From A year well spent. Thanks to the Japanese government and all my friends I made along the way.
I’ve been back for about a week and a half now so not having a blog update was getting a little ridiculous. I keep waiting for photos of my last days in Tokyo and Yamanashi to just appear, color corrected and compressed, to show up like lightly wrapped gifts into my flickr account. But reality is a cold harsh mistress, and I have to do all the dirty work myself.
My last weeks in Japan were spent in a way that I’m satisfied with. Sure it was a crazy mad dash the last few days, and sure I totally forgot to visit my ramen lady one last time. Which of course means certain death should I ever visit Tsuru again…
But what I am satisfied with is how I soaked up everything without trying to hold on to hard. I watched the sun go down around the mountains behind my apartment. I walked the alleys of Koenji and listened to the hustle flow around me. And then I got on a plane and went home. As long as it remains a goal to return and live there again, I’m ok with leaving when and how I did.
Speaking of the “how” I feel like the luckiest traveler in the world for the way I got home last Monday. Originally I would’ve had to fly direct to Washington D.C. then Atlanta and then finally Milwaukee for two reasons. The first is the the Japanese government would only reimburse flights to your original point of departure which for me was D.C. Second, There aren’t direct flights between Milwaukee and D.C. so a layover in Atlanta is required. All this bullshit would’ve led to a travel time of 21 hours from Japan to home. That is, if it weren’t for the standard airline policy of overselling flights.
The announcement came over the loudspeaker, “If anyone here would be willing to fly through Chicago (to D.C.), with an upgrade to business class, please come forward.” I thought for about 5 seconds before I jumped to my feet to find a flight attendant. This poor Japanese woman working at the United stand ran back and forth with my passport and flight information, eventually sho-ing me off the plane and back to the chairs. Amidst the commotion I asked if I could have my destination changed from D.C. to Milwaukee. The same woman gave me a frustrated look, took my paperwork, and disappeared for another 15 minutes before returning with a buisness class ticket to Chicago and a puddle jumper to Milwaukee.
Thanks for sending me off right (United) Japan.
Oh, regarding the title:
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