In class today, we learned about Japanese mimetics. In addition to the many onomatopoeia they have called giongo, they also have words for things that don't originally have noise, and these are the gitaigo. They have sound words to describe silent things like staring ("jirojiro"), words to describe how things feel like fluffiness ("fuwafuwa"), and even sound words to describe the viscoscity of things like "bitabita" for really thick or sticky things.

We had a conversation class too where we had some Japanese students come in and we asked each other about our families to practice for the homestays this weekend. After that I had to go to the book store to get the gifts I brought from America for my host family wrapped. I thought I would just be buying wrapping paper and tape, but they actually wrap the gifts for you, even if you didn't buy them there. I gave them to one man at the counter, who then called over another clerk, who took one of the big packages and literally ran across the store to another spot to wrap it. After that, he ran back, and apologized for making me wait, and then proceeded to not charge me anything because the service is free. I never feel like I can thank anyone enough here, they're too nice.

When I walked back to Nishikawa Heights, I heard someone run up the stairs after me. While I was at the store I saw Xander and talked with him, and now a man from the store was here because he had left his credit card behind. I'm not sure how they found the place, but maybe they just know where the exchange students usually stay. But the guy walked all the way from the store back to our house to return it, and Xander walked back to the store later to thank the clerk.