KURATABI

I visited Denmark again seven years after my time as an exchange student. While it wasn't as overwhelming as I had expected, walking through the city brought back a wave of nostalgia as I recognized the familiar sights.

Holding a one-way boarding pass, I was about to embark on my first solo trip abroad. Once I boarded the flight to Copenhagen, surrounded by people who looked completely different from me, I felt anxious about starting a new life in this unfamiliar place.

I struggled to keep up with my classes in English. I often went back for seconds of the curry at my part-time job. Maintaining a long-distance relationship was tough, especially with the time difference.

I stayed at a hotel with a kitchen in Amager, a quiet suburb of Copenhagen. I cooked simple meals with ingredients I bought from nearby supermarkets and sometimes explored the city with my sketchbook.

It became clear that I had been unknowingly overloading myself with various things lately. Life in Amager was very peaceful, and I feel like I had almost forgotten this sense.