Right now, a large part of western Japan is suffering the effects of massive flooding. According to an article on the BBC's website, 179 people died, 70 are missing, and around 270,000 households are destroyed. Please pray for Japan and the organizations that are there helping now, and donate if you can and feel led to. (Clink the hyperlink to find a list of local and smaller NGOs that are currently in Japan for flood relief).

Amidst this struggle Japan is facing, I wanted to share some cool things about Japan and some things I learned while I was there. I spent about three weeks in Japan this summer and I learned a lot. I had never been to Japan, nor to any of the vast Asian continent before so this was new for me and I went in excited and ready to try everything the country had to offer.

1. Sharing meals is refreshing

https://unsplash.com/photos/XsK9Qm7TWqsCrossing photo by Rawpixel on Unsplash

I got to share a lot of meals with a lot of people while I was in Japan. It was the best entrance into the culture and lives of Japanese people. Sharing meals was fun and casual, and we all enjoyed ourselves. I ate some cool things and it was the time I felt the least like an outsider.

One thing I noticed is that sharing meals can be a real symbol of friendship and welcoming someone into your life. As a college student, I find that most days, my friends and I only have time to grab a coffee. Then I realized something - when we finally get the chance to grab dinner, we have so much fun. I noticed that young Japanese adults often share meals with each other so I want to make that part of spending time with my friends.

Another part of meals often shared in Japanese culture is making the meal. Hanging out as you prepare everything is half the fun and I had a great time with Japanese people my age making and eating food, and I hope to bring that into mine and friends lives.

2. I should walk around more

https://unsplash.com/photos/vWfKaO0k9pcCrossing photo by Ryoji Iwata (@ryoji__iwata) on Unsplash

There are lots of ways to get around in the cities of Japan - bus, train, bike, skateboard, walking, and plenty more. I got to walk around a lot when I was in Japan and it is something I don't do enough. I found so many more opportunities when I walked. I met more people, found cooler places to visit, and enjoyed the day more when I walked and I want to do that more in my hometown. Who knows what I haven't seen of the place I have grown up in because I don't walk from point A to B?

3. I should take more time for baths

https://unsplash.com/photos/MNXIZgzKw4UCrossing photo by Abigail Lynn (@shmabbss) on Unsplash

I love baths. They are one of my favorite things in life and one of the biggest ways I relax and treat myself. I was excited to find out that while I was in Japan, I would get to go to the 'sento' and 'onsen', (the difference between the two is that an onsen is a natural hot spring with mineral water, sentos are not) which are public bathhouses.

Initially, I was nervous because this is very different from American culture. Western countries (especially America) do not know how to handle non-sexualized nudity. America loves to feature nudity in movies, media, and TV. But in natural contexts for human bodies, there is lots of controversies (take breastfeeding for instance).

After breaking through that socialization from having grown up in America, I was so glad I got to go to the sento as much as I did. I felt cleaner and more relaxed than I had ever felt. Some of it was the atmosphere; however, what made it the most relaxing was that bathing was an experience. I learned bathing is something you take time for. It was like my mind and soul felt clean and relaxed afterward as well.

I definitely recommend creating something like in your evenings regularly because no matter how busy the day was, how early I got up, or how much I had to do, I looked forward to ending it and washing it off in a hot bath at the sento. Create something cleansing for yourself.