Back in Tokyo. It's been too long. Too fucking long. I love it here. And we only just arrived, and I've hardly done anything, but stare out at the Shinjuku skyline from where we're staying.

We said goodbye to Okinawa yesterday--I spent the afternoon in town in Naha, having the most amazing seafood lunch ever, with a group of mostly Japanese ( Read more... )

The only free 24 hours I'll have during this month-long conference began a couple of hours ago. Most of the students are doing a homestay, but since there weren't enough families, and I've done it before, I gave up my spot. I'm alone now, and free, with a full day and night to myself in Okinawa, a beautiful tropical island resort. What am I ( Read more... )

Okinawa is beautiful. It's a strange place--it's Japan, but simultaneously, it's not. It has its own language, its own culture, its own architecture and fashion and music, and it's only integrated into modern Japanese culture in this patchwork manner. There are no Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines here, and families dine on top of the graves of ( Read more... )

Hiroshima is all over the news today. That's a good thing. I can't begin to describe what it feels like, being here: from the crowded, sweaty, emotional peace ceremony this morning, where we saw Koizumi speak, as well as the speakers of both houses, the chief justice of the supreme court, and the mayor and governor of Hiroshima; to the tiny, ( Read more... )

We're in the middle of an incredible experience here in Hiroshima. It's very different from the last time I was here--when I came alone, a year ago, to experience things myself. It was a much less thorough, less valuable experience then, but it affected me more. I spent an entire day crying, after seeing the atomic bomb dome, the Peace Park and ( Read more... )

Still having an amazing time here in Japan. Still no time to write, unfortunately. We're leaving Kyoto and Shiga tomorrow for Kobe, and Hiroshima ( Read more... )

I feel like a ghost. I'm very obviously doing a terrible job of taking care of myself. In the three nights we spent in California, I slept for 4, 4, and 0 hours, respectively. That's not me. I slept another four hours or so on the airplane trip here... got one decent night's sleep the first night... and got another four hours last night. I'm ( Read more... )

We arrived safely in Osaka last night, after a trip which felt like it took a lifetime and a half. We met the Japanese delegates... and they're keeping us ridiculously busy, as in five minutes of Internet per day :( But I can't express how good it feels to be back in Japan. I've missed this place so much. I cried on the airplane yesterday when ( Read more... )

I feel like I've never been so busy, or so tired, or so excited ever before. I've been having a blast here at Stanford for the past couple of days... the orientation was great, the people are great, and I'm having the time of my life. We're leaving for Japan early tomorrow morning. I'm way too excited. I have lots more to say--pages worth--but ( Read more... )

It took a few days, but I'm finally back into the swing of things. I've been in a good mood for the past week, getting things done... several consecutive days of shopping... by now I'm just about ready to leave. I started packing today; I'll finish tomorrow. Keeping busy is one good way to stay in good spirits. I've been spending time almost ( Read more... )