Notes: In the weeks and months leading up to my departure, everyone kept telling me what a brave thing I was doing. It didn't seem at all brave to me ... I had a job, apartment, and sponsor lined up before I left. But half-way through the 14 hour flight to Tokyo I got a panic attack. What if things didn't work out? What if no one met me at the airport? What if I hated it? Suddenly I understood why everyone else thought I was being "brave."

Speaking of things going wrong, if you ever bump into me at a convention ask me about my very first day in Japan. Hoo boy! You want to talk about things going wrong? Wow! But I'm glad I muddled through it. The five years I was there were wonderful ... and I'd go back in a heartbeat!