11/25

Since Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Japan, I honestly didn’t expect to find a group of people to share this holiday with. I actually didn’t even think much about the holiday since Hallmark wasn’t around to hype up the holidays, pretending American families actually enjoy being around one another.  Despite the distance from home, I somehow found myself spending Turkey Day with two other Seattle-ites, three westernized and highly accomplished, Japanese women and a 100% Japanese guy (except for a dash of German, thanks to his father’s, father’s, father’s, father) who was graced with the All-American name, Jake. 

I arrived late because I had to work until 9pm. My friends, Eric (from Seattle) and his wife, Sayori invited me to the dinner after only meeting them a few weeks ago. Eric invited his college buddy, also from Seattle and now living in Japan with his wife, an accomplished Architect. Sayori invited Japanese Jake, who works with her. And the host was a lovely, cultivated chef, who was featured in “The Breadmaker’s Apprentice,” to indulge us with her phenomenal cooking skills.

Ravenous from my long day at work, I knew I was in heaven when I walked through the door to a table full of delectable delights and a full glass of Cabernet. “Oh my god! I am in LOVE!” I thought. This was the most perfect combination of people and flavors. I knew this as soon as I walked in the door, no introduction needed. These, food included, were my soul mates!

The evening was spent laughing and joking about American culture verses Japanese culture. We ate until our bellies could burst and drank countless bottles of wine. I couldn’t even tell you how many times a bottle was opened! My glass was never left dry. I sipped the wine and bonded over conversations about restrictions in Japanese culture. We joked about the uncomfortable situations we found ourselves in as ‘liberal westerners’ in a conservative society. I felt a sense of satisfaction with where I am in my life right now.

I realized that no matter where I am or what I do, I find myself surrounded by amazing people. I joke that I’m neither accomplished nor stable, but the reality is I don’t really care enough to change. I’m having fun and that’s what I need the most right now.

I’m also realizing the people I surround myself with the most are a reflection of who I want to be. This sounds like basic knowledge, but I’m finding this to be more and more true. I left a group of people in Seattle that I admire, love and trust. I felt the need to isolate myself from those people and the norm to figure out how to find stability within myself without the crutch of others. Now I am in Japan, and I am drawn to a variety of individuals with the same inspirational qualities I found comforting in Seattle. It’s ironic that I keep meeting others from Seattle, but aside from that, the people I meet are powerful individuals who seek adventure and beauty in life.

Isolating myself is not the way for me to heal from the past. Healing for me comes from surrounding myself with empowering individuals that inspire thought provoking conversations about life and ending in the prototypical belly laughter. All this, reminding me that I am exactly where I need to be at this single moment.