I have one more week left in Japan before joining Diane and the kids back in Austin.  Today, I got tired of cleaning and packing in the apartment and decided to brave the heat and head downtown to pick up some souvineers and perhaps dinner.  In the train station there is a table set up across from the entrance selling all sorts of Aizu-related tourist items like laquerware bowls and various akabeko gifts (akabeko is the red cow which is the symbol of the city).   As I picked up some akabeko keychains and the old Japanese woman behind the table started to talk to me.  I realized she was asking me about my children (‘kodomo’).  I guess we have become a fixture here, at least at the train station.  I told her as best I could that they were back in the U.S. for school (‘America … kodomo … gaku’).  She asked me if I was at the University and I said ‘hai’ (yes), which seemed to please her.  I tried to tell her I was also leaving in a week, but couldn’t get that sophisticated point across.  But I suspect I’ll see her later in the week when I leave and say goodbye to Aizu-Wakamatsu.