Quick Note: I originally had planned to post my first several entries on the days they occurred, but it took some time to get my internet up and running. As such, I am hurrying to get the back posts written and out. Some of the more specific points or quirky stories I would have said in these back posts will instead have new posts specifically dedicated to them. Also, the three parts of Let's Start from the Beginning... are all parts of one giant post for the day I left (gotta love meta-posts). So sorry for the delay!
The following happened on the day of March 31, 2008 and written as such (woot for an homage to 24)
"They" say that the best place to begin any story is from the beginning (of course I could be making that up). I've decided to follow "their" advice. I didn't get much sleep last night, but I stayed up late talking to my fellow world traveller EP, which really calmed me down. After saying goodbye to many of my close friends via a very personal facebook note (because when I think personal connection, I think facebook) I attempted to sleep. The next morning my mom drove me to the company that would take me to JFK. Of course, my mother cannot go anywhere without trying to be socially adept, but failing (it was kind of cute though). At the shuttle's pick up spot, my mother spotted an Asian couple sitting inside. She proceeded to ask if they were going to Japan (no doubt because I was going to Japan), which elicited a "no". She could have stopped there, but she continued to ask if they were Japanese to which they, again, replied "no". Here's a hint to all people; just because someone is Asian and about to go on a trip, it does not mean they are going to Asia! As my vehicle departed for JFK my mom started crying and I must say that, despite all the crap we give each other, something like that really just makes you remember the importance of family. I slept most of the trip to JFK but we made great time and arrived around 9:30 am.
At the terminal, I was gifted with the sight of two rather foxy looking Japanese women working for Japanese Airlines (for those who know japanese, this is a bit ecchi, I know), or JAL for short. All I can say is that if those are the types of women I'll meet while abroad, there might be a problem with bringing me back home. I must say that it was at this point I realized how alone I will be while in Japan. This trip is all me, and it is not like I'm only going away for a few weeks, nor do I have someone around from home around the way other abroad students have. But this all faded as soon as I found myself a Starbucks (JFK ftw!). So now, I'm sipping my favorite mocha and reflecting on how unreal this seems. This feeling of it being a dream is helped be complete by the overcast haze around the airport. But I guess that could just be smog (thanks New Jersey).
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