The Genki Gaijin Chronicles!

Stefan here. It`s 7:30am, Japan Time. We had trouble getting the internet here to work, but I managed it, somehow. However, because it only gives 10 miuntes at a time (and I only have five left), I`m not really going to be able go do this thing like we had wanted. Still, we have a ton of pictures, stories, and memories to share. We`ll update it a bit at a time when we get back in the US. Needless to say, we`re having a blast and are safe.

Short list to be expounded upon later:

1) You have never had real Japanese food unless you have eaten it in Japan. Sorry.
2) Drinks are expensive and there are no refills.
3) People are nice.
4) God is here. In this city. Calling people to himself.

Sayonara!

The day started early. We finished packing, checking, and double checking everything. Afterward, Megan tore me apart with her Orzhov deck, but it was fun. The in-laws arrived around 11am or so and afterward we went and caught food at Rush's.

After getting on the road, Darrel wore a bit on our patience. Further wearing came from the fact that the directions ended up being wrong. After finding a Hampton Inn near the Airport, we found out that the one we actually had a reservation at wouldn't let us transfer our reservation or cancel without paying the full price. So, we drove into downtown Atlanta and are here, updating. Darrel bumping his head in the room didn't help, but after we sort of calmed down, we walked six blocks to Burger's and More. The Ruben and Veggie Wrap were delicious.

We're going to update whenever we wake up in Kyoto. Picture would be here, but we were tired and stressed. I think we'll pray for rest. The keyboards here are stupid. O_o

Stefan Here.

We've just four days away from our trip and we couldn't be happier! We just finished the final preparations: confirming our reservation at the Hotel Monterey Kyoto and getting some dramamine for Megan as she doesn't know if she'll get motion sickness.

We're actually already packed. It's crazy. There's still a few days left of work to be done (e.g. Megan has to actually work, and I have a midterm exam for John on Wednesday), but it should fly by!

...and I just got over a stomach flu. Thank goodness I didn't come down with this next Thursday. We would have been in serious trouble.

I've been trying to plan out our days using the Kyoto map we have, but since it's nigh impossible to read (Kyoto is huge), I'm about ready to give up on my super-planned trip and just go with my husband's "meander about" plan.

There is still a good bit to get done before we leave next week. But I'll worry about that later.

Megan here.

It's two weeks until Stefan and I head out on our trip to Kyoto, Japan. While this won't be our first international trip (Stefan has been to Canada, I to the Bahamas), this is definitely a first "big trip". And I think I'm driving Stefan insane with my planning habits. He would rather just show up in a different country and walk around, see the sights. I, on the other hand, have a play-by-play approach...to the point I know where we plan to eat each day, what sights we want to see, how much each meal/admission should cost, and what buses to take to get each place. This plan will typed up and carried on my person.

So I'm a control freak.

I try to justify it by saying we'll be in a foreign country, unable to read the signs or speak/understand the language, and that we have to know exactly what we're doing. I think Stefan would have just as much, if not more, fun if we got lost.

He also probably won't be pleased to come home and find my "To Be Done Before We Leave 3/20" list posted on the refrigerator.

Is there anyway to over-plan a trip?