So living in Japan can be terrifying. Looking around and seeing so many things I can't read. There is not one store I walk into with complete confidence that I'll be able to accomplish what I came for without hiccups or panic. And still, I do not regret my decision in the least. I am so happy to be here. Happy to be lost. To be overwhelmed. To be scared of the new and unfamiliar. I miss my home, peanut butter, and familiar voices. But, I know they'll be there after this experience comes to an end. So I am trying to enjoy every aspect of this scary, new, altering time in my life.

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Dec 7, 2017 at 12:52am PST

I got so heckin lost going from one station to the other 😫 but hey check out that view #shinjuku #新宿 #japan #日本 #citylights #cityscape #tokyo #東京

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 17, 2017 at 2:37am PST

Getting fond of this symbol. I've been in Japan just at a month now. I finally had that happy tears moment a week and a half ago. I went for a run along one of the rivers at night and passed some old women walking and some students leaving their clubs late. I didn't have a destination in mind. It was mundane and quiet and a little cold and the mosquitos were out but I was so unbearably happy in that moment. I don't expect a magic life here or anything "better" than Florida, I just am grateful to be here and to have good and bad days and boring days and exciting days. Being alive in general is nice. I miss people back in the states, but this physical place is already feeling like a home to me. The first month has flown by me. I leaned heavily on people back home the last month, and I hope I still can moving forward. Thanks for the patience as I am intermittent with replies and get days mixed up due to the difference in time. I wish I could just bring everyone here with me. In the last month I've been the benefactor of many strangers kindness, tore up a pair of shoes, leapt off the bus at the wrong stop and hoofed it to the station in the rain, and got comically splashed with water by a passing car (twice). And a lot of other things between. I hope I can still keep my head up in the months that are yet to come, and to still have people to lean on...familiar and otherwise.

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 14, 2017 at 2:02am PST

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 12, 2017 at 4:46am PST

Almost home! I have Katsu waiting for me. 🍗 🚃I saw an older Japanese man in a suit with salt and pepper hair, quite handsome, and his phone case was like....a mouth with sharp teeth and blood and I've decided that that particular image 《older salaryman in a suit with that particular phone case》 is more my aesthetic than anything I could have dreamed up on my own.

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 8, 2017 at 1:34am PST

Deep breaths! I planned everything out so well, and still my morning hasn't gone how I had intended. But, I have to remind myself that it doesn't mean anything is wrong. I'm honestly...prone to panic.....So times like this I have to start counting my blessing from the smallest again and work my way back up. The ability to plan was a blessing in of itself 😅 #四ツ谷 #駅 #trainstation #Japan #Tokyo #eki #yotsuya #deepbreaths #blessings #positivethinking

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 7, 2017 at 8:11pm PST

I thought 1130pm would be the best time to go to the shrine. There'd be no one there to look and wonder where I came from, or to judge if I fumble...I was relatively sure my cold had passed so it seemed a good time. I brought water to wash my hands with because I was scared to turn on the tap. I made my way all the way up the steps and approached the shrine. The lights came on and I jumped, but managed to put in my donation and bow and clap. I took a seat on top of the steps and just stared and tried to take in my private moment. It was loud out, acorns falls on tin roofs and leaves dropping. And then I heard something and turned around and way way down, past the gates, was a man bowing to the shrine. He saw me as he rose and we both were noticeably startled to see the other one. I adjusted on my seat and looked back at the shrine, trying to hide how much he had scared me. I checked to see if he was coming up, and he was gone. I stayed a little longer and left. Of course someone would show up at 1130pm. I was so far up (this photo is taken at the bottom of the steps....and he was past the gates) that I'm somewhat sure he might think he saw a ghost. He was in some kind of uniform so maybe he was a cop. I hope he went home as shocked as I was, with a story to tell too 😅 ⛩ ⛰ 🌑 #日本 #十二所神社 #shrine #ShintoShrine #Japan #神社

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 7, 2017 at 7:32am PST

It's a holiday! 🎉 going to clean then maybe walk to the park 😊

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 2, 2017 at 7:50pm PDT

From last weekend, when I was lost and happy for it. 💓 🌃 ☔ #shinjuku #tokyo #東京 #日本 #Japan #citylights #rainyday #新宿

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 2, 2017 at 8:28am PDT

I made a yummy dinner! 👐 I am getting better at this one eye cooking (one stove top eye) #cooking #dinner #smallkitchen #japan #food

A post shared by MMM; マリアと申します。 (@mmmelty) on Nov 2, 2017 at 5:32am PDT