So I have arrived in Tokyo. I'm currently in Narita airport waiting on my connecting flight to Singapore.
1) In the rush to actually get out of Atlanta, I overlooked the fact that I didn't bring a lot of money. I've got cash in the bank and I can't actually get to it. So I will sit around and partially starve for the next 4 hours before the next flight arrives. Man I hope I won't need to have someone wire me some money in Singapore.
2) Google's home page is country sensitive. When I started going out on the Internet to get help with some of my issues, I found myself staring at a lot of foreign characters. Google says "you're in Tokyo - you can translate these characters", if not - complain when you can figure out where the feedback links are.
3) Don't expect that even if there are US style outlets available that they contain grounded connections. Thankfully I brought both of my laptops with me. My Lenovo T60p has a regular AC adapter without a ground plug so I can plug it in. The Mac - no dice. I can't charge it because it won't fit into the socket.
4) Even if you have SOME money - don't expect to actually know what's on the packaging of foreign foods. I have some yen, but I have no idea what the heck all of the foodstuff is in the store. There are pictures of people smiling and such on the package - but I don't know if that actually translates into it being edible food.
5) Just because the US sucks at some things doesn't mean that other countries do. I walked up to an escalator in Narita (the airport) and I assumed that it was broken because it was still. Almost by accident I started walking up to it since I figured I'd just walk down it instead of taking the stairs - it began moving. That's L33T. +1 Japan.
6) If you want to exchange money - do it before you leave. What little bit of US currency I had was dimminished further by the local current exchange company. They take a cut off the top whenever you do an exchange.
7) Credit card companies charge a fee above and beyond your charged amount. When speaking to AMEX (begging for travellers checks), I discovered that they charge a 2% fee on foreign purchases. Visa companies charge 3% +. Just something that one should be aware of... especially if you're going to make a big purchase. On top of that, some vendors will charge 10-15% for foreign credit cards at their establishment.
8) Whatever your expectations are about a foreign culture - they are probably wrong. Japan is pretty damned green for a country crammed with people. As I was flying into Narita, I noticed large green fields, farms, and ENORMOUS golf courses that would put many in the states to absolute shame.
9) Even if you have a "world phone" don't expect it to work. I came into Narita and my phone chimed off about having a new voice mail (oh man oh man I hope that wasn't on all this time). I'm connected to NTT Docomo and I know AT&T wireless has a roaming arrangement with them. My phone says its connecting 3G to NTT Docomo, but everytime I dial out it says that it cannot complete the call or that the number isn't in service. I guess AT&T sucks no matter where you are.
10) Find Americans - they'll all be huddled together like lice in a burning wig. The first thing I did when I got off the plane was look around for people who might be able to help. Since only a few people I've met so far speak a reasonable amount of English (and my Japanese is atrocious), I began searching out the refuges of the IT junkies that would be in the area - Wifi and Lan centers. Narita actually has some really nice ones with desks and reading lamps.
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