[Nao]

There's something I can do from 6000 miles away if there is a dire emergency - book a flight home quickly, cutting my trip short. I would absolutely hate for that to happen, but if the emergency is large enough, I would. My family is quite important to me, so I can't just leave them up the creek without a paddle, so to speak.

This new company I'm looking at would likely cost me $120-130 or less, total. So it's not that bad.

However, you are correct in saying this is also a vacation away, and I'm surprised you picked up on that. I'm taking a break from my normality and "the usual", so to speak. I've never had a real vacation in my life -- It's always been a lack of time or a lack of money -- so I figure I ought to do something big now that I have the chance. I don't like to half-ass things; when I say a vacation, I don't mean a three-day trip to the beach. I want to make a journey out of it.

As for communication, I don't think a call every two days or even every day is a particularly bad thing. I know my mother's worried, and being able to keep up communication will do well to help her stay calm. She's protective, and for good reason - and I respect that. I'm not worried about her hounding me either - heck, the first thing she asked me when I mentioned the cell phone was what the time difference was so she'd know when an appropriate time to call was. Even though she's protective, she more than understands my motives in wanting to go, and for seeking a little independence. After all, she got emancipated at sixteen - she knows all about it.

As far as my mother understanding my experiences, I'm sure she will. Her father was an officer in the armed forces, and later worked for the state department. She's traveled and lived in many countries all over the world, so she's more than familiar with foreign experiences.

It's funny you mention the "see you in four weeks" idea, too. Here's the funny part - we're not telling my older brother. He will have no idea I'm gone until I'm gone. I can picture the conversation now.

"Hey Mom, where's Thomas?"

"Japan."

"...what?"

"Japan."

Knowing him, he won't believe it for the first few days and just think it's some elaborate prank. It's funny though, all of his friends, my friends, and my family know I'm going - and they all know to keep it from him. So far the secret has been kept for months, so I don't think there will be any leaks - I'm in the clear. ;P

In any case, thanks for your input and I'll definitely think it over a few more times.

As for the rest of you, keep the suggestions coming... they're helping quite a bit -- even if they're rejected, they still provide me with an opportunity to more thoroughly analyze the details of my trip, and to weed out potential mistakes. I've already found and smoothed over a number of them so far. Thanks!

-Nao

Edit: Oh, another question for the lot of you. Travelers insurance. Should I get it? If so, and you have experience with it, what plan did you find best, and from where? Was it cost effective? How was their communication, and what were their policies? I've looked at quotes from a number of places, but what many offer are drastically different, and sometimes confusing.