17th December 2008. I took a 3-hour train from Shinjuku to Nagano to meet my host family for the first time.

I enjoyed the journey very much. The scenery was the best i’ve ever seen through a train window.

Nagano is a mountain place. Colder than other big cities.

Snow mountains everywhere.

3 hours later i reached Matsumoto. And Yuriko was at the station waiting for me with her daughter Ai chan.

Just 1 minute after meeting me she was already posing for my camera. ^^

Going back home to the snow white house. If you remember. Neh, my attic bedroom which has a window that allows me to gaze at the shining stars in the nightsky lying on my bed. 🙂 read more