Arriving in Nishijin, Fukuoka, Japan!

   It's been about 2 weeks since I have arrived at Seinan Gakuin. I did not have internet for awhile on my computer so I haven't posted any details until now. We took Southwest Airlines to LAX and after we arrived to LAX we had to move our luggage from baggage claim to the other side of the airport. All that got me was a massive bruise from my luggage toppling on me. When we got on the plane I was surprised to see how small the seats actually were on economy. we were literally shoulder to shoulder with the other passengers and only had about a foot and a half of space between the seat in front of us. Thank goodness i'm not claustrophobic! But I do have a hard time sleeping on planes so I was up for the whole ride just watching movies back to back. They had options like The Box Trolls, Pacific Rim, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc... I watched about 7 movies back to back and after every movie I would check our location on the map. 

   It was a very slow trip for me but on the plus side the food was actually very delicious on the plane. They served marinated pork with a side of mashed potatoes and a side of salad and fruit. Then for breakfast we were served pork or chicken on rice noodles. That was my favorite; I'm a sucker for noodles. When we finally arrived in Taipei, Taiwan we wondered around for awhile looking for somewhere to sleep. All we could find was a lounge area with long booth like seats. We settled our things down and as soon as it got late/ quiet and we were going to sleep, the airport janitors decide to shampoo the carpets in the lounge. So for several hours we had to try to sleep through all that.

   Poor Boming had it worse, he barely got any sleep the night before we left (totally his fault -_-) and he only had three hours on the plane. So he was scaring me a little when he said he felt like he was hallucinating. But I think he was joking... I hope. Anyway! the the next morning we went up stairs and found all the cool shops around the gates. I even found a Hello Kitty gate! 

 

The flight to Fukuoka was very short, maybe 2 hours at most. So during short trips I like to talk to pass the time. So I would be trying to talk to talk to Boming and I kept getting "shooshed" by this one lady who was a row ahead and over from mine. The plane was quiet but we could hear people talking a few rows back so I didn't understand. We have heard that in Japan shorter travels are quiet and longer travels are usually when people talk and create conversations. So even on the plane I had a little taste of culture shock. 

   We finally arrive in Fukuoka when the sun was setting so I could see a little bit of the land. We flew right through so many tall mountains and the pilot was tilting the plane side to side the entire time we where landing so I started to get sick. But all was well when we got off the plane and met the students from Seinan picking us up. One of the students will be studying abroad at my school in the fall and the other was an exchange student from last semester from the Czech Republic. I rode my first subway train to Nishijin Station and it was about a 10 minute walk to the dorms. I wanted to just pass out but we had to take a small tour of the dorms first. After that I just collapse after being up for over 24 hours. 

Packing! Almost There!

I just spent several hours taking what ever I could find that I normally wear, off of the hangers in my closet and shoved them in a laundry basket. I went through my drawers to find all my summer clothes and things that I would need for those miserable humidly hot days, and those chilly rainy days.

My biggest dilemma so far, is that one of the pads that fits into my bathing suit is missing... I don't know why they just don't sew those things on so that way in the washer/ dryer they wont magically slip out of that centimeter sized hole on the side of the top piece. Grr!


Anyway! After sorting out my definitelees, maybees, and heck no's, I rolled everything up and used space bags to suck the air out. It has been proven that rolling your clothes saves so much more space than folding them. Also, I personally rarely see any wrinkles. 

I still have my hair, toiletries, cosmetics, and medications to go so i'm going to use half of the day tomorrow to finish packing those. I have a carry on that I'm going to keep my Nikon camera and my medications in. And I will fit one days worth of clothes so I can change before our flight to Fukuoka leaves. I'm not quite sure if the airport will have blankets but my thin Hello Kitty one should suffice. Plus I will be in my sweats so I think i'm pretty prepared.

Earlier today my mom didn't understand why I was so calm. To me it didn't really feel like I was leaving. Or that it did, but it was just going to be a quick trip. But I know five months will go by so fast! So I need to make sure I make the most of it!

The Plan to get to Fukuoka! Leaving January 4th!

January 4th:

• My friend Boming and I leave El Paso Airport taking Southwest Airlines to LAX
• Arrive in LA around 10:30 am, collect baggage and check in to China Airlines
• Leave LA around 2:50 pm on China Airlines headed to Taipei Taiwan

January 5th:

•  Arrive at Taipei International Airport around 9:00 p.m. and have a 16 hour overnight layover!
• and also find some chair or couch thing to cuddle up on and sleep

January 6th:

• Spend time in the airport including taking a shower and venturing around (hopefully to find a Sanrio store!) until flight to Fukuoka leaves around 2:30 pm or 14:30
• Arrive in Fukuoka at 4:55 (16:55) and be picked up at airport terminal by students of Seinan Gakuin
• Take the train right outside the airport to the station close to SGU and settle in our dorms hopefully!

A TWO DAY JOURNEY PRETTY MUCH!