Day Two (and Three)
First, let me say that I don't know for sure how long I've been up. Changing time zones on the first day was hard enough, but the whole International Date Line thing today was absolutely disorienting.
With that out of the way, I am honored to announce that I AM IN JAPAN! Can I get a "Woo-Hoo?" It's completely amazing, to say the least. I feel a long, long way from Malden and Jackson.
It has been quite a day... or two days. Let me paste in some blogging that I typed earlier:
9:34 AM (San Francisco) After a good night's sleep, the day started with a breakfast buffet in the hotel. Everyone is pretty bright-eyed and excited this morning. They're bringing us over in groups to the airport, and I was on the first bus this morning at 8:00 AM. Last night at orientation they explained again the importance of punctuality, telling us that 8:00 means the bus LEAVES at 8:00 and to be there early. This will be a bit of an adjustment from "Clubbs Time" that I usually operate on. But then again, maybe "Clubbs Time" has something to do with toting around 2 kids. There will be about a 2 hour wait before our plane leaves. It's hard to find anything to do in the airport that doesn't involve spending money! Why am I so tempted to spend money on San Francisco souvenirs when I didn't even really see or do anything here? Crazy.
The flight was smooth, as far as that goes. But no amount of movies, beverages, or meals can make a 9 1/2 hour flight really enjoyable. To adapt the late Chris Farley, I kept feeling like "fat guy in a little seat..." Man, oh man.
Our in-flight movies included Hoodwinked, King Kong, and Wimbledon. King Kong is ridiculous, by the way. The scene of King Kong VS not just one but THREE T-Rexes? No.
When movies weren't playing, I kept watching the little screen display of an airplane icon representing out current location on a map. As it crept along, I kept thinking of that little mountain climber guy on The Price is Right. I never wanted something to go faster in all my life.
When the plane finally landed, some of us applauded. The sound of that landing gear hitting the runway was marvelous. We had arrived in Japan!
Some first impressions: things are a lot greener than I expected. It's also not quite as hectic and crowded as I imagined. Of course, I haven't seen much yet. People have been very friendly. I should walk on the left side of the sidewalk. Things are so clean indoors and out! However, driving on the highway there was some of the usual urban blight.
Our hotel is pretty remarkable. I will post pictures of it and my room tomorrow. I "lived" in my room too quickly tonight and it doesn't look as immaculate as it did at first. I'll also have to put up some pictures of my high-tech toilet.
We met up with some Japanese volunteers who took us to dinner. I joined 4 ladies as we went out with Kiyoshi Tajima. Tajima-san took us to a restaurant called Royal Host (not very Japanese sounding, I realize) and helped describe the menu to us. We just looked at the pictures and asked him to clarify. I ordered some spicy beef over rice, which came with a salad and some miso soup (traditonal Japanese soybean soup). I realized that I should have practiced eating with chopsticks before I came here, but I think I did honorably. After all, I was wearing a white shirt, and it's still white!
After that, I returned to my room. I am exhausted, but still very excited and anxious to do more. I saw so little tonight, so I'm ready for more. And speaking of more, I'll have that for you tomorrow!
Konbanwa!
(PS - If you're in the central time zone, just add an hour to your time, switch AM to PM, and that's my time. Example: it's 9:46 PM on Tuesday as I post this, and it's 8:46 AM. I'm 13 hours ahead.)
With that out of the way, I am honored to announce that I AM IN JAPAN! Can I get a "Woo-Hoo?" It's completely amazing, to say the least. I feel a long, long way from Malden and Jackson.
It has been quite a day... or two days. Let me paste in some blogging that I typed earlier:
9:34 AM (San Francisco) After a good night's sleep, the day started with a breakfast buffet in the hotel. Everyone is pretty bright-eyed and excited this morning. They're bringing us over in groups to the airport, and I was on the first bus this morning at 8:00 AM. Last night at orientation they explained again the importance of punctuality, telling us that 8:00 means the bus LEAVES at 8:00 and to be there early. This will be a bit of an adjustment from "Clubbs Time" that I usually operate on. But then again, maybe "Clubbs Time" has something to do with toting around 2 kids. There will be about a 2 hour wait before our plane leaves. It's hard to find anything to do in the airport that doesn't involve spending money! Why am I so tempted to spend money on San Francisco souvenirs when I didn't even really see or do anything here? Crazy.
The flight was smooth, as far as that goes. But no amount of movies, beverages, or meals can make a 9 1/2 hour flight really enjoyable. To adapt the late Chris Farley, I kept feeling like "fat guy in a little seat..." Man, oh man.
Our in-flight movies included Hoodwinked, King Kong, and Wimbledon. King Kong is ridiculous, by the way. The scene of King Kong VS not just one but THREE T-Rexes? No.
When movies weren't playing, I kept watching the little screen display of an airplane icon representing out current location on a map. As it crept along, I kept thinking of that little mountain climber guy on The Price is Right. I never wanted something to go faster in all my life.
When the plane finally landed, some of us applauded. The sound of that landing gear hitting the runway was marvelous. We had arrived in Japan!
Some first impressions: things are a lot greener than I expected. It's also not quite as hectic and crowded as I imagined. Of course, I haven't seen much yet. People have been very friendly. I should walk on the left side of the sidewalk. Things are so clean indoors and out! However, driving on the highway there was some of the usual urban blight.
Our hotel is pretty remarkable. I will post pictures of it and my room tomorrow. I "lived" in my room too quickly tonight and it doesn't look as immaculate as it did at first. I'll also have to put up some pictures of my high-tech toilet.
We met up with some Japanese volunteers who took us to dinner. I joined 4 ladies as we went out with Kiyoshi Tajima. Tajima-san took us to a restaurant called Royal Host (not very Japanese sounding, I realize) and helped describe the menu to us. We just looked at the pictures and asked him to clarify. I ordered some spicy beef over rice, which came with a salad and some miso soup (traditonal Japanese soybean soup). I realized that I should have practiced eating with chopsticks before I came here, but I think I did honorably. After all, I was wearing a white shirt, and it's still white!
After that, I returned to my room. I am exhausted, but still very excited and anxious to do more. I saw so little tonight, so I'm ready for more. And speaking of more, I'll have that for you tomorrow!
Konbanwa!
(PS - If you're in the central time zone, just add an hour to your time, switch AM to PM, and that's my time. Example: it's 9:46 PM on Tuesday as I post this, and it's 8:46 AM. I'm 13 hours ahead.)
posted by 1UP RPG | 5:17 AM
1 Comments:
The only thing more lovely than waking up this morning and realizing that I and our children had not only slept through the night, but also slept until after 8 AM, was getting on here and seeing this post from you! It appears you have been doing all kinds of stuff "while we were sleeping."
Eva just woke up and came in to me and was very excited to see the pictures on Flickr. However, when I started reading the blog entry to her, about 1/4 of the way in, she asked to play Princess Games. But, you'll be glad to know that before that, she did indeed give you a Woo-Hoo! Eli is up now so I better go...it is 9:14 AM here, so I guess it is 10:14 PM there and I hope you are going to bed!
Love you!
Brooke
Post a Comment
<< Home