The year before I came to Cosmo House, I spent it working in the (in my opinion) soul-sucking environment of the corporate world as an office robot. I was the lowly monkey who copied papers, typed data into spreadsheets, moved around files, and added paper into the printer. Type, type, save, edit, print! copy, copy, file in drawer, repeat. With no need for any original thoughts, and, sometimes I wonder, any thought at all, I was thoroughly bored and searched for means of escape.
My escape took form of applying to graduate school and planning a short trip to Japan, to visit a close friend of mine who moved there to teach English. So I bought my tickets and began counting the days before my flight took off to Japan.
Travel is a great method for escape, if only for distracting yourself and physically getting away from your stresses. But I really love it because it’s a wonderful means to learn and expand your understanding of the world (Learn the language! Try to immerse yourself in the local culture!), to reflect (What in the world am I going to do with myself?), and explore something new and exciting. Overwhelm your senses with new experiences—smell and taste delicious food (and LOTS of it):
 Soba noodles – 2 versions |
 Soup, deer, fried pumpkin and potato |
 kakigori (shaved ice), anko (red bean paste), and macha (green tea) ice cream; hot anko soup with toasted mochi |
 Curry and rice, miso soup, and salad |
 ramen |
 Pastries at a bakery |
—take long, scenic nature walks. Feel the sun on your face, the wind blowing through your hair!
 Growing up in Florida and Illinois, I’m used to living in incredibly flat places. So, when I do get to travel, I’m always amazed at mountains. And I love how Mt. Fuji dominates the landscape for miles around it. |
 Field of flowers near Mt. Fuji |
 Near Kyoto |
 Houses along a stream, Kyoto |
 A painter, Kyoto |
 A monkey breastfeeding her infant |
—and most importantly, connect with people (above all nations is humanity, right?):
 People relaxing by the river, Kyoto |
 The English teachers of Shizuoka and Shimizu, Japan |
 My friend and travel companion extraordinaire / tour guide / hostess / Japanese teacher, Tatyana |
 On the right, Emi, from Shizuoka, who took us to a nearby onsen, a show, helped me buy batteries for my camera, and was the most helpful and generous friend. Her parents even drove Emi, and my friend and I, even though they had never met us before, to a farm and flower field near Mt. Fuji. I rarely see such hospitality! |
What more could you want?