In Narita on the evening of February 11.

I was elated and excited to check into my flight, but a strange sense of nervousness came over me.

Little did I know that my visa had not come through for some reason and that I may very well have been denied boarding.

But I had no time to stay shocked.

After exploring ways to get clearance, I was allowed to board the flight with a written oath.

Later, when waiting for visa approval at Addis Ababa,

and when I purchased a SIM during transit to a domestic flight within a limited time, again and again I faced a precarious situation after another.

Things just didn’t seem to be going as planned. Still, I banked on the slimmest of chances and managed to walk the tightrope to my first destination.

I felt like I had forced my way out of difficult situations. It was as if my will was being tested by the world I was about to step into.

At the end of this miraculous journey, both Japanese and Taiwanese members developed a sense of camaraderie.

From there, we visited Moplaco and had a conversation with people there. I am still at the beginning of this journey, but my head is already bursting with a whirlwind mix of relief and dreaminess.

I will probably never forget the glaring sun, the unusual intensity of the wind, and the feeling of exhaustion in my body.

watanabe

I cannot help but feel excited about crossing the ocean for the first time in a long time, while also longing for the land I had always wanted to visit someday.

But with each day that passed, a sense of melancholy began to grip my heart, and it only grew stronger and stronger.

I realized how much support I have around me, with many wishing me luck on the trip.

I realize how much I took for granted the view I see over the counter at my shop.

And how much I miss that view now that I will leave it behind even for a short time.

My journey begins with heartfelt gratitude for my daily life.

It will be a journey into the unknown. I wonder what landscapes and emotions await me.

I want to soak it up.