Nothing like a overnight nine hour flight to give you time to think about everything you’ve just experienced. A few things that stand out to me with 30 minutes left until we land:

The persistent image I think I will have of Japan is the conductor on the train platforms. It’s really a thing, a profession, and they take it very seriously. It’s a ceremony every time a train arrives or leaves.

You can’t help but appreciate the immense and intentional choreography of the waltz that is the daily Tokyo life. I didn’t have to think about certain things because they were just done for me. Walk on the left side of sidewalks, stairs, etc and the routes for you are immediately clear. They mark windows in buildings for firemen, signifying which can be opened easily from the exterior. There are train maps where you would want and expect them. It makes sense, and they’ve thought of everything.

One more train story. The one time a train for which we were waiting was late, the conductor stood on the edge of the platform like a father unhappy with his child for coming home late. Fingers were shook at the empty space where the train ought to be, and phone calls were made. It showed up, we boarded, the look both ways and point ceremony began, and we were off.

So yes, Karen, you know me well. I did love the organization. I think the Japanese would completely understand why those post it notes had to be particular colors and formatted a certain way. 🙂

I was surprised at how much English there is in Tokyo. It’s weird now seeing signs, labels, etc with just English and no Japanese. Everything was a flash card in Tokyo: the train maps, exit signs, etc.

I think all of these things contributed to my feeling relatively comfortable in Japan. It also made me even more annoyed at photos like the one someone shared on Facebook right before I left, of a sign that said “dial one for English, dial two to be disconnected until you can speak English.” Japan has a strong national identity, to be sure, but as the person who was the stranger, I appreciated their neutral acceptance and accommodation with language. I hope the US does the same for people. I suspect (I know?) we don’t.

Other things:

Almost everyone in Tokyo had an immaculate sense of style. Both Travis and I wanted to go shopping. The looks are clean, elegant, and tailored, which we like.

As I posted earlier, the food was more of a challenge than I wanted it to be. I regret not trying more new things now, but it was hard. Travis and I talked about this a bit because he is used to eating on the fly without much thought to it. I don’t do that. Ever, even in the US. Our solution: plan meals in advance where we can, be flexible, and if we go to a country with dramatically different cuisine and a language barrier, we’ll try it out locally first before we leave. It’s also helped me appreciate the lack of a language barrier at home.

I already miss saying “arigato gozaimaaaaaaaaas.”

Japan is now a “there” and not a “here.” For now. Travis and I have a someday date to come back and eat breakfast in the same park on the same tree stump where we ate breakfast today.

My mind is blown by time zones. We had breakfast there today, yes, but it was Japan’s Tuesday and not the US Tuesday. So was it yesterday….?