So after a 13 hour flight over the Pacific Ocean from Dallas/Ft. Worth airport in Texas, I arrived in Narita International airport in Tokyo, Japan. I nervously made my way to customs after trying my best to fill out the customs declaration form and disembarking forms. It was tough because it felt like there was no air conditioning in this section.
However, once got to the main counter the gentleman who took my picture and finger prints was so nice. They were also very trusting. It was a very comforting moment that for a few minutes helped me forget that feeling I had originally had int he back of my mind that everyone was staring at me.
After getting through customs and immigration I headed down to check in with Japan airlines for the next leg of my trip to Itami Airport in Osaka, Japan. I made my way through, stopping briefly to buy a Coca-Cola and some pocky to help ease my stress. It was so simple getting through security. I only had to take my laptop out.
After getting down to where my flight was supposed to meet up at to get on a bus to go to the plane itself, I looked nervously around. A sea of foreign faces was all I saw until I happened to see one girl who looked like someone who might be from America. I ended up asking and found out she was going to Kansai Gaidai as well.
We both were elated to meet someone else who we could talk to. Also her name was Beth as well. We ended up meeting 3 other people. Josh, Adam, and one other girl whose name I will add to this post a little later on because I can't remember it right off. From that point until we made it to our respective seminar houses (dorms for those who can't figure that out) we all stayed together offering a little bit of comfort in this place that was a new world for us.
After a bus ride and plane ride we arrived at Itami. Once there we headed down to grab our bags and then made our way to the exits where we found the girl who would be helping us get to the pick up bus. Sorry it was late and I was tired so I can't remember a lot of names right off. We left our bags with her and headed off to hunt for food.
While walking we found a set of those little figures you can stand behind to take your picture of 2 female stewardesses and 2 male pilots. The two guys stood behind the stewardesses and us girls took turns taking pictures with us behind the male pilots so we all had our pictures.
As we stood there goofing around an elderly Japanese man walked up to us and began to talk to us. He asked if we were Americans. We did our best to translate bits of what he was saying as a group with our combined Japanese language knowledge because he didn't seem to know that much spoken english. It was as much fun as it was challenging. We ended up finding out he was a retired member of the JASDF. He showed us pictures from 1931 of him in what appeared to be a training graduation photo. It was amazing we. We were basically learning history while learning history while meeting someone new.
He had also had experience in a submarine and was telling us how while most of the men he knew were in wheelchairs he was still up and running well. After he left we had a blast chatting about the experience we had just had the luck to have.
After hunting for food we headed back to wait for the pick up service time. Beth and the other girl had a left over sweet roll and ended up offering it to the girl who was watching our bags, who in turn gave them so treats as a thank you. A little later on we headed to the bus and rode for about an hour or so to seminar house 4 and then walked to 2 and 3. Here some of us split off but most of us headed on to 3.
After checking in I took a good, well earned shower before dressing up in my PJs. I got to meet my current room mate Rose who is a homestay so she will sadly be leaving at the end of the week. From what I have talked to her about so far, she appears to be Thai and is a wonderful person to talk to. We have had a blast chatting in our room so far.
That was my first night in Japan.
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