Hello, Japan!

Originally written on August 28.

(Note: I had to write this in Word first before I could post it because there is no wireless access at this hotel, and, of course, the one thing I manage to forget is an Ethernet cable.)

(Another note: Because I packed my Nikon camera in a checked suitcase, it ended up getting transported to the school in advance while I stay at the orientation hotel. So til I get access to it again, all pictures will be taken from my phone, so sorry in advance for the lower quality.)

So it seems that my worries were completely unwarranted. But this is how it always goes. I worry to the point of making myself sick, and then nothing goes wrong. Err on the side of caution, I say. Because every time I don’t worry, shit will inevitably hit the fan.

The plane was smooth sailing for the entire 9 and a half hour trip, except the normal bit of turbulence here and there. It was the first time I have travelled internationally since I was too young to remember, so I was shocked to see how big the plane really was. Two floors and at least 50 rows of chairs in the bottom floor alone, each row averaging 10 seats. I would have gotten a picture had I not been a bit rushed to board. I didn’t realize I had spent so much time on my last entry.

Finding my aisle seat, I sat wondering who I would end up next to, and an American couple showed up to claim the seats. Part of me was relieved, that should we end up talking, it would be less awkward. Though, due to my shy nature, it took half the flight before he realized that I spoke English. (I had my headphones on to watch the in-flight movies most of the time, so it was more mouthing and signaling to each other at first.)

While it was awesome that my row ended up being 3 steps away from the bathroom (no waiting in line, just wait til the crowd is done and get up on your own time) and I was in the aisle seat, a part of me wished I was at the window to watch America fade away in the distance and see Tokyo finally emerge on the other side.

And seeing the couple leaning against each other and holding hands made me wish Skylar was with me. If there was only a way that we could have experienced this together.

After I managed to say a few words to my rowmate (I think his name was Kevin…ugh, I am so bad with names), he told me he was travelling to Japan for work. He is some kind of computer specialist for the US embassy. Even had a diplomat passport and everything. Very fancy. He asked to get the Japan transfer should the opportunity present itself, despite the reduction in pay. I can’t blame him, it’s a great chance to see the world. Before this, he took a position in Guyana. He is set to work in Japan for two years. I envy that part, as he will probably end up speaking better than me by the end of it.

On a totally different subject, I was rather impressed that the first in-flight movie was Avengers. Mirror, Mirror was next. And it wasn’t a great movie, but it did have some entertaining moments. The dwarves were pretty funny. I attempted to watch it with the Japanese dub, but only managed the first half hour or so due to a growing headache. Likely I have been awake for so long my brain didn’t want to have to think that hard. Actually, I didn’t get much sleep during the flight partly because of the headache and partly because my legs were spoiled by that lucky chance I had in first class.

I wished my “single serving friends” good luck on their endeavors as we disembarked and I trekked through Narita Airport toward the worst parts of my fears on how things would go during my travels. And as I mentioned at the beginning, everything was rather smooth. Immigration gave me my residence card, customs waved me through without even blinking at my luggage, and I found Haruna (my e-pal) with an IES sign waiting for me at the lobby. We exchanged pleasantries and headed to the meeting point. There, I received my orientation schedule, a warm welcome, and a short break as I tried to catch my breath and stop myself from sweating these huge bullets that came from a mixture of my still raging nerves and the surprisingly warm Tokyo weather. (Warm, but comfortable with a cool breeze. I was just dressed for colder weather. Haruna said it was hot. I told her this was like an early Texas spring.)

We left the airport at the same time as another abroad student (from Hawaii) and his e-pal. On the bus, Haruna noticed my laptop cooler in my bag and was amazed by the fact that our laptops could have their own coolers. I then showed her my kindle and I got a double すごい! (roughly translated to “wow!”) from her and the other e-pal.

The really fancy public bus got to our stop, and I did not realize at first why it was so weird that we entered through the left side of the bus instead of the right. We checked in at the orientation hotel. Haruna seemed very moved by the modest gift I gave her (gift-giving is a traditional custom in Japan and it is common to offer one to your host when you visit) once we reached the hotel room. I got her a photo book of famous Austin tourism sights. She had mentioned liking photography and is studying international tourism so I thought it was fitting.

I took a quick shower to wash off the sweat and we headed out to do some exploring. We ended up in the mall where I encountered an insanely large arcade, and a “shop” consisting only of crane games. There must have been 50 machines in the room. And the prizes you can fish out are pretty nice for crane game prizes.

My first food purchase was, strangely, at a Baskin Robbins, where I found that their ice cream pretty much tastes the same as ours. Haruna thinks ours is better. Maybe she had something better than Baskin Robbins though.

Nom nom!

We agreed to stop for dinner at a cute little place called Ringer Hut. They had these ramen bowls, specifically, “cham-pon,” which Haruna highly recommended. For 550 yen (about $6), I got this huge ass bowl that, when I got full, did not look like I had even eaten anything from it. -_-

Cham-pon for dinner.

We stopped in a convenience store (which turned out to be a 7-eleven) to get me a few snacks should I feel peckish before bedtime. Who’d have thought my first day in Japan would resemble a normal day in America so much? Ice cream, ramen, 7-eleven.

And now, I sit alone in my hotel room (my assigned roommate has not arrived) watching this strange Japanese show where a bunch of Japanese people watch videos of other Japanese people doing really unique, strange, but somehow awesome things. I don’t know what to think of this kind of premise, but find myself drawn to the videos like the Japanese audience. This guy made a chain out of the lead of a pencil, still connected to the pencil! Ok…yeah…I think it’s about time I get some sleep.

Naruto without subtitles?! *flail*

Next time I will try to remember to tell you about how impressed I am with…their toilets. Yeah, their really crazy awesome toilets. Well, laptop needs charging and I haven’t found an outlet in the room yet. So signing off…in, OMG I AM IN JAPAN!

Another view of the city from my balcony.