gureetings prom japan

the anime teens at narita airport

im here at the narita airport right now waiting for my flight back to new york which boards in an half an hour. got here in japan yesterday after a 2 weeks visit back in the philippines. needless to say, it was great seeing friends and family again during the greatest season to be in the philippines--christmas. obviously, it was equally difficult to leave. especially the nephews and nieces whom i probably got to spend the most time with. but, there's more ground to cover, a whole new year to conquer. and unknown territories and cultures to discover (which is my chosen theme/vision for this year, to see and meet more different people).

photos and stories from this trip back to the philippines (and the sidetrip to tokyo) will come soon in a book entitled "nagtatagalog ka pa ba?" (the sequel to spreek je filipijns).

before my 100 yen's worth of internet access runs out again, just wanted to greet everyone a happy new year. hope all your goals will be accomplished (and of course those goals are meaningful as well hopefully). i look forward to going back home to new york (although the apartment mess that'll greet me im not too excited to see) and sharing another year's worth of blogging.

the unsubtitled train schedule

fack. the 100 yen's worth just ran out and i needed to put in another just to wrap this up. wercome to japan. speaking of japan, it's a great adventure here, the language barrier the greatest of all. "can you tell me the way to the imperial house?" "kon kakwa dinas dawa fdnajsdniaswa des. sumimasen. kudasaiwas sijdmasknd made tinsnt=snchunkaswa doko mashta diri hiolmkkine desu?" "ok thanks a lot. dank u well." ha... oh of course, finding my way around a great adventure too. oh, those maps and signs to the subway. ha.. it's good to see though. quite an enriching experience. jolts one's sense of comfort and security--making one realize that there's more world than one's own. anyway, enough! more stories ahead when i get back to the apartment.

sayonara! tot snel! babay! see ya! ciao!