To get to Tokyo from Nashville you go north to Chicago across central Canada then Alaska till you reach the Pacific Ocean. Looking out my window the snowy scene below reminds me that each of our worlds are so unique to environment and circumstance. My flight neighbors are an elderly couple that have been very gracious in helping me figure out where to put my noodle sauce and such. My meal choices were #1 Chicken #2 Beef, haha being a vegetarian while traveling is extremely hard. I’m doing my best. Funny things @ 6:00 a.m. on my first flight I realized all the kids that were my age were the band “Paramore”, and their crew. They were also going to Tokyo and then Osaka to play. Life is funny. In fact I laugh as I write this because the gummi bears I bought have yellow #5 in them, and that is very bad but soo yummy right now! It was brutal getting into Tokyo airport, picking up all my luggage and getting onto my next flight. I left an Xacto in my bag so that did not go over well with the security. Oh goodness. My brother and his girlfriend are picking me up once I arrive in Okinawa and I think after a good drink, I must sleep. My legs are aching and my mind is slowing catching up to all the time traveling. February 9.

Today Blake and I went to American Village, had an amazing lunch at a noodle place my brother likes. Tried the local beer Orion, which is just a simple pilsner. My only requests were just walking around, people watching, and hanging out at the beach. Back to base later in the day and we went out to a excellent sushi restaurant. I could tell the sushi boys behind the counter were talking about me, but the language barrier kept us from any conversation. I think they were laughing at how I ate my sushi. I dislike wasbai and it was all over the place. After that we went to the bars that my brother frequents. The ladies restroom had PINK SCENTED toliet paper! Can you believe that? So silly! Since it is almost all Marines at these bars, the music was such as, Buried beneath the Dead, Rammenstein, KORN, and anything that screamed unbearable vocals. There was one bar that had a jar filled with liquid and a dead snake chilling at the bottom. Habu shot, 6 yen! No way was I going to try that, but it was quite bizarre. The arcade was amazing and the photo booths were so intense and elaborate. We played some racing games and I successfully won a few. I think a lot of people really spend a lot of their time in these arcades. February 10

The temple has been my favorite part so far. It was quiet and stunningly beautiful. The ladies working there were extremely nice and took us down to the caves beneath the temple were prayer and mediation take place. You can purchase a fortune and then you tie it to a tree for the fortune to come true. We found a vintage store which had some killer items. They were aware of what they had because the prices were pretty steep. I found an amazing small suitcase with a beautiful flower pattern and it was $45. The weather is extremely humid and hot. I didn’t necessarily realize how tropical it is here. Silly me. More adventure to take place. February 11

Filed under: Teaching on February 12th, 2010