We're finally here!

Our flight left San Francisco at 1:30 on Monday, there is a 16 hour time difference, plus it's a 10 1/2 hour flight, so we landed in Tokyo at 4:45 on Tuesday. We are all exhausted. After we went through customs and immigration, we were bused from the Narita airport to our hotel, the New Otani (www.newotani.co.jp). It is a beautiful facility. It's raining this evening. After checking in at about 8:00, a university student named Yuki met me in the front lobby and took me out to dinner. He spoke english very well - he is a senior in sociology at University of Tokyo, but he had studied in Los Angeles. I had Yuki order off of the menu because I couldn't read a thing, there were few pictures. We had 'japanese barbecue' which is kind of like kebobs on sticks, and type of soup with tofu, fish, vegetables and noodles. Yuki was polite and didn't make fun of me when I tried to eat noodles with chopsticks - that's the only tools they have. It felt really impolite, though. We talked alot about the similarities and differences between our two countries. He already has a job lined up to work for a japanese clothing chain, and he wants to move to L.A. and open his own store for the company - that's his 'dream' at least. Although I haven't seen much, since it's been dark, for being in the far east, Tokyo seems very westernized. Walking downtown reminds me of our Chicago or New York. It is very clean - the Japanese view 'clean' as a sign of respect. If a business isn't clean enough, it won't get patronized. At the end of the evening, Yuki presented me with his 'meishi' (business card) with two hands, just like I had learned - the only problem was that my cards are in my suit case! It was a fun evening. Tomorrow I will be in meetings in the morning, taking a bus tour of Tokyo, then we will see a traditional Kabuki Theatre production. Tomorrow evening is our 'official' welcome reception.
I've met most of the fellow group members that will travel to Nagasaki. Several of them are determined to have me try fish eyes before this is all over with. Don't worry - I'm hanging tough. Eating something that is looking back at me is where I draw the line. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.