runa-round-the-world

[runa-round-the-world]

I've gone to Japan once before, in February of 2018 with the Kakehashi Project. It really opened my eyes to the differences between Japan and America, and the way foreign countries view America compared to the way America views itself.

 We listened to a speech given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and after growing up hearing that Japan was fine with not having its own military, it was surprising to learn that that was not always the case. When you grow up in America, there’s a disconnect from other countries that isn’t common in other continents, especially Europe. Whether it’s the size of the United States or the patriot-only mentality, conforming to the cultures and mindsets of foreign countries has never been a priority. 

Americans often get a bad rap when traveling abroad, as they often look at the world through red-white-and-blue-tinted glasses.