May started for me in Thailand, where I was busy trippin' the light fantastic, as it were. After an amazing week in what is surely one of the poorer countries I will ever visit, I returned to Japan, where I learned that all the "don't drink the water" advice should be heeded. I spent about two weeks recovering from the wonders of Thai water. Finally returning to work, I was treated to the wonders of ironworking at Tosu Kogyo, and finally ended my month with a visit to the Takori's for a barbeque (the softball game had to be called due to rain), and a flight to Kobe, where everyone gathered to celebrate the joys of continued employment with the Japanese government.

Back to Japan 2000.