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How An Encounter With A Japanese Friend Moved Me To The Core
Finding Peace In What We Can’t Control
Last week, my brother and I went to Kyoto for vacation. Kyoto is famous for its Buddhist temples and serene traditional atmosphere, so I wanted to make the most of our trip.
I also wanted to find time and meet a Japanese friend I met from a Language Exchange, so we needed to plan our trip wisely.
In the morning, my brother and I visited Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
At noon, we decided to return to our hotel in Osaka and rest before heading to the Gion district later in the day.
Unfortunately, my brother got sick and became unable to travel for the rest of the afternoon. Initially, I thought about canceling my meeting with my friend so I could look after him.
However, he told me I should go, enjoy the sights in Kyoto and meet my Japanese friend.
My 51km journey from our Osaka hotel to Central Kyoto then began.
It was my first time strolling alone in a foreign country, so I was nervous. And as an introvert, I was also anxious about meeting my Japanese friend in person for the first time.
As I reached Kyoto, I went down to Gion-Shijo station and walked towards Yasaka Shrine to wait for my friend since it was the nearest landmark. After a few minutes of touring the shrine alone, we finally met.
He toured me around then we stayed in a cafe hidden from the bustling areas of Central Kyoto.
As with everyone I meet for the first time, I ask the usual conversation starters to get to know them. We talked about our reasons for learning our target languages, aspirations, and plans moving forward.
After our short snack, I told him I wanted to see the famous Kamo River. I’ve always fantasized about going there because it seems such a tranquil and healing place.
Good thing Kamo River was nearby, and when we arrived, I was just in awe. The pristine aura it had was an…
