Gregor arrives in Japan... The trip, the feeling, the arrival

I currently sit here, presenting to you, a story that is one day old. I began to write it yesterday, but time -- and power -- ran short. I present you with "The Trip"...

Flying is a scary thing. You think about long enough, it begins to overtake your mind. Overwhelming it with thoughts of crashing, or snakes if you're Samuel L Jackson. I look up to see a monitor on someone else's chair rest to see that we are currently flying over Alaska's many islands. Roughly where Metal Gear Solid 1 take's place: the Fox Archipelago. I began to think of that great story and wanting to play Metal Gear. Alas, I cannot. For I am stuck on a plane with very few English speakers. To my right is a women who's family is sitting across the isle to my left. She speaks to them frequently in Chinese, but it's little to no bother to me. My mind is blissfully elsewhere.
Having gotten on the plane some 6 or 7 hours ago, I spent the first half eating, watching A-Team again, and sleeping. Sleeping on an airplane for me is quite easy, until my back starts hurting. Then there's no stopping it. No matter the position, it will hurt. It has started to hurt. Oh, well. Food is coming again. It's a sandwich that tastes like a brick. Delectable.
Japan is fast approaching. Is it real? Why doesn't it feel real yet? Man... These questions have no answers, not yet. I certainly am excited. But, why isn't it real? It's been my dream for longer than I can remember to go to Japan. The very fact that I am less than 5 hours away should quantify real, yet my mind won't accept it. Maybe my mind won't accept real. Whoa. Too deep, haha...
I can't wait to meet my "escort" to the dorm. I hope it's a girl. And I hope she's hot. (Post note: She was. Very hot.)

So, that was my note while flying on the plane. I soon fell asleep again for a few hours, maybe 2.5. I arrived at Narita to go through Customs without a hoot, and go through Immigration speaking onry Japanese! "What's in your luggage?" said the Immigration man in Japanese. "Clothes and computer." "Very good." And boom! I'm in Japan. Holy shit! Went to the exchange counter to get the cash I had turned into Yen -- part of me died. Damn US Dollar. Looked for my escort and found her. Holy crap, she's freaking hot! Now, if only I could speak Japanese! Wait, she speaks English! And it's great! Haha... Her name is Yui and she's been to America a lot and misses it greatly. Why would she want to leave Japan? It's got Lights, and an airport! Well, that's all I can tell right now.
We hop on the JR Train together onward to Tokyo. We sit and talk about random things, like what she does. She said she used to party and doesn't like it anymore 'cause she has to talk to dudes. I don't blame her, I wouldn't talk to dudes either. Any-who, we hop off the JR train -- and by Hop, I mean lug my heavy ass bags around. And by we, I mean me! haha... She helped at the next part, getting on the subway -- Chuo Line -- to Koganei where my dorm is located. We continue to talk, but it's quite crowded so we simmer down. I stare out the window, mesmerized by all the lights and signs. This is what I though Japan would be. A huge city where everything echoes my animated mind. Maybe that's what I was waiting for. This is real.
We get off the Chuo Line and head down the elevator, I'm sweating profusely looking quite out of shape carrying these things. "Fat foreigner" is what I was thinking to myself. Yui even mentioned I'd loose a lot of weight here. "What is she insinuating? I've lost a lot of weight!" my defensive mind protested. She then explained that her visit to America caused her to gain 24 pounds! She lost all without exercising; only eating Japanese food. As a guy, I hope to loose 40 pounds so I look like Christian Bale in that movie where he plays the same character he always does only 40 pounds less and emaciated. Except the whole emaciated part and the 40 pounds part. If I loose weight, then so be it. (I weighed 165 when I left.)
I arrive at the dorm around 6:30pm local time. I send my regards to Yui and meet a new fellow dormmate (dormer?) named Tim. He must weigh all of 37 pounds and carrying two HUGE things of luggage. He puts my set to shame and has the sweat to prove it. We are greeted by Ryou-chou who is our Dorm Head and his wife(?) who wants to be called Okasan or mother (in a strictly house sense, Mom. I'm not cheating on you!). He shows us to our rooms and hurries us around the dorm. I'm on the 4th floor in a small room. Tim is on the 5th floor in a wide room. After a quick tour and explanation of our name tag "Home or Away" things. We are left to our own devices. Tim and I agreed to go unpack. We did just that and I passed out afterward. I think Tim did the same because I never heard anyone knock. The pillow is made of beans and is quite... odd. It remains cool, yet just uncomfortable enough to bother but not uncomfortable enough to stay awake. I was told to bring my own pillow and room in my suitcases forbid such a thing. Actually it forbid a lot of things I wanted to bring; Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Lucy Liu... ooops. Sorry. I mean, my Gi and Boxing Gloves with Shin Guards. I'll just have to manage. Good thing most Jeet Kune Do stuff is SELF DEFENSE WITH VIOLENCE! Oops, again.

I woke up early-ish and took a shower -- AMAZING WATER PRESSURE -- and decided to go do something. I gathered my bag and left. I totally forgot what to say when you leave. I believe I said "It's a mighty mouse." You're supposed to say "行ってきます！” but I failed. I walked around my dorm and found an ATM, I walked up to it and saw more Kanji than in China so I ran away like a child who runs from.... clowns. Defeated by the dreaded ATM called Mizuho, I walked into a convenience store and bought a Coke Zero Free. I walked up to the counter and she asked me if I was old. I was like, "What? Am I not old enough to buy this coke? I want to see your MANAGER! UNNECESSARY RAGE!" I uttered "Eh?" She repeated, "Fukuro?" Oh, that means bag. And she lifted up a plastic bag. I nodded, disgusted at my rage when I thought she said "Furui" which means old. I happily took my Coke Zero Free and walked over to the train station. "Maybe a ride to Shinjuku or the school..." I walk over to the giant map and became very scared by the giant map. This map was f'n huge. Like a movie theater. Ok. Let's see if I can figure this out. It's my turn to buy a ticket. Um... It doesn't say Shinjuku on this machine only a bunch of numbers! AAAAAAHHHHHH!HH!H!! I run away again, this time like I stole something. The train station defeated me. I came back to the dorm, the Ryou-Chou looked at me confused. I got the greeting right, though! "Tadaima!" I shouted happily. "Okaerinasai!" he said back. I walked up to my room a proud man. I bought a Coke Zero Free! It is real.

Later, a man by the name of Noah knocked on my door. I was playing my DS and opened the door. He invited me to lunch! How nice! A group of us from the dorm then went to a place called "Mas Burger"! I ate something called a "Sangi Burger' and it was delicious. Afterward, a few of us went to Sophia. I figured out the number thing on the Train ticket machine. The number is corralated on the price of which the distance you are traveling; i.e., from Musashi-Koganei Station to Yotsuya is 380 yen. You put 380 yen in the machine and get a ticket that says 380 yen. You travel to your stop, place your ticket through the counter and boom. Free to go. Rather simple once you get the idea. We rode to Sophia, Greg, Kiron (he's from Dublin), and I. Greg was meeting someone so Kiron and I went on our own. Turns out he's a Black Belt in Hapkido and is very cool. A kindred Martial spirit! How awesome! We did walked around and headed back. He showed me an ATM that did not demand my first young (NO FEE! WTF!) that was inside a 7-Eleven. This 7-Eleven also had manga. And porn! Yay! I mean, no. Bad porn. ANYWAY. That was my first day here in Tokyo. And it's still not over yet. And it only cost me 1737 yen or around $500. ($22.00 is a better guess).

Let's see what the rest of the day shall bring!

-Gregor the Wizard