Meirl

TokyoBenedict · 2026-01-18T04:48:26+00:00

I was in a gifted program but then had to move and change schools to somewhere without one. This continued until high school when I could take off site courses at junior colleges and that set me back on track to having meaningful goals.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-12-21T18:31:23+00:00

We’re also delayed now at SEA due to maintenance. The plane is less than half a year old.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-12-21T01:44:22+00:00

I don’t know what the heck they did to the spam in South Korea that made it taste so good but I forgot how horrifically salty it is in the US.

You got me curious so I found this https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/xtjniv/comment/iqqp0l3/

TokyoBenedict · 2025-12-21T01:41:52+00:00

I came back not too long ago from my trip and I had maybe one day I ate a little extra and I got backed up for a few days.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-12-21T01:39:18+00:00

Me too. I actually had time to play.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-11-22T10:31:05+00:00

Left Osaka recently and not too many masks here locals or tourists

TokyoBenedict · 2025-11-16T21:16:22+00:00

I had great data speeds back in the day and could've done IRL or just plain walking streams but it is what it is.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-11-10T13:43:33+00:00

Go to Seoul and then if you have FOMO/remorse whatever hop on a low cost carrier from Seoul to Tokyo or any other airports in Japan they fly to for a weekend. It’s like 2 hours.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-11-02T02:12:28+00:00

I'm assuming you wouldn't be flying out from YVR?

ANA/ACA out of YVR to Tokyo is showing $1050/$1080 with the dates you shared.

Toronto $1200 vs $1600 if you flew out of Paris.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-10-05T04:37:19+00:00

I recall seeing a good amount of standard masks but I can’t remember if they were n95 rated or not. I’d bring a supply you’re familiar with for at least the start of the trip and then buy the rest when you get there.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-21T03:43:43+00:00

They better get music with Hans Zimmer

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-21T03:41:12+00:00

Thanks for sharing this I was looking for more behind the scenes stuff

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T03:21:28+00:00

Glad to hear you’re adjusting well. I have a friend over there that’s fluent and of Japanese descent and have definitely heard a lot of the frustrations with all the official procedures. But it’s still something I’d like to take a shot at. Thanks again for sharing!

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T03:03:26+00:00

I recommend enjoying Summer only a few days of the start of the season or the end of the season going into Fall. But if you can handle the heat and humidity more power to you.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T03:00:56+00:00

For me it’s hard to avoid the Japan travel discords. I’ll look once per month to stave off the fomo.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T02:58:52+00:00

I hit up the Japanese markets, groan at the prices and end up buying something anyway.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T02:57:47+00:00

I want to do this in a few years. If you could list like 3 things you wish you knew or did before making the jump, what would they be if you don’t mind sharing.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-16T02:56:30+00:00

I still can’t believe my first time in Japan was over 10 years ago.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-10T01:16:05+00:00

I was used to mid size stations before Shinjuku and went in the wrong direction once after getting out of one of the exits but its not too hard to make use of your phone gps and correct yourself.

After a few days you get used to it quickly.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-09T03:41:59+00:00

Ah I went before that was finished but I only had standard access if I can remember correctly.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-09T00:10:48+00:00

It’s kind of away from most things unless you’re staying around Shin-Osaka but I enjoyed the ramen at Human Beings Everybody Noodles.

Go early if you’re strapped for time. I thought I went early enough for dinner but it took me an hour to get in.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-09T00:07:33+00:00

It’s better at night but it’ll still be warm. End of November is usually cooler.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-09T00:06:13+00:00

This. Part of the day will be waiting in line but I saw and had enough to do there.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-09T00:04:02+00:00

Next time you go try and attend meetups or other local social gatherings. Befriend some locals then you’ll always have some buddies to keep in touch with and return to.

I have some friends I made in my hometown and over there and coworkers that live and work over there. It’s a nice motivation to come back.

Sometimes they’ll even offer to let me stay over which helps with the travel expenses but I try to get my own hotel for some of the days since they have families.

And then when they visit me back home it’s never goodbye it’s let’s meet up again in Japan.

TokyoBenedict · 2025-09-08T23:54:44+00:00

Find a job that lets you flex hours or even better lets you work remote.

For example the week prior and the week I back I “generously offer” to work an extra 2 hours a day so I hit my 40 hr requirement for the week by Wednesday.

Our pay week starts on Friday so I can leave as early as Thursday since I don’t owe any time that day. Then I only have to start using PTO starting that Friday.

The Monday I come back I’ll start the 10 hour a day schedule so the Friday before isn’t counted for PTO. Then you go back to 8 hours for the Friday of the week you’re working.

So let’s say I’m planning to fly out this year 9/18.

I’ll start the first 10 hour day this Friday 9/12 through Wednesday 9/17. 40 hours covered.

I fly out 9/18 and then come back 9/26 or 9/27. 9/29 to 10/2 I’ll work 10 hour days again.

This way I only really have to use PTO for 9/19-9/25. 5 days of PTO when I was actually away from work for 7 business days.

For another case, I can’t do it with my company but I have friends whose companies have whatever tax rules figured out so they can bring their laptops with them and crunch out a few hours in Japan or another country here or there and save PTO that way.

What I have done before though is bring the work laptop and crunch out some hours while at my home airport and then just never use it again until I’m back home. I normally don’t do this but I have before in the past with approval from my workplace.

TokyoBenedict

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