ダニエルの冒険

I’ve been home for a few days now but haven’t gotten around to writing anything until now, thanks to a combination of jet lag and gastroenteritis, which I probably got from the plane. Let’s go over everything from the start… My alarm went off at 5am on Sunday morning. I turned it off and immediately went back to sleep, without even thinking about it. I woke up again at 5.20am, realised that I’d missed my alarm, and panicked a little while going through the times in my head to make sure that I was going to have time to do everything I’d wanted to do that morning. I got the final parts of my luggage thrown together (toiletries and that sort of thing), realised that I hadn’t returned the key to the bike I’d borrowed so put that back in the lock of the bike outside the apartment, and called a taxi. The company said that it would take at least 30 minutes for a taxi to arrive so I said I’d just walk, and walk I did with 22kg in my right hand, almost the same on my back, and another bag with souvenirs. My back had been a bit sore from all the cycling the day before but that walk to the station totally put it out of whack and it hurt for about 3 days.

I arrived at the station about 6.30am and recognised a gentleman sitting on the bench in front of the bus-stop. He didn’t know me but seeing as he’s in A class after being here for 2 years and graduating this year, the teachers were making a big deal about him, so everyone knew the name, face, and blog. I spoke to him for a few minutes until my bus arrived, got on and spent the hour and a half to the airport messaging my friends (whichever ones were awake anyway).

I arrived at the airport and went straight to check-in, but saw that the check-in desk for Lufthansa wasn’t opening for about 15 minutes. I just waited anyway and was checked in by the girl at the business-class desk. I explained that I didn’t have my booking number but gave her my name and she confirmed that I was going to Budapest. I smiled and explained that I would rather go to Dublin if possible and she realised her mistake, laughing at herself, which probably helped a little with the extra weight in my bag.

I went to the “Sky Town” area, got some breakfast at Starbucks, and wandered around looking for anywhere with an electrical socket and a chair, and found one between Claire’s Accessories and a Korean restaurant. While charging my iPod, an American walked in front of me and who was it but John from my class. We spoke for a while before he had to go to see a friend and I headed to my gate, called Ayumi to say goodbye and thank you to her and her parents, and boarded the plane. A middle-aged Japanese woman was sitting beside me and we began talking and that helped shave a few hours off the flight, which again didn’t have any seatback entertainment system. When feedback questionnaires were distributed I did my best to clearly express my wishes for a personal entertainment system on a 12 hour flight, using capital letters and little Japanese-style frustrated faces. （´д｀）

The plane had very few people and so I was able to take a couple of seats for myself to half-lie-down in and got a bit of sleep. My requests for first-class were denied, even when I explained that I didn’t need the food, just the screens. I should have just sat in one at the start when I saw how few people there were. It’s not like they go around checking tickets. I’ll know next time.

I arrived back, went through the expected reverse-culture-shock of how dark and dirty the airport was and how unhelpful and unhealthy-looking the people were, and got my bags and met my parents. We went to a hotel where I got to see some relatives, I gave them their souvenirs, and then headed home.

The next day Olivia came over and we went to Seán’s. We played his Japanese Playstation 3, Niall came over, and we both criticised the Playstation as best as we could. The we told Seán we were going to Burger King but pulled a fast one and brought him to the Kilmurry Lodge for some lunch. I had eaten some artificially sweetened chocolate that morning and I assumed it was that that was making my stomach feel a bit strange, but went to toilet and then realised something was really wrong when the vomit came. I thought about driving home but got an image of puking on the steering wheel or wind-screen and causing a horrible, horrible messy accident and just called my parents to get a lift home.

It wasn’t a fun night and at one stage I tried making it from the bathroom to the bedroom but couldn’t get past the bathroom doorframe and had to be carried down the hall. I was freezing cold, even with four duvets and a hot water bottle and the next morning, even with my stomach and shivers settled, my back was really sore. I don’t know if the sore back was from the luggage or illness related. I don’ t know how much of the diarrhoea is attributable to the fake chocolate and how much to the gastroenteritis. I don’ t know if my tiredness and waking up during the night was entirely the jet lag or the sickness. Anyway, after a day I was alright again and I’ve put back on the few pounds I lost in vomit ‘n’ poop. My energy is probably just about back but I’m guessing the jet lag isn’t helping that.

I’ve nine days to get used to the jet-lag and then I’ll be travelling the same distance around the world in the same direction, giving me another chance to get used to the same circumstances (hopefully without gastroenteritis this time) in San Francisco. Today I got the first month’s rent for my accommodation sent out to secure it, I got my visa from the US Embassy, and I got my paperwork with Havok sorted out. My tickets were also kindly sorted out for me a few days ago and everything looks like it’s fallen into place today.

I’m looking forward to being in San Francisco now, even if not just for the opportunity to live in a city which is probably the polar opposite to where I’ve been living for the last three months. Japan’s all about being the same as everyone else, keeping your opinions to yourself, and generally not standing out from the crowd so that we can all get along together. San Francisco seems to be a whole lot more about expressing your individuality and embracing that no two people are exactly the same. It will be interesting investigating that over the next while.