This is the third time my family has hosted a Japanese foreign exchange student, and by far Azusa is the most adorable of the three. She's 17 and about to start her final year of high school. First though, she gets to spend two weeks here in the states, spending most day-time hours with a bus full of other students from her school, visiting various historical and 'meaningful' sites here in Kansas. That's kind of a laugh, but each year's batch of kids seems to have a blast anyway.

Azu speaks and understands so much more English than Aika or Reona did. It's quite a relief. As an example - earlier, in a joking manner while preparing dinner, my sister asked, "Where are you, Cucumber-san?" searching for her little green friend. Azu picked it up and wiggled it around, saying, "Here I am!" She really is that cute. I'm sure we'll have loads of fun over the next 10 days. ^^