First few days

Sorry for the really short update before; I was in a rush.
So, Japan... everything here is so overwhelmingly different, but in a good way. Every moment is a little adventure and new experiences are always around the bend. Take, for example, the first time I walked into the toilet room. Not only did the toilets lid automatically lift, but the appliance also played quiet piano music.
Yesterday, my host family took me to the mall. It was pretty amazing. First, we got into the car, which, of course, has a GPS and a screen that shows behind the car so the driver does not have too look back. Then we drove to the largest mall I have ever seen, where the police were directing traffic. We parked in a parking deck and got out. We entered the mall and started walking around. Salespeople stood outside the entrances to their shops, barking sale information at the top of their lungs. We entered one shop, where my host family bought me a shirt with the most hilarious Engrish on it. (I don:t exactly recall what it says; something about squids.) My host mother put her credit card on a tray, and then the cashier took the credit card off the tray. Money is considered vulgar, so when you buy something in Japan, you never give the cashier the payment directly. There:s always a little tray as a go-between. Anyway, the cashier wrapped up my shirt beautifully and gave it to me with a little bow.
Then we had lunch in a sushi bar, where little plates of food revolved around a conveyer belt and you took what you wanted. I am still not completely used to Japanese dining etiquette. Diners say ITADAKIMASU before the meal and GOTISOUSAMA DESHITA afterwards.
TV here is pretty weird. As in the weirdest thing I:ve ever watched. There is one channel called 24 HOUR TV and it is so strange. They had this one thing where this crippled blind guy was walking 5 km and some guy was singing YMCA in Japanese to encourage him. Yeah...
Everyone here stares at me because I:m white. Ah, well...