So, long story short, after much deliberation and consideration; I will be flying out to Japan. Tomorrow, actually! From the same airport that roughly 1,000 expats will be landing in on the same day, from Japan. I keep stopping myself to consider if my brain is still firing on all cylinders. Trace amounts of radiation has now been found in milk from Fukushima, spinach from Ibaraki and the water in Tokyo... and I'm electing to go to this country out of my free will? Is there something funky going on with my survival instinct? Maybe subconsciously I'm trying to fulfill my childhood dream to become Godzilla. Or an X-man! It only took a lil spider bite for Spiderman to get his powers! .... and knowing my luck, I'll end up eating Ibaraki spinach and turn into the glowing, female equivalent of Popeye the Sailor man, complete with bulging forearms, thinning hair and that gravely, I'm-one-puff-away-from-small-cell-lung-cancer voice. Mmmh, sexy! Those Japanese boys have no idea what's in store!
On a really positive note, my extended family in Ibaraki-ken are all safe. We finally heard back from them, though I don't know exactly where they are right now, and there was damage to their house but everyone is alright. I don't know what to bring to them, other than a box of cookies and that seems just really stupid, considering what they've been through...
Packing usually drives me right up the wall, but my mom knows all the tricks of packing inside and out, so that made things a lot easier. Hopefully none of the presents I'm bringing will be crushed. I'd been seriously considering bringing rolls of toilet paper after a blog post by Sarahf on how people are stocking up enough to keep the store shelves naked. But, in the interest of saving space, I just ended up packing a whole box worth of tissue paper....Worst case scenario, I can beg my friends to FEDEX me toilet paper to save my dignity...I guess?
All the excitement I felt when I used to think about going to Japan, which turned to anxiety, sadness and worry after the initial disaster, is now premature homesickness. Awesome. Brilliant. I'm such a baby! I haven't even left yet and I'm missing my parents and friends!
One of my dear friends has indulged my closet addiction to fine papers and cards, and bought me a packet of limited edition stationary which I will unseal and start using as soon as the plane takes off. I'm going to be so popular on that plane, sniffling and blubbering over my letters. Luckily, my dad gave me some coupons for complimentary booze that I can use once I'm on the flight. After I'm quite done being dramatic and tear-spotting the letters, I can make friends with everyone around me. Yes, this is a great plan.
<3
Rocketfrog
Yay! You're going to Kyoto, right? From what I understand, there are no shortages there now, and even Tokyoites can wipe their asses freely now! Have a safe flight. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your first few days.
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