I traveled 16 hours by air. 

I went through time, day and night, and I watched the sunrise. For 6 days I left what I had known as normal. Entering a new realm I realized America isn’t normal. 

We went through customs, an intricate zig zag line that removed our country’s soil from the bottom of our shoes. 

After the flight there was a 2 hour ride to our hotel. Just the beginning of our night. 

The walk to the hotel was a series of dark alley ways, people on bikes admiring our facial features. Cars that drove along the narrow path felt like a scene out of the movies. But there was no gun violence. Finally, past the double glass doors we were greeted with a bow. “Welcome to Kyoto”. 

Our day started early.

 At 7am, the skies were gray and foggy. We walked past what resembled a shack. But there was a sudden sense of comfort. The homes reflected colors of yellow, off white and blue with hang lines connecting the homes as one. I was scared someone might think that we were trespassing but little old ladies smiled gently while they tended to their gardens. 

We walked along a pebbled road up a hill and across a wooden bridge. The subtle sound of streams and waterfalls echoed the silent void. School kids walked, some biked past us. My walk to school back home consisted of honking automobiles, sky scrapers and creepy men that hollered as you walked by. 

This was different. 

Greenery surrounded me, crisp air filled my head with clarity. 

As we entered a maze of temples we were welcomed with huge wooden doors that stood several feet high. Rope that went around the sacred temple forbade us from stepping foot inside. Chills went down my spine as a man draped in red walked barefoot inside the temple across from me. He lit candles and prayed to the golden statue that glistened in the candle light. 

Tokyo, Japan. 

It was like the movies. Hundreds of people walking across the streets from all corners, gothic tutus and platform shoes stormed the streets. 

I’m from the big apple, I’m used to busy streets, loud nights and the savory aroma of the food trucks that polluted our corners.

 But this was different.

 Food stayed in the restaurants and not on the city floors, the elderely vacuumed trash left behind in the train stations, and when the stars came out the cities drew silent as their curfew sang them a lullaby. 

It took a 16 hour flight to an isolated island to understand Japanese culture. You can read so much but the ability to experience their values is truly inspiring. Traveling halfway across the world made me appreciate what I am given. It reminds me that I am not alone, there are places on this planet I’ve never seen before. I should never limit myself to one idea, I am so used to American norms that experiencing other values made me realize that America is corrupt. They run along an economical trend based on supply and demand. Without taking actual care of their residents and making them functioning members of society. 

This was different.