Tae Yoon: Life from 2006-2021

you know when your plane just lands and everyone on board is antsy as hell and in a rush to get their bags from the overhead compartments to exit the aircraft? well, that was not the case for me.

when the plane landed on the runway at kansai airport in japan and was pulling into the gate, i watched everyone begin to unfasten their seat-belts and wait for the overhead signal to indicate they were free to get up from their seats. as soon as that light went off, everyone dashed for their belongings and rushed into the airport. i just sat there and stared out the window, wondering where the hell i would go and where i would sleep that night. i purchased my ticket with less than twenty-four notice and was completely unprepared for my trip. i didn't know anyone in osaka, wasn't able to book any lodging, don't know how to speak japanese, am on an extremely limited budget, and wasn't able to purchase any travel guides because every bookstore in seoul seemed to be sold-out. i was really excited, yet slightly nervous while stepping off the plane.

i walked out of customs and ended up wandering inside the airport for a while, trying to figure out what the fuck to do. for a good fifteen minutes, i think i was in complete culture shock and didn't grasp i was actually in japan. with all honesty, i felt nothing and was numb to my surroundings. i repeatedly went up and down different escalators and roamed wings of the airport, dazing at people's faces and attempting to listen to what they were saying. i watched people's lips move and heard sound come out of their mouths as they conversed, and i realized i didn't know what the fuck anyone was saying. grasping my current situation of no destination in unfamiliar surroundings, i think i panicked for a total of two minutes before i got my shit together and cleared my head.

i went to the information desk and inquired about the buses and subways from the airport. the lady asked where i wanted to go and i replied, "osaka." she sort of had a bad attitude and seemed frustrated when she responded, "where in osaka?" i looked at the map and realized how big it was. i guess it's similar to landing in jfk and telling the people at the information desk that you want to go to nyc haha. osaka is really large, and i was not sure where to even start. i noticed on the map that there was an "osaka station" that's accessible by train from the airport, and randomly decided that would be where i was heading.

the trip from the airport was over one hour, and i arrived smack dab in the middle of rush hour. people in japan walk really fast, and it reminded me of being back home in nyc---it was a nice feeling. i left the station and meandered around the neighborhood for a while. i didn't see any indications of hostels or accommodations for lodging nearby, but thankfully did manage to find a tourist center. the lady behind the counter was extremely helpful and was able to help me find an inexpensive hotel at the last minute. she told me i was extremely lucky since i arrived on a tuesday and not anywhere near the weekend.

suffice it to say, the rest is history...

i've been here for two nights now and leave tomorrow afternoon. i've been having a blast just walking around by myself and people-watching. it also happens that i'm about a fifteen minutes walk away from the gay district of osaka, and i explored the area on my first night. there are over a hundred bars here, and some are more than thirty years old. thankfully, i was able to borrow a friend's camera and have been taking loads of pictures since i arrived. i can't wait to upload them when i arrive back in seoul.