I honestly don't know how I survived in USA for 4 years.
I lived in USA from 2005 until 2009.
To be honest, yes there were some days I cried a lot but for sure I never wanted to go back to Japan.
I had the strongest will back then.
And I am grateful that I completed my degree with that determination.
I don't remember why I did not want to go back to Japan so much.
The problem was always money, so I hustled a lot.
I found a job at school, making sandwiches for people from 8 am, I worked some restaurants too. (This way, I found out American people tip well), I got some scholarships etc etc etc.
I became savvy, strong and a hard worker.
Also, I did not have a car so I had to know all the public transportation.
I used bus and trams.
Now, thinking about it, I am never able to do that again.
But again, I am very thankful to myself I did that.
I survived 4 years in USA and gained confidence in me with the Journalism degree from CSULB.
When does my curiosity to travel the world stop?
Or never ends?
I think the last destination is to somewhere I can call home.
Yes, Japan is also a home but I am talking here a different home.
Inevitably, somebody else to create another family with.
Other-half, partner, husband, soul mate whatever you want to name it.
My travel also became a love journey as well.
I am travelling to find myself and also to find my other-half.
Where do I feel to be home except Japan?
Where do I feel myself?
Do I ever find that place?
2014年9月18日、Air Chinaで北京経由でLAXに到着しました。
フライトの感想は「長かった」。
Grand Budapest Hotelという映画とTerminalというトムハンクスの映画とHow to make someone in loveというイタリア映画を見てもまだまだ到着しないくらい長かったです。
My sister found out about this trip to Nepal thanks to the event in Japan and I went to Tokyo on behalf of Hostelsclub.com as a Japanese market manager.
I never knew that I would go to Nepal because my sister saw the tour of Nepal in Tabihaku.
How strange how life goes.
Everything is connected.
Chidren in Nepal are beautiful. They have the characteristics of both Western and Asian. One child tried to ask for money hiding his arm in his clothes.
I generally understood that people in Nepal are very friendly. They even offered some meat and alchohol for free. They welcomed my sister and me.
The Mt. Evelest is the highest mountain in the world.
The air was very refreshing in front of the Mt. Evelest.
In Nepal, there are so many gods.
First, I would like to explain what the very top picture is.
The goddess called Kumari. Strictly selected when girls are among 2 to 5 years old,
(eg, the girl has to have 20 teeth, the girl has to have soft and clear voice, the girl has to have black hair etc etc etc they have 32 conditions to pass!)
The goddess is known as giving people fortune and luck.
I was lucky enough to see her!
Also, I saw another god called Ganeza.
This god is known as removing the obstacles and giving away fortune and luck.
I made a wish to this God and now my wish has been come true.
Nepal is awesome!
I also bought a Mandara too!
The mandara is the symbol of cosmos of Buddhism.
Also, I met a Japanese woman who is a Japanese restaurant owner in Nepal.
She also worked in Thailand and later she moved to Nepal to run her restaurant, MAKO.
She has been working abroad more than 30 years and she gave me a lot of advice.
"Of course, if you are Japanese and working abroad by yourself, you could be the target of bullying or critiscism. I was slapped by a local person because I make more money than they do. I slapped the person back. You have to be strong!"
So in Nepal, I learned if you are slapped by a person, slap the person back!
When I visited Venice for the first time, I felt something.
"There is something about this city."
I never knew that I was going to live in this city for 3 years.
Who would think Yuko will live in Venice?
When I saw a hostel opening a door for me, I felt this.
"This is destiny. God guided me to this city."
I was a lucky Japanese girl who was invited by Venice and got to stay in Venice for free at a hostel.
Hostelsclub.com was the one that made all that come true.
I did not know that I was going to experience unforgetable Italian life thanks to Hostelsclub.com.
I was able to get to know real Venitian people. I learned Italian everyday. Just 10 words a day like I used to do for English. I travelled all the Italian cities I was curious. I learned Italian and I even learned French and went to Paris with a French college for a business fair. Hostelsclub.com sent me to Tokyo every September to have a business fair called Tabihaku. I learned contemporary dance in Venice. I grew up both of the knowledge of business marketing and performing arts.
I was the happiest girl ever.
Unfortunately, there was a day that I had to say Good-bye to Venice.
I was feeling not too good for my health. Due to the constant journey, I was suffering from headache and insomnia. Also I suffered from mysterious allergic reaction on my skin. I was becoming a very grumpy girl in the end.
I had to stop travelling. I rested a little in Japan and wondered if I should continue living in Venice.
I went back and forth between Japan and Venice and I cured my insomnia but again the allergic reaction on my skin appears in Venice.
What does it mean?
I almost gave up the hope to live abroad and rested in Japan again to be completely Japanese.
However, I faced some identity crisis.
After living in America for 4 years and living in Venice for 3 years, I was not Japanese. I was a citizen of the world. I was too cosmopolitan that I could not belive that I was able to live in Japan to end my life.
I had to define my life.
1) Who am I? Am I Japanese? Am I American? Am I Italian?
2) Where do I want to live to complete my life?
3) Do I give up my dream?
From 2013 to 2014 till now, I have to say I suffered a lot to find out these answers.
Probably this is the last idetity crisis I face before the 30.
My decision is this:
Even though I don't live in Venice anymore, I will keep on supporting Hostelsclub.com no matter if I live in Japan or America or Australia or Holland.
And I will not give up to belive that dreams come true.
Because that is why I live, dreams kept me alive.
I will keep on being a dreamer.
Hostelsclub.com roots for dreamers.
Book 5 nights with Hostelsclub.com and you get to stay in Venice for Free.