
Who doesn’t love a good travel destination?!
fond memories of my time living in Japan. It was many moons ago, but it still
feels like yesterday.
If you don’t already know, I’m a history major. I’ve always
loved learning about different cultures, where they came from and how societies
evolved to where they are today. I spent a solid year and a half studying
Japanese history and I was fascinated. But learning about a culture in books is
one thing and actually packing your bags and heading half way around the world
is entirely another.

In fact, I spent a good part of my 12-hour flight learning the basics –
please and thank you – so I could at least be polite. Even though I was heading
there to teach English as a second language, I did want to learn some basics
and enrolled myself in private Japanese lessons while I was there. I was
never fluent, but I can at least count 😉
new level of independence and the ability to just figure things out. I remember
driving back to my house after teaching my first lesson and what should have
been a 10-minute drive, turned into 45 minutes with a few moments of sheer panic
setting in. After all, I couldn’t read the road signs to even tell someone
where I was! But I finally found my way and learned to use landmarks to guide
me until I knew my surroundings (a Shell gas station was a point of reference
for months!).
people, both locals and foreigners. I truly appreciated getting to see the
world from different perspectives.
to experience city life or life in the countryside, Japan has it all to offer.
I lived in a small town near the mountains and I adored living in an old style
Japanese house, complete with a Japanese style toilet! The latter took me a
minute to figure out how to use it – ha!
oishii (yummy). From my first
experience tasting sushi, to trying all the different ramens and discovering
okonomiyaki (a true fave). The food is just to die for.

There really is something to appeal to everyone. Plus, you’re guaranteed to see
something kawaii (cute)!
I love flowers, and these captivated my attention. I loved cherry blossom
season and am so thankful I got to experience it first hand.
terrain – from cities, to mountains, to the sea – this little island has it all.
Plus, there is always a festival in full swing with lots of lanterns strewn
around to enhance the celebratory feeling.


get me through to the final round!
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