The experiment is over

Recently I was on Nada's blog, ululate.blogspot.com, reading of her experience in Japan; her description of eating a bowl of noodles is fantastic. She also mentioned how Japan anticipates a person's needs--"buffered, sweet, comfortable, happy!" This description perfectly captures this aspect of Japan. I think, that perhaps, this is also why Ammie and I have decided to return to the loving streets of Oakland. Oakland let's you run around by yourself, and when you trip and fall, it doesn't kiss you, but instead tells you to get up, brush yourself off, and get goin'. Yes, we have indeed decided to return. Japan is now more beautiful, because we know we are leaving--it's become a great honeymoon, now that we can distance ourselves from it.
 
Kunitachi--where we are staying--is incredible! The Kunitachi apartment situation is just what we needed to mend us after our -- to be quite honest -- somewhat heartbreaking decision to come back.　It`s quiet and private, but within 15 minutes on foot to the college town of Kunitachi. The town is beautiful, and it`s apparent that actual city planning has happened to make sure development doesn`t run amok. There are good record stores, a fantastic forest-like campus to explore, cheap groceries (that carry real cheese and proper bread!), and noodle shops. From what Stephen and Jeremy (our kickass guesthouse roommates from Scotland and Seattle, respectively) tell us, there are also 400 yen ($4) all you can drink bars. Scary, yet slightly inviting.