Home again, home again

Our trip to Japan was INCREDIBLE! I had a blast and already plan to return someday to do some of the things I wasn't able to this time (like eat Kobe beef and visit Tokyo). I am so grateful to have had this experience, learning about Japanese culture and healthcare first hand. 

From beginning to end, everyone I met was so friendly and helpful. Our new friends were eager to share their culture with us and took us to many unique places, showing us how best to enjoy things the "Japanese way". We visited vividly beautiful places steeped in history, tried new and unusual foods (very brave for me!), and walked A LOT. Over the course of the trip I walked 173,336 steps and climbed 147 flights of stairs, totaling 79 miles! Our hosts made us feel like part of their family and I know I have friends for life in the people I met on the trip.

The most rewarding part of the trip for me was having the opportunity to visit many historically significant locations, some of which I was familiar with (like Hiroshima) and some that were new to me. I loved walking through the preserved wooden temples, sans shoes, and feeling the texture of the wood beneath my feet. Feeling the history in such a tangible was was very moving and powerful. 

Most surprising was that unlike my fellow travelers, I did not perceive the city as particularly congested. Having traveled to other very populated cities before, I expected trains and streets to be much more packed than they were and expected to see everyone in a rush. Compared to Mexico City trains where most trips you literally had multiple people pressed up against you (unnerving for American sense of personal space), most of our train rides had a least a few open seats. We only had to stand the whole time for a few rides, and I only recall once where I felt other passengers were uncomfortably close. I also noticed that Japanese culture takes a bit more time and care with everything. Business men were definitely in a hurry all the time, however those not wearing suits seemed to take everything from walking to eating and a more relaxed pace. 

I am looking forward to the next trip - planning for Thailand already! I grew very close to my fellow students from both Phoenix and Tucson and would travel with them again in a heartbeat. 

~Kris Shelledy