If the life is journeys, my life in Japan is an exciting and interesting one.

It is not only because I experienced many things for the first time but also because I had a wonderful traveling companion to discover the life there. Unlike other developed countries that may make you impressed by their luxurious and sparking appearance, I am definitely sure, Japan will appeal you by its spiritual values and the beauty in Japanese characters and culture. Where I lived was a rural area, Togashira, Ibaraki Prefecture, taking about one and half hours by train to Tokyo. Like almost Vietnams countrysides, you can feel the perfume of the herbs and trees in the air and the beauty of nature in the bird singing and the grass glistened in the early-morning dew. However, you still enjoy the benefits of a modern city there. We usually went to the sport center to play table tenis or swim at the weekend. For the good weather, we had barbecue parties with our friend at the beautiful parks around our place, especially, in springtime, under the cherry blossom trees. If you want a life mixing the modern and traditional styles, I believe, Japans countrysides will satisfy you. I had four months entirely free from working to discover the culture, people and landscapes of Japan. I could not cover such many amazing things that I wanna share only in this writing. So I will share some of them with you. The first thing is about the Japanese people. I joined a Japanese language class once week held by Japanese volunteering teachers for foreigners. They not only teach us the Japanese but also introduce the refined Japanese culture through outside activities and soft skill courses. I knew how to wear a kimono and had a chance to learn playing a traditional musician instrument of Japan the Koto. To the western ear the Koto would sound similar to a harp; however, for me, the Koto is more magical and emotional. Like Vietnamese people, they are friendly and nice. They maintain traditional norms; however, they also respect the private of other. Nobody will stare at you if you just wear a bikini on train. Of course, I did not try it to know this. Secondly, I am attracted by the Japanese food. As you may know Japanese eat by their eyes. They make Japanese-style food like creating work of art and you may need to learn how to eat such food dressed with various kinds of sauce. I like sushi and sashimi, sliced raw seafood, so that I eat them even while being pregnant. If you eat at a tradidional restaurant, which is not popular nowaday, you may be served directly at your table by an old Japanese chef. And I had such chance. My joyful memory is about the old chef who loves speaking English. It was so funny while he guided me in English how to enjoy sashimi and hot sake, I tried to practice my Japanese with him. I also had a short cooking course guiding to make obento being a home-packed common meal in Japanese cuisine. If I have time, surely I will serve you with obento stamped made by Ha Dung. I hope noone will need becberin. My husband and I have travelled many landscapes of Japan. We visited Fujisan (Phu Si Mountain) and had more than 12 hours travelling on the sea by ship to the Hachijoo Island. This is a volcanic island so the beaches sandy and water are not white and clear. However, in return for this, we had onsen, public bathing, in pools filled up with the natural warm water. It is known that men and womend bathed together at the onsent in the past. However, we did not had a chance to try this because only singl-sex bathing is legally recognized in Japan now.

We had a skiing trip to Fukushima. My first feeling when I was snowboarding from the top of the mountain is like flying until I kissed the land, falling into the soft white snow. The special thing of this trip is that we went to Fukushima at the weekend just immediately preceeding the weekend the strongest earthquake in the world history so far occurs. I cannot image what would have happened if we had been there later, at the time of earthquake. The last thing I share with you here is about my experience during the strongest and horrible earthquake in the world. I was at home alone when the earthquake occurred. It is my first time to know what a real earthquake is. At first I didnt fell unusual, but then it went on and on. Remembering my husbands words, I got myself under the table just before the furniture fell down. All walls of my department quivered tremulously. I felt scared but I made myself calm down by thinking that if the building is destroyed, I will not die here because this building is mainly made of the light industrial would and paper rather than brick so I am fat enough to survive and because my fortune-teller did tell me my destiny that absolutely is different from the possibly worst outcome. You may see sometimes if we cannot change the fact our belief, to certain extent, could help us to face and go through it. My husband tried to call me but all phone lines were congested. Given all lines of train were halted and it is rare to catch other means in this situation, he decided to come back home on foot. It was getting darker and he lost his way because it was the first time he came home on foot while other road tracking supports were blocked. Luckily, he caught a taxi and finally reached home at midnight. We met up with all our friends to follow the warnings about the earthquake and tsunami. Then we prepared a survival kit with a flashlight, a radio, a first aid kit and enough food and water to last for a few days. We also checked the information on the designated evacuation area in our neighborhood. The following days are unforgettable. We have to decide whether we should leave or stay while receiving the worse news on the radioactive leak at Fukushimas nuclear power plant. One of reasons kept us to stay because we saw how calmly and bravely the Japanese faced the disaster and dealt with the quake aftermath and radioactive crisis. There would be no worse things happening to them after the worst one occurred. In the dark, there is a light! I got many precious experiences. Especially I shared those with my life partner. I had many beautiful memories and emotion for Japan. Whiling writing this piece, I feel everything just has happened yesterday. If you have a to-go-list, you should come to Japan. I believe that Japanese people and culture will move you and make you more soulful if you can feel their beauty.