日本へようこそいらっしゃいました

Today was excellent.

I spent, altogther, about 15 hours in the sky today. I got to Chicago and walked no more than 500 feet to my new terminal, full of students and husbands and wives and children, and even people laying over in Japan for a final destination of Taipei. The plane ride was fine; they served Starbucks on the way to Chicago, but not on the way to Tokyo, although I'm not a coffee drinker either way. I think this best showcases how exciting flights can be: I sat in a chair for many hours as my legs withered away beneath me.

When we finally got to Japan I was very excited just to see wind turbines on the shorelines and very small farms scattered about the coastal area. I thought that the move to the dorms would be rather quick and painless at first, but I forgot about the two bags I had as carry-ons as well as the two bags already waiting for me at the baggage claim. It was terrible to carry those things around and I do not look forward to moving again out of the orientation room I'm in now and into a home where I will not have the luxury of my own bathroom.

The Coca-Cola cans here are strange.

Looking through these photographs I'm reminded of the time I spent with people the days before leaving; Stefanik for mayor woot.


Narita is located about an hour from Tokyo I think. We had a long bus ride/tour through the randomness leading up to the Tokyo Tower and then eventually our current place: some college with sweet dorm rooms.

It was a long day (most literally -- I left Chicago at noon, arrived at 3pm, and had been in the sky for 13 hours in between, thank you Mr. Sunshine), definitely long enough to have the battles with your suitcases get more and more enjoyable.

My room has its own climate-control.

My room also has a sweet bathroom.

And I have a cool balcony.

And I will be moving out of here in a week, to stay with a family for the remainder of my time here.

Ten months left.
Glad I brought my toothbrush.