First Steps in Asia

Early in the morning hours I received my send off at Ohare Airport. Being in the airport at 4am was a little rough, though not bad after I found my way to the nearest Starbucks. Oh Caffeine!

Wandering around O’hare for a few minutes too long in confusion did not give me the best confidence boost as I started off. Eventually I found that if you just read the signs, generally it helps! Check in was easy enough. Time flew by after take off-- a couple of scattered hours of sleep and a few movies later I was putting on my seatbelt for landing in Narita Airport in Japan (the closest airport to Tokyo). The world is really catered to English speakers. Numerous times people throw around the words "English opens new doors" or something similar---I think you can't really understand that until you go out from the USA. Knowing where to get your luggage from after getting of the plane in the giant Narita airport is enough to make you smile. Trust me.

Nao Murakami is my roommate and close friend that I met while at U of I. He graduated from U of I this May and he has an impressive job with a top banking company in Japan already lined up for the fall. He took me around Japan during my visit and I stayed in his home for about 4 days (3 nights).

We took a bus from the Airport for about 3 hours to Nao's home town called Kamakura. There we transferred to a local train to get closer to his house. Kamakura is a beautiful city along the Ocean. It used to be the capital of Japan over 1,000 years ago.

It was around dinner time when we arrived at his house. His mom prepared a nice home made meal for me. It was really good! All of the food I had while in Japan was fantastic. For dinner we had strips of beef on a skewer, dumplings, some cartilage on a skewer (Aunt Lou would love this I’m pretty sure), a mix of vegetables in a liquid clear potato gel, and green tea (REAL green tea--it tasted SO good), a little Saki, a little wine, and then coffee after the meal. We had a few other things, but I was tired and so I can't recall very well what else was there.

While eating dinner Nao's mom and aunt sat and talked with us. Even though Nao's mom doesn't speak or study English she knew quite a bit. Nao's aunt teaches Japanese to all kinds of foreign workers, so she has picked up quite a bit of English over the years. It was a fun, tasty dinner and a great way to start the trip!

Before heading to my room to sleep I took a shower.

While in Japan I often showered two times per day, but the morning shower and night shower are different. I loved the bathroom and restrooms there!! Once I get my own house it will have a Japanese style bathroom! One shower you just take like in the States. No real differences. The other shower is a bit different. The Murakami's provided Shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a really nice face wash for me to use. I was sort of surprised by this just because I had my own stuff, but they really insisted that I use theirs (it was way better...but ANYWAYS...). While showering you are in a room that looks like any other shower, but the bath tub is next to you (in the shower). After using soap you should rinse off. Then, you just step into the tub and enjoy it like you would a Jacuzzi. It's so relaxing! Often I showered before eating dinner. I am not sure if that is just how Nao's family does it, or if that's the typical time to shower. Oh, and before you shower you are supposed to wash your hands in the bathroom sink. Everything is kept clean whenever possible.

I would say cleanliness in Japan out does the US hands down.