Of Trains and Home and Friendships

I am endlessly fascinated by the train system here in Japan.

It’s convenient, aggressively on time, and effortlessly efficient. 

But every time I tap my card at a station like Kōzunomori, I can't help but dream: 

Someday, I hope the Philippines--especially Cebu--gets to experience this kind of everyday convenience.

And another reason for my fascination?

Recently, I’ve started treating train stations as "memory checkpoints."

Instead of just passing through, I take a photo.

It’s a marker of where I've been, the friends I've visited, and the stories I've gathered along the way.

This weekend's checkpoint: Kōzunomori Station.

To anyone else, it's just a quiet drop-off point.

But for me, looking at this photo will instantly bring back the story of this past weekend:

A 2-day, 2-night getaway full of laughs, catching up with my Kabagang friends in Narita,

and of course,

the bittersweet feeling of heading home.

(Special thanks to Team Zab Fam:

 Tin Zab, Mark, Keever and Happy for welcoming Kabagang into your home!

Kahit ang gulo2 namin! :D)

#Sam101 #WhenInJapan #JapanTrains #BuhayJapan #Cebu #TravelStories #Kozunomori