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Have you ever been bungee jumping? The scariest part isn't the jump itself because once you jump off that platform, there's no turning back. Instead, it's standing on the platform, looking down. Your mind races so fast that you can't comprehend what you are thinking, yet the one thing you clearly feel is your heart beating out of your chest, like being front row at a dubstep concert. Do you make that jump into the little known future or step back into safety? In my situation, it was either make the leap and experience something completely new or continue to live a mundane lifestyle. Living in suburban SF Bay Area, California for the past 25 years was all too familiar; the same old commute to the same old job, stuck in traffic for hours only to return home and start the process over again. Was this the concept of my life or is there a life outside of what I know? I needed to know. So, I quit my job and packed my bags and flew to Asia, ending up in the land of the rising sun. On the tedious flight over, I fantasized about Japan being my home away from home. That is until I landed, quickly realizing the language barrier and towing my luggage through the streets of Shibuya on a humid summer day, desperate to reach my accommodations. There isn’t a right way to pick up your belongings and move to a foreign country, but I was following the path less traveled. And that in itself was the excitement that I needed to continue my journey. Armored with the sparse phrases I picked up from childhood anime, I started a new life. Fast-forward a year and Tokyo really did become a second home. Of course, the first few months were challenging; each day a new test on how to best communicate my thoughts in a foreign language. Pair the challenges of language with abiding by the rules of a different culture and society, I quickly noticed that my abilities to adapt were steadily developing. Along the way, I found the recipe to success; a positive attitude, a dash of confidence, a willingness to learn and a leap of faith. And, in no time, the everyday challenges turned into daily enjoyments. I had inadvertently become an ambassador between two different cultures; a tour guide to my American friends who would visit Tokyo and a western culture educator to the Japanese individuals that I met. I think we glorify those who travel; those who have the courage to adventure. We love to hear the triumphs and believe that we can replicate those experiences in our own lives. But there is a misconception that these types of people exude confidence and have international qualifications that the average Joe might not have in his belt of assets and experiences. Bungee jumping isn't for everyone, but you don't need to take a 200-meter leap to take a leap of faith in life. Change isn't negative, it helps to culminate new experiences, learn new skills, and live a life you wouldn't imagine living in your own bubble. I encourage everyone to take a step into the unknown; there's no need to leap, but it's worth a try. What do you have to lose?