No problem! You might want to check out a place called Kawagoe, then--not as big as Kyoto or Kamakura, but it's definitely got that "back-in-time" feel to it. It's actually where I got to try on kimonos with my friend when I was there!

Oh, yeah. You really have to be careful with how long you hold the "a" sound, or you wind up with some really awkward moments. (I haven't done that before, but I've accidentally spoken crudely to co-workers!)

Wow, completely European? That's rare! All of the half-Asian people I know look somewhat Asian, although not completely, of course. (I have to revise my statement above with respect to my cousins--it's their coloring and features that keep them from looking completely white.)