I am sorry that I have not written for such a long time, but I have been very busy the past couple of weeks. Right now it is extremely cold in Monbetsu. At nights the temperature sometimes drops to -10 degrees. It is
so cold that I do not feel like getting up in the mornings. When I arrive at school, after my 20 minute walk, I cannot feel my hands or my ears (even though I wear gloves and a hat). I wear so many layers of clothes that I
look like an Eskimo. When people see me thay laugh and say that it will get even colder. Yesterday, there was a huge snowstorm and school got cancelled early. Unfortunately, today it stopped snowing and classes resumed.
I am finally starting to get used to the Japanese language, Japanese foods, and the Japanese way of life. I like Tenpura, Sukiyaki, Oyakuniku, Soba, Udon, and I cannot remember the names of the other foods. My Japanese
improves daily. I get a lot of help from the English teachers at my high school. They take time out of their very busy schedule to give me Japanese classes. When people talk slow, I can understand most of what they say. I
can also talk enough for people to understand me. I have gotten used to taking my shoes off every time I enter a buildind and I have mastered the art of using chopsticks fairly well. Three weeks ago I moved in with my second host family, the Niinumas. Their daughter Chika is in Florida as an exchange student and is being hosted by the Davie Rotary Club. The Niinumas are very nice to me and they make me feel as if though I am part of their family. I have a younger brother named Hidehiro and a younger sister named Yuki. They are both very shy, so I have not had a chance to get to know them well.
Not much is happening in Monbetsu at the moment. Everyone is really excited about Christmas and about winter vacation. In two weeks I will be going to Tokyo to spend the holidays with some relatives I have that live there.
Well, I have to go now. I will send my next report as soon as winter vacation is over. To anyone that reads this e-mail, please take care of yourself and do not do anything stupid!
Claudia
* HAPPY HOLIDAYS11
