First Hitchhiking Experience

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Today was possibly my favourite day of our whole honeymoon so far. It was so filled with so much unexpected kindness and beautiful moments with new friends. We started our journey at a rest stop in Kyoto and then hitchhiked over 450 kilometres to Tokyo!

We got three different rides and each one was so special. It was my first time ever hitchhiking, I had picked up many before, but never was one myself. The first guy spoke Chinese! So that was special because then Jetaime could talk to him and I could too a bit. The next guy spoke the least English but we discovered how powerful google translate is! I was so amazed how we could just talk into the iPad and have a full, albeit slow, conversation. He told us his favourite thing about Japan is that "there is no more fighting". He misses his wife a lot when he has to drive 20 hours a day in his truck.

It was the third man we met though that completely changed my understanding of what hospitality looks like to strangers. When we first saw him he said he was going to Tokyo, but his car was packed full with luggage. We should stay where we were and he would try to make room for us. We waited 15-20 minutes and there was no sign of him. We thought he must not have been able to make any room and so he just moved on. But we were so wrong! He spent over 25 minutes reorganizing his car so that we could fit in and our bags. He spoke slow, but had good English.

After about 40 minutes of driving he says he will get us some snacks and drinks. He bought us amazing sushi, tempura, juice, coffee, eggs, chicken, and vegetables. I'm pretty sure he spent over $30 on us. But he was so humble and kind "This is a wedding gift and little celebration for you guys" he said. Then he asked where we wanted to stay and we said a really cheap manga Cafe. So he found some near our Airbnb place for tomorrow and started calling them to see how much they were. He had so much patience! I think he called like seven of them and finally found one for a really good price. Then he drove us all the way there, to a really obscure place that probably added an hour to his trip. We were total strangers to him, but he just showed so much love, humour and generosity. We have become friends.

Travelling is cool. The sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of a new country are totally worth it. But it is the beauty and kindness I see in the people we meet that melt my heart and give me so much joy.

- David Hepting