County Warm of Conceptions: Japan

For Japan, I decided that since I loved it so much, I would post each day separately, each with pictures. So please enjoy the first of five days.

4.06.09

Kobe! I woke to see us pull into the Port of Kobe. I was excited to see the mountains rising up above the moderately sized city before us.

My excitement could not be contained and I proceeded to bounce off the walls of my cabin and the rest of the ship. Spreading joy and happiness to all I passed, I eagerly awaited my chance to depart the metal vessel that was keeping me from my love, Japan. Unfortunately, my excitement buzz was destroyed as soon as I found myself having to wait hour upon hour, unable to enter Kobe.

FINALLY, after probably four hours (which seemed an eternity), I was allowed to stand in line to go through customs. My excitement was sparked instantaneously. They took our fingerprints! It was super cool!

As soon as I had left the terminal and began my trek to the center of my first Japanese city, I WENT CRAZY! Everyone with me was excited, too. Maybe not as excited as I, but still excited.

And so, for the first four hours in Japan, we explored Kobe, simply walking randomly around the city. We ran into an open air mall, where sample CDs were sold for 50 yen, into a 390 yen store, where everything was (gasp) 390 yen, and unto a floor that held three things: trading cards, toys, and manga. Manga stores are ridiculous in Japan. I feel the manga sections in American bookstores are ridiculous, but in Japan, it's even more so. It's as though you built a house and only used manga... for everything. Bookcases, couches, walls, floors, everything. It was crazy.

Around four o'clock, we returned to the ship for a welcome reception for several students that attend colleges around Kobe. We were treated to demonstrations of a traditional Japanese dance, Kendo, origami, and calligraphy.

Keith, Lia, and I made friends with three Japanese students, Koji, Rieko, and Ai. We talked with them, discussing educational plans, family, and other topics. We eventually gave them a tour of the ship, complete with a trip to the dining hall for some ship food! YAY!

From there, they decided to take us out (along with Alex) and show us their world. Taking us around Kobe, we got sushi (sorta weird), took crazy pictures at one of those crazy picture booth places with a billion booths and crazy lights and pictures and it was crazy, explored Chinatown (yeah, I know), and KARAOKE! Now, I was originally expecting it to be what I expect American karaoke to be: A bar, with tables, and people take turns on stage singing. No. Karaoke in Japan is not so. Instead, you and your friends get a private room, drinks, and an hour or so to sing your hearts out, only embarrassing yourself in front of your friends. It was quite fun!

From there we departed from our new Japanese friends and we returned to the ship. Sleep followed.

Sidenote: I'm currently sitting outside on the sixth deck of the ship and let me tell you... Albatross are HUGE.