Tokyo is many thing, but not a place I would wish to live in. If anything, the city has proved to me that my
interest in Japan lies in its cultural roots, so I have come to
appreciate my fortune in being able to live in Kyoto for a year so much
more.
Since
coming to Tokyo, I have explored cemeteries, perused street markets,
watched astonishing firework displays, walked along rivers and seen $100
fruit, visited onsens and sentous, rode ferris wheels and roller
coasters, visited shrines and temples and classical parks, gone to a zoo
at night, tried out kendo, gone to bars for the first time, made silly
purikura... I’ve also been on TV and met a person off of YouTube. In six
weeks, I have experienced so much of Japan, and this is only the
beginning.
Tokyo is an all-go-all-the-time city.
Once you land, the action never ceases, if you are willing to open your
door. The pace is wonderful for those that love the night-life and
eagerly lap up the consumer culture. For me, Tokyo has been a nice
pit-stop, and the push I needed to know for certain now that it is
classical Japan that inspires me. Because of Tokyo, I have grown to
truly look forward to and appreciate what it is that Kyoto will be able
to offer me. There is no danger of my taking it for granted anymore.
I think that I have already matured a
bit for living here, so far away from home, with so little to be able to
count on. It has been a blessing to have Nicky here with me, of course,
and to have gotten closer to Erin as well, but I have also come to
realize that I am actually quite a sociable person. I like going out and
doing things, and I like being spontaneous. I have also discovered that
I am incredibly resourceful, and have dominion over my wayward emotions
when stress comes my way. I no longer feel shy or timid in saying so.
In the
end though, Tokyo has been the stepping stool into the real experience.
It is a safe city for foreigners, where there is plenty of
Americanization to fall back on, but it also has the drawback of being
too much like a security blanket. I understand now why I was told in the
past that for many foreigners, once they go to Tokyo, they never leave.
It can be truly scary to move beyond one’s comfort zone, but, I think I
am ready to take that leap.