It's no secret now, Mark is going to Japan on a business trip for a couple of weeks (at the end of this month and into August). I usually accompany him on business trips, but he will be going solo this time. I am quite envious, yes, in the developed world that is about as far away and exotic as you can get from here. But this will be his first trip abroad, besides, I did get to spend six weeks in Costa Rica without him.