It's Been 365 Days...

Yep, you've heard it right. I've been in Japan for a full year and man, has it flown by. I hate to sound cliche, but it really does feel like I just got off the plane. In all honesty though, I guess it's because it was such a surreal experience walking into Kansai Airport after being on the place for 12 hours, sitting next to random Hawaiian people. I guess what made it even more strange was that my next task was to find a Japanese guy named Rambo (not exactly the name that pops to my head when I think of Japanese people).

With that said, I think now would be a good time to reflect upon the last 365 days. Shall we begin?

Things I know today, that I didn't know a year ago:

• Natto (fermented soy beans) = delicious
• Japanese people are like cats; they can sleep literally anywhere.
• It is not okay to wear shoes in a Japanese lockerroom.
• In Japan, you can lock your umbrella in a special umbrella locker before entering many buildings.
• Even Japanese adults like manga and playing Nintendo DS's.
• If you experience summer in Japan, it must be karma telling you that you suck at life.
  
• A lot of Japanese culture revolves around drinking (happy drinking, that is, not American depressing drinking).
  
• Kanji is actually really fun to learn (Yes, I'm cool. I already realize this.)
• Japanese cell phones are amazing.
• The media in Japan doesn't make me feel the sky is falling like the American news does.
• Japanese people like to eat... and make you eat.
  
• It is not uncommon to see young Japanese women wearing cat or panda ears on the train (I'm not sure how to explain this one).
• Harajuku is weird.
• Japan REALLY likes Barack Obama (and so do I).
  
• Monkeys in Japan are like their foreign counterparts; they are smelly and mean (one commented that my shoes looked moon-boots. I have yet to recover from that verbal quip)
• Japanese television is entertaining regardless if you understand it or not (okay, I knew this before I left the U.S.)
• And finally, no matter where you are in the world, nothing can compete with home cookin'!

Well, folks, with less than 3 months left to go, my adventure to this island across the pond is coming to an end. That said, don't worry, I will do my best to make blog updates more regularly with lots of pics and videos.

Alright, that's it for now. I hope you're all doing well.

~ Kenji