Welcome to Japan

Hey gang!

Well, I'm here.  After a few nights with VERY little sleep (I averaged 4 hours/night the two nights before I left) and a 13 hour plane ride that took me across the international dateline, I made it!  Once again, leaving was REALLY hard....I cried when I left Ian in Nashville, when I spoke with my family for the last time, when I boarded the plane from Dallas to Tokyo.  I know it sounds like I'm a big bawling baby, and I swear I don't cry THAT often, but these are different circumstances. 

The plane ride- holy crap.  That was the LONGEST. RIDE. EVER.  I had two naps, watched three movies, four episodes of The Office and 30 Rock, read for a bit, ate two meals and two snacks, stood up three times to stretch, and finally we touched down in Tokyo.  Blarg.  It was sooooooooooo long.  I have never had a panic attack and am not claustrophobic or anything of the like, but I was definitely feeling antsy and anxious to get off that plane.  No matter which way I twisted or turned, I couldn't get comfortable.  :(

Friends- I've made friends w/a couple of people.  One the plane ride from Nashville to Dallas, I sat next to another JET from Paducah.  We chit-chatted the whole time, and he seemed like I really cool guy.  The only bad thing is that if you make friends w/people at this stage of the game, once you leave Tokyo and go separate ways, you're likely to NOT see them again.  :(  That's why it's important to make friends w/people going to your area.

First impressions of Japan- Organized, uniform, green, and backwards.  I say organized b/c as soon as we cleared customs, there were multitudes of JET representatives pointing us in the right direction.  Do this.  Check that.  Sign this.  It ran like a well oiled machine, let me tell you!  I had a problem filling out my insurance form since I had to add Ian as a dependent, which was supposed to be collected before we got off the bus at the hotel.  I asked our TOA (Tokyo Orientation Adviser) what I needed to do, and he personally escorted me to someone in the hotel who could answer my question.  Very nice.  I say green b/c I was amazed at the green foliage.  Even in the city, there are a ton of parks that dot the landscape, so it's not completely gray skyscrapers.  And finally, I say backwards b/c I didn't realize until a little while into our commute into the city that we were driving on the left side of the road.  ha, ha.  I'll have to get used to that!

Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that I made it safe and sound.  I'll have internet here in Tokyo until Wednesday.  On Wednesday, I depart for Yunomae, and I'm not sure when I'll have internet again, so if you don't here from me, don't worry!  Email or facebook me.  I'll be busy for the next couple of days with orientation, so if I catch you on skype, I'll call, if not, some other time.  There's a 14 hour time difference, so please be aware of that.  Love you all!

Melissa