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I’m in awe of how much of my feelings and experiences I manifested for my trip to Asia. Before leaving Chicago, I wanted to be prepared with some film camera knowledge (using the guidance of Marlee Grace’s Creative Ideation Portal). I wrote down mantras and affirmations and why I even wanted to capture my travel moments on a film camera.
Here’s some of what I wrote about a month before leaving:
These were more desires I knew I deserved rather than unrealistic, pressure-filled expectations.
Revisiting these hopes upon my return gave me a moment to be not only proud of myself for making it come to reality, but also the confirmation of when I write things down, the blessings have always come for me.
I allowed myself to tear up in joy while re-reading these pre-travel longings because I did something that some deem scary— solo travel— and yet I made the choice to make this Kyoto pit stop without a thought of how wild it was to go to the other side of the globe on my own. That’s a bad bitch move!!
Arriving in Japan started with trying to avoid dozing off on the train ride from Osaka to Kyoto and testing out said film camera to prepare it for the amount of work I’d put it through.
Check-in to my traditional Kyoto home air bnb wasn’t for a few more hours so I spent that time walking around the quietly quaint area locals call home, in search of food.
Two Japanese men took a break from stuffing their faces in the ramen bowls to look up at me while I shyly greeted the restaurant employees in Japanese. Eating by myself felt awkward for the first few minutes but being met by the kindness of the owner explaining the meals they had and talking about how he lived in LA for a while and was hoping to return made me enjoy the space between solitude and simple interactions with strangers.
The first day was a chill one of taking photos of the surrounding neighborhood and ending it with some sushi and non-alcoholic beer ^
The day ended with me unpacking my suitcase and thoughts (out loud) about how sad and hard traveling alone can be when I was used to traveling with a partner / dreaming with that person about living adventurously together. I needed that moment to acknowledge how scary and uncomfortable this new reality was.
Speaking those words out loud also gave me the words to say that I made the decision to travel to Kyoto for myself and that I didn’t spend hours and hours on flights to sit in sadness.
What followed were two full days of solo enjoyment. Two full days of people watching, saying arigato gozaimasu after every interaction with people, slowly wandering around with my camera in tow, taking in the details of the alleyways, stumbling upon stores and food joints.
Two full days of enjoying my own company, completely unbothered. I was just roaming as myself, just existing amongst a bunch of strangers who I’ll never see again.
Two full days of enjoying my own company, completely unbothered. I was just roaming as myself, just existing amongst a bunch of strangers who I’ll never see again. Completely unaware of whether people were staring at me as I figured out where to go and took photos of myself and whatever else caught my eye was freeing.
Even when only being around couples during the kimono & tea ceremony I registered for, I couldn’t help but feel so secure in being without a plus one— setting up my own shots, getting to know my own angles, and helping a couple take their lovey dovey photos with reactions of “ah so cute” instead of jealousy.
I also felt that much more present during the interactions I had because of the lack of distraction I would have had if I were entertaining a travel buddy. My favorite interaction was with the chef and his wife who made my 9-course kaiseki experience. The chef laughed when he saw me attempt to eat a fish head, thinking I wouldn’t do it. I was mostly struggling because I was scared he was judging me for how I used chopsticks. We made eye contact and he mentioned how most people are scared to eat fish heads and he called over his wife to show her what I did that most people wouldn’t. We laughed when I pointed at my eyes with two fingers to communicate how people are probably creeped out by the fish eyes looking back at them.
It’s these simple, very human everyday moments that are so special. A reminder that humor and experiences can be very universal.
We freaked out when I showed them how I found out about the restaurant— I saw a Youtube go there eating at the same seat I was at. They yelled in shock seeing the chef’s hands on that YouTube video that ended with the chef and his wife waving goodbye— the same way I parted ways with them. It was such a funny and sweet interaction
I've gotten so many messages from people saying how much they've enjoyed watching my recap of my trip and I've been excited to continue sharing those moments with people. I keep looking back at the photos even two weeks after my return and am filled with happiness, gratitude and pride for traveling so far on my own and while having the best time.
To more solo adventures alongside the strangers I have yet to meet.
SENSORY SAFETY
The song(s)/artist I’ve replayed the past week to calm me down
Haven’t started listening to this yet, but an old work friend recommended listening to a soundscape of frogs
The media I watched the past week to calm me down
Some Matteo Lane videos that made me cackle, like when they visited an Olive Garden in Times Square
The activity I did the past week to calm me down
I went to a library that’s only filled with poetry and read some poems for a few hours on a rainy, gloomy day