Some people have said it was brave, or risky, to move to a new country with a different language and to a small town where I didn't know anyone.

The job offer was received and accepted. Within a few short weeks, I booked my flight through the agency and had my ticket. Without celebration, I quietly let my closest friends know and made final preparations. That was easy since I had just graduated from college and was living at my parent's house anyway. I departed Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport on Tuesday, 26 September 2006. As I write this description and look back in my Gmail account, I just now discover an email with a subject line 'Merry Christmas! Nova's!' from some of those people I met when I arrived in Osaka.

All along I planned what this trip was supposed to be to me, without ever considering how the people I never knew I would met were going to be part of the journey.