It would be difficult for me to overstate how much I enjoyed my recent visit to ELSI and Tokyo. I came to work on a collaborative project with Jim Cleaves, Markus Meringer, and Jay Goodwin, not knowing what to expect from either the city or the institute. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, during my visit, it seemed every sight was exceedingly beautiful, every sound harmonious, every taste delicious, and every experience fulfilling.
With the help of quality directions and friendly locals, the trip from Narita International Airport to ELSI's lobby was a breeze, even in my groggy, post-travel state. When I arrived, I found that the area around Tokyo Tech was nothing like what I had imagined. It is a quiet neighborhood full of peaceful streets and affordable restaurants, a tranquil oasis in the chaos of Tokyo. I was fortunate enough to catch the tail end of the blossoming of the Sakura trees, and nearly every view was punctuated by this breathtaking icon of Japan.

My interactions with the ELSI faculty added to the depth of my experience. Every person with whom I had the pleasure of speaking was warm and welcoming. They helped to create an incredibly stimulating intellectual atmosphere. During various lunches and tea times throughout my stay, I enjoyed engaging discussions ranging from ancient ceramic techniques to the effects of an earthquake as experienced by an underwater diver. Being immersed in such an environment not only made my time spent on work more productive, but also more exciting.

Part of ELSI's stated mission is to become an "interdisciplinary research hub" for studying the formation of our planet and the origins and evolution of life. It's certainly not easy to successfully build an institute where truly interdisciplinary interactions occur, but it's clear considerable effort has been put into ELSI's establishment by individuals who are deeply passionate about the institute's future. It's also clear that this work has paid off, and I have no doubt that ELSI will continue to flourish. I enjoyed my time at ELSI immensely, and look forward to returning soon!