Nihon arigatou!

Before traveling to Japan I was curious and I asked myself numerous questions. I wanted to know more about the culture, food, and wondered how the Japanese population perceived Americans. Sure I could have read articles online and got the answers to my questions, but I knew that I wanted to get those answers by actually getting first hand experience. This trip was probably one of the best decisions I have made. I am truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to travel to another country with my classmates, and to experience everything that I did.

When we landed, I knew that this would be a trip that I would never forget. We were greeted and welcomed with open arms not only by the faculty and students from Kobe Gakuin University, but by complete strangers. It is always a challenge to communicate with people  that speak a different language than yourself for the fear of saying the wrong thing, or offending them. However, everyone that I met on my trip was patient with me and were very helpful. There were so many acts of kindness that I witnessed and to me this is probably one of the things I will remember the most. For example, a few of us left later than the group and did not have access to WIFI which made it difficult to find our way back to our hotel. We were using key words and asking strangers for help in hopes to catch the right train back. I was surprised to see how many people were willing to help. Not only did someone tell us how to get back home but she got on the train with us and showed us the way. This is something that I can honestly say I have never encountered. I was speechless and her act of kindness made me want to repay the favor for someone in the future. I also remember seeing an elderly woman standing on the train, so I got up from my seat so that she could sit down. Not only was she thankful for what I did, but she dug through her bag and offered me a piece of fruit. I honestly can say that I do not think that I have experienced such generosity before. Everyone was so humble and kind which makes me want to be a better person. 

When we visited the pharmacies, I was able to compare the role of a pharmacist to ones in the United States. I was excited to see how they ran things, and how the medications were handled. Something that I found interesting was my visit to the pharmacy that specialized in herbal medicine. I was intrigued to see what their beliefs were and how common it was to get herbal medication in Japan. It is always fascinating to compare different professions in different countries, and I found it to be a great learning experience. 

This experience has opened my eyes to many things and I know that everything I have done and seen will help me become a better person. I am thankful for this opportunity and to have met the people that I did, because I know if I hadn't then my trip would not have been the same. When I started my trip, I looked at them as my friends but as the end approached I knew that they were apart of my family.  I was able to learn a lot from them, and plan on repaying the kindness to others around me. This trip was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, and I hope that one day everyone gets the opportunity to experience what I did.