The big flight

I woke up early, excited, nervy, but ready in my parents house ready to make my way. I packed the last of my bags , made a pot of coffee and warmed up some pizza and spent a few more precious moments hanging with my parents making sure I had everything. 

My parents drove me to the airport, and I was off…. to a longggg line for TSA. I chatted with the other travelers while we waited for the trip to pass and met a really lovely birder and we had a good chat. 



Finally through security, I hopped on a quick flight to Toronto and a long flight to Tokyo. 13 hours is a long time on a plane, but work, and movies got me by, as well as a few good chats with flight attendants and fliers while stretching out legs.

As I landed, the weight of my decision to come here came down on my sleepless exhausted body and I thought for a minute, “who decided I was old enough to do this on my own?”…. Oh yeah…. me.

Finally I arrived in Narita…. and I had to pick up my JR rail pass and change my money. Tired and stressed I went to the JR pick up and answered a bunch of questions, finally getting my pass. They booked me a reserved seat on the bullet train to Tokyo where I would go to one of the busiest train stations, then find my next train to my hostel.

As I sat on my hour ride to Tokyo and Shinjuku station I watched the sunset and wondered what my life is going to look like. It’s hard to picture, you think about what tomorrow will look like and your mind draws a blank. It’s such a cool and weird experience, and then I’m there. Shinjuku station, at 6:30pm, when everyone is getting off work. It was so busy. People running, walking, talking, buying food, gifts going in all directions. I pulled out my phone and found the the Chūō line, the one I’ll be calling home for a while and then went and confirmed with the information booth. I wandered to my stop and watched the first train go by, jammed with passengers, too unsure to jump on. As I waited 8 minutes for the next, I pointed and asked another passenger if I was on the right one. He gave me a thumbs up. So, when the train came I jammed myself in with my fellow commuters. It was a quick ride to my stop, I stepped out of the station….

And 

I

Was

Enchanted.

All my nerves and stress disappeared, it was all back to excitement. Here I am, in JAPAN. It’s so different. I don’t know how to describe it, it feels, miniature in a way? And like modern, but also old. All these tiny shops line the streets. I almost stopped at so many for snacks, but decided I just needed to get to my hotel. I can explore tomorrow. People flying by on bikes and so many walkers, passageways just for walkers. I was in awe.

A beautiful 8 minute walk got my to my hostel. A small house converted into a 2 room women’s only hostel. It’s quiet and small and lovely. I exhausted met a few other women my age traveling solo as I was showed around. I got my bed, and ran down the street to the beautifully stocked convenience store. I got an ice green tea with yuzu (Japanese lemon) so picture a not too sweet green tea Arnold Palmer and a salmon onigri (a rice ball stuffed with salmon and wrapped in seaweed). I chowed down, showered, and passed out after being awake 24 hours, despite it being 7:30pm local time. 


Tomorrow the exploration begins. 

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