On the way

I am off on my journey, a four month long viaje. I will be traveling in SE Asia, and perhaps a few other places .... wherever the wind takes me!
After a week of bittersweet despedidas in Mexico City, packing up all my belongings and shoving the last few tacos and micheladas down, I am off on my adventure. Flew through Chicago, a cold reminder of how annoying and work-a-holic gringos are and how excited I am to have months of nothing to do but enjoy myself. And also a nice chance to see a very good friend and her completely selfless profession of doctoring the poor and loud. Cheers to you, Erin, you are a saint with a sock-full of good karma!
Then on a 13 hour flight to Tokyo. Well, I think I am actually in the burbs as I never saw any buildings from the airport ... looks a lot like a neatly organized midwest from the window. And I cant stop smiling at the completely orderly, clean, proper, polite, friendly world the Japanese have created. I think Asia will be a nice breath of fresh air from crazy, poluted, loud, frenetic, non-linear Mexico City. (though I am aware that Japan is not exactly like the rest of SE Asia ... we'll see what I say after a trip to Saigon!)
It is so funny to me that I know exactly NO words in any of these foreign languages. And that with a smile and a little bow people can be so nice. I am delighting in everything. Thanks god!