Nagoya

I've made it almost to the half-way point in my homestay... I have started to get a little homesick, but I try to keep busy with experiencing new things.

Tomo sent me on a train , bound for Nagoya around 10am yesterday (sunday) morning.
I rode by myself for about an hour and a half to Nagoya where my exchange student from 2004, Fumika met me with her mom. It was really cool to see Fumika after 4 years. We all went out to eat at an udon (noodles in fishy broth) restaurant.
After that, we went to a monstrous sky scraper and took in the big view of Nagoya city on the observation deck.

Fumika's mom, Miyuki, left us at a shopping mall where we looked for almost 3 hours.
I was very excited when I found the stationary store... it was full of my favorite things-pens, notebooks, etc.
We rode the subway and then walked a couple of miles to get to Fumika's house.
Her family planned a party for me to welcome me to Nagoya.
Cousins, aunts, grandparents, and neighbors filled the Japanese style house.
Miyuki bought C.C. Lemon, my new favorite drink, and Kake No Tane, a spicy peanut snack.
We had sushi with raw cuttle fish, cucumber and avocado to eat.
After dinner, Fumika's cousins, Saki and Yuki, as well as Aya, Fumika's neighbor went outside to do fireworks. I was a little hesitant, but enjoyed it just the same.

Today, Fumika, Miyuki, their neighbors and I went to an old town, like a suburb inside of Nagoya. The little community is famous for the ancient art of Japanese Tie-Dye.
I got to make a tie-dyed handkerchief.
It was really interesting!

We went to a traditional Japanese cafe... we had to take off our shoes and sit on the floor! :)
I tried Japanese Yams, baked tofu, and a cuttle fish pancake...

Tonight we will go to a festival with Fumika's friends.