It took an 11:40 flight to Tokyo, a 2-hour layover in Narita International Airport, a 2:40 flight to Naha, a 15-minute ride on the Yui Monorail, and a 15-minute walk to my hostel after dark. . . but I’m here!
I arrived at LAX at about 10am, far too early for my 12:55pm flight. Security had ushered me through as fast as possible, even neglecting to make a comment on the quart-size bag of liquids I accidentally forgot to take out. Whew! Not that I need too much for a 2-week stay, but I definitely stocked up on the sunblock. I don’t want to leave as a gaijin and return as a lobster.
On my flights, I met a number of interesting characters: a London businessman who had resided in Tokyo for four months, an undergraduate majoring in Business and Chinese who was visiting friends in Shippuya, and an American student of jijutsu who came to learn the secrets of a style unique to Okinawa. I exchanged smiles and nods with the Japanese travelers, too anxious to try speaking Japanese myself. Besides, I could get around even if I didn’t speak very well . . . right?
