Mata-ne, Japan!

It's been a journey.

I never thought a month could go by so fast, yet feel so full of memories. There wasn't a single day that went by wasted. Except for the day I got food sick from eating raw chicken. Regardless, I enjoyed every moment, every meeting, every new place was a treasure in my eyes.

Let's talk about travel. Travel is an amazing thing, no matter who you are and where you go. Experiences that define an individual cannot solely exist in a singular space. It's never about a destination, it's about the journey and the things you experience around it. That's something that I've found to be true through all my travels, Japan no exception. Traveling with a best friend, traveling with a group of strangers, traveling with a group of associates - traveling brings all these souls together to form a sense of camaraderie and by extension; smiles, laughs and friendship that lasts beyond the duration of our stay.

Japan to me is a wonderful place to be because of the vast amount of experiences that create a culture shock and wow factor to a westerner visiting. These experiences make any grand or minuscule detail memorable, whether it be the vast amount of vending machines, browsing the shelves of a convenience store, the beauty of the glowing tall cities, the explosion of epic fireworks or even the frustrating lack of trash cans. Though so different in the details, Japan feels so close to home at the same time. As a first world country, luxuries and commonalities of a day to day life are very similar - for better or worse in certain situations, Japan allows a traveler to experience a brand new world while feeling not too far from home.

As a young mind, seeing the workings of the Japanese medical and pharmaceutical infrastructure left a lasting impression on the difference in type of system we have here in the USA. The medical systems in both countries are a reflection of the health and mentality of the nation's population. Unfortunately, we have much to learn from Japan - however we have the resources to do so. Being in a career that is both the foremost position in pharmaceutical knowledge and the most easily accesible healthcare practitioner, there's much I can do to educate my community in better lifestyle choices.

Japan has left a lasting impression. The generosity of the people, the vast amount of history, the heartbeat of the living nightlife and sharing smiles with travelers and locals alike are only a few of the things that make my trip memorable. "Sayonara" means farewell/a lasting goodbye - but this won't be the last time I visit you, Japan! See you later, another time, "mata ne"!