The fact that I learned something on my trip to Japan goes without saying. Anyone who travels to a foreign country for the first time inevitably learns something about the culture and the country, but it is the matter in which I learned and the things I learned about myself in the hours of self-reflection I had that will stay with me for longer.
Let’s start with the easy part: what I learned about the culture and the region, from the food to the clothing to the customs. I was staying in Yokohama, the second largest city population-wise in Japan, and I went to Tokyo, the largest city, on two separate days. I came with my mom, but she was here on business, so for three full days, I was left to wander Japan alone to my hearts delight.
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I learned that there are a few customs in the restaurants here that are very different from those in America. First, no one tips in restaurants; that idea just simply isn’t around in Japan. Also, a hot, wet towel is given out before meals. I found both of these customs to be an improvement, honestly.
As far as the shopping, its legendary status certainly has merit. There were hundreds of places to shop, but just within a couple of blocks from my hotel, there were two malls each 8 stories tall. I was quickly overwhelmed by all the marketing. Interestingly enough, nearly every establishment I went into was playing English music and oftentimes the clothes I saw looked like they could easily be straight out of an American winter fashion catalog.
While reading about my trip, I'd like you to keep a few facts in mind: I turned eighteen a mere month ago, I speak literally two words of Japanese, I stick out looks-wise very much, and I am prone to get lost. The getting lost part continued in Japan; I would say it was even exemplified.
It was in these moments of being lost that I continued to learn from those around me. What I found that struck me to my sentimental core was the kindness of people on the street and the people at information desks. On my first day, I was trying to navigate a series of underground tunnels that connected my hotel to an enormous shopping complex. I stopped by an information desk and pointed to where I wanted to go to on a map because as I previously mentioned, I, unfortunately, cannot speak Japanese and their English was limited as well. Regardless, one of the men proceeded to take the time to walk me all the way to the other end of the station to the exit that I had to take. In another instant in which I tried to get onto the wrong bus, a group of women helped me to make sure I knew which bus to get on when the right one came.
On a related note, I also found that it was surprisingly easy to communicate with people here even when we didn’t have a language in common. I have never had to do this before and it was a pleasant feeling getting to connect with people on a different level than just linguistically.
Now onto the part that is a little harder to put into words. I have always been a self-reflective person, but spending hours alone in a foreign country without internet access allows for one to step back and look at one’s life in a very intense way.
I learned that I am a lot more capable than I thought I was. I showed myself this in a multitude of ways, but perhaps most prominently during my trip to the Sankeien Garden. To get here, I once again navigated the underground tunnels to the bus stop, figured out which bus to take, proceeded to take a 40 min bus ride and walked through the suburbs of Yokohama. After I even determined which bus to take back, thankfully (with a little help).
I learned that I can make my away across a major metropolitan city whilst keeping up a calm exterior even though I am seriously freaking out on the inside about how lost I am, not to mention the 45-degree weather, which is very cold for a California girl.
Finally, I learned that I have more strength than I ever thought I would.
So thanks, Japan, for teaching me a little bit more about the world and a lot more about myself.
