Z Reflections

In Japan people give money as a gift more often than we do in America. The proper way to give cash is in a nice card or envelope you can find at even most convenient stores. This tradition is most prevalent at weddings where few people give presents.

Peace,

A shame that Dior isn't paying me to put this up. One of the things I love about Japan is that people are very fashion conscious. This is especially true for Japanese girls that are often seen carrying fancy bags from their favorite store. While wearing heels and checking their hair in each mirror they happen upon of course. Shopping for luxury goods is down 14% but you would never know that from walking down the street.

Japanese children are so cute! The girls fall in love with pink at an early age here. I can't begin to tell you how much some Japanese girls love pink. There are few things that you can buy in Japan that don't come in pink.

When I first came to Japan I worked with Doug & Catherine and we became friends. They have proven themselves to be the best of friends and I cannot thank them enough for helping to keep me sane.

Recently Doug & Catherine became engaged and I am so excited for them.

Peace,

A few months ago in Tokyo I stayed up most of the night taking pictures. In the wee hours I got some some sleep at an Internet Cafe but the next day I was groggy. Leaving the cafe with my 4th cup of coffee I was waking up but starving. Walking down the street I pulled out my camera, put my ear buds in, and was just turning up Miles Davis when I smelled food. Not wow I have to get some of that right away but food non the less. Setting at the table in this picture an old man brought me a steaming bowl of ramen noodles. I closed by eyes, waited for the noddles to cool and Miles to tell me more about life. Taking off my glasses I set them next to a green glass of water and chop sticks that had appeared. Leaving forward I brushed back my hair, positioned my chop sticks, and consumed the contents of the bowl. A Japanese friend told me once that drinking all the broth makes you fat. He was fat so I guess he knew what he was talking about. Getting up I found it hard to remember there had been anything but salt in that bowl. Hitting pause on my i-Pod I asked the old man how much and somehow he communicated it was 700 yen. In anger I pushed the play button while giving him two silver coins and a gold one as I started walking further into the circus they call Tokyo.