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Two down, ten to go
Golden Week (a holiday where 99% of Japan takes off from work and travels and as a result everything is freakin' crowded) isn't until the end of April. I could potentially go to Japan for the first half of April, and get back in time for Carnival. (No, I am not going on March 23. Too many other things to do then. But April 1... on the other hand...)
But I'd really have to get cracking on it. That's like a month away. It'd still be possible though. Travelocity shows $1000ish round trip to Narita, and I bet a real travel agent could do better.
(note later: JTB USA shows $650ish. yay.)
At least I found my passport today.
In addition to finding my passport, I goofed off for the afternoon (well... I installed Apache on my computer and played with some server stuff as part of a personal project, but mostly I played DDR and Simcity all afternoon), and went to Kiltie. Kiltie was ok. I think Ed Latimer is pissed at me because I kept telling him to shut up when he was talking all through rehearsal. After Kiltie, Carl and I went to Chaya (this tiny Japanese restaurant in squirrel hill that is very good at "real" Japanese food). It was crowded as usual. I had katsudon. It rocked. Better than any other I've had since coming back from Japan. (And it's not really a hard thing to cook... I don't see why places screw it up.)
It was really, really cold out, but I think the trip to Squill was worthy anyway. I got some of my favoritest ice cream ever in the Squeagle, and even better, it was on sale, 2 for 1. (I've had quite a thing for Breyer's "Ice Cream Parlot" mint oreo ice cream... it is heavenly) We also went to Barnes and Noble, but since I didn't have my Melnick gift certificate, I didn't buy much. Just a copy of the Three Musketeers, so I can stay on this Dumas kick. The buses were obnoxious but eventually we got home.
I wonder how nervous I should feel about the idea of international travel at this point...
But I'd really have to get cracking on it. That's like a month away. It'd still be possible though. Travelocity shows $1000ish round trip to Narita, and I bet a real travel agent could do better.
(note later: JTB USA shows $650ish. yay.)
At least I found my passport today.
In addition to finding my passport, I goofed off for the afternoon (well... I installed Apache on my computer and played with some server stuff as part of a personal project, but mostly I played DDR and Simcity all afternoon), and went to Kiltie. Kiltie was ok. I think Ed Latimer is pissed at me because I kept telling him to shut up when he was talking all through rehearsal. After Kiltie, Carl and I went to Chaya (this tiny Japanese restaurant in squirrel hill that is very good at "real" Japanese food). It was crowded as usual. I had katsudon. It rocked. Better than any other I've had since coming back from Japan. (And it's not really a hard thing to cook... I don't see why places screw it up.)
It was really, really cold out, but I think the trip to Squill was worthy anyway. I got some of my favoritest ice cream ever in the Squeagle, and even better, it was on sale, 2 for 1. (I've had quite a thing for Breyer's "Ice Cream Parlot" mint oreo ice cream... it is heavenly) We also went to Barnes and Noble, but since I didn't have my Melnick gift certificate, I didn't buy much. Just a copy of the Three Musketeers, so I can stay on this Dumas kick. The buses were obnoxious but eventually we got home.
I wonder how nervous I should feel about the idea of international travel at this point...
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Anyway, Dee, don't be nervous about international travel. (Well, okay, i'd have to have a good reason to go to Israel, Palestine, Afgahnastan, Pakistan, Korea (either one), Columbia, etc...
However, Japan is a) politically stable, and b) US friendly (despite recent presidential visits). I would be more afraid to go to Miami than Japan. (After all, Miami has a tendency to off tourists. Japan doesn't.) Air travel is safer than its ever been, objectively speaking. In short, don't waste your time worrying about things like this.
If you want to be prepared for eventualities, make sure you have the contact information for the US embassies nearest to where you'll be staying. You can also check out the US International Travel advisories (can't remember the website off hand), although i doubt they'll say much about Japan.
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Just a point, though, mostly what i'm trying to say is that you (and me, and many of our friends) are in a prime position to live life fully. We're young, intelligent, educated, privaleged, and, mostly, free from responsibility. This is the time in our lives that we can really make our dreams happen. There is little reason for any of us to be doing something we don't like, or to be holding back from following our dreams and desires.
The fact of the matter is that we are equipped to solve many of the hindrances that come our way. If you're nervous about international travel, do some research on your destination, make sure you have a game plan for if something BAD happens, and then go forth confident that you can deal with eventualities. If you want to work on your dream job, but can't afford to complete pay cut, find a compromise and see if you can work part time somewhere to pay the bills, and the other part time on your own desires. etc. etc.
Okay, rant done.