It's hard to believe that it's been about 2 weeks since I first landed at Narita International Airport. Technically it's been 15 days but whatever. Thus far it has been the greatest experience of my entire life so far. This has been 1 1/2 years in the making and I quit my job to fulfill this dream of mine.
As I write this sentence it is 9:49pm. Friday, November 6th. I think Japan is about 14 hours ahead of Chicago. So as I write this getting ready for bed, most people's days in the states are just beginning. It is the end of Day 2 in Kyoto (out of 3) on my 2 week West Japan excursion.
So I really don't even know where to begin. There is just so much that I think I'll obviously have to break it down to multiple posts. Let's summarize the first week or so.
So I arrived at Narita on the October 22nd at around 4:30pm local time. Which made it around 2:30 am (14 hours behind) in Chicago. While I was excited...I was also so so anxious. I've never done anything like this in my entire life. Everyone whom I told about this trip told me I had a lot of balls to do something like this. While I have traveled alone before, the difference is that I've traveled to countries/places where I have direct family. It's a whole freakin nother' ballgame when you travel alone, by yourself, to a country that is on the opposite part of the world from your hometown, that has a language you are not fluent in, being physically and mentally alone (away from any close by family or even any sort of friends or whatever), and a completely different culture from yours. BUT luckily the fact that this has been a place I've dreamed of coming to helped to alleviate these mental hurdles.
I know nobody here in Japan. No family...No Friends...Nothing. I only know myself. I didn't think this would affect me...but to be honest maybe I have felt a small effect. There have been times where I did get minor cases of homesickness. There were times where I was scared at the fact that I'm literally alone in this place. In the first couple days it was a mental hurdle but this would only make me more independent and way more mentally stronger. So this has been an amazing opportunity to grow as a man and as a person.
I remember being stranded at the airport for about 3 hours after I got off the plane...not a good start to my trip hah. I was terrified for some strange reason of asking for help because I barely know Japanese. I know a tiny tiny bit but I'm not fluent. I was scared of taking the trains because of how complex they were and was scared I was get super lost. I tried using google maps to figure out a route but to no avail. Eventually I decided to buy a one way ticket on a limousine bus that got me to about a 20 minute walk from my place I was staying at to begin with.
(I had read and heard so much about the vending machines in Japan, I was beyond psyched to finally see it in person. They are so so awesome).
Being on that bus riding along the highway, I remember looking at the window and being scared. I couldn't believe I made it...that I was here. Then...when I saw the first building with big Japanese lettering on it, it really hit me. Excited beyond words but also slightly scared. Eventually we hit a area where you can see the city and skyline. Kind of like driving down the I-90 East and you start seeing Chicago for what it is as you get closer and closer. It was surreal. I had seen pictures...I had seen videos...I have read about Tokyo. But to finally be here physically and see it for myself...I cannot describe in words the feeling.
Eventually I finally got to my place that I booked on Airbnb.com. It was awesome. It was in a semi-upper class neighborhood but had a slight slight grittyness to it. It's like if Lincoln Park and Uptown had a baby.
