Preflight entertainment

So, here I am, sitting in Newark Airport, two hours before departure. I finally got around to packing at around 11 last night, after the penultimate episode of this season's Top Chef. I don't see why people make such a big fuss about packing, but I'm notorious (in certain circles) for traveling light. All I did was throw about a dozen days' worth of T shirts, boxers, socks, etc. into a big suitcase. Follow that up with a few pairs of jeans, one pair of shorts and a selection of button shirts. Belts. One suit and a tie, just in case. And my GMAT and LSAT prep books.

There's also a bottle of very nice whiskey that Dad gave me to pass along to our mutual friend, Isono Isao. Isono-san owns a traditional Japanese shouting restaurant (AKA a robatayaki) in Roppongi. We first met him two summers ago, when Dad and I went on vacation for two weeks in Japan. We sort of became e-mail pen pals after that. Last summer, when I went to do an internship in Tokyo, I surprised him by just showing up at his restaurant out of the blue. I brought him a mezuzah, which I figured would be pretty atypical and therefore interesting as a gift. As far as I can tell, the Japanese by and large have very little understanding of Christianity and almost zero understanding of Judaism, but I explained the significance of the mezuzah to him (in Japanese) anyway. I wonder if he ever put it up in his apartment. I didn't see it when I went there--he invited me over at the end of the summer, and I got to meet his whole family. Wife, high-school-aged son and mother(-in-law?) who lived in the apartment upstairs. It was really an amazing experience. I tried some natto (not as bad as advertised), drank the good shochu, went out to dinner with them and shot the shit in general. Anyway, as much as the Japanese don't comprehend Judaism, they do enjoy their whiskey, so I think I have a good gift with which to show up on his restaurant's doorstep this year.

Thankfully, that wealth of memories and cultural insight didn't take up much space in my suitcase, and it took me less than an hour to get everything together. I also have my computer backpack, which contains a few novels, guidebooks and electronic crap, among other things. I have no idea where my computer lock is, and I couldn't find one in the airport. I'm probably worried about nothing, though. It seems unlikely that anyone in Japan with access to my room is going to take my stuff. I also have Kanji in Context, the kanji supplement we used this year in class. I thought I might use it during my 11-hour flight or the subsequent week before the placement exam. I probably won't, but who knows?

But enough about the bits and pieces of my life that I'm taking with me to Tokyo. "What," you ask, "about your impressions of what's to come?" Honestly, I'm pretty nervous, but it's a familiar feeling. I've gone abroad to live on my own for an extended period of time twice already, and the worst part is always the beginning, when you don't really know anyone. It can get very lonely very quickly, living by yourself. However, even though I'll be more or less alone the first week, I do know a whole mess of people living in Tokyo already. As a matter of fact, I already have plans to tear it up in Roppongi with a friend on Saturday night. Staying out until dawn is a surefire way to get over my jet lag.

So, even though I'm nervous, I know it's just an instinctive feeling, and it will pass soon enough. Once I get into the swing of things, I'll be having a blast. Plus I can keep in touch with everyone at home pretty easily, using Skype. If you're reading this, and you're going to be abroad at some point, and you don't have Skype, get it. Get it and put money into your account. Then you have a cheap, easy way to call any phone in the world from your computer. I'm also going to have a prepaid cellphone (priority number one, once I get settled) but that will be more for quick, coordinating calls and messages between me and my fellow Tokyoites.

Well, that just about wraps up a really boring blog post. I apologize. The awesome stuff is coming soon, I promise.

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