From Plane to Futon: Day 0.5

I made it! So much happened since my last entry, I feel like that moment of my life was just a snapshot from a distant past. This is probably in part because of the endless day of travel between Philadelphia and Nagoya. I say endless because we literally chased the sun from where it rose over the Philadelphia International airport to as where I sat on the Meitetsu line traveling from the airport to Nagoya proper as it drifted below the horizon around 6:30pm (5:30am EST) Our plane traveled northwest from Chicago, over Anchorage and back down again, zipping past Siberia (though we didn't pass over it), Hokkaido, and to land at the Narita International Airport in Toyko.

As is usual with me, my Ready, Fire, Aim approach to life seriously had me skirting major lostness and frustration in my exhausted state after landing in Nagoya. But some Deity (or possibly my grandmother) was watching out for me because I had a series of incredibly good fortune coincidences that helped get me from the Nagoya airport to my hostel.

First, at Narita, Andrea, who ironically happens to live in Philadelphia, less than a mile from my house, came over and started talking with me. Turns out we had been on the same flight from Philly to Chicago and onwards to Tokyo. She's with a different company, Interac, and her and a small group of Americans and Canadians were meeting up with a guide in Nagoya to get to their training with Interac. Thankfully, they were heading for Kanayama, which is only one stop on the Meitetsu line before my stop in Nagoya central. I dramatically underestimated how difficult it would be to navigate a train system, exchange money, etc. in a totally different country, but the Interac guide let me tag along with them and even supplemented my upgrade to a first class car so I could ride with them in the same train. I am SO incredibly grateful. As tired and lost as I was after the flight, I think it would have taken me 2-3x as long to figure things out for myself, and I might have ended up going the wrong way anyway.

I am also incredibly grateful to Hatsue Ishikawa-san who I met on the plane from Tokyo to Nagoya. She and her daughter were visiting her husband in Chicago, and we spent the entire flight from Tokyo to Nagoya talking about our lives, sharing pictures etc. She also offered to get me on the proper train, but I had already agreed to follow the Interac people and didn't want to hold her up as I had needed to stop and exchange money. Ishikawa-san volunteers at a Juuku (cram school, may have the spelling romanized wrong) where she helps teach the children English. I may be volunteering there sometimes as well if that works out, which would be awesome because it would give me a chance to meet more Japanese people and get another window into Japanese culture (as well as make the learning fun, as these poor kids are so stressed).

When I got off of the train at Kanayama, I was alone again, struggling with my two suitcases--SO glad I minimized my luggage; I barely made it with the two suitcases I had. I can't imagine how I would have managed more or heavier bags. I needed to get to the taxi station, which turned out to be up a flight of stairs (no elevator or escalator). I was definitely in panic/stress mode there. There was another escalator, which led in a totally different direction, and my spacial relations were shot at that point (as were many of my higher functions due to exhaustion). I was standing with my suitcases, totally at a loss when a nice woman who looked a bit younger than me came up to me and asked in Japanese if I was okay. I said I was fine, and she asked me what was going on, and I tried to ask about another escalator but eventually gave up. Turns out she spoke English (Thank God!) and she even helped me take my carryon up the stairs so I could lug the big suitcase. She pointed me to the taxi station. I wish I had gotten her name or a photo, but I'll never forget her. She totally saved me!

The taxis here are like luxury automobiles in the US. They have white paper on the seats, are immaculate, and the cabbie wears a suit. I almost didn't get into the cab because I assumed it couldn't be a cab, but the sign said taxi (in English) so I went for it. For only 7500 yen (about $8) I got from the taxi station to the Ryokan. That was a bit of an adventure too because the cabbie didn't speak any English, I barely speak Japanese, and my address was in English. I had been given some landmarks from the website for the Ryokan/Hostel, but either I screwed them up or they weren't very helpful because both me and the cabbie were totally confused. But eventually (because google maps gives the address and phone number of your destination), he was able to locate it on his GPS and while we were driving, I had my first real conversation that was only in Japanese. And we made it to the Kyoya Ryokan.

The Ryokan is amazing! I'll let the pictures tell the story because I feel like I've been typing forever. So in quick summary, my hostel roommate Fanny (a mathematician from France who speaks English very well though she doesn't thinks she does) and I went out for Ramen at a real corner Ramen dive. (a dive in Japan is like a small, cozy, immaculate restaurant in Philly). She was also very helpful and I am very glad we got to room together since she's been here for about a month and thus knows the lay of the land. Then I took a second shower and soaked in the public bath, which was like a hot tub. Perfect end to a very looooong day.

Chicago to Nagoya: Flight advice

So much has happened in the past seven or eight hours. First, I made it to and through Chicago, O'hare airport (including a shuttle train ride and a second pass through security). Chicago boasted of wireless internet access, but ultimately, it was an even deeper betrayal, because I couldn't get the internet to even load enough to charge me. But my plane did land safely (way more important), and the pilot was wonderful. He had the laid back yet professional attitude that immediately puts a passenger at ease. In addition, the plane was practically empty, which allowed me to take over an entire row and sleep for close to two hours.

Now I'm about five plus hours into my flight from Chicago to Nagoya. Seriously, if you have to be on a plane for close to 14 hours, take Japan Airlines. About an hour in, I treated to the best, hands down, in-flight meal I've ever had, complete with hot cloth before eating, in season fruits and vegetables, and a followup with hot tea and then Artisian water—made of happy! And the entertainment system is to die for. There are over 30 movies and shows to choose from, all that can be queued up “on demand” style with rewind, pause, etc, at your leisure. Menus are in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and more. Also, there are selections of Japanese, American, Indian, Chinese and Korean films and television shows. And if you're not feeling the TV, there are also about 20 audio stations and video games, all playable with a handy personal remote for each passenger. My seatmate has spent quite a long time playing video games. I'm currently typing on my netbook while listening to J-pop from the plane. And, somewhere here there is rumored to be an electrical socket. Of course, I put all of my chargers in the overhead compartment (inside my small suitcase) as it never occurred to me there'd be an electric socket, but still, I am warmed by the fact that it exists, somewhere.

I did sleep for a couple of hours while listening to the classical station.

Thoughts on flying and the body (so far):

1.Happy Feet: You may think fuzzy socks (the super soft socks you get from CVS) are a great idea for long distance flying but they're NOT. Wearing them for the short 2:40 minute to Chicago, my feet felt like they were being bathed in static. At O'Hare switched to my more standard (but still a bit loose) kitty socks and my feet have been quite happy for this flight so far. Happiness in travel starts at the feet, so make sure to pick the right socks.
2.In the same vein as the above “happy feet” notation, taking off your shoes and chilling in your socks makes for a much happier flight. Which leads to thought #3...
3.Planes run hot and dry so scrub pants (the kind nurses aides and doctors wear) and a light weight top for running or biking is an excellent choice for comfortable travel. My mom had a pair of scrub pants that she bought about a year ago. Yes, they're green and my running shirt is a powder blue. With my knee high boots and bulky travel document holder stuffed down my shirt that makes me look like I'm preparing to eject a deformed chest-hugger, I look like an idiot, but I'm a comfortable idiot (with easily accessible travel documents), and comfort is the key to flying happily. The scrubs and running shirt both are quite lightweight and breathe well.
4.Water: You'll be drinking like crazy and still feel very dry as the flight continues. Be prepared for dry sinuses, dry throat, dry skin, dry eyes, etc. My tactic to offset this has been to keep drinking water. In fact, while it was $2.50/bottle, I'm very happy that I bought an extra 2 bottles of water in Chicago, as well as having a fruit smoothie there, as in combination with the plethora of beverages the fine staff at Japan Airlines is plying us with, the extra water is still being used. Of course (un/fortunately...?) this means I'm peeing a LOT, but for a long flight like this, it's a good idea to be up every couple of hours anyway to move around and stretch. Not only is it more comfortable, but long term sitting can effect the kidneys as well as cause swelling and blood clots. I'm probably being overly paranoid and not especially popular with my seatmates, as I'm at the window and keep getting them up every 2 hours so I can pee, but sacrifices must be made. Also, chapstick is a win.
5.Candy is good. I'm so glad I bought those Starburst jellybeans earlier this week as an impulse purchase, and that chocolate frosted donut in Philly. Haven't broken yet into the candy that Steph gave me (chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!) but I will soon.
6.In summary, being on a plane this long makes you incredibly aware of your body, it's needs, and it's level of comfort.

Now moving on to flying topics unrelated to comfort, the view I've had out of the window as we've flown has been incredible. We're currently heading past Anchorage (towards on top of the world, I think), but every time I've looked out of my window, I've been amazed at the view. And you can get good photos through an aircraft window. Also, I think we're following the sun as it's been consistently sunny for my entire flight, and when I (finally) get to Nagoya, it will only be 5:05pm their time, and likely still sunny. Not only am I fast forwarding into the future, but I am having a day of unending light. Not bad for what could be a rather traumatizing experience.

Oh, and I really wish I'd brought a watch. I'm going to try and find one in Nagoya, as well as an alarm clock. I'm going to try and use my cell for the second purpose (and with some math, a bit of the first), though this may not work as my service is off as of the March 25, EST.

Next up, read a novel. Get some sleep. Watch another movie. And then make some further decision about the final 2-3 hours of my flight. Not necessarily in that order.

Until later.

Note from the future: no reading was accomplished on this flight. I did play Bejeweled for over an hour though.

Musings from Philly International Airport

So we don't get free internet at Philly International anymore, which means that I'm most likely posting this message in the evening after my marathon flight. But I haven't yet flown to that future now, so I'll treat you to punchy, pre-travel musings.

Musing 1: It friggin sucks that Philly International is making you pay for wireless now! What a bunch of jerks.

Musing 2: It was incredibly difficult to leave my mom. We were supposed to stay overnight at a hotel prior to the flight, but we never made it, and that was the better decision considering how many pickup things I still had to do. I finished up around 3am, with the exception of packing my medical records, which are still sitting on the recliner at home...doh! That and a brush, also still at home. I'm gonna have nappy hair tomorrow--unless the Chicago airport has brushes (which it didn't, says Vash from the future), Philly International appears to be out. Or maybe it's more that I asked at one place, and then found a chair with an electrical outlet, spread out, and now here I stay with my tea and cold bagel. Which leads directly to...

Musing 3: Exhaustion combined with nervousness and excitement = temporary ADD. Like look at this post. We moved from the pain of leaving my mother who is also my best and oldest friend. To clarify: Steph being my best and oldest friend with whom I don't technically share blood, (unless you count that vampire pact, which we don't. We don't talk about the Vampire Pact. That is the first rule of the Vampire pact, goshdarnit!) I know my mom is going to be okay. She's even mastering the Terminator walk in regards to Oddball's medication (he runs, but always to the same place where he gives up and takes the pill—gonna miss that cat). But for me, it wasn't like the situation was real until I actually left. Maybe a part of that was the fact I was washing dishes and scooping litterpans at 2:30 in the morning, not unusual for me, but the physical act of hugging my mother goodbye, throwing my keys through the mail slot while the cabbie waited to toss my luggage into the trunk made it really a true thing.

Musing 5: I ran into an acquaintance I met at Don's party who recognized me, came over and talked. We had a lovely conversation. She's on her way to Puerto Rico with something like 18 highschoolers. I'm an idiot for not remembering her name, but I think that's the two days of under 4 hours of sleep followed by last night's total of 20 minutes sleep making it impossible for me to retain any actual information.

And my plane is boarding. So much for Musing 6: On Philly movie posters in the airport. And it promised to be such a great musing!

Photos to be uploaded to Photobucket. I'll post a link in the blog.