Dear Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye,

Dear Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye (Grandparents) ,

Currently, around the globe, most people are in a state of panic under our present pandemic. After adapting to unusual things and adjusting to difficult circumstances, I have finally found the place where I feel the most at ease; Japan.

As you might already know, Mama, Solar and I have traveled halfway across the globe with only three suitcases very minimally packed.

One major reason that Japan is preferred is .... the food. Just a convenience store across the street can easily get me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The quality of the food here is so amazing to a point where I take one look at the food in the US and feel pity for the people who are missing out on this. A cheap and microwaveable dinner from 7/11 is likely better than most of the overly expensive restaurant food in the US.

Another amazing point of Japan; everything is affordable. The three of us went to a cheap restaurant nearby with high quality food and paid just 15$ for three meals, one for each of us.

The final luxury to easily be found in Japan is the convenience. Everything we need is across the street whether it’s a stationary, grocery, convenience, pharmaceutical or bubble tea store.

Being here in Japan made me realize how lucky I am to be spoiled with delicious food and convenience under these times. It’s very difficult and sad to think that most people now, even people in New York are struggling to find such obvious needs such as food and fresh air.

As always, there is a lesson that comes out of this, despite how bitter the situation seems. I learned that I should never take something as simple as going out on a walk for granted. Now, I’m very happy to be able to get a chance to run around in the blooming outdoors. If this pandemic hadn't happened, I would’ve never realized how important I should treat some things. But now, I’m thankful for my lesson.

This is my personal journey and my perspective. Hopefully this won’t continue to affect as many lives as it already has.  The one wish I have left is for everyone I love and care for to stay safe, and hope that this pandemic will soon end leaving everyone back to the world without constant fear of someone who is standing less than six feet away from them.

Love, Sophie ♡