I’m sitting at a corner coffee shop sipping on my beverage,
observing those who pass by, and reflecting on how I got here. It’s my first full
day in Japan and the study abroad is finally beginning. I’ve been waiting for this moment since last
summer when Stewart and Kris asked me to be their TA. We have a great group of
students coming and I couldn’t be more excited to work with them on the
experiences that will come. For now, I try to adjust myself to the new
atmosphere. I’ve done a fair share of traveling, but this is a whole new
experience for me. My Japanese vocabulary is extremely limited, and I can only
understand a few kanji from seeing them repeatedly at the airport. My
conversations so far have consisted of me giving my best “konnichi wa”
following with a lot of pointing and head shaking and ending with an “arigato” and
a bow. The locals can tell I am trying my best and I can tell they are trying
their best to help me. In the short time I’ve been in Japan, that is a major
thing I have noticed. The Japanese people are always respectful and will
continue to go out of their way to help. The language barrier becomes obsolete.
It’s 8:30 in the morning as I sit here and drink my coffee. Everybody
that walks by is walking with a purpose. They all have somewhere to be. By their
business and business casual looks, I can assume most are headed to work. A few
walk by wearing hipster chic outfits accessorized with backpacks. I think it’s
safe to say they are students. This scene reminds me of Chicago – so many people
headed in so many directions, all focused on getting there. It’s also nothing
like Chicago – it’s quiet outside, not many people are talking, not a single
car horn beeps, and people aren’t bumping into one another. The only sounds I
do hear are the clinking of glasses as the barista completes orders and the
soft murmur of the others in the coffee shop. Nobody in the coffee shop is
loudly talking on their phone or to the people they are with, instead everyone
speaks at a low volume to be respectful to those around them. It makes me
wonder why America is the way it is. Why are we always in such a hurry that we will
run over those in our path? Why are we always so self-centered that we can’t do
things for the complete strangers around us? Why do we feel the need to always
be so loud? When did America become this rambunctious country and how did we
get to be like this? I know there is no clear, definite answer to these
questions, but I continue to wonder. I take the last sips of my coffee and head
across the street to Lawson’s, a convenience store. I pick up a pickled plum
flavored onigiri, a rice triangle, and a green tea for breakfast. An onigiri is
a rice triangle wrapped in seaweed and the center is filled with whatever flavor
you choose. I was a little hesitant on the flavor of choice at first but was instantly
satisfied. It was a great first breakfast in Japan.
Later in the day Stewart, Kris, and I ventured out to Shibuya
and walked the famous Takeshita Street. There were so many stores of so much
variety. Food designed to look cute. Shirts with pictures of cats doing random
things. Costume stops. Restaurants. Places to buy knick-knacks. The street was
packed with people, too. For being noon on a Wednesday, everybody was there. Many
were tourists trying to take in all the action like I was, and many were school
children in their uniform getting their favorite snacks. I have never seen a street
like it. The three of us made our way to the other end of the street to get to
Monster Café for lunch. If you could expect a certain type of restaurant to be
near Takeshita Street, this would be the one. Walking through the doors, we
were immediately met by a giant rotating cake that we later found out was the
stage. Giant plants and vines were throughout the restaurant and on the ceiling.
The staff were dressed as monsters, but not the scary kind more like the cute,
colorful kind. If you’ve ever heard of Monster High, it was like that, but cuter.
If Takeshita hadn’t blown me away enough, this was definitely the icing on the
giant cake. The background music was on a loop of happy, party music that forced
you to dance in your seat and made you excited. In that moment I was ready. I
was ready for the students to be here and I was ready for the study abroad to
begin. This was just a small piece of happiness, but I wanted them all to experience
it. Japan was going to do just that.
Six o’clock hits and we’re at Haneda Airport meeting up with
the students. Not everyone has made it yet, though. I’m excited and nervous. The
moment is finally here. I’ve spent so much time with Stewart and Kris this past
school year working on this study abroad. In the fall we were planning the trip
and selecting our students, and in the spring we had the Intercultural Development
class. I look back on my own study abroad as a student two years ago when I
went to New Zealand and Australia with Stewart and Kris. I learned more about
myself, made lasting relationships, and experienced amazing cultures. I was
able to live in the moment and put myself first. I wasn’t tied to all the
things back at home that knew me the way I was before I left. I was able to be
and build the me I wanted. I know how much personal growth that trip did for me,
and I want more than anything to help these students get an experience just
like that or even better.
Thank you,
Katy Guzek
Human Services Major & Global Liberal Arts Studies Minor
Japan Lived Experience 2019 