[Mattinblack]

Yeah Spooky... look on the upside. I have pretty much the same situation with my 12yr old daughter in Canada:

1. You have a free place to visit in Japan... the one thing I know 4 sure about Japan is that the air fare is the cheap bit .... accomodation is veeery expensive!
2. Buy them a webcam for christmas and you can see her and talk to her as much as you both want. I talk to my daughter most days.
3. When she breaks her arm falling off her bike you can sit in the comfort of your own home and chew your fingernails instead of hanging around a freezing cold hospital at 3AM.
4. You have a contact in a foreign country you can REALLY trust. Want something bought or something doing?

It aint so bad though it will hit you emotionally for a few weeks!