As I am so fond of reminding my mother, the entire sequence of events that led to me living in Japan for 2 years while studying for a masters degree can be traced back to one fateful “conversation” around the dinner table before I began my freshman year of college at Washington & Lee University. We’ve got more important (and interesting) things to talk about so I’ll keep it short, but here’s a summary of that conversation:

Me: I think I would like to study Japanese at school…
Mom: I think that’s a terrible idea…
Me: Well I’m going to do it anyway!
Mom: Well then you can pay for your own tuition!

Now there was certainly more dialogue, and Dad chimed in with some bits of wisdom regarding his studying Russian at Amherst, and there may even have been some profanity, but that about covers the gist of that humid summer’s evening back in early August of 2001…

Fast forward almost exactly 5 years and I’m standing with my girlfriend in the seafood section of the basement grocery of the largest department store in town trying to decide which platter of sushi to buy and bring with us to the airport to meet my parents. Selection made, girlfriend proceeds towards the registers – awesome array of sumptuous and succulent sushi in hand (that’s called alliteration boys & girls!) – while I head for the drink section when my phone vibrates…

Continue reading Heaths Come to Japan – Day 1 – Lost, Cold, and Alone in Tokyo →