10 Days

I have been in Japan for ten days. Some impressions:

1) cigarettes are cheap. everything else is expensive.
2) the japanese have the most bizarre and wonderful fashion sense in the world
3) not understanding a single thing going on around you is not as big a problem as you think. my rule is: when confused, do what the japanese people are doing.
4) pointing and gesturing can accomplish a lot!
5) there are little donuts in convienence stores that are the best things ever created
6) if a store has more than one floor, you cannot take items from one floor to another.
7) pachinko parlors are louder than jet engines
8) do not stand still in a subway station
9) everyone is very quiet in crowded areas (and quiet always really).
10) if you ask a japanese person for help you will get it and then some.

i think the feeling of constant disorientation is starting to wear off a bit. i can get around pretty easily now. the further out you are from tokyo the less change of an english subway map, but, as i said, this city is so safe and the people are so nice there is never any reason to be scared of just wandering out. if you are unsure about visiting Japan you shouldnt be. the language barrier is considerable, but with a little effort it is not hard to overcome. you just gotta give up control every now and then and be VERY adventurous.