The Gifu Getaway that Revived my Spirit

This weekend was much needed. Recently, I have become a little too comfortable with my regular, daily schedule. The monotonous routine of going to class, coming home, and doing homework, even in an excitingly new culture and environment, was starting to feel lonely. This weekend, I was invited to a friend’s grandmother’s house, who lived in a suburban town called Kani in Gifu prefecture.

This town is on the northern outskirts of Nagoya, so the commute took around an hour by public transportation. Looking out the window from the regional line already felt like a breath of fresh air as the closely knit houses started to grow further apart, while trees and autumn foliage started to dominate the scenery. When we arrived at Kani, we were picked up by my friend’s mother by car, which shocked me as I was already prepared to walk fifteen minutes to my friend’s grandmother’s house. Being driven in a car for the first time in months made me realize how much of a luxury it is to have a car. My experience so far in Nagoya has made me appreciate the accessibility and convenience of public transportation which I know I will miss a lot when I come back to the United States, but it has also helped me understand the privilege of having and car and being able to drive as well. 

As soon as we arrived at grandmother’s house, we were greeted by the family. As per Japanese custom, there was lots of bowing and thanking involved in this greeting. My heart felt full already with such a warm welcome. Once we dropped off our bags in the room we would be staying in that night, we were quickly shuffled off outside to barbecue! It was a lovely, warm family gathering around three large grills, over which we made “goheimochi” (grilled rice on a stick with homemade sweet miso paste), kobe beef, onions, peppers, tofu, mushrooms, pumpkin, and chicken. On the side, we had oden, which is a hot pot full of fishcakes, tofu, potatoes, gobo, eggs, seaweed, daikon, konjac, mochi, and so much more! The family had prepared two different oden for miso and dashi broths, both of which were delicious. 

It was three hours of nonstop eating, talking, laughing, and sharing, I was feeling the from warmth not just the fires, but from the people around me. The days have recently become colder, darker, and shorter, which takes a toll on daily moods and feeling productive. Being surrounded by a community is healing for the soul, and what I believe is one of the most important forms of self-care. Later in the evening, my friend and I went to a local, natural hot spring to relax our bodies as well as our minds and souls. 

Studying abroad means placing yourself in an unfamiliar environment. It is a difficult transition to make, but I find that the more your community grows, the easier and more fun it becomes! It is important to find moments like these to add to your experience as I try to prioritize in mine.