Alone in Kobe

After work ends, I do my errands and then return to my apartment. Hours of boredom soon follow. I was initially downloading TV shows/movies, but that no longer interests me. That's exactly what I was doing in Canada, and the thought of watching old TV shows on my computer while living in a country like Japan is too depressing for words.

So yesterday I headed straight to the train station after work and went to Kobe. What followed was a night of deep contemplation.

It was already getting dark by the time I arrived at the Sannomiya train station. I began wandering the streets of Kobe, going into the occasional shop. Kobe is a city of bright lights and throngs of people. Initially, I was quite happy exploring the maze of streets and alleys, but then I started to feel lonely. I shouldn't be doing this alone. I should be here with someone. I realized I needed to start meeting people, making new friends. I headed over to Tit Park (vulgar name, I know), a central meeting point located just outside Sannomiya station. And then I just sat down and watched the people pass by. There were many interesting people around me, both Japanese and foreigners. I looked at them and they looked at me. Please someone come talk to me. The first person to approach me was a homeless man who reeked of alcohol and wore old, dirty clothes. He said he was from Hawaii and had been living in Japan for 14 years. He started telling a rambling story of his life, probably filled with as much fiction as fact. I ended the conversation quickly and dejectedly moved to another part of the square. It was both incredibly depressing and funny, in a bitter sort of way, that the only person interested in talking to me was a bum. I continued people-watching and gradually started to enjoy the experience. There were people everywhere, from every walk of life, from all over the world, and we were all in Kobe together. I sat there under the demented gaze of a giant Meg Ryan Nescafe billboard poster and just soaked it all in. And finally, a young, normal looking Japanese guy came over.
"You want to go to bar or karaoke?" he asked. Not the most classy opening line, but it felt so good that somebody decent was interested in talking to me. I said no, I couldn't because I was meeting a friend (he was okay-looking but he had bad teeth). Bottom line, he was young and he was normal looking. I felt a renewed sense of self-esteem and hope. A street band started playing nearby and they were actually pretty good. The music further uplifted my spirits. I walked over and watched them for a little while, until I had to leave to catch the last train home.

Overall, I enjoyed my night in Kobe and I plan on going into the city more often. I sort of liked being alone out there, because it reminded me of why I came to Japan: to explore strange places, to meet interesting people, to be independent.