“Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one.” - Japanese Proverb
I'm all of 40 minutes away from getting in Katharine's car for Manchester airport and I'm fairly sure that I'm ready to rock and roll. After sleeping this evening from 8:30pm to 11:00pm, I've been up packing, repacking, checking lists, trying to guesstimate if my bag weighs less than 50 lbs., taking things out of my bag, putting those things back into the bag, taking out trash, and (lest I forget) cook some breakfast.
It's hard to imagine that I'll be flying for just about an entire day. However, I'll be sure to write soon and throw up my first pictures and impressions after landing. I'll have the whole weekend free to write in the blog (that and find food).
I'm reminded, inevitably, of history and into Japan's first link with the west. The arrival of the first westerners, dating Portuguese navigators as far back as 1542, was no doubt as confusing to the Japanese as it was to the Europeans. With the importation of various goods and introduction of Catholicism by the Jesuits, I'm also reminded that Japan's first reaction (by then shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu - the man that essentially founded Tokyo as the eastern capital) was to kick out the westerners until Commodore Perry and the black ships literally pushed their way into Tokyo Bay in 1853 and finally "embraced" their presence a year later. I'm hoping that it doesn't take me as long.
History rant is over, but the real thing is just beginning.
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5 comments:
Hey there world traveler! I am praying for your flight and your safe arrival to Japan- you are going to have such a good time, I can't wait to see the pictures!
p.s. this blog is impressive... only you would include a poignant history lesson among your witty online musings :)
Upon settling in your room on Friday, leave a post as to what you saw and your first impressions of the airport and the people you met.
Try to give us some idea of how it feels to be in the minority. In a state like Maine that is soooooo white bread, it will no doubt be an enlightening and humbling moment.
Do you have sticker shock yet with the difference in prices or are you finding them to be fairly similar?
We are looking forward to hearing of your travels and experiences.
All our love..........Dad and Tina
Well, 24 hrs. have passed since you left for the Orient and we have thought about you many times with every emotion from excitement to angst. Breathe and center yourself in each moment of discovery and welcome the next moment with anticipation.
Love............Dad and Tina
There is much about fate that cannot be controlled but other things fall under your jurisdiction. We decide who we spend our time with, who we interact with, whom we share our body and life and money and energy with. We select what we eat, and read and study. We can choose to keep trying to change our outlook. We can choose our words and the tone of voice in which we speak to other. And most of all, we can choose our thoughts. Master your thinking and like the Italians say, " Devo farmi le ossa". (You make your bones)
Enjoy each day of your journey my son. Dad and Tina
We laughed when we looked over your attachments. Dress styles, vending machines, spartan accommodations, to say the least unusual dress on the ladies...lol....! All of the obvious differences will no doubt give way to similarities as you grow more and more accustomed each day and assimilate customs as your own. Don't forget to have pictures taken of you by others so we can see you in the environment. Are you bowing yet with regularity? It it 6:35am on Tuesday morning and no doubt you are getting ready to head off to class for the first day. Enjoy and keep the blogs coming as we are all green with envy!!!
Love.........Dad and Tina
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