October 20, 2019
Ethan goes to Yokohama
It's been a month and a half in Japan and I've been having one of the best times of my life. However, the commute to school and the 20,000 steps a day might have been taking a toll on my feet, it's worth it. Everyday is a new adventure whether that is sitting in a Starbucks looking over the famous Shibuya scramble or shopping in the side streets of Harajuku. No day is a restless day in Tokyo.
I have found some of my favorite moments to be some of the simplest ones. These moments often were sitting in a quiet cafe corner with a friend or exploring a grocery store enjoying all the flavors that Japan provides. Even though I have almost 14 million neighbors, I still manage to always find a peaceful side street or park bench.
Mostly notably, my school festival has definitely been the biggest highlight so far. Which was nothing like I have experienced back in America. The entire school (excluding the third years who were studying for college exams) stopped class for almost a week prior just to prepare for the festival. My class and I worked from 8:20am to as late as 8pm somedays just to be able to make the best possible festival for friends, family, and guests. The result was a spectacular two day festival with plenty of sweet and savory food stands, rides, mazes, and various exhibits showing off the sports and arts clubs at Seiritsu. Overall I am having an amazing time, even though I always go to bed exhausted, it's worth every second.