Reuniting with a Global Wanderer in Tokyo
I left Ibaraki and made my way down to Tokyo. The highlight of the day was catching up with a friend who is currently backpacking his way around the world.
He’s an incredibly easy guy to talk to, mostly because he’s that rare breed of traveler who actually prefers to listen. In the backpacker community, almost everyone wants to share their own epic stories, so finding someone who naturally creates a comfortable rhythm in conversation and genuinely listens is a breath of fresh air.
Comfort in an $8.00 Gyoza Teishoku
We grabbed a bite at a gyoza joint in Shinjuku. I ordered a massive set meal that came with 12 pieces of gyoza, costing around 1,200 to 1,300 yen (about $8.00 to $8.50 USD).
While I'm not overly picky about food, there’s something profoundly comforting about a Japanese "teishoku" (set meal). The simple addition of warm soup and pickled veggies just grounds you and brings a deep sense of peace.
My friend, freshly back from India, told me he’s heading to South America next. My travel style involves planting roots in one country for a long time, so I deeply admire his ability to hop across different regions with such ease. We parted ways with a promise to cross paths somewhere else in the world.
"Go Beyond": The People Who Sponsored Me
Later, I headed to the Shinjuku office of my sponsor, Global WiFi. It’s a stunningly pristine workspace.
Honestly, I sometimes wonder why they decided to sponsor me. When I first set off on this journey to create a book for my grandpa, I only had about 200 or 300 followers. Yet, they believed in me, fully supporting my journey under their "Go Beyond" initiative. The idea is to break past expected boundaries, fly out into the world, and exceed your own limits—and I feel like that vision perfectly aligns with my own drive to step far outside my comfort zone.
A Lifeline on the Road
I am endlessly grateful for their support. Having reliable internet isn't just about posting on social media; it’s an absolute lifeline. When you're trying to navigate to a specific address in an unfamiliar country, or when a local invites you to their home, you're practically stranded without a connection.
Moreover, in places like Southeast Asia where English isn't widely spoken, translation apps are crucial. I can't count the number of times I've used my phone to translate on the fly, bridging the gap and forging new connections. Every one of those moments was made possible by this sponsorship, leaving me with a heart full of absolute gratitude.
