Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:01AM | Post a Comment 
Forgot to mention while we were waiting outside of the apartment building office we noticed a number of cats, 3, wondering around the street...all of which were howling... for no apparent reason... We decided that's something you don't see everyday. I asked Arielle, "so do you think they speak Japanese?"
--brandon
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 9:06AM | Post a Comment The island of Okinawa has a very different feel than Tokyo. More tropical. More green. Slower paced.
There are a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Some needle-y, some leafy, none too tall. The cherry blossoms are as beautiful as everyone says.
As we drive around the area, I recognize some words, a few stores and restuarants, the familiar chirping of the crosswalks, some of the same architecture of what I've come to think of as Japan; but it doesn't have the same "feel" that Tokyo and Yokohama have to me. My head understands that I'm in Japan, that we're on a small island, that we're not in a huge city like Tokyo, but it refuses to "feel right" to me. I'm beginning to think that Tokyo has become "Japan" to me. Silly, I know, but seemingly true nonetheless.
That said, the ocean and geography surrounding us is breathtaking. I love the abundance of trees and plants, and the rich colors of the water. Okinawa will create its own "feel" to me during our stay here, I'm sure, and I'm definitely looking forward to that.
---Arielle
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 9:05AM | Post a Comment 
Ok...things are better than the day before... with the exception of my laptop is still broke.
1. We got almost all of the paperwork taken care of for the apartment. However, we still have a few more things to get taken care of there.
Monday, February 2, 2009 at 9:07AM | Post a Comment To summarize the events of ...all of which are true... today
1. Backing up to the previous night Arielle's suitcase arrived in Tokyo broken. One of the latches is cracked and will no longer close. However, the airline is planning to either fix or replace as long as we drop it back off or have them come pick it up.
2. We started today at 6:20 AM after getting to bed around midnight after 22+ hrs of travel...
3. We drove around looking at cars to attempt to find one that we like... After finding one, we decided to go grab lunch and drive by one other used car lot. Upon arriving back at the used car lot to get the car we liked we discover the car is now SOLD! Right after we left the lot someone came up and bought it.
