How long has it been since my last real post? I have been so busy. I have been having fun for a change. The vacation is over, the new semester is starting, and new people have moved in and AP House has come alive again, like waking up from it's winter slumber. And with all these new people, the internet has become almost as slow as it ever will be. It took me a whole minute to open a web-page the other day. 

And since my last post, I have been to LA (that's in the United States of America) to meet my dear mother whom I hadn't seen in six long months. When I saw her from the taxi I got all exited, but it still felt like I had just seen her yesterday. Which means that by the time the taxi stopped and I got out and we actually met, the initial excitement was mostly gone. None the less happy to see her though, of course! 

When I was planning and buying the tickets to California, I didn't have much time on my hands and was running to and fro different cities to get my re-entry permission, and more. (and stuff) That gave me no time for asking irrelevant questions, like how long is the flight, and how much time difference is there between America's West coast, and Japan? And I still didn't know the answer as I sat down in the plane in Tokyo, fearing the long voyage. I am still not entirely sure how long it took from Japan to LA, but I know for a fact that on the way home, it took 11 hours and 55 minutes. We came early though, but couldn't change the landing time. 

I had a wonderful time in LA. First Downtown, and then in the suburbs where I met familymembers that I have never seen before. Only the grandma, my granpa's sister, can speak any Icelandic. It was a strange thing for me, but I guess it's nothing new in the States. 

I went to Hollywood and Beverly Hills too. Not so interesting from my point of view from the front seat of the car. But now I can say that I have been there. 

Shortly after I came back home (to Japan, I still live in Japan), my dad and younger brother Karl came to see me in Beppu. It was equally wonderful to see them after all that time and I only wish that Magga and Þórður could have come too. 

The guys wanted me to show them around the town where I live. I told them there was nothing to see but the onsens; The hot springs to bathe in. They thought I was kidding. They found out they were wrong, and after barely two nights we left for Nagasaki to see the Peace Park and Museum, and the statues of the martyrs etc. It was great! :D 

I don't want to tell you in detail. Enough to say that I had a wonderful time with my mom in LA, and then with dad and Karl in Japan. 

I finally bough a rice cooker. Actually, I am cooking teriyaki chicken in it right now, and some vegetables. I don't think I'm allowed to cook in my room, but I do it anyway. I don't like to have twenty pairs of eyes watching me while I cook. And I would prefer this text not to be underlined, but I don't know how to. Above picture: Underlined, below picture: Normal. 

Here is said picture: 

My new rice cooker!

I put up a few more pictues on my picasa web album. They are from the hanami or the cherry blossom viewing I went to, and a few others, like from when they lit the mountain on fire. 

We didn't do much flower-gazing, but we played games, like tag. Can you imagine 30-40 18-25 year olds running and screaming and laughing in a public park? ^^ It was fun. 

What can I say. It is getting warmer and warmer every day. No more coats for me I think. Or soon at least. We get 20 degrees during the day now, and a few days it was even warmer than that. Hurray! Summer is here! Except I guess it's spring. Summer is not warm, it's HOT. 

School during summer is weirrrd. I won't be finished 'till August first. And then I rush home! :D 

I'm going to put some pictures up on Facebook too. 

Allrighty, that's it then. I'm done with my report for now. Please ask any questions you like, in e-mail or as comments, and I have something to write about. Maybe I won't answer, but I will have something to write about. 

See you soon!