Finished packing about 3AM the day of my flight. Luggage was overweight, had to pay $50. On the other hand I got upgraded to business class. So $50 for about a $1,200 dollar upgrade was a fair trade I think. I can't believe how comfortable the seats were, and how much leg room (you can lie fully flat) you have. There were hot towels, unlimited alcohol, paper menu's. As I looked around, all you could see were old, distinguished, asian men--and then me. The flight was great, immigration and customs went by without a hitch.
10 hours
I was informed a Mr. Takahashi from Shelter, Co. Tokyo was going to meet me at the exit, and he was there with a sign "Mr. Brian James Martinez Cadiz". The sheet length of my name on the card was enough for anyone to spend a whole minute reading it. And you can believe I took the time to read the whole card, as this never has happened to me before. I quickly introduced myself, and after a quick stop at the WC we proceeded to the Narita underground to catch the NEX train to Tokyo, where I was to take the solor 3-hour trip to Yamagata, where a Mr. Kimura was to take me to my apartment.
Having set foot in Japan back in 1998 with my family, this short trip to Tokyo was quite memorable. The green trees of the countryside zipped by as our train made good time to the city. The pleasant bings and voice of the computerized PA system announcing the next station, and the vectorized info-graphic showing our exact location on the line brought me back. Now this time, I was alone.
1 hour
The weather was surprisingly hot and humid. Combined with my tech-loaded backpack, and 75lb. luggage, there was no lack of sweat on my brow, or my shirt, or shorts. I was soaked (yuck). Getting into Tokyo-Eki, we had 1-hour to kill before the Tsubasu Express left for Yamagata. We searched back and forth amongst the criss cross of Japanese commuters for a good place to eat. We settled on Unagi-Don and Asahi. Now I keep away from arguments about food and what is "genuine" (when in the states this is always an issue with "foodie" types). I figure that while in Japan, all food is "genuine". It was good enough to keep me going.
1 hour
Mr. Takahashi was kind enough to buy a ticket just to walk me to the proper car of the Tsubasa Shinkansen Express with my luggage. I received his card, waved good bye, and was off.
3 hours
At Yamagata station, Mr. Kimura greeted me (without a sign), on the blind chance he's recognize a gaijin with large baggage. He was correct. I didn't get to see much in the dead of night (around 10:30PM), but the town definitely seemed much smaller than Tokyo (though I really didn't step foot on on-grade Tokyo, yet). My apartment looks to be of newer construction. Little rectangular apartment boxes stacked nearly into a masonry shell, steel stairs, railings, etc. It has a feel of a ship. It's tight, small and efficient. Mr. Kimura also brought with him some basic supplies for my first hours in town: toilet paper, tissues, plates, utensils, plastic bags, soap, cups, etc. This whole operation seems very well thought out, and consider myself lucky to part of it. They seem to have invested a lot into this internship, and so I plan to as well.
Nanukamachi
Bunshokan
Grocery sh0pping
