INTRODUCTION

     I would like to introduce myself so that you can have a better understanding of the perspective of this web page since the experiences that are contained here come from my adventures in Japan. My Name is Brady Fausett. My hometown was Layton Utah and I was 20 years old when this adventure took place. I was not currently a student but planned to be once I returned to the States. The Medical Field was and is my area of interest and expertise (Physical Therapy to be specific). Before I left on this trip I had recently quit my four year long job as a Systems Trainer/Programmer (Tech Support Supervisor). My family seemed to have had a natural understanding of computers so I took advantage of it. I had saved enough money to take a trip that had been a life long dream for me. It was time to make some major life changes. My life at the time was in a process of major upheaval. What a better way to start that process than to take a trip to Japan and spend some time centering myself and discovering what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I knew that my ideas and fantasies of Japan were not an accurate portrayal of the culture. I had to escape from the normal life and experience a different culture and see what Japan was REALLY like, shock my system, which was part of the plan too. 

     The orient had always fascinated me. I had several little tastes of the Japanese culture from friends, family, martial arts, books, and my own personal studies. My personal beliefs included bits and pieces of philosophy from various oriental systems (as well as a few occidental systems). One of these systems, that had greatly influenced my life was Ninjutsu. I had studied the Ninja through all sources that I had available to me. Their abilities and expertise in areas such as espionage, tactical warfare, deception, physical training, and philosophy really caught my attention. I wanted to come to a better understanding of the society that had produced such warriors. I had also studied various forms of Yoga and Zen meditation. I was very impressed by the Japanese techniques of moving energy, Ki, and being able to use it in various ways, such as Reiki. All of these interests combined in forming my goal to visit Japan.

My older brother Eric had spent two years in Japan previously, and had since married and moved back there to go to school. He had been there approximately a year when I began to think about planning a trip to Japan. It was a perfect opportunity for me to be able to go to Japan and stay with family so that I would not have to worry about a place to stay. The first attempt had failed due to a money situations. Later in that same year, 1998....the dream did come true.

     I left Utah from Salt Lake City Airport early in the morning of Oct. 12, 1998. I finally had the opportunity to fulfill my dream. After a short one hour flight to California, it was time for me to board the plane that would fly me into Tokyo (Actually Narita) Airport. As I entered the international airport in LA (LAX Airport), my excitement was dampened slightly due to the overwhelming apprehension of the upcoming experience. I wasn't in Kansas anymore Toto!!! This was a whole new world to me. I believed, and still do to this day, that the foreign country had begun in that airport. For the first time in my life I was the minority. It was strange. I was surrounded by all kinds of people, but I felt completely isolated. After a short delay I boarded the plane.....The Adventure had begun.

     While I was on the plane, I drifted off to sleep many times. I had planned to get some sleep to compensate for the jet lag and the change in time zones. I had also spent the last 48 hours awake to prepare myself for this event. When I would awake I forgot that I was on an international plane momentarily. Then I would hear somebody speaking in a foreign tongue, which quickly woke me from my absent-minded reverie. I had never had left the country before and I had taken this trip completely alone. It was a bit of a nerve-racking situation. I had a few second thoughts about coming on this trip, especially with no one else to accompany me. Though, I was very excited to learn Japanese while in the actual country, experience the culture first hand, travel around and go see famous sites, and visit my brother and his pregnant wife. These things in mind helped to keep me focused and my bit of anxiety under control. I still don't think that I was totally prepared for the culture shock I was about to face. After the experience though, I was glad that I had made the trip. It had been a great learning experience for me, as you will see....

I arrived at Tokyo Airport at about 2:30 PM Oct. 13, 1998. Everything was in Japanese!!! There was not one sign of English writing in sight! A slight twinge of nervousness filled my belly due to my lack of understanding of Japanese, being alone, having to get through customs, and finding a friend of my brothers whom I had never met before. Needless to say, I made it through the airport and found my brother's friend Takada just fine. It was time to experience Tokyo!

If you would like to see more pictures or the pictures on this page larger......

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