I am very glad to note on the phone that you are enjoying yourself in Kyoto and making significant improvement in your studies. It is a rare opportunity for you to pursue studies in Japan for a period as long as one whole year, during which you can acquire first-hand knowledge of the economic insight of the richest advanced country in Asia, and a profound understanding of an ancient civilization. I am sure you will treasure this opportunity and try your best to garner new experience. I wish you would see the world in a wider perspective, with enhanced appreciation of different cultures and their history when you go back to the States to study next fall. When the autumn wind blows, you will definitely miss the delicious snake soup.
Snakes accumulate fat in fall to prepare for hibernation.
But recently there is a kind of snakes with somewhat abnormal behaviour, as they become active when fall approaches. Migrant trafficking is a major international issue. This problem is neither solely associated with the Chinese, nor the people of Fujian Province who sneak into U.S. through Hong Kong. It is an issue regardless of nationality and boundary. Hundreds and thousands of people from places like the Middle East, Africa, South America, East Europe and South East Asia move to better-off regions every day.