/ Blog / / Blog /Tonight I left my apartment, walked down to the station, tapped my phone at the gates, went down some more stairs and stood in front of train car 4 door 3. I took the train to Nihonbashi, walked through the station, weaving through people and shopping areas, through a business tower, up an escalator in a book store, and out the front door onto the street. I walked a couple blocks, took a right, and signed my name on the waiting list for Philly, one of my favorite places here in Tokyo.
Door-to-door, it’s like 23 minutes. I didn’t even think about where I was walking. I was completely spaced out the whole time. I don’t really remember anything from when I walked out my apartment door to when I looked up at Philly. I don’t remember seeing anyone, I don’t remember any train ads, I didn’t even check the screens or out the windows to see what station I was at when I exited the train. I just walked straight out through the gate, navigating to exactly where I was intending to go.
To kill some time before they opened, I walked toward Tokyo station, went underground assuming there was a Starbucks or something. And there was. I ordered a coffee, pulled out my Switch, and got three stars in one of the Mario Kart cups I haven’t played in a while. Then I headed back over, and some Germans signed in too. Tomomi received a shipment of some imported beer from America. The Germans bought a couple of those immediately. I relaxed in one of the very quintessentially-American lawn chairs on a side street in the biggest city on the planet.
And then I walked inside, sat in my usual spot facing the kitchen, and Kosuke looked me right in the eye and gave me a little smirk while handing me a King Size package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups that he brought back from America. It sounds so silly, but I was just so genuinely surprised and delighted that he brought these back for me, I just let out the softest little ありがとう (thank you), perhaps the most real one I’ve ever said aloud.
I have a hard time with gifts. Giving and receiving. It’s hard because I’ve always felt there was an obligation to return the favor, to somehow know what someone else actually wants, not just a thing they slightly-begrudgingly accept. But I know giving おみやげ (souvenir, often snacks) is so baked-in to Japanese culture that when people travel, they are sure to bring something back for everyone they care about.
Tomomi and Kosuke have been to Philadelphia like four or so times since I moved here, which is not just a lot for them, it's a lot for anyone. I mean, I haven’t left Japan since moving here. And here they are, making regular trips.
I know I’ve said a few times before how special they are, but they really are some of the warmest people I’ve met here.
I made my way back home also without even thinking. I took the Reese’s out of my bag and—you gotta believe me—I am doing everything I can to resist eating all four of them right now.