I am sorry for all those who only come here for the pictures. For this leg of my journey, I didn't actually take any... For my more erudite readers, you may continue on!
When I first got off the plane, I didn't really notice much of a difference. I don't know if I was expecting a voice to say, "You've made it! The country you've always been waiting for is finally here!" or to have some sort of Eureka moment, but neither of them occurred. (At least, to the best of my knowledge. If someone had said that in Japanese to me, I probably wouldn't have noticed. I was a little too busy trying to have a Eureka moment and wasn't listening.) What I did notice was that Haneda airport rocks! For me, one of the best things about going to the airport is the moving walkways. I love the feeling of speeding by while merely walking along at a meander. Haneda airport does it right with moving walkway after moving walkway. From the moment I stepped off the plane, my whole journey was divided into these 75-ish foot segments. Even when I found myself turning corners, there were still plenty more to enjoy. Now, a little Japan etiquette that I've learned. It's clearly displayed on the moving walkways, but I'll give you a heads up now. The left side is meant for people who want to enjoy themselves for as long as possible. They stand there, and DO NOT WALK. If you, like me, want to set new walking speed records, stay to the right and don't feel shy about passing people. Coincidentally, this is also what happens on escalators. If you don't want to move, and there is room for people to pass you, stick to the left. The Japanese people will thank you! (Figuratively. In actual fact, it's more likely that if you do it wrong, they will just curse you in their heads. Break the rules at your own risk! Negative thoughts are scary!) The exception to this rule: stairs. They are so organized on their system for electronic movers, but when it comes to the stairs, chaos breaks lose. Feel free to choose your favorite side and walk there; I think that's what everyone else does too. It's not a game of chicken though, so be courteous. Don't obstinately stick to your chosen side if someone else is coming right at you. Now, back to Haneda Airport. Unbeknownst to me, practically between every break in the moving walkways, there are bathrooms. I waited in a line at the first bathroom I came to, but I don't think that was actually necessary. I think the line was because all the foreign people ahead of me that also didn't know there were more bathrooms, also found the toilets, with their many fancy features, captivating. SO! For all you readers who ever find themselves arriving at Haneda Airport in need of a bathroom, maybe walk a little more and hit one of the later ones. Then, you can stare at the toilets to your heart's content without creating a huge line behind you! Once all the fun is over, and you've finally reached customs, don't let the tiny little line fool you. There is a line for people to show they have their passports, probably like 4 people long, and then you can head past a little divider into the REAL customs. I thought the 4 person line was customs. I chalk this obvious fallacy up to my 13 hour flight. Others might chalk it up to extreme optimism and/or stupidity. Think what you like. The point is, don't be like me, stopping in front of the short line in order to get all my paperwork in order! There will be plenty of time to organize yourself in the real line without letting all the people who stand on the left of the moving walkways pass you. Once you do finally make it to customs, you will be wowed with just how many people there are. I initially was sticking with the optimism in thinking that the line I got into stayed on the left side of the huge room, and that there was another group of turnstiles on the right. Don't be alarmed when you realize they are all connected. Since I have no real pictures, to give you a mental one, imagine you just got into the line for the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, or some other equally popular roller coaster, on a beautiful sunny day in summer. That is what it looks like to wait in line for the Japanese Foreign International Customs. The only up side is that the line moves much faster than for a roller coaster. It's speed is much more comparable to rush hour on the highway. Move a few feet... Stop... Move a few feet... Stop.... Sometimes move a whole 10 feet forward only to... Stop again.... What a fun first hour in Japan it was!
0 Comments
Although having stuff to do might seem like a good idea, in all likelihood you won't use it and and will end up wasting valuable packing space. For a few hours, a downloaded audio-book on your phone will be perfect and take up no extra room in your suitcases. For longer flights, the planes have built in entertainment for you to watch, play, and listen to. With Delta it was free, others might make you pay though, so be careful with that! For longer flights as well you have optional Wi-Fi that you can purchase. For me, just under 13 hours of Wi-Fi would have cost $21. You can even break it down if you don't need it the whole time! 1 hour was $3, 3 hours was $6, and so on. If you have a phone or laptop with you, then this can also pass the time for a few hours. You might even be able to get some work done. With a USB port on each seat, you also don't need to worry about your phone dying, though your laptop still might.
I was able to pass the time by watching three movies, a few episodes of a TV show, eating the food they passed around, and sleeping. 13 hours "flew" by without too much pain! For my international flight, two nicely sized meals with acceptable taste were provided, as well as one snack of ice cream and flatbread pizza. They also gave each passenger slippers, an eye mask, ear plugs, ear buds, a small pillow, and a blanket, along with providing free movies, music, and games. Another nice feature available was a flight tracker which would show you where you were currently flying, and about how long until reaching your destination. The flight attendants all spoke in English to me, an obvious foreigner, and in Japanese to the two Japanese people beside me, and all important flight information was delivered first in English and then again in Japanese. All in all, I am impressed with Delta's services. I would definitely fly with them again!
Secondly, you must have a plan and proper things to do while flying! That means cards, books, video games, just stuff everything in. Once on the plane, stow one of your two carry-ons, since it's impossible to fit all the essentials in just one, and place the other under the seat in front of you. I guarantee all the games will be in the stowed bag, and all the boring books that you brought will be "stuck" under the seat. Then, even though you lack internet, you will play with your phone for the whole flight, throwing all plans out the plane without a parachute.
For me, I made 1 hour and 40 minutes pass by like an instant with a downloaded audio-book and my phone's gazillion pictures. You might think that an hour and 40 minutes isn't much, but that's the time it takes to drive to Ohio State University from Medina, my hometown. I've tried everything, Disney karaoke, the ABC game, and, heaven forbid, actually speaking to the person driving, but they all end in boredom! For my flight, I was not bored once! Praise me for my long attention span :) I can go almost two hours without any lasting problems. So, in conclusion: Two or more pillows and a full bag of entertainment. Disclaimer: Don't listen to a word I've just said. It's rather unreasonable advice. From what I've seen today, the only travel option is to fly early. I've been to the airport numerous times before just to have a mediocre experience that ends in being trapped on a plane for hours, but today was amazing.
For starters, at 7:30 in the morning, there are no lines! Nothing can make an impatient vacationer more irritable than waiting while hefting heavy luggage. Not that I can complain. As you've seen, I pack light ;) But! Not only can you walk right in to literally EVERYTHING, the people working can devote their time to you as necessary. The man working for Delta who checked my suitcases was so nice! Although possibly a bit of a chatty Cathy, and a solicitor, he was so friendly! He went the extra mile to look up the gate for my connecting flight, to draw a map for me of where to go once I got to Minneapolis, and he even shared a story about his own daughter's failed study abroad attempt. I suppose a success story would have been more encouraging at the moment, but still! He was great! The woman who checked my ticket was even better. I had just had my goodbye with mom when the woman cheerfully asked me why I was crying! I explained that I was leaving my loved ones for 10 months, and pointed at mom who was still watching, then lo and behold! She had her come over to say goodbye again. She even offered us tissues as we both broke into more tears, and shared a story about a man going into the army who kept running back to say goodbye again. So, in conclusion, no lines, happy people, free stuff (tissues), and stories that are not so encouraging, but still funny, all await you with morning travel. Why fly any other way?!? Disclaimer (in fast, deep, medication side-effects voice): results may vary depending on season and staff temperament. Stories may not always be funny, sometimes they are just un-encouraging.
After bowling, my mom and I finished packing! 4 bags: 49 pounds, 35 pounds, 20 pounds, and 15 pounds respectively. Seems like I finally managed to pack light! It's only about twice the amount of stuff I bring on my weekend stays with my dad........ Maybe three times.........
36 hours later: One Piece left! Must... Finish... Ridiculously large chocolate bar... Phew! Made it.
Haha not really. Still 4.9 pounds more to go. I guess my dad won't have to miss me for at least a week. He's got chocolate instead :) |
AuthorThe name's Sarah. From September, 2017 to June, 2018 I will be your guide through life as an exchange student in Tokyo. (Some guide I am. It's like I just left you in the middle of nowhere so that I could go off on my own adventures!) Archives
May 2018
Categories
All
|