Sunday

This afternoon, I felt completely drained—mentally and emotionally. The day started off okay, but it took a lot out of me.

I got a haircut this morning—my first one since arriving here. The last time I had it cut was back in April in Japan, just before I left. It felt good to finally clean up a bit.

After that, we stopped by a nearby café called Kantina’s Kafe, a place my wife had been wanting to try. It turned out to be something really special. The café employs deaf staff, providing meaningful job opportunities and creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere. My wife has been learning sign language to better communicate with one of her employees who is deaf, so it felt especially meaningful to be there together.

Later, she wanted to explore the famous Kimironko Market to get a feel for it. I wasn’t quite ready for what we walked into. Just trying to park the car was overwhelming—we were immediately surrounded by several people trying to direct us and pressure us into paying them. Once inside, the market felt dark, crowded, and chaotic. People were calling out, trying to sell us things, likely quoting us higher “foreigner” prices. Some offered unsolicited help, clearly hoping for tips.

That kind of environment is really tough for me. I felt completely out of my element—stressed, uncomfortable, and anxious. My wife is much stronger in these situations and handles them better than I do, but even she didn’t feel safe going alone.

I realize now that I need to ease into experiences like this. Either I need more time to mentally prepare, or I need to go with a local friend who can help guide me through it.

For now, I just need a nap—to recharge and reset.

But I’m also learning that part of adapting to life in a new place means honoring my own limits while staying open to growth. Even the hard days are part of the journey.