Here is the Shibuya Cross- Nothing in comparison to how packed it can be on the weekends. Complete bedlam on the surface, but really very orderly throughout. If this was New York, there'd be stabbings and gun fire every time the walk signal appeared.

Here is the sushi chef making sushi in a flash at the place in Shibuya.



Here's my plane coming in. It's coming straight at me! I have no idea how to turn it clockwise, but you get the idea.

Here is me eating the crispy duck. Chopsticks backwards when taking from a common plate. I hadn't eaten with a fork for 7 days! I hope to post some youtube videos soon. Jet lag kicking in...

Here is the way awesome sushi place Mattias and I went to in Shibuya (shi - BOO- YA!) I found it quite necessary to give the peace sign in every single picture possible.















We stopped into an arcade of sorts. Anyone want to win a tub of dried squid?
My last night we ordered dim sum and crispy duck. Woo!

I am back and suffering from some serious jetlag. By now I have my second wind, so I can't go to sleep. I'll upload some pics in the mean time.

Here's the hotel. It was really small, but really all I needed.















Here's the robe that comes with the room. Boy do I look jet lagged.



















Now that I look at my pics, I didn't take that many. I found I loved the fake food displays found outside of many restaurants. Even though it is clearly plastic, looks good to me!

Here's a funny clip from the movie "Lost in Translation," the only movie I could think about while in Japan.

This scene is very reminiscent of how I felt in the presentation working with translators and upon looking it up on youtube, made me laugh into hysterics. I have to admit that this experience gives me the utmost respect for translators as they have to be just as on the ball as I was but then maintaining the gist of the message to boot! But Bill Murray is genius in this clip with his mannerism and face when listening to the translations given to him. enjoy!

Phew. So I finally got some free time to post! We've done a lot of work since I got here and tomorrow is the big presentation to the President of TopValu on Green and Sustainability. Tonight I seriously needed comfort food so we went for burgers and fries. It was actually pretty good. We had proper sushi for lunch today, though I would say it was pretty average. On the whole, the food has been great, but I think I can find something really comparable in NY, truly a testament to NYC.

After the presentation tomorrow, we are spending all day Thursday in Tokyo seeing the sights and getting some presents. I have my heart set on buying an affordable kimono though I think it will have to be made of polyester.

I have gotten good enough to go into shops by myself and purchase items without being afraid of a complete language breakdown. Tomorrow when I present, I will have two real time translators and the meeting is for 3 hours so I think we will all collapse afterwards. They are really treating me well and I hope I don't get too used to it. I am sure things will go fine tomorrow!

Here is a pic of me in Tokyo, Ginza to be exact. I can't wait to take more pics! Home will be nice, but I can't say I miss the cockroaches!

I made it to Japan safe and sound! (though I almost lost it on the plane it was such a long ride).

Tonight I am going into Tokyo to Ginza to do some shopping and get some dinner with a coworker.

So Japan is way cool except when I hit a bidet button on my super techy hotel toilet and water started spraying everywhere. I worked until 6 on this saturday- these people are slave drivers.

Will write more soon as I have no internet access in my hotel and am sneaking this in. Jet lag has definitely set in at this point. I can't wait to go to bed tonight. We are getting a "late" start for work on Sunday- we'll start at 10. ICK! I've sold my soul to these people to come here!

But all in all it's fun. I seem to blend in well and people just expect me to speak Japanese. They must think I'm slow cause I just smile and nod. My Swedish coworker does all the translating, as he is fluent in Japanese so we just confuse the heck out of people.

I got a new digital camera yesterday for my big trip to Japan. Thanks mom for the Christmas present!

So it's been a while I know, but without a digital camera there has been little to report....until NOW!

Kim is going to JAPAN!!!!

I am going out to present my presentation on Sustainable products and help them reduce the carbon footprint of their products. Should be cool! Specifically, I'll be in Tokyo and I can't wait. In fact, I think I should go out and buy a digital camera just in time for my trip. Coolest trip ever! Stand by for more.