In the Beginning...

So the journey started out mirroring the journeys of others, and if I was one that was challenged with words I would leave it at “I was dirt tired.” Sitting in Tokyo Narita airport here, I have little words that could amuse and few thoughts other than a ramble of what has just occurred mixed with dreams of sleep. I don’t want to get to into what’s going on right now, because I have so much to mention about what has happened in the passed 24 hrs.
Tampa:
I showed up with my suitcase packed with enough stuff to get me through the next 7 weeks. I proudly walked up to the self check in with my new passport. I even scanned it to check in. I placed my one piece of checked baggage on the scale and it the United Employee shockingly said “67lbs!.” I knew it was going to be over. I said that he should be lenient since I am staying for so long. People aren’t in that good of a mood at 4 am. It turns out the extra charge was only $25. We were all surprised( by this time I had attracted a crowd of employees. They all had come to see the 67 lb bag and its owner. With their surprise and approval I walked away with a few more friends. Security check in was quick. I then attempted the videos. I am realizing now… videos aren’t fun unless something is going on. From the ones I am going to post, you can tell I am forcing… something to happen, or just blanketly allowing the moment to speak for itself.

Dulles- Nice airport I thought. A big change from the two times I had been there before. I must have seen the run-down side before. Strolling to terminal B, I got on what I thought was a shuttle. I stepped on, sat down, and waited for it to take me to my next destination. All of a sudden a man walked through, sat down, and started driving the shuttle. ??? “What am I on?” I started thinking. It was the size of a double wide bus, but we were ` 2-3 stories in the air. There had to be more than one of these things I was thinking. I would look out and try to find out what it was. In the mean time we took off flying at ramming speed across the terminal parking area, dodging moving planes, employees, and the innocent passer by. All of a sudden in the distance I saw two other structures that were moving towards a cross way. This must have been what I was on. It looked like a double wide bus sitting on top of a platform with wheels. It’s design was an obvious Star Wars inspiration. I was lucky to escape that piece of 18th century technology with my life and was on my way. Waiting at the terminal was pretty uneventful. I did see a group of monks adorned in orange robes waiting by the gate. After a restroom break I strolled over and sat next to them, thinking to myself, “ maybe they will be talking about cool stuff.” Sitting down, I noticed that they were nibbling on little treats. Where were these treats from? Starbucks. Hmm. One pulled out a digital camera and started snapping pictures and another was using his notebook computer. I thought this is just like me. Sitting there with a computer, a camera, and some Starbucks. The only difference was that I wasn’t wearing orange or a robe. I then remember why I went over to sit by them in the first place-- why didn’t I realize that they wouldn’t be speaking English?
Upon boarding the plane, I was greeted by the most sleek and modern designs I have ever seen. The seats were adorned with pine wood accents and stainless steel. There was so much room that the seats had three different settings -upright, relaxed, and sleep. The sleep setting feature a picture of the seat reclined all the way out, almost like a bed. I began to realize what an awesome trip I was about to take. Just when I sat down, and before I could come to grips with where I was sitting and the attributes of my settings, an army of Japanese Women swooped down over the passengers, offering water, warm towelettes, newspapers in all languages, giggles, and smiles. They were intense and focused on their objective. That objective was to make it the most comfortable flight of my life.. Everyone else’s, too. I kept getting visions of the early American Aviation culture, where all flight attendants were women. I remembered glimpses of a movie, the Aviator, where this was a theme. The contrast here is that this experience did not seem old fashioned. It seemed modern. I must admit a bunch of happy smiling women beats a grumpy old man any day.
I slept the first 3 hrs, and was intending to sleep longer, but was awaken with the smell of food. I thought, “ah dinner, it must be 5 or 6, which would mean we were 6 hrs into the flight. I looked at the watch and it showed that we had only left 3 hrs ago. I sat there, dazed and fuzzy from my slumber. One of the awesome attendants noticed me without grub and suggested I try the Japanese meal. I agreed and set my tray table up. It started with smoked bacon, a green olive, and a black olive on a bamboo skewer, smoked nuts, and a piece of cheese. How cute. Then the main course. Roast duck, prawn, fish…. Other stuff. When I thought it was over, the next portion came out, which was a fish soup with rice. I looked forward to the rice. It was something I knew. I know what I said sounded like a lot, and it was a lot of variety, but so far my experience with Japanese food is everything comes in tiny portions. Everything is tiny and cut up with colors of veggies and pieces of things I have no clue what they are. I eat it with a grin, since I enjoy variety. On came the tea and desert. Fruit and ice cream mixed together, and the best black tea I have ever had.. I was awake and I kept saying this is the best flight I have ever been on. Not just because of the food, so let me tell you about what I discovered. Besides each seat having three adjustable settings, each had a 9 inch tv screen that could be pulled out of the side. Each seat had partitions and separate arm rests so you could even pretend no one was next to you. Not that I was doing that, but I had a feeling the two women at my side were doing with me. There was a list of some 30 movies to chose from, countless tv shoes, music, and games. All this was accessible by the touch of an individual remote placed at each seat. I stayed awake the rest of the time. It wasn’t boring at all. I kept saying how great the flight was. There was even a complimentary pair of slippers. I snuggled my feed into those bad boys, put the seat on recline and watched movie after movie after movie. I laughed, I cried, I got enraged, and I felt victorious. You can get the picture. I wondered--- how did this army of flight attendants stay energized for 14 hours, in tight skirt suits, with heals on, a bow sticking out the side of their neck, and constantly walking around? This is a testament to the strength, focus, and vitality of Japanese women everywhere. Japanese superwoman/ military flight attendant, I salute you.
Tokyo- Entering a new world…. Coming off the plane I was met by more smiling faces. Japanese women with signs working diligently to get people to their next destination. Where are all the men in this society? Do they do anything? Ah customs… there’s the men. Everything went without a hitch. I visited the restroom to brush my teeth. I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the faucet. Thankfully the woman working in the bathroom showed me that it was a sensor.. Woman in the men’s bathroom? Need I say more? Now I am sitting at my gate. I had to pay for a day of internet for $6 to send Minami information about my flight. Of course I am leaving things out of my adventure, but again I am tired. As I sit here, I am thinking that I will like living in Japan. Here’s to a great trip.