Today was the big day. I had been studying Japanese for almost 5 years , and
although it was a difficult time for sure, the satisfaction of being able to finally communicate was so rewarding that the many years of failure and suffering seemed almost enjoyable.
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It’s funny now that I can sit back comfortably and laugh about it finally.
The years of rigorous study had finally paid off!
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I say to myself, muttering under my breath as I stand up from the cramped plane seat.
16 hours worth of a flight had sure taken its toll on my back and mental capacity, but I had finally arrived in Japan! It’s no easy feat going from the east coast all the way to Japan, in fact it’s on the other side of the world!
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But I had always dreamed of this day as I started studying the language. Huddled over my desk studying various kanji, vocabulary, and…the dreaded grammar!
Man did I hate the grammar!
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And sure enough, Japanese language and culture had gained an interest in my heart after discovering my love for romance manga. Driving me to study Japanese intensively. The love and raw emotion left overflowing from my heart after my first Romance manga had left me with a yearning to discover more!
And thus, my language learning journey had started in search of filling my heart many times with that same emotion from that first manga!
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And here I am!
A heavy sigh rushes from my chest as I peer around from the gate entrance from the plane.
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I’ve finally arrived at Kumamoto airport! The countryside of Japan had a certain familiar air to it. Leaving me feeling relaxed and invited.
Now I know what you’re thinking. I’m going to Japan for my first time and yet I chose the countryside of all places, what about Tokyo, Osaka, or even Kyoto?
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Well, ya see…I had poor social skills, and the thought of a large crowd of people would instantly send a chill into my brain causing me to freeze up and forget everything I knew about basic human skills!
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Even being bilingual I still feel like a sorry excuse of a human being! Haha!
As I say to myself, I feel a sudden weight push down to my shoulders.
I was ruining my own mood when I had just fulfilled my dream. Snap out of it, you dummy!
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Surprisingly, customs was a breeze, and I was already on my way to my destination. A nice walk through the countryside town and neighborhoods gives me a beautiful perspective of Japan that I had never experienced in my 34 years of life. It was a great, refreshing feeling of almost being at home but different enough of an experience to keep my heart yearning for more.
But here comes my. Biggest dilemma…
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I was lost…
On my way to the homestay, I was so engrossed in the scenery that it seems I had lost my way. And Japan was such an alien feeling to me that I wasn’t able to wrap my head around the difference between where I had been and where I was going.
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What am I going to do now?
I questioned myself, clenching onto the paper that had directions scribbled loosely onto it.
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It had already become a bit late, and there were few people around at this time to ask. I was tired from the travel and a bit light-minded. Feelings of helplessness rushed over me as I pictured myself helpless and shivering in the streets of Japan’s beautiful countryside, when suddenly from the corner of my eye, I saw a figure hunched over on the sidewalk.
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The sunlight had started to disappear for the day, but I could make out what seemed like a woman in a dress with a large hoodie huddled over her bag near a vending machine. This was my opportunity!
I charged forth, repeating various Japanese scenarios in my mind to be ready for the type of conversation I would run into. This was a common occurrence for me as I always worry about my conversation skills.
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すみません！
（excuse me!)
I muttered out as I crept towards the unknown figure. Trying to keep my movements as friendly as possible as not to startle the unknown person.
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I stood eerily as if almost hovering over them, eager for their reply as they continued to shuffle through their bag before slowly turning their head to leer at me. The soft glow of the nearby vending machine subtly lit the girl’s face from underneath the hood of her hoodie.
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The soft features of her face glowed with a subtle pale tone to her skin. The cool light from the vending machine seemed to enhance her soft Asian features. But what was expected to be your typical quiet and docile Japanese girl seemed to have been shattered the more I had peered into the oddly colored eyes, as if I was a sailor being lured into the depths of the sea by a beautiful siren.
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Adorned from the hood of the sweatshirt was long and flowing red hair, almost glowing, it had a majestically beautiful appearance. It could have been that subtle light enhancing it, or my dizzy mind from the long travel. But whatever the case, I was captivated. Hung from her gentle eyelids were lashes so long, I thought they may protect her face from any sudden flash of rain, had it come. Her makeup, rather simple, gave off a vibe of the noisiness of almost an American woman while also accentuating her soft Asian features. I was shocked and couldn’t take my eyes off of what I was peering at.
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What was it? My thoughts of what a proper Japanese girl had been, were suddenly shattered at the core. The colorful hair, bold makeup, and subtle stainless steel showing of facial piercings almost pierced through my cornea and embedded into the core parts of my brain.
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I stood idly by trying to grasp what to say next as the girl had begun to stand and peer interestingly up at me. Standing at almost 5’ nothing, she had no choice but to look up at me with those beautiful eyes and a confused look on her face that had slowly turned into a dark and almost creepy smirk. Her dark red lipstick glistened as her mouth started to open.
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何が欲しい？！
(What do you want?!)
The words fell from her cute mouth with such a soft voice before violently puncturing my earholes.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJUjhEXIFA
and then Add to home screen.