At the end of 15 days crossing the Atlantic, I found myself thinking about random things that surprised me about the cruise.

It only takes a few minutes to turn people from strangers and stereotypes to full, flesh and blood, Real People. I need to make the effort more often.

In spite of the crowds and the costs, sometimes cruise ship excursions can be the right choice for seeing the sights.

It takes a skilled acupuncture specialist to to be able to insert needles on rough seas. I’ll never forget my first acupuncture experience.

I’ve never been a fan of big cruise ships, but a transatlantic cruise sounded interesting.

Mark thought he was going to be sitting quietly in a corner drinking sake. The locals didn’t let that happen.

Nara was a quieter, less expensive alternative to staying in Kyoto. We just needed to defeat the lock on the B&B.

I didn’t love the fortune I received from the temple. Fortunately, I didn’t have to keep it.

We had some delicious food in Japan, and it was almost always an adventure.

I stopped in Kamakura to speak to a Japanese camera crew, and now I might be an infomercial star in Japan.

We took 2,216 photos in Japan. Did we ask permission for any of them? I asked one time.

You don’t have to see to find the escalators or know when the train doors are closing. Just listen to the birds.

I was looking forward to a fantastic dinner. Uber almost ruined my plans.

It was subtle and discreet, but he was definitely laughing at us while we tried to figure out the bus signage.

It’s difficult enough to ask strangers if I can take their photo. I wonder if it will be even more difficult in Japan.

I can walk for an hour in this Houston suburb and not see another person. I miss French squares filled with people.

After only 30 days, I’m sure I don’t have a true picture of expat living, but I learned a few things.

As a frequent traveler and someone who cares about the environment, I knew I should take public transportation. I was irrationally nervous about it.

It’s difficult to ignore a giant flea market at your front door, even if you’re not a shopper.

Being sick did a number on my frame of mind. While stuck in my apartment, I started to miss American life and I was annoyed at all things French.