Sayonara Japan

Our time in Japan was split between the Yokohama and Kobe ports. We arrived in Yokohama around 7:00 am, but it was after 2:00 pm before I was through the security process. The immigration, customs, and security procedures are different in each port. In every case, however, officials from the host country board the ship and complete the process onboard. When we get an "all clear" from the ship's officers then Semester at Sea staff begin dismissing people from the ship based on their travel needs. All Semester at Sea trips are given priority as many of them require using ticketed transportation, such as trains, planes, buses and ferries. I have learned to expect to be stuck (so to speak) for at least a few hours after we arrive in port. It's too frustrating to not prepare oneself for these delays.

Japan was a wonderful place to begin our foreign port excursions. The students boarded the ship in Mexico, but there were no field programs at this port. Most of the students spent at least a portion of the five day stay traveling independently. Even those who participated in SAS trips, had the option of not returning to the ship with the group. I spent most of my time in Japan wandering about alone reminiscing and enjoying the comfort of being back in a familiar place. I had never spent any significant time in either Yokohama or Kobe, so I was able to take in a number of new sights while also dropping into shops that were regular stops in my former life here.

I took advantage of the SAS one-day bus trip to Hiroshima. It was rather inexpensive and worth the almost 10 hours on the bus. I am thankful that I picked up a book being used in one of the courses on the ship before we went. It is the personal diary of a doctor who was near the epicenter of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and recounts the destruction and horror that followed. The diary was a person record, not something ever intended to be published and yet it tells the story well for anyone willing to hear it. Being part way into his story before we arrived in Hiroshima framed my experience there more completely and prepared me for some of what I saw in the Peace Museum. Of course, I am not a good "get on the bus, get off the bus" traveler and it was more than a little frustrating at times to have to move about on someone else's schedule. Still I appreciate the energy of our guide Rumiko and her enthusiasm for sharing much about the culture of Japan during our journey together.

I am about out of time, so until later.