Don't put all your eggs in one basket...

or in my case, don't put all your summer clothes in one suitcase. Yes, I learned the hard way: one of my suitcases got lost. Or delayed? Anyway, I hope I'll get it back soon =/

On the bright side, I made my first Japanese friend! We met on my flight to Tokyo from Toronto. The woman next to me saw me cram-, I mean, reviewing for my placement exam tomorrow and was impressed at all the kanji I was reading. We talked for the rest of the flight (well not continuously because that's a really long time to be talking) in a kind of Japanese/English hybrid. I was rusty at first because I haven't really spoken Japanese since May, but I was surprised at how quickly it came rushing back. Our conversation allowed us to practice our language skills, hers in English, mine in Japanese. I found out that she coached a synchronized swimming team, and had traveled to Toronto for a competition with one of her girls. We ended up talking about random things. The Cold War randomly came up...? Don't ask me how. I got my first meishi (business card/name card) from her, which the Japanese are really big about. She also gave me a little coin purse! She was nice enough to not only wait with me at the baggage claim place, (so sad to watch that conveyor belt go round and round, but never bring around your suitcase) but she also helped me file a report, send my baggage to my host family's house, and buy a limosine bus ticket to the hotel I'm staying at tonight. By the way, here's a view from my room:


I wish I'd gotten a picture with her, but we promised to get a meal together, so I'll be seeing her again hopefully.

I love nice people =]