How Charming a Motherland It Is
Jul 14th, 2008 by msdanielle
I’ve been home for nearly two whole days now and one thing I’ve realized is I miss eating Japanese food everyday. Two weeks may not be enough time to get supremely home sick, but every time my belly tells me it’s time to eat, I find myself longing for rice and umeboshi (pickled apricot), onigiri (rice ball with seaweed), or a big bowl of tempura soba (buckwheat noodle soup with tempura). Not once during my two week trip did I long for a carne asada burrito or an In-n-Out double-double.
I also miss the politeness of the people I came across during my trip. People treating people with respect. I would secretly catch women bowing to each other from across the street upon recognition of one another…a deeply patient, respectful bow. What a contrast it is to find yourself deliriously exhausted after a 9 1/2 hour flight in the middle of Los Angeles International Airport, fighting to find the Super Shuttle amongst the heavy traffic, shouting, and beeping horns. Attitude to the left. Attitude to the right. Sigh…
I’ll be updating my blog with pictures and stories of my adventures. My family and I covered a lot of ground in our 12-day trip, visiting cities such as Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, and Shodoshima (Shodo Island), to name a few. It was a fast-paced trip for the first 7 days, and relaxing in Kyoto and Osaka during the last portion. You can catch my updates here in the next few days.
Special thanks go out to my buddy Ed Lau who so graciously woke up at 5 am to meet me at my hotel at 7 am for our Tokyo scramble. Feel free to check out our epic sushi adventure here. I only had one day in Tokyo, and my main priority of course, was food. Special thanks also go to my college friend, Asuka, who I had dinner with that same night. Pictures to come.
Thank you to all of you who also sent well wishes and inquiries about my trip. I hope you’ll enjoy my pictures and stories as they develop in the days to come!
[Picture: The famous Shibuya Station Crossing, Tokyo]
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Hey, I recognize that crosswalk! I was there in April, and had to take a video of the madness!
Just came across your blog via NxE’s 50 Most Influential Female Bloggers. I hear you’re a female John Chow…should be interesting!
That’s Hachiko Exit at Shibuya Station…a.k.a. what I need to get through every freakin’ day.
Hey Danielle,
It sounds like you had a blast. I can’t wait to read more stories about your trip.
Glad to have you back with us. I promise you I won’t give you any attitude.
Jamie
thanks Jamie! i’ll be posting more pictures soon. i like your new design
Thanks Danielle.
All my own design work. Very proud of it. 
I’m looking forward to the photos.
Welcome back, glad you had a good time and can’t wait to read more about the trip and see some pictures.
thanks, Nick! i’ve gone through my pictures, i think i took about 2k!
Hey Danielle! Great to have you back. I think, like Nick, I’d like to see more pictures!
[...] Danielle from MsDanielle.com recently took a trip to her Motherland. She is back now and has a few interesting observations about Japan that make it sound like a great place to visit. Being a huge fan of sushi, I was very jealous to [...]
Hi,
Nice to see you back. I’ll be waiting to see more pictures and stories of your trip.
Agree, the politeness and respect for everyone is a massive change from that in western culture. Glad you had fun here …. i’m not sure i’ll ever leave.
it is a very charming and captivating place i have to agree there. i’m definitely going to try to get out there again next year.
Nice break from PPC topics – I know what its like to go back to the Motherland, glad you had a great time – feel free to add a photo gallery to your site
I love your dedication to food, as it is at least 75% of the reason I travel myself. I don’t know if I am the type to miss pickled apricot over a carne asada burrito, but I KNOW I would miss the fresh fish of Tsukiji Fish Market like oxygen by now.
i’ve met people who aren’t into food. just like how i’ve met people who aren’t into music. it baffles me. but then again, there are some things i’m not into that baffle others… anyway, if there were a tsukiji equivalent here, that would be so awesome. the fish was so fresh that it wasn’t even chilled behind the counter… *sigh*