Tokyo Airport

               You have to remember I’ve been traveling for over 20 hours, but welcome to the Tokyo international wing. I called my mother and she said I sounded drunk because of my lack of sleep. Great.

                I will tell you who is drunk though: whoever designed Japanese public bathrooms. Seriously. I went in and in my state of major sleep deprivation it took me a few minutes to figure out how to navigate the stall that could easily be the size of a college dorm room in America (I slightly over exaggerate, but only slightly). So many buttons. There’s something called a shower function. And my past trip to Italy taught me exactly what the bidet function is. I steered clear of both. OH! And they have lady urinals! Not even making this up.

                                             the airport bathroom - note the buttons on the right wall

                Other international travelers were bonding at the sinks over the weird experience we had all just gone through. I however, took off to meander around the airport. I exchanged $20 into Japanese Yen and took off into the stores. Most of the stores here are like Burberry, Cartier, Tiffany’s, and whatnot because of the whole duty free concept. Being a big spender myself, I opted for a 300 Yen set of Japanese Lilo and Stitch stationary. It was hard not to buy out the My Neighbor Totoro section in the souvenir shop. Things like a bunny shaped umbrella and Catbus pencil holders begged to be bought and distributed to friends back home.

                Mostly I just wandered, wondering what brought all these other people to be in the Tokyo international wing at red-eye flight hours. I met a wonderful Indian woman who although from the US, has been living in Malaysia for the past two years. She’s traveling back to San Francisco for her sons wedding.

                Oh, but the best is yet to come. My favorite person I’ve run into here is none other than… a sister! I was on a bus transferring my location between airport areas and a woman with a baby came on. There were no seats left so I offered her mine. Not long after, she commented on my crest sweatshirt- she too is an ADPi! It’s funny that no matter how far from home I am, I’m still close to family. Nothing like throwing diamonds in Tokyo. 

                                        a sleep deprived and post-14 hour flight Winona and a Pi sister from Phi chapter