Breathing Deeply

An Yamazaki

Final Draft

Breathing Deeply

I am a daydreamer. When I am tired or exhausted, I love thinking about what I cannot do now. If I had lots of money, I would go to Paris and walk the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. These kinds of daydreams help me get away from my hectic routine, but only when certain conditions are met. When I imagine these kinds of dreams, I have to be sequestered, peaceful and still. Since I moved to the United States from Japan, I have lost my favorite places to unwind- private hot springs, cozy Japanese teahouses, and still trains. I am no longer a daydreamer, which means I cannot relax anymore. It is difficult for me to find relaxing places in the United States because I think many Americans care less about other people in public places than Japanese. Due to this reason I have forgotten how to relax and relieve stress.

When I lived in Japan, I used to go to an Onsen (which means hot spring in Japanese) to relax at least once a season. When I get into a big hot spring bath, I can feel my body thank me. Onsen is one of my favorite places where I can relax. Chicago, however, has no hot springs. There is only one Korean style spa in Chicago, which is named King Spa. It helps me relax, yet it does not satisfy me as much as Onsen. This is because Onsen and King Spa are quite different. Onsen has a Rotenburo, which is an open-air bath. While I am taking a bath, I can see Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Furthermore, I can rent my private Rotenburo, so there is nobody else. It feels like I belong to nature. Those things make me calm and slow down so that I can have my own time. Nobody bothers me. Finally, I can daydream under the beautiful nature. On the other hand, in the United States, even though there is King Spa, there are too many people, so there is no space to have my own relaxed space.

I also used to be a tea drinker, but not anymore. In daily life, when I wanted to take a break, I used to drink a cup of tea at my favorite tea places. Even though the café would be at full capacity, the tea places are very quiet because the customers try to keep the place quiet. Usually, people come to the tea place by themselves to read. The place is not good to meet friends, but it is a perfect place to be alone and spend my time to relax. I used to read books, and when I got bored, I took my notebook and pen to write about my daydreaming. Another reason why I miss Japanese tea places is Japanese tea is not sweet at all. In fact, it is quite bitter. The bitterness makes me happy, and for some reason it reminds me of autumn in Korea, which is where I am originally from. Although there are many tea places and coffee places in Chicago, it is hard to find a place that is mellow and cozy. I can only find a Starbucks when I carve a cup of tea or coffee, but I am not a big fan of Starbucks because music is too loud, so I cannot have my own relaxing moment. In addition, some people talk very loudly like they are at a club. Also, I do not like big franchise businesses. Even though there are some restful and independent places, they do not satisfy me as much as Japanese tea places because American tea is too sweet for me. Drinking it is like drowning in sugar! I miss the owners who wear Kimonos and always greeted me with a smile.

Beside the teahouses, I loved taking the bus or the train to rest because while I was going somewhere, I was able to read books and do homework, or when I did not want to do anything I just stared through the windows and daydreamed as usual. The trains are not new in Japan, but they are extremely clean and neat. Most people respect other passengers, so they do not bother each other. Not bothering other people is a traditional policy of Japanese culture. When Japanese people get on the train, they never make phone calls. Moreover, it is commonsense to set your cell phone to vibration mode. The trains are an excellent place to make a bucket list. In contrast, the transportation system of Chicago, the CTA, is too dirty and loud. It seems like some people do not care about other passengers. Some people throw trash away on the trains or buses. In addition, some people make phone calls and listen to music without earphones. The noise drives me crazy. The trains and buses are not my favorite places to daydream anymore.

Since I left Japan and moved to Chicago, I have forgotten how to relax and I have suffered from nervous tension. I am not a daydreamer anymore. Even though I have more free time than when I was in Japan, I am not able to go to an Onsen in Chicago. Even though there are quite a few acceptable places, the atmosphere is different from where I used to go. Even though I am able to go to anywhere using the CTA, I prefer to drive a car. At the end of the day, I realized that finding my own places to be calm is very important because living in the United States as a foreigner can be tough. I have lived in Chicago for three years, so I think it is time for me to find new places to daydream.