I made it!

I finally made it to Osaka! Taking a plane probably would have been faster, but just flying into Narita was a lot cheaper. When I got through customs at the airport Watabe Sensei was already there waiting for me. He had suggested that I send my luggage to where I was homestaying which turned out to be a really good idea. For two bags it's around 3500 yen from Tokyo to Osaka. We then took the train from Narita to Tokyo Eki. Watabe Sensei paid for my ticket and even got me some dinner at Tokyo Eki which was really nice of him. We went to a sushi bar where the sushi rotates around on a conveyor belt and you just take whatever you like. The plates are a different color to indicate the price. The plates have chips inside them so when you are done eating the waiter scans the plates to get the total.

After we were done eating, Watabe Sensei helped me find where the bus was going to pick me up. It took awhile, but we eventually found it. Watabe Sensei still had to get back to Yokohama and it was already late so he had to leave. I was fine by myself and there were still a lot of people around so I wasn't worried. I just wandered around until it was time for the bus to come.

The night bus wasn't too bad and I was able to sleep a little. The seats are small and they don't recline back very far so it was hard to get comfortable. After eight hours the bus finally arrived in Osaka. The bus dropped everyone off by a tunnel that led to Namba Eki. From there I rode the express train to Kishiwada then changed to the local train and rode it to Takojizou Eki where I used a public telephone to call Sister Sato, my homestay mom. The station is really close to the Sato's house so she just walked there and led me back to the house.

I love their house! It's an older Japanese style house. Mine and Megan's room is upstairs (the stairs are really steep!) where there is a great view of the garden and the shrine next door. We can even see the top of Kishiwada castle! I think I'm going to like staying here.

The first thing I did was eat breakfast and then after that I took a few hours nap. Once my luggage arrived I unpacked a little and had a late lunch of instant ramen with added ingredients of meat and gyouza. I then finally got to take a shower! After traveling for two days it felt so good! Around 6:30pm I went with Sister Sato to pick Megan and Hoku up from the airport. Hoku is staying with the Yukimoto's with Meg Bush. I found out that one of my TA's was Sister Yukimoto's son! When we got home I showed Megan around a little before we decided to go to bed.

Today I woke up around 6:00am and wasn't feeling tired at all so I went downstairs. I made my own breakfast and did my own dishes which I never got to do at my other homestay families. At 10:30am we went to a picnic with the relief society at Sakai park. It was really perfect weather for a picnic. Before we ate we walked around the rose garden for awhile. We just got back a few hours ago and Sister Sato is making dinner now. Tomorrow is Sunday and I'm looking forward to going to church and meeting new people.