James19121291, 24

In college, I joined a Japanese cultural club out of curiosity. What started as a casual interest grew into something deeper after I befriended Yuki, an exchange student from Osaka. She introduced me to tea ceremonies, calligraphy, and her grandmother’s miso soup recipe. We spent weekends exploring her language and mine, laughing through our mistakes. Years later, I visited Japan and stayed with her family, where I felt an unexpected sense of belonging. That bond—with her, with the traditions, with the quiet respect woven into Japanese life—still shapes how I see the world and cherish cross-cultural friendships today.