I'm almost there!

[WarlocK]

Well, after waiting for almost 6 months now, I am finally about to be in Japan! W00!! :P

I have my work visa, my luggage is packed, my car is sold, and I have my plane ticket. in just 28 short hours, I will begin the first leg of my journey to Japan. I'll be arriving in Osaka around 5pm Thrusday. I am super excited.

Anyone in the Osaka area want to volunteer to show this truly f*cked gaijin around this weekend?

BTW, the first place I need to find is somewhere to jack my laptop into the 'net. Can anyone help?

[GomiGirl]

Well, after waiting for almost 6 months now, I am finally about to be in Japan! W00!! :P

Excellent - I hope you have packed your winter woolies as it is about to get butt cold!! Well for my little self it is... I am still not aclimatised after all these years but I do prefer the winter..

BTW, the first place I need to find is somewhere to jack my laptop into the 'net. Can anyone help?

I still think that the best option is a PC card for wireless data. The speeds are pretty good. Depends on your laptop and your budget.

Have a safe flight - bring lots of omiyage...

[WarlocK]

Have a safe flight - bring lots of omiyage...

Speaking of which, does anyone have any suggestions for good omiyage? I can't afford anything too expensive, but at the same time, I don't want to bring anything that would be too "cheap".

Also, is it acceptable to give omiyage to gaijin? Or should I just stick with giving it to nihonjin that I meet?

[GomiGirl]

Speaking of which, does anyone have any suggestions for good omiyage? I can't afford anything too expensive, but at the same time, I don't want to bring anything that would be too "cheap".

Depends if these are people you know already or are just keeping some just in case you meet some nice people and you want to give them something. Please note that you will experience unsolicited acts of kindness and generosity from complete strangers. For these occassions it nice to have something to give. It doesn't really matter what it is as long as it is well wrapped.

I would suggest anything like cookies (not just a pack of fig newtons but in a reasonable box), jam, and considering the time of year, why don't you buy some good 2003 calenders with interesting photography. They are light and useful.

If you are actually staying with people or are planning to meet up with friends you already know you had better have something nice - eg coffee table book again with good photography and would be nice if you can talk about the places in the photos. Something that your home town is famous for, again it is good if you can talk about it. A watercolour from a local street artist - I don't know where you are from so I don't know what is on offer.

Also, is it acceptable to give omiyage to gaijin? Or should I just stick with giving it to nihonjin that I meet?

Again it depends if you already know the people. If you just meet another foreigner on a bus I wouldn't be giving them omiyage, but if you are planning to catch up with people, why don't you ask them what they need from "home". This is something I always get people to do when they visit me and vice versa.

For random meetings of nice locals, just something small. I carry around with me some brass stick pins with kangaroos on them - I bought them cheap in bulk and they look great and make the person who receives them extremely happy. Or carry small cocktail flags of your country - makes school girls in the country giggle uncontrollably.

Just some thoughts - but again, you can't go wrong with cookies.