Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Shinjuku

Tokyo's Shinjuku distict for today with some great views of the Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

"The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil
water-way leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber
under an overcast sky--seemed to lead into the heart of an immense
darkness."

Perhaps that is a bit too morbid, but, I'm guessing that many of you thought that I had disappeared off the face of the earth for a while.

NOT TRUE

I live! As you should know, I've been out of internet while I wait for things to get set up (and most likel...

Arriving at my destination 12 hrs later...I think I made it... Customs, Some knowledge of the language...is it going to get me anywhere? A word of advice: Point at a map and they simple point with their arms. Hope that it gets you where you want to go...

We started our trip in Tokyo with the JET Orientation held at the ritzy 5 star hotel, the Keio Plaza! Nice. We got over our jet lag, ate good meals and attended workshops on life in Japan. A rapid stop over before heading to the city we will be working in for a year, Toyama. We squeezed in a few sites in Tokyo before heading out for Toyama. Amoung them was the Harajuku shopping area to view the flamboyant teenage girls all dolled up in their weekend/evening wear. We also saw a great panoramic...

After a grueling 16 hour plane ride from Atlanta, a short layover in Minneapolis, then across the world to Tokyo, I was about to PASS OUT! This was my first time ever being abroad and by far my longest plane ride. After arriving at my hotel, I zonked out for about 16 hours without eating dinner. And if anyone knows me, I love to eat! My biggest surprises- squattie potties- toilets that are part of the floor for women! You don't sit on these toilets- you just squat and hope your aim is good. I...

Our arrival in Japan goes very smoothly, as the JET programme is extremely well organized. If you managed to somehow get lost at the airport, I really don't see how you could have been accepted, haha! So many people in blue t-shirts cattling you around. It makes it very easy, and this continues throughout the conference. A long bus ride from the airport takes us to the luxurious Keio Plaza Hotel downtown, where we check in and actually meet up for the first time, since Sebastian left from Cal...

July-August, 2003 It was over two years ago that I left the United States to journey to Japan. The flight was seemingly longer than usual, stuffy, and full of over 200 people just like me...all participants in the JET Program. We were herded (literally, because there were hundreds of us arriving in Tokyo that day to take part in the program) to the Keio Plaza Hotel, in the heart of Shinjuku. Tired, we found our way to our rooms, to meet our new roommates and begin our new lives in Japan. The ...

While most of Tokyo drank Asahi and tended to Monday Morning's clothing ensemble, two poorly dressed Americans arrived under the cover of a cold japanese night.... but wow...what a great city...Hip, Cool and so crowded! Normally, this is a big turnoff for me but the people here are just so Cool!!! Without a doubt the most hip and best dressed that I have ever seen. As we explored some of the most eccentric parts of the city, we encountered looks that were more thought out than a State of the ...

I am including this on the blog- just incase you didn`t get it or read it- sorry! So- I meant to be sending out a mass email a lot sooner than this, but resources and time have not allowed me to do it thus far. I am now somewhat organized and settled in Okinawa and hope that I can give you all a taste of what I have been up to without turning it into a small novel! Let's see I have been here one month so far, and it has flown by! Everything is going really good though, and I am loving it here...

So I've been in Japan now for a little over a week. I know I've been delinquent about writing, and I apologize. So here's what's gone on. I'll have to do this in installments to catch up, especially since my internet connection is a bit sketchy (I'm tapped into a weak wireless signal at my apartment). I arrived at Orientation on Sunday, July 29th. On the way to Narita airport, we had a layover in Detroit, which is apparently a hub for Northwest flights, and I was surprised to see signs in Jap...