Words by Matt Dursum Sure, I’ve squatted in a chicken coop, taken a bite out of a living and squirming fish, and greeted a group of men holding machetes with a nervous smile. But why did I feel the most out of place in Oklahoma? Culture shock is a common feeling when we travel, and sometimes we even experience it at home. But what is it and why can it be so unbearable? We can…
Words by Matt Dursum Photography by Yaron Ptashnik Music goes hand in hand with many life events: romantic courtships, solitary moments, and, of course, adventurous road trips through exciting new landscapes. Music is the catalyst for memories. At least it is for me. I lived in Japan from 2009 to 2013. Not big-city Hello Kitty, sprawling neon signs Japan, no. I was in the boonies. In the small and charming coastal community known as Minami…
All photos by Samantha Demangate On a cool evening in November, my girlfriend and I set off on a food bender. We gorged our faces with deep bowls of piping hot ramen that had the richest katsuo and miso based broth, topped with a perfectly cured runny egg and Japanese mountain vegetables. Next up on our list was the Japanese market close by, where we loaded up on our favorite Japanese candies and even filled…
Moving to Japan from California in the summer of 2009 was an exciting experience but also a bit daunting for an avid surfer like myself. I was not well informed about the quality of surf in Japan before getting my teaching gig. However, upon arriving in my seaside town during the start of typhoon season all my doubts were shattered. Through gaining fluency in Japanese and being social and curious I became informed about the…