This morning on our way to the airport we got to witness the first day of school for Keio University. It was a little chaotic at the train station as we saw students sitting in groups on the pavement talking about whatever, young girls screaming in joy at each other because they haven’t seen each other for an entire summer, local businesses trying to recruit students to work part-time for them by handing out flyers, the department store selling gifts for such an occasion, and a group of pre-school kids in a cart, with green hats on, being pushed by their teacher to the University?????? They must be geniuses! That’s the only explanation….

A side note: Keio University is the equivalent of Yale University in the States. This school is well known for producing Japanese politicians…..I’m not sure if that’s something to be proud of……..

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We’ve finally made it home after an 8 hour flight from Tokyo’s Narita Airport to Seattle. Even though it’s slightly more expensive we decided to take the Narita Express from Yokohama instead of Tokyo’s Shinagawa station. Nothing new & exciting however, our train departed at 1130 but when we arrived in Yokohama station the electronic board noted an 1120 Narita Express. I was a little confused because I knew it wasn’t normal for that service to run 10 minutes apart. Just to make sure we asked a station attendant and he confirmed that there was a 1130 Narita Express after the 1120 one. Later we found out on the platform, via the station intercom, that our Narita Express was a “special” service due to probably in anticipation of high rider-ship for that particular time. I think they usually run 45 to a hour apart and sometimes every 1/2 hour.

After we checked in our luggage, after arriving at the airport almost 4 hours early, we proceeded to shop in the Airport mall; which is quite impressive. You can do all your gift shopping there and the prices are quite reasonable. Almost anything you can get in Tokyo you can get in this mall. If you don’t mind the carry-on, you don’t have to buy any gifts during your trip. Just get it at the airport!

Now that I am back, and trying to get over this terrible jet lag, I’ll be spending some time entering past posts and pictures of my trip as I didn’t get a chance to post daily, since I was up early taking care of my kid and being out with friends and family till late in the evening; sometimes being slightly under the influence of alcohol. Therefore, a perfectly good excuse of not updating this blog.

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