12 hours. Long, arduos, ambien injected hours of semi-hibernation across the Pacific, on flight AA 169. One day later I sit in  Japan, my new home country for the next six months. First let me just state that the welcome I received when I landed was nothing less than fantastic. Koujun, Muneyuki, Takuya you guys are incredibly sugoi (awesome, a fine example of one of my lowly Japanese vocabulary terms ). I could not have expected a warmer welcome. In addition to rolling around my god awful, demonically heavy luggage through Tokyo, you somehow managed to introduce me to your friends, Kawaii (cute) girls and listen to some of my idiotically simple Japanese :) For this I am extremely grateful. Domo Arigato Gozai mas.

     Tatsuro you are a wonderful host and having only met me at dinner last night, to let me stay over at your flat is an honor. Also thank you for putting up with my internal sleep cycle that is so at odds with the Tokyo time change that I have been sitting in your chair typing by your bed since 7 am :) And lastly and most importantly, Koichiro, the friend who without I would not be here in Japan today. Domo Arigato! I am so excited to be here. Your AISEC chapter is amazing, I have already had such a warm welcome and I have not even met you yet! I hope your trip to Korea was incredible and look so forward to meeting you on the 29th. The adventures ahead of me are great and friend filled indeed. I am forever grateful for the opportunities in my life. 

Yakoso Japan!