However, when it got late, we wanted to head home and headed to the closest bus stop. To our alarm, we found out that all the bus stops near the city hall were not operating due to the festival. Instead, we wandered for 30 minutes trying to find a bus stop that was open. Eventually, we had to take a break and went to a cafe that was cleaning up for the night and asked for help. The owner stopped her cleaning, told her cook she would be back, and drove us home herself. We ended up becoming friends and even made plans to travel together during my winter holiday.
Another time we were trying to double check if a bus traveled in the direction of our dorm, and a man helped us out since he spoke English well. It turns out he graduated from our school as well, that he was taking the same bus as us and that he was from the Philippines. We became friends and I even found out that he works at Pokemon Go as an English translator for the app. How cool is that?
My time in Japan has done nothing but increased my love for culture and learning about others around me. It is so surprising to see all the ways I feel like I fit in despite being from America. Japan is a monoculture society, and it's hard to not be considered an outsider. Despite this, the people are warm and welcoming. The food is incredible. And the friends I have made have been some of the best I will ever have. With some I will keep in contact with, and with others I will remember fondly times spent together. I truly hope each of you get to experience this kind of adventure.
