thank you for your kind comments! yes, i know living in japan is very expensive. but i will only be there for a 2 week long tour with 19 other students, so hopefully i won't spend too much money on things other than hotels and meals. i am usually very parsimonious, but in japan i'm sure i will come across many goods which will simply beg to have a home in my bag....... ;P it will be hard to not buy everything there ;)