Leaving Japan and Arriving Home

Well... as all good things must come to an end, we are home. Our adventure to Japan is over for now but we're swearing to return for a little bit more of an extended period the next time around. We took the Narita Express to the airport to find out we were 2 hours early for check in so that was a little disappointing. Making the best of the last moments in Tokyo was hard. It was a mixture of wanting to run up and down the streets taking mental pictures of everything possible so we didn't forget but we couldn't exactly do that as we had gone through the gate into the JR. We searched for a suitable meal and decided on a small noodle place. I don't think either Joanie or I were really that hungry at that point but wanted to have a moment where it might have seemed like we weren't leaving the country that day. It didn't work. I think both of us were holding back tears while eating our food not really being able to say all that we were thinking at that moment. The only things that seemed to come out of our mouths was how we wished we were staying another week, a couple more days, anything that wouldn't make this the end. We thought that maybe the flight would be overbooked and they would be looking for a pair of tickets to catch a flight out the next day. We would have gladly taken that opportunity to spend one more night in the big city.

The flights home were alright. We had an A330 from Narita Airport to Vancouver... the same one without the video screens that we had going to Japan. And then to our surprise, our little A320 from Vancouver to Toronto did have screens. Unfortunately, by this time we had been up 24 hours straight minus a few naps on the plane and couldn't keep our eyes open. Joanie passed out before takeoff and woke up a little bit later and I watched a good portion of National Treasure: Book of Secrets and had to pause near the good parts at the end because I was nodding off. I still want to know how it all ends. The flights were numbing somewhat. Oh.. there was that first takeoff from Japan. We lifted off and didn't see too much as we were taking off at night until the plan dipped one of the wings and leveled off to reveal the roads to Narita and way off in the distance... our Tokyo. I shed a tear over that sight simply because it would be my last live view of Tokyo for some time. It had some sort of finality to it. Since that moment the time change, the napping, video games and music all served to dull the pain, make everything alright until now that I'm writing it all down and remembering again.

Well our friend Lauren reminded me of something recently. You know that a vacation is long enough when you're ready to come back. For her, myself and Joanie, we don't really think Japan could ever seem that way on a vacation. It's likely that only after living there for a certain period of time would we ever say we are ready to leave.

Recently I was asked why I keep a blog. This has been my first experience with it all and I think it was a great way to let people know we were still okay without calling and emailing everyone. The second reason that showing all of you is a selfish reason. I just don't want to forget, I want to hold the memories near and dear. As I sit here late in the night wide awake writing this I try recollect where the time has gone and it seems so short as though it was all an amazing dream.

Anyhow, I should get some rest. For those of you wondering where those photos are from the last 7 days or so, please be patient. I'll be posting them tomorrow. There might be well over 100 photos to post. I'll try not to go overboard.

Love to all.

Justin in Mississauga

formerly in Ochidoricho, Tokyo, Japan