Touring Tokyo

Up at 5 a.m. I wrote in my journal and worked on my speech. The Welcome reception is tonight and I have not finished my speech.

I was off to breakfast by 7 only to spill my orange juice all over the front of me. I had my tray filled with plates of food and thought I could balance the juice glass too. A waiter came to my rescue and was apologetic as if it was his fault. He quickly took my tray, gave me a napkin to wipe off my shirt, and found me a seat. The poor man looked embarassed for me. I was embarassed enough, I didn't need him feeling embarassed too. There was so much more sincerity from the Japanese waiter then there would be from one in the United States. My first experience with the hospitality of the Japanese people.

Today we toured Tokyo by bus. We drove past the Imperial Palace grounds, the House of Councillors building, and the Japanese Congressional Library. The library has 4 floors above ground and 8 floors below ground. Very amazing. I don't know why so many floors below ground, the guide did not explain why.

We toured the Diet Building. This is like our Capital Building in Washington D.C. The government is set up much like that of ours and very much like Great Britain. They have a bicameral legislation. The House of Representatives is the lower house and selects the Prime Minister. The House of Councillors is the upper house and functions much like our Senate. The Prime Minister's office is the Executive Branch of government. This branch is like the Executive Branch in the U.S., but we have a President leading the branch. The Emporer is a traditional figurehead, much like Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain.

Next we went to the Asakusa for a traditional Japanese lunch. Then we were given free time to shop in the Asakusa shopping district and time to visit Asakusa Shrine. I purchased a utsukinshii (beautiful) kimono and a few others things. Then went to the shrine. This is my first visit to a shrine and I didn't know what to expect.

I stopped to allow smoke to blow on me to heal my pains, then I selected a fortune from of drawer for 200 yen. It was a good fortune so I didn't need to tie it on the line to rid myself of bad luck. Next I went into the shrine. It was very peaceful, even though it was very crowded.

At 2 p.m. we had to leave to return to the hotel. We had a presentation from 3 until 4 p.m. on Kyogen given by Don Kenny. Kyogan is a 600 year old traditional Japanese Theater with a plot centering on basic human situations. Kenny was very interesting and has translated over 200 classic plays into English.

Tokyo, Japan. Yes, I am really here!!!

As I lay in bed this morning at 5 a.m. in San Francisco I still think...is this really true...and I really going to Japan...TODAY? I answer YES, get out of bed, today is the day. What are you waiting for? Adventure awaits you!

I am up, showered, breakfast, and ready to go before 7:30 a.m. This gives me a few minutes in the lobby to catch up.

We leave by bus at 8:30 a.m. Check in at the airport quick and easy. My luggage now weighs 51.4 pounds and I did not add anything to the suitcase. The lady does not charge me extra, just warns be to not make very many purchases. I thank her with a smile. She has no idea I will be bringing home a second 50 pound bag of purchases. One suitcase on the way there and two allowed on the way home. I sure I will have no problem filling the second bag.

Our flight was delayed twice. We left the San Francisco at 1:35 p.m. (3:35 p.m. CST). We were so excited when the plane took off. The group is traveling on two airplanes. The pilot announced that we were on the plane. It made us feel very special.

During the flight I slept, ate, read, wrote in my journal, met people and watched the movie "The Bucket List". A group of us decided to develop our own "Japan Bucket List".

I chatted with a woman from Japan who had been living in the states for 15 years. She had married an American man. She was going home to take care of her sick mother. She talked about how it was her job to care for her mother. She didn't seem sad at all, just matter of fact. We talked about kids and Japanese customs. She was so willing to share with us.

The lady next to me sneezed. Our knew Japanese friend told us that one sneeze ment someone was talking about you. Two sneezes ment someone was talking bad about you and three sneezes ment someone loves you. A very funny Japanese belief.

She also told us "Japanese students work hard to find ways to not work hard". She was talking about her own son. We agreed that United States students are very much like Japanese teens.

Time went quickly and we arrived at Narita Airport. Off the plane, gather luggage, and quickly to customs. In customs we had to have our fingerprints taken electronically, no ink, then our picture taken. Everything went smoothly. Then next task was to find our buses. This was easy. People were waiting for us to direct us through the airport, across the parking lot, and to the correct bus. It was unbelievable how efficiently 160 people can be moved from place to place.

The bus ride was interesting. We traveled by city group. I will be part of the group called Katori. That is our host city next week. Finally I get to meet my 16 travel companions. What a suburashi (wonderful) group of people. Everyone is friendly and very interesting. It will be great to get to know everyone.

The ride to Grand Prince Hotel in Akasaka took 1 1/2 hours. We crossed Tokyo Bay. Drove past Tokyo Disney. It looks much like Disney in U.S. We see rice paddies tucked in between houses and in low lying areas. Japan grows 100% of the rice consumed in the country.

There are many factory buildings with apartment buildings nearby. The balconies of the apartment buildings have clothes hanging to dry. Factory buildings are very clean. We drive past the Mitsubishi factory. It is very large and like all the others very clean and modern looking on the outside.

We see Tokyo Tower used for radio and tv signals. It looks like the Eiffel Tower. We also drove past large towers for incinerating garbage. The heat formed is used to heat sports complexes with swimming pools. Japan recycles 100% of their garbage. The U.S. should take some lessons.

We arrived at the hotel at 5:55 p.m. This gives us 1 hour to check in and get ready for dinner. I think we will be kept on a very tight schedule for the next couple of weeks.

I am in room 2814. This is on the 28th floor. The rooms are similar, yet different, from United States hotel rooms. When you enter there is a long hallway before you are actually in the room. My room has two single beds, a sofa that curves around two walls with windows above, and a desk.

The bathroom is two rooms. The first room has a sink and mirror. The second room has a toilet equipped with a heated seat and bidet option, along with a tub/shower. I notice a drain in the floor of this room. I am sure it is for people who wish to take a traditional Japanese bath. This means you wash completely outside the tub and then get in the tub to relax. It is very important to not get any soap into the tub.

At 7 p.m. I leave my couch with a beautiful view of Tokyo to go to dinner with a gentleman who was a Fulgright Scholar in the 1970's. He was very helpful in the restuarant with ordering food and enjoyed talking about the United States. He had studied for 3 years in the U.S. and then taught Japanese Culture for 3 more years before returning to Tokyo. He recently retired from a career Economics, but was a little brief about what he actually did. He has never been back to the states.

Dinner: raw octapus cut in small pieces dipped in soy sauce, chicken rolled in sea weed, breaded and fried then dipped in barbeque sause, fried noodles, sushi with rare beef, fried rice, broiled squid dipped in soy sauce and red wine

Everything was very good. I was amazed. I don't think I will have problems finding thing to eat that I like.

The evening ended quickly. But I am starting to get tired. The loss of sleep is catching up me. Tomorrow is another day of adventure in the "land of the rising sun".

Today - Off to San Francisco

Up early, leave at 2:45 a.m., only a few hours of sleep. Oh well, I will catch up on the plane.

We arrived at Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport at 5 a.m. with plenty of time to check in and then get a cup of coffee. My suitcase was 2 1/2 pounds over weight. I took out two pairs of shoes and stuffed them in my already overpacked carry on. I hate to leave shoes behind. What if a pair gets wet or my feet get a blister? What if a pair falls apart? I understand finding a pair of women's 9 1/2 shoes is difficult in Japan.

Plane leaves on time. Good bye is hard, yet I am ready for my adventure to begin. Flight to Chicago quick. A little boy sitting next to me chatters the entire flight. He can't believe I am going to Japan. I tell him I can't believe it either. His response to me "lady, your name is on the ticket".

I found the gate in Chicago with no problem. There are already a bunch of people gathered with their name tags on and signs saying they are headed to Japan with the JFMF program. People are chatting and becoming friends and we haven't even left the states yet.

The flight to San Francisco was uneventful. We landed and easily found the JFMF staff to take us by bus to the hotel. We had orientation this afternoon and a dinner reception at the Official Residence of Japanese Consul General Yasumasa Hagamine this evening. This was our first official Japanese function and my first time eating Japanese food. I think I am going to like sushi!

Tomorrow I must be ready at 8:00 a.m. to depart for San Francisco International Airport for my flight to Tokyo that leaves at 11:25 a.m. I still have not found time to catch up on lost sleep. The flight to Tokyo is 9 hours. That should give me some extra sleep time. I have a feeling I will not catch up on my sleep until I get home.

Wow! This is really happening. I am really with a group of 160 teachers traveling together to spend 19 days in Japan.

50 lbs. My suitcase can only weigh 50 lbs!!!

I have a huge problem. My suitcase is 15 pounds over weight. What do I take out? I start with the umbrella. It is the rainy season, but I can always buy one. Next take out full size shower gel, shampoo, conditioner. Twelve ounce bottles add up fast. I will only pack travel sizes and try to estimate how much I will need for 19 days. Next clothes! I need to reduce the number of outfits. I narrow it down to basics I can wear multiple times. Black pants are in on this trip!

I stuffed more into my carry on. It is really full. That could be a problem at the airport.

Finally my suitcase is just at 50 pounds by my scales. I hope it will be ok on the airport scale.

Tomorrow is the day. Good byes will be said tonight. I leave for the airport at 2:30 a.m. We want to make sure we have plenty of time.

I am so excited and now getting a little nervous. I am heading into an unknown adventure. What experiences are ahead?

Packing, organizing, and packing some more

Finalizing details. Tomorrow tie up loose ends and organize clothes to pack. I am not nervous at all. Everything is going smoothly and I am leaving in 4 days!!!

I must think about the speech. I could write it on the airplane as my son suggested. I keep going to back to why I was asked to give the speech. I was told the selection committee was impressed with my application and felt I was the right person to represent the entire group. I am so humbled by the request. A small town teacher to represent United States educators. What a huge accomplishment in my career.

The count down begins!

Only 1 week before I leave. All the things I need to think about. How much money to take? Do the boys have copies of the medical insurance card? I need to start packing. How will I keep in touch with everyone at home? What time is it in Tokyo? Good thing I bought the alarm clock that displays time at home and the time where you are staying. It will really be important so I don't try to call in the middle of the night.

I need to start writing my speech for the welcome reception. What am I going to say? How can I represent 159 people I have never met?

My itinerary arrives!

My itinerary arrived today. It is official, my name is on the flight itinerary. This is not a dream, I am really going to Japan.

I leave Cedar Rapids Airport at 6:15 a.m. to Chicago O'Hare. Then my flight from O'Hare to San Francisco departs at 9:05 a.m. to arrive in at San Francisco International Airport at 11:32 a.m. I will spend the night in San Francisco with orientation in the afternoon and dinner reception in the evening.

My flight to Tokyo leaves at 11:25 a.m. on Monday, June 9 from San Francisco. I touch down at 2:10 p.m. on June 10 in Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan.

My return flight is on June 26, leaving Narita Airport at 6:30 p.m. and arriving at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, at 4:09 p.m. on June 26. Then catch a flight to Cedar Rapids Municapal Airport at 5:48 p.m. I should arrive at Cedar Rapids at 6:48 p.m. (it shouldn't take that long). Then a short drive home (only 1 hour 45 minutes).