7月25日 (日) 2:16pm JST
Perhaps not surprisingly, it is only now that I am in a 747 emerging from the Arctic Circle and descending toward Tokyo and Japan that the foolishness of my mission is starting to sink in. Thinking about it even cursorily should have disclosed the foolishness of my plan, but apparently, it is only now hitting me. Being an English teacher? In Japan? In Toyama Prefecture, Japan?? Clearly, at some point, logic broke down during the decision making process… 30,000 ft. off the ground and culture shock is only going to get worse as we drop.
Oh well, here goes!
7月25日 (日) 6:00pm JST
On the bus to the hotel. Being ahead of most of the Atlanta group means I get to remember how much I dislike those from other parts of the country. Not really, it’s just that we Atlanta people had bonded before. They helped with my bag problems. I lent them batteries. It was all for one, etc., etc. Now, we’re slowly (about 50mph, tops) being taken to the hotel and away from each other, forever!
I think I’m basically on Japan time already now. But getting here was a lot of work. I was kind of a zombie for much of the journey, but I did sleep on the planes, which was good.
Japan is so odd. One oughtn’t be able to get here by plane. It should be more of a magical thing. You eat a mushroom, say a spell, do a dance… As Miyamoto says, you open a door and find many unexpected things. As weird as it all is though, this time I’m not “Lost in Translation.” Last time, every boxy car was new. Now, it’s what Buffalo Daughter calls 明日に生まれたなつかしい音楽. A Candaian just said to someone else, “It’s going to be a complete and total blur for the next few days.” We’ll see, I suppose. Meeting people is always irksome.
Radiohead on iPod, “No alarms, no surprises.”
7月25日 (日) 9:10pm JST
It’s nice that the waiting phase of the trip is (at lead temporarily) over. The wait in Atlanta was insane, with people missing planes and flights being delayed. About the only without a wait was the airport shuttle, into which I was thrust before I could have a proper breakfast and goodbye with S---. Atlanta was full of five different places to wait, each with its own Danté-esque touches, but now I’m free to make my own way. I ate curry in Shinjuku, then marveled at shiny things at Yodobashi Camera. Seeing things like Kusanagi endorsements or Gokuri drinks makes me feel like I returned home. Or, more accurately, to some childhood fantasy world.
Tomorrow, meetings. But for now, ah!〜.
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