Only ten days remain until I make my second trek to Japan. I can hardly wait, but I'm oddly calm about it.
In order to ensure I don't get too lost while travelling from Tokyo to Gifu, I've been studying a set of instructions provided by Reiko. They're pretty complete, telling me what to look for and which ways to turn, so I shouldn't have much trouble moving about.
My new luggage should be okay for all this travel, too. One of the concerns I had was whether I could easily carry the wrapped gifts in the suitcase without tearing the paper, or damaging the contents. After some simple testing, it seems that the tote is the perfect size for what I needed to accomplish. I'll make sure the packages are set in such a way that they can handle the rough handling I'm sure they'll receive at the airport.
I was not able to get my hands on a cell phone capable of WCDMA transmission, however, this should be okay. I was considering getting a new cell phone from eBay or one of the phone dealers in Parker Place, but decided against it for the moment. It would have been nice to have a phone do everything I needed for several years, but my current phone is less than 12 months old … I couldn't justify replacing it for the few trips I'll make to Japan every year (even though after this trip, I will have spent 24 days in Japan this year -- that's 6.5% of the whole year!).
Hmm … when I look at it that way … it's almost worth it …
Either way. If I really want a cell phone while in Japan, maybe I could purchase an unlocked one from there. It might be cheaper than trying to find some high-end Nokia or Motorola sold in North America, since WCDMA usage is really a narrow market globally.
Either way, I think I have everything I need. This is going to be a great trip. I don't have the stresses and uncertainties like last time, and I don't have any unfinished business waiting for my return. The way things are going, I might just find an employer in Japan who's willing to hire me and help with the paperwork required to work in the country!
Well … here's hoping, anyways :P