1:53 AM
I could really use a hug right now.
Being in Tokyo for a whole year really made me appreciate the openness among people back in the States. There, hugs were as casual as a greeting, and I didn’t realize until now how such a small gesture really made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
I remember being completely taken aback when I attended my first USAS meeting during my sophomore year, and a grad student gave me a hug despite it being our first time meeting each other. It’s a way to show that you’re cool, you’re comfortable with that person. Besides, I always hugged my friends, whether one of us was noticeably stressed out over midterms or we were drunk on happiness (and/or a good amount of alcohol in our systems).
Meanwhile in Japan, people aren’t so affectionate toward each other from the get-go. When I met up with my mother at Shinjuku Station two weeks after I settled in at my Japanese summer program, I was so ecstatic to see her coming out of the turnstiles that I ran up to her to give her a hug as soon as the gates let her through. Yet, she tried to squirm her way out of my embrace after hugging her for more than a few seconds.
I jokingly asked her “Don’t you love me?!” and she said that it’s not a common thing to do. I attribute this to the general Japanese mentality about being considerate toward people in the surrounding environment and not causing a nuisance in public.
Before I knew it, the frequency of hugs decreased as time passed. Hugs were mostly meant for special occasions and for certain people. Sure, this could mean that hugs have a more intimate value than the casual embrace. But for me, hugging people not only makes me feel good within myself but also transmits my good vibes to the other person.
I haven’t kept an official track of the number of hugs I’ve given and received in the past month, but I’m sure it hasn’t even reached the double digits. Or maybe it’s just my gloomy attitude that comes up with this conclusion. Either way, this past month hasn’t been the greatest in terms of the workload from school and other personal issues I won’t mention here. And as needy as I sound, a hug would mean the world to me right now.
What am I even rambling about. I’m not sure if anyone read this till the end, but if you did, then thank you.
