Neighborhood

I've lived in Minato-ku for just over ten months, but even the most mundane day is peppered with adventure.  My favorite thing to do on the weekends is to head off to nowhere in particular on a long, aimless walk.  I try to pick a different area of Tokyo each time that I head out, but you don't have to go far to discover little gems.  This restaurant (at least I'm pretty sure it's a restaurant) is tucked away in my neighborhood.

As much as I miss certain aspects of "home", I can appreciate the allure of the expat life.  There have been more than a few times that I've caught myself thinking about how great it would be if my next transfer was to the Hong Kong, London or Brussels office.  The constant discoveries, the sense of accomplishment that comes from managing even the smallest errand and the smug sense that your differences make you something special or interesting--one could become addicted to it all!  

(Having said that, I understand that there is a difference between hitting your stride at the end of your first year in Tokyo and getting acquainted with certain harsh realities in later years.)