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Okay, we’re not actually in Japan yet, but Iris and I are spending spring break in Tokyo, and I’d like to tell you all about what we’re doing to get ready for the trip, and also solicit your ideas and requests, whether you’ve been there or not.
Let’s kick it off with a brief story.
Last night I was trying to book a one-day side trip from Tokyo to Kyoto through a Japan-based travel agency, and I kept getting an error message. “I think I’m going to have to call Japan,” I said. Laurie and Iris looked interested. I dialed the number on the site and used the most useful Japanese phrase I’ve learned thus far: *Anata wa eigo hanashimasu ka?* Do you speak English? A very helpful woman explained that my credit card had been declined.
I smelled fraud prevention, so I called Chase. A very unhelpful woman explained that they couldn’t pull up my account because of a computer problem. “Let me take your number and call you back,” she said. I gave her my number. “When may I expect to hear from you?” I asked.
“Any time after this conversation,” she said.
“No, I mean, will you call back tonight? Tomorrow? Next week?”
“Any time after this conversation.”
“Uhhh, OK.” Then she hung up.
“It’s easier to call Tokyo than the credit card company,” said Iris.
“Five bucks says they never call back,” I said. But I was wrong. They called Laurie this morning. At work.
Anyway, problem solved, and we’re going to ride the [shinkansen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen), baby! I can taste the [ekiben](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiben) already.
**Update:** I was wrong: they called Laurie at work LAST NIGHT at 8:30pm.
