HONEY SERVICE YEAR

Blogging while traveling is rather difficult.

There is so much to write about, so little down time, and the motivation for sitting in front of a computer is fully trumped by our desire to explore and experience and engage.

so....here are some brief snapshots:

It is nearly 5am right now in Tokyo. I am still curled up in a fantastic sleeping bag that my mother got for us (two matching ones zip together for super cozy nights), atop a futon in a traditional Japanese room. The floor is covered with bamboo matting and sliding paper screens cover the windows. We have been fortunate to stay with a Miss Porter's alumni that lives in Tokyo; she graduated two years before I did. She has spent the last several years creating a successful model for shared housing in Tokyo: Come on Up. Yasuko was generous enough to offer us a room in a recently opened "Come on Up" house, right off of the Sumiyoshi subway line.

Nathan is still sleeping; he is determined to stay "asleep" until at least 6am. Though we were both hyper-anxious about the time change and jet lag, the process has been incredibly smooth. We slept very little on the 17 hour flight to Tokyo (N didn't sleep at all), and I demanded that N's watch be set to Tokyo time as soon as we boarded the plane. The first night in Japan we slept almost through the night, then pushed hard the whole next day, remaining outside and walking and walking and walking. I am awake at this early hour simply because after a delicious miso soup dinner on a cold night, I curled up in my sleeping bag to read my book....you know how the story ends. You blog when you can.

Yesterday morning was spent at the Chinese embassy submitting our visa applications. Although our original plan was to secure our visas while in Washington DC last week, we realized that nearly all embassies are based on districts, and as residents of the Gulf South, we were required to go to Houston for our visas. Wham, Bam, no thank you Ma'am. We opted to try out the embassy in Japan instead. Although very chaotic, we achieved success and go to pick up our visas on Monday.

A great deal of our time in Tokyo has been spent wandering: studying the map and the compass (yes, I bought a compass for this trip) and meandering through the densely compact city. We also have been using the very convenient subway system, and are enjoying the cultural and sociological insights we gain through observation of public transportation. We are amazed by the kindness, honesty, and helpfulness of the Japanese culture. Each time we find ourselves stumbling, a kind stranger magically materializes and extends a helping hand.

I have some awesome photos to share, but can't seem to find the camera cord, even with the help of my trusty headlamp. They will be added later.

xooxoxo
b