I bought Koala Yummies (KOARA MAACHI)when I made a little adventure to SATY, a store down the street that must be the Japanese Kmart or something. I haven't had them since I was maybe...7? They don't exist anymore and it was the happiest memory-lane trip ever.