Swizzlesticks.net

Tomorrow morning I am getting on a plane and flying to Tokyo which will become my home for 5 months. I'm excited and terrified at the same time. It'll be a huge difference, a boring flight, and probably a life altering experience. I don't know for sure, but I don't think that the girl coming home in five months will be the same girl who is about to suffer through 20 hours of coach level transit. I hope she's a better person than the me today.

Enough intraspection, because for the next 5 months, that's not the point of this. I want to remember everything that happens, so I'm going to try to update with anecdotes and thoughts throughout this next semester. Recipes, pictures, just anything that seems important or memorable or interesting. It will not only be a great way for me to keep a link to the outside world, but it'll also hopefully help me to remember everything that happens while I'm abroad.

First thought: packing is a horrifying experience and I own too many pairs of shoes. I probably don't need all of them in Japan.

Second thought: Do I have to go through customs in Canada if I'm not leaving the airport? My heartfelt hope is no, but I'm a bit dubious.

Also, I cannot bring my phone with me abroad which means I'll have no gps, no everywhere calendar and internet. I'll have to carry a separate ipod and camera. But the gps part is what's really freaking me out. I can't believe I'm this dependent on my phone, but I guess in my mind I've always been taking on Tokyo with google maps and location finding technology. Where am I? Well, where does my phone tell me I am? It's a little scarier when you just have paper maps, the kind that never fold us as well the second time. Scary.

Anyway, I will prevail! The real point is, don't call me, you won't reach me.

I wish my laptop battery lasted longer, plane flights with tv > flights without, but I will just have to study kanji or something equally painful like gouging out my eyes with the spork that I packed. (I'm not so very handy with chop-sticks). Will also knit.

More on my airport survival skills later, as well as first attempts navigating Tokyo public transit. Wish me luck.
[karma: 0 (+/-)] Katie on 06.30 at 07:54