kazanbai

Kazanbai. That was yesterday's word of the day.

Kazanbai is Japanese for "volcanic ash." This, according to the agent speaking to Hideaki, was the reason why the plane carrying my luggage from the US was delayed. Kazan-freakin'-bai?! How I am even supposed to react to that? I sensed cultural differences at play. I asked Hide if it could be a lie. I thought perhaps in Japan there are some scenarios when someone is forced to lie for their job, and so they tell a HUGE lie so as to help the other guy out by making it blatantly obvious that he's not being told the truth.

No, said Hideaki. It seemed like the agent was telling the truth.

Kazanbai or no, my luggage did arrive today... full of beer-drenched possessions. That's another story.

To be continued...