We are controlling the transmission.....

Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We control the horizontal and the vertical. Other sayings to keep you off balance.

You have entered.... The Twilight Zone (wwwhhhooooo)

Hi, this is the famous Matt. Yes, that loveable gaijin who is now stuck back in Denver after visiting my good buddie Grant in Japan.


Composing a theory of Okonomiyaki

Grant is still there. In Japan. And I'm not. Zach's still there too, but that's not such a big deal. (that s.o.b.)

Grant asked me a while ago to do a little guest spot on his blog. As he's finished his account of the trip, I figured I'd chime in. *chime*

At 23, this was my first real trip without family or friends the whole way. I packed my own luggage, bought my own tickets (well, almost), wandered through three airports all on my own, heck, I even took a train in Japan all on my own. And got off at the wrong stop, again, all on my own.

Well, what can I say about the trip? I could say it was fun, seeing a good friend of mine once again, checking out the sights, and wandering around a place where I can't even read the street signs.

I could say is was exciting, going someplace so different than the US. Being on a plane for longer than humanly possible, deciding that coach is a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

I could say it was scary. Being in a place where no one speaks the same language as myself, and even uses a different form of writing. Where would I go for help if I, say, got lost in the Osaka Train Station? (twice)

Yeah, I could say all of those things. But instead, I'll say it was a #$%*ing great time!!!

I was dropped off at Denver International Airport on March 10, sometime around, oh, 630am. I had the joy of waiting in line to get my boarding passes, and then I got to wait some more, for the security check. I got to wait even more, as they searched through my carry-on, and patted me down. I ask you, do I look dangerous?


Dangerous? Nooooo.

I then waited to get on my plane. The 777's are the coolest planes ever. EVER. Each seat has it's own personal video screen, from which you can choose from five or six movies, or check a map to see how far you've gone, and how far to get where you're going. Even coach has leg space. Of course, for my first leg, Denver to San Francisco, I was on a 757 I believe. They suck.


As I got off the 777 at Central Japan International Airport (Now with new berry flavor!!) I couldn't stop a grin from splitting my face. I had made it. You see, I've been dreaming of a trip to Japan for years. And by years, I can't remember a time when I didn't want to go to Japan.


Best Buds

The smile widened when I saw Grant, just outside the arrivals gate. This guy has been my best friend for years. It's been quite boring without him in the states to keep me occupied.

The highlight of the trip was meeting my friend Yuko in Osaka. (sorry Grant) Last fall semester, Yuko was a roommate with my friend Tiffany. I met her at Thanksgiving dinner with Tiffany's family, minus Hans, another of my good friends, dating back to elementary school. "What luck!" I thought, meeting Yuko. My trip to Japan was already in the works, and I was trying to figure out what to do over there, when I got sick of Grant.


Matt and Yuko sitting in a temple, t-e-m-p-l-e.

We exchanged email addresses, and promises to meet when I got over there. To my surprise (and Grant's, I suspect) she kept her part, and played the part of tour guide for a day. Oddly enough, she just started a job as a tour guide. So, if she reads this, GREAT JOB!!! And if her boss read this.... well, I was going to say "give her a raise" in Japanese, but with my luck, she'd probably be fired.

Of course, most of the trip I was at least damp, due to rain and snow, but that didn't bother me much. I've always loved the rain, and there's been much too little snow lately. Plus, I got to throw a snowball at Grant :-D

So, that's my blurb, on Grant's blog.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

--
Matt