Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Things I'll Miss About Tokyo & Things That Will Take Some Getting Used To When I Come Home

So, the dream has finally come to an end. I'm back in LA, and Tokyo is on the other side of the world. I can't believe how much I miss it already.

As we pulled away from Ikebukuro on the Narita Express to the airport, we passed by all of our favorite places and stomping grounds: Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa. I just remember thinking, "Wow, I'll never be able to make an impromptu trip to Shibuya like this again." It's weird.

I made a list of stuff that's going to be weird... going home... ugh...

Things I'll Miss About Tokyo:

Vending machines
Clean public bathrooms/toilets
The metro, sleeping on the metro
Tabehoudai, nomihoudai restaurants
Convenience stores
Purikura
People handing out tissues
Getting anywhere by train
Cell phone etiquette
Walking
Neon Lights
Safety
My Japanese cell phone
Flee Markets
Adorably-dressed Japanese babies
Karaoke
Azalea House and all the people in it (yes, all of them)

Things That Will Take Some Getting Used to Now That I'm Home:

Seeing minorities
Censoring my public conversations
Acceptable standards of drunkenness
Sloppily dressed people
Not having to dodge bikers on the sidewalk
Traffic
Street names/comprehensible directions
Morbid obesity
Food portions



I've now been home for 3 days.

I had the time of my life in Tokyo. I went to places that I didn't think existed, I met friends that I hope to keep for a lifetime, I wake up every morning in my own bed thinking, "Did I dream it all?"

I miss Tokyo. I'll never forget it.