JAPAN (in a nutshell)

Wow, between the adventure of Japan and flying home then having less than 24 hours to get back into school mode and being jet lagged for a week.... blog updates just haven't been priority. And there's hardly enough time or space to record everything about Japan.... so here are some differences and highlights:

differences: super clean, safe feeling, techonologic, efficient, very professional and trendy in dress, advertising, packaging and graphic design have a more colourful and bold feel. not to mention cute little animals on everything!!! i was so happy about that. they drive on the left side, the walk lights chirp like birds or play little jingles, you take off your shoes before entering dorm rooms, hotel rooms, and some cafes, it is such a homogeneous society and i would have never gotten around without Justin and his Japanese. they use yen and you still bow when you thank someone. It is a much more quiet, reverent, and respectful public environment, i never heard loud obnoxious outbursts from anyone.

highlights: internet cafe (a bunch of cubicles, you pay around $20 for 10 hours or so, you get a personal cubicle with a huge comfy chair, computer, video games, access to manga, anime, magazines, junk food, showers, free icecream and soda!, Hanami (I hit Japan when their adored cherry blossoms were in bloom, this was a flower viewing party at sunset), kagoshima (a beautiful active volcano! palm trees, bats, mini oranges, flowers, ash), nature trails, art museum, wild konekos (kitties!), loft (most glorious cute and trendy 7 floor store ive ever seen - an experience on its own!) daimyo great shopping - going bellbo (an amazing vintage store that was super affordable and the owner is an artist and sells personal works and work of another local artist) rotating sushi (sushi on a conveyor belt - what a party), really classy formal sushi that you have no idea what to expect but everything is displayed so beautifully and minimally, neko cafe! (cats walk around on floors, chairs, tables, ladders and pathways around the ceiling, we ate adorable deserts and lattes and patted the kitties!), fubar (dancing and friends), shiv shenkar (probably spelling this wrong but amazing indian food! non the size of my arm! only cheese all week too!), bow making party (we taught the girls how to make hair bows and the boys bow ties), going to japanese, manga, and calligraphy class, dazaifu (temples an beautiful neighborhoods and gardens) spilling sacred tea eeek!), beautiful countryside, cute creatures, nice fun people, girls saying "kawaii!," sushi, curry, little desserts and cookies and crepes that are oh so cute!, riding on bikes through japanese cities, exploring, how exciting! this is a jumble but i cant bear to explain every detail, not enough time! japan was amazing!