After high school I studied Japanese language & culture at Leiden university in the Netherlands. After one year of studies, I travelled to Tokyo for 3 months on an international student program. This is a excerpt from my notebook:

“Circling above the lights of nighttime Tokyo, I prepare for the landing in Japan. It is six o’clock in the evening, and darkness is settling in. As we wait in the airspace to land, I take a look around me. The plane is packed with Japanese businessmen who, upon arrival, undoubtedly know exactly where they are going and how to get there. I, on the other hand, have my doubts about the route to my final destination in Tokyo. I anticipate encountering some obstacles once I leave the safe cocoon of the plane, and that makes the delay and circling in the air not unpleasant for me. These are the two main thoughts that continually cycle through my mind are “I have no idea where I will arrive tonight. I have never set foot in Japan before.”

I remember that at that moment, all my doubts and fears rushed in. I did not want that plane to land! And then of course, it did.. That night I arrived in the heart of Tokyo in a house with many other international students. And even though everything was so unfamiliar and foreign, I did found my footing in a short time. Tokyo, the world’s most populous metropolis, became my playground for self-discovery for 3 months. All the experiences, the people I met, and the newfound perspectives on life and culture were woven together to create an extraordinary time.

The most remarkable experiences in life often lie beyond the edge of our comfort zones, waiting for us to take that courageous leap to venture further.