TOKYO!!!! 🗼

Well, barely two weeks in the country, and I've already gotten to go on a trip. Since the 4th of July was on a Tuesday this year, Charles could take Monday, and we had a four-day weekend. Even better was it was a holiday weekend on base but not in the country itself, so we didn't get hounded by many Japanese people traveling as well, like on national holidays. 

So, we decided to take advantage and head down to Tokyo. Some people might think we were a little crazy going to Tokyo in the summer. Those people were definitely correct. It was humid and 90+ degrees F. the whole trip (around 32-33 degrees C.). It was actually insane. We were sweating from only a few minutes of walking outside. We definitely took advantage of the subway lines to get us from one location to another instead of walking outside as much. Next time we will be smarter. 

Day 1

So we road down on the Shinkansen train on Saturday. This is a high-speed train meant to take you long distances quickly. It got us from Hachinoe (a city about a half hour from me) to Tokyo in about 3 and a half hours. The train was actually pretty cool. Nice and roomy. Plenty of legroom and room for bags. Once we got to Tokyo, the real fun began. We got off at Ueno Station, which was one stop before Tokyo Station, as it was closer to our hotel and an easy transfer. Good thing, too, since it was crazy enough there. To even think about going to an even bigger station before I had familiarized myself. But we figured it out, got ourselves a Suica card (transit card), and made our way to the hotel. It was only two stops away! Even better, the hotel was right by the station. 

After dropping off our stuff and cooling off a little, we decided to go out and see something. The first thing on Charles's must-see list was the Pokemon Center. So off we go! The place was so crowded. They were even doing timed tickets into the store, and there were people constantly bumping into each other. We went around, picked up some things, and headed out. Got some dinner at a restaurant in the shopping center, and on the way out, I found something that was on the top of my list, a stationery store! I might be a little obsessed with notebooks and the like right now. I also bought this really cute yellow and grey flower fan, which for some reason, I never thought to bring with me to use over the next two days. I also bought one of the accordion-style notebooks that have special paper in it. They are the only types of notebooks you can get the Goshuin (御朱印) put in. These are seal stamps that act as a record of your visit. It typically has an image or design that is first stamped on the page, then the monk writes the shrine or temple’s name, the date, and sometimes other messages. Unfortunately, I was only able to get one on this trip. Oddly enough, it was from Tokyo Tower. The book I got was so cute, and it was on clearance, so win-win. 

Day 2

We woke up early on Sunday and made a plan as we ate our breakfast. The night before, we had stopped by a convenience store on our way back to the hotel and picked up some things to eat. We got Aloe yogurt, which I thought was really good. I actually really enjoy aloe drinks, and this yogurt was similar, especially with little bits of aloe in it. Now we head out and about on a 24,000+ step day. The first place we visited with the Imperial Palace Gardens, which was alright. There was a really pretty place by the ponds that were really nice, but it was so hot that we had to take several breaks in the shade, and it was only 9:30 in the morning. After the gardens, we decided we needed an indoor activity. There was a science museum nearby that is probably geared for children, with a bunch of interactive exhibits, but it was kinda fun. There were several exhibits that Charles and I could interact with, and it was actually kinda fun, even if I couldn't read anything. 

Our break from the sun had us ready to go back out. After lunch, Charles and I headed toward the Hibiya district to see the Godzilla statue. It was much smaller than expected. But it was cool. To escape from the heat, we walked around a shopping center across the street. We ended up at a movie theater and decided to actually watch something. Super Mario Bros was playing in a few hours, so we went over to a nearby Temple to kill some time. The Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple was very impressive, and it was really cool that there were active services going on when we got there. From there, we had some more time, so we went to the Pokemon store in Sunshine City Mall. It was massive, and we will definitely go back. There was even an aquarium! We didn't have too much time so we went to the store and then got some dinner. The restaurant we went to was an Italian place, and the food was so yummy! 

Day 3

My feet are sore! Day 3 was the day we had some ticketed events that we bought ahead of time. They weren't until the afternoon, so we headed over to the Ginza district for our morning. And, of course, being me, we ended up at an 8-floor stationery store. I mean, hey, we went to two Pokemon stores; can't I go to a bunch of stationery stores? After shopping around for a bit and getting lunch, we headed off to the Art Aquarium Museum. It was so hard to find. It was in a multi-floor department building. We had to take go up to the 9th floor and then down to the 8th floor. It was strange. But the place itself was very pretty. With a combination of interesting lighting and fishbowls, they created a bunch of exhibits that were very beautiful. I have no interest in going back, but it was really nice to go once. 

After the fish, we went to where every person on Instagram wanted to visit in Tokyo. Teamlab Planets. It is an interactive multi-sensory art experience. It's split into two sections, Water and Garden, and personally, I really liked the water sections; the light room, the water room, and the projection rooms were all beautiful. After all that, the garden section was kinda a letdown. I'm still really happy I went, and I will probably be going back several times with friends when they visit. by this point, I was so tired, but we still really wanted to go to Tokyo Tower 🗼. We traveled over to where the tower is, and on our way, we ran into this really beautiful temple. We explored it for a bit, but it was mostly closed. We got to the temple around sunset, so I was able to capture pictures with the sun going down and after dark. 

We had also paid to go up to the top observation deck (which I don't think was really worth it for the view). We got in line to go up about 15 minutes before our ticketing time, which I am so glad we did. We waited in line forever. About 5 minutes after we were due to start going up, they made an announcement for anyone with the current ticket time to get in line at the desk. Well, this teen boy and his mom got out of line and walked up to the desk. I get it was an honest confusion, but this boy starts pitching an absolute fit about how he was in line, and they told him to get out. I don't know what he was expecting, but the workers were just not caring in the least. He was back and forth from the desk the rest of the time we were in line.

The experience itself was very interesting. We went into another room (looks like a fake library) where CGI animated portraits of the Architect and Owner of the tower have a conversation to explain how the tower came to be. It was hilarious. The rest of the trip up wasn't too interesting, and the night ended with a long walk back to the hotel. 

Day 4

Last day in Tokyo. Charles and I went to meet up with one of his friends at Tokyo Station to have lunch at a really yummy Mexican restaurant. Afterward, we had a little bit of time before our train left from Ueno Station to head home. We went over to the Ueno Zoo at the park across from the station and managed to see about half of it before we had to leave. We will definitely go back. We didn't even get to see the two-year-old twin pandas. 

Train back to Hachinoe and a short drive home, and I am so happy to be back. Time for a relaxing next few days. I'm grateful I don't have to work just yet, so I can sleep in tomorrow. 

My Journey to Japan

 

Traveling to a foreign country is always an adventure and a half. I am definitely no stranger to international travel, but each time I go, there is always something that makes me anxious. This trip, it was the transition from my international flight to the domestic one in Tokyo. The layover was only supposed to be an hour and a half, and I was very nervous that I wouldn't have enough time to do everything I needed to do and make it to my gate in time. 

I was fortunate enough for this flight to have a hotel room the night before the flight and a shuttle service that would take me to the airport. During the last few days in the States, I was staying with my parents, as my apartment had been packed up and shipped away. They live over an hour's drive away from our closest airport, and in order to get me to the airport in time, we would have had to leave at like 3 in the morning. Instead, I got to sleep in a little more and not have to bother my mom for a ride so early in the morning.

I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I have TSA Precheck, so getting through security is a breeze. 

 My first flight to Dallas was pretty uneventful. I made it to Texas and trekked from one side of the airport to the other. Along the way, I found some lunch and a space for me to work on grad school work for a little bit. Getting onto the flight was a different matter. This is where the anxiety begins. Despite the fact that I had my roller bag on the plane with me getting to Dallas, they made me check it at the gate. So I get to pull off to the side, pull the electronics and medication out of the bag that cannot be in a checked back. I walked on to the flight with my now stuffed backpack, angered because the overhead bins were not even close to filled, with bags up there that were definitely bigger than mine. I ended up next to two teenage boys who seemed to know each other, so I am very grateful that I knew I would not have to get up for the boy in the middle seat. I am sad I wasn't lucky enough to get a seat without a middle person, like the row behind me. The flight itself was mostly uneventful. I ate not-so-great food, watched a lot of movies, and played a few games. The landing was rough, though. I think they came in a little hot, and you could hear all the stuff that moved and banged around in both the overhead and in the flight attendant's area in the back. 

When we took off in Texas, the pilot told us we would be arriving about an hour earlier than was listed on the ticket. I was beginning to breathe a little easier, knowing I would have a bit more time. But when we get to Japan, we are circling the airport because there are apparently too many planes. It then takes us forever to taxi to the gate after landing. Well, at least I thought we were going to the gate. We ended up getting off on the tarmac and taking a bus back to the airport. I feel like every step of the way, at this point, I am asking for help. There is a worker just inside the building who gives me directions to my next step, collecting my bags. Then something that has never happened to me before, all my bags arrive back to back. Another worker then guides me to customs I have to go through. It actually went pretty quickly. Especially when I have to get my visa, as I could skip the long line and go into the SOFA line. After I get through there, I am sent down the hall to the desk for the local airline, where a worker actually has me skip the line since my flight is so soon in order to get me through earlier. I check my bags, get my ticket, and get guided two floors down to find a shuttle to a different terminal. At this point, I am sweating and still worried that I might not make it in time. 

When I arrive at the domestic flight terminal, I am absolutely lost. US airports have a lot more signage to give people directions. There were fewer signs, and the ones that were there were in Japanese, with no translations. I am so lost. I find a nice elderly security guard and show him my ticket. He was so kind. He immediately takes me up some stairs and over to a security gate. He passes me over to the worker there, and she helps me get through to the other side. I have to say, I am really grateful for Japanese hospitality. Once I was through security, I was able to read signs in order to find my gate. Only to find out when I got there that it was delayed. Then a gate change. I guess I could have taken my time a little more. Stressed a little less. 

My final flight was nice and short, and I was so happy to make it to Misawa and fall into Charles's arms. It had been so long since we had seen each other; I was so happy to finally be there. 

I'm Back!!

Ever since I left Korea in March 2020, I've wondered if I will ever get the opportunity to return to the life I had, teaching abroad. Living abroad. Having those experiences that I loved. 

Well, I'm getting that opportunity again. 

My fiancé is a civilian who works for the US Air Force. He has gotten a job at a base in Japan. And I'm going with him!

My hope is that I will get a special education position on base at one of the DODEA schools on base. I'm so excited to spend the next three years exploring and living my life in a place completely different from my own. 

The last days of work at my school were bittersweet. I was so excited about the prospect of moving to my next adventure, but at the same time, I was leaving all of the relationships I had made over the last three years, especially the last year. COVID was an extremely isolating time, so I didn't make a lot of relationships within my school. This past year, I feel like I have become closer to significantly more people than before. 

I am really excited to start this new adventure. I'm packed; I got my ticket and am ready to go!

Things I'm excited for:

1. All the natural beauty
2. Temples and Shrines
3. Stationary!!
4. Learning to drive on the left
5. Adventure

What's Next?

I learned a lot while I was in Korea. I learned about myself, about teaching, about cultural differences, and a lot about being not just independent but also self-sufficient. I feel like I have grown up so much. But as with everything, there is a beginning and an end. As my time in Korea has now ended, my next journey starts. 

I recently accepted a teaching position as a middle school special education teacher. I am so excited. I am back where I started. I am going to be teaching at the middle school that I went to. I'm a wildcat again. It's weird to think about the fact that the whole adventure in Korea is done, but I think I am ready to be a special education teacher again. It's strange. I still feel like I'm a kid. Even when I was teaching abroad, I never felt like a real teacher. I have no choice now. I am an adult. I bought my first car all on my own. I'm paying my own phone bill. And in a few months, I am going to be in charge of my very own classroom. 

Thank you for everyone who read my posts for the last two years. 

I've had so much fun writing about my time during the last two years, I wanted to find a way to continue. 

안녕!