This Week in San Antonio & Japan: Oct 27-Nov 2, 2025

Monday, Oct 27

Well, THAT was an annoying day 🙁 Trying to get a refund from ebay…cancelling some things…emailed the Japanese Powers That Be about my application to bring Wellbutrin, because I have never heard back and when I looked at the website today it said my application could not be found! Had to follow-up with Verizon, who had never emailed me a return kit for my old phone that I traded in for a new phone. Spent much of the day onhold. One of my least favorite things.

I started going through my suitcases to see what I can send back to Katie or just get rid of. I’m weary of lugging heavy suitcases.

Tuesday, Oct 28

Made a trip to Frederiksburg. My cousins were like YOU HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF TEXAS so off we went. And I actually had seen a bit last week when my childhood friend came and and got me to bring me to her home in the hill country. That was a nice change of scenery.

Anyway, it was only about an hour’s drive away. I’d always thought Frederiksburg was an area with a lot of antique shops, and maybe it was once, or maybe they’re not right in town, but what we saw was cute little shops and restaurants. We had a very nice lunch and then sat outdoors for a bit at a winery, which was more a wine tasting place than a winery. The temps had dropped a bit and there was a pretty strong breeze, so it was nice to sit outside for a bit and chat.

Wednesday, Oct 29

Oh, have I mentioned that I am now a Dodgers fan? And avid World Series watcher?? THAT took me by surprise as I have mostly avoided professional team sports since I was married. But my cousins are all fans…and normally that wouldn’t even sway me, but there are three Japanese players on the team who are superstars and that sucked me in.

Today was last day erranding and saying, “I’m going to go pack now” and instead, sitting down to watch more of the game. I finally finished watching/packing around 1am…set alarms for 4 and 4:10am…and the next thing I knew…

Thursday, Oct 30

…my cousin was at my door asking if I was awake. It was 4:30 and I was not awake. Ugh! I’d wanted to be at the airport at 5 for my 7:30 flight. So *I* flew and got myself ready and out the door by 4:50…and we were at the airport at 5:15.

And during the night I got notification from the Japanese Powers That Be, that yes, I could bring my wellbutrin into the country after all, so I had to dig that out of the bag of stuff my cousin is going to send back to Katie. Anyway. Phew.

The airport was fine-ish. My big bag was 6 pounds overweight – how did that happen?? It took me two tries to get it under 50lbs and off I went…got to the gate just about 30 minutes before boarding. A little close for comfort for me. But it was fine.

Layover in San Francisco was a pita cuz that airport is HUGE, at least from domestic terminal to international. It takes me for. EVER to get from my arrival gate to the departure gate. And again, there was not much room to spare, but I made it. THEN, I was seated (window) in an aisle with one young man and two toy poodles! I’ve always wanted to have a dog seat neighbor on a flight. But he never let them out, they never made a peep. But the net was an empty middle seat as he’d bought two tickets so each dog carrier had an under-seat spot.

The plane was wild. Usually on these long international flights, you take off, they feed you, then they try to put you down for the night by lowering the lighting and withholding snacks. But this was a Party Plane! No one slept. They were up, walking around, talking, laughing, making friends, calling for drinks (and more drinks), leaving their overhead lights on. My neighbor slept most of the flight. I could not. And for some reason I couldn’t watch the shows I’d downloaded (even though I had on the first leg of the trip) or listen to the audiobook I’d downloaded (again, even though it worked fine on the first flight). Fortunately I was able to access spotify audiobooks and started a new book even though I’m still emotionally involved with the first one! I don’t know why that happened or how to avoid it in the future. I even tried to purchase wifi with points but the transaction just wouldn’t go through.

Any thoughts?

Friday, Oct 31

And 4pm we landed in Osaka, Japan. It was pouring, just like when I first arrived in Korea two years ago, so the arrival and landing was anti-climactic as all I could see was clouds.

The free hotel shuttle that was supposed to run til “evening,” stopped running before I was able to leave the airport at 5:30, so I had to get a taxi. Taxis in Japan are expensive. Closer to NY prices than Korea prices.

But the hotel, when I finally got there, was delightful. Good big window, great hot water and water pressure in the shower and bath (after my long flight I had a good long tub soak), and comfortable bed with good duvet and pillows. I was too tired to even try and figure out room service so I just went to sleep in comfort.

Saturday, Nov 1

Woke up in time to watch Game 6 of the series at 9am here in Japan…well, I at least got to see Shohei Ohtani at bat and then I had to go to breakfast and then leave.

I misunderstood about the breakfast hours…and didn’t know you needed a ticket from the front desk, so I was late but they graciously left the buffet out so I could eat. All alone in the big dining room.

After some confusion about a ticket, I got on the shuttle back to the airport (even though I was THIS close to just getting a taxi to avoid all the back and forth).

So many things seem simple. “Go from the airport to the airbnb,” is not actually one step, it was seven micro-steps, each with the potential for error or failure…or, at the very least, confusion. SO much confusion.

I had gotten relaxed in the US. I knew how to do things. I knew how to say things and find things and get things. I was a guest at people’s homes. I had access to food and cars or drivers. It was so easy. I forgot how challenging every little thing is once you’re out of the US. Not saying that’s a reason to not go anywhere, but it’s a part of it. It’s always going to be a part of it.

Anyway, I eventually made it (a shuttle and $$ taxi ride later) to the airbnb….and then I was faced with two suitcases, one 50lbs…and three flights of stairs with no elevator. I knew that going in. But when you’re not there yet it’s easy to say “I’ll just take it one step at a time” (literally). But in reality, even that is difficult and exhausting. Thankfully, the airbnb host’s secretary, who was an absolute angel, met me at the building, and we offloaded most of the 50lb suitcase into several totes that she whooshed up the stairs like they were nothing! And then later, when I was having trouble putting the address into Uber Eats (I was NOT going back down those stairs), she appeared at my door once again to help me with the address, and to give me a frozen spaghetti bolognese from 7-11, with some rolls and orange juice. Come ON. How kind was that?!?

My evening ended up with some Japanese KFC (which is very different from, and not as good as, Korean or American KFC) and an early bedtime.

Sunday, Nov 2

After being here one night, I can say confidently that this is NOT a comfortable room. The bed has an old mattress with wooden slats underneath, one of which presses right into my lower back…not great pillows…and two very uncomfortable, unsupportive, small metal chairs. My back and sciatica are already saying THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. Plus, there’s just like nowhere to put STUFF. I don’t have a LOT of stuff, but what I have does need somewhere to go.

I’m seriously considering buying an actual desk chair, with adjustable height and wheels and support. Someone on TikTok said there’s a local store that will deliver it to my door. If I could find a chair for under $50, that would amortize out to under .85/day, which seems well worth it for relieving myself of pain and discomfort for 2 months.And then I’d just leave it here. YOU’RE WELCOME. Now your future guests have somewhere decent to sit.

Anyway, I spent most of the day unpacking (with frequent rest breaks) and getting myself and my stuff settled in. I ordered a few things from a convenience store, so I had something here to eat and drink. I thought about going out for a walk around the neighborhood,, but did not. I’m well within my two-day rest/recover/hide phase of arriving to new places.

I’ve been here 48 hours and have really only seen Japan from a car window. We did go through some cool looking parts of Osaka yesterday on the way to the airbnb. Will I be able to find that exact location again?? Who knows. I wish Katie was here with me, I think she would like that area.

I’m tired now (at 7:30pm) and going to bed.

Sayonara.