Japan Solo
I knew my friends leaving would be bittersweet, but I had no idea what a different experience would be.
As I navigate the travel landscape, I find it relatively easy (for the most part). But the real surprise comes in the form of human connections. In the final days of my Japan adventure, I'm gearing up for a punk rock festival, a lineup that includes a few bands I've grown to love. The anticipation is palpable, and I can't wait to immerse myself in this new experience.
My concert-going experience is limited. Last year was the first time a friend took me to a concert, and I got to mosh (shoutout, Raj). Apparently, this is something people did when they were younger, but better late than never.
Although I felt lonely, I was excited about the prospect of attending the concert. For this particular concert, I opted to pay the extra 10 dollars to be in the Gold section, which includes priority entry and the front section right in front of the band. If nothing else, it would be a place where I could be in my element and enjoy the music I like live. I had yet to learn that going to a concert in Japan would include cheap food, cheap booze, and complimentary coat-checking. What an organized and fantastic place. The mosh pit at the concert was respectful, fun, and everything I could ask for. Energy from the band had me on a buzz on the way out of the concert (which was at 10pm… because of Japan).
I'm walking back to the train station and hear American English. After 6 months of being alone and 10 days of my friends being gone, hearing American English was music to my ears. I quickly find where the voices are coming from and search for an entry point into their conversation. Awkwardly, the group saw me coming from a mile away. Luckily, they were the nicest people and welcomed me into their group. I got to get schwarma and drinks with some of the guys from the group. They validated my experiences with the locals in Japan. The people don't like outsiders, making it incredibly lonely until a group welcomes you in, hopefully in English.
Japan was a whirlwind of emotions. Despite my unique experiences with my friends, new and old, I came out of it feeling more isolated than connected. I'm exhausted from traveling, so a break in Delhi may help me get grounded.