Japan 2024 # final part (Patreon)

I had originally planned to stretch Japan into eight posts… And now I’m sitting here realizing - I honestly have nothing that deep left to say about it. Even though I have so many photos, and I love all of them, it just doesn’t feel the same anymore. So I’m putting together a random mix of everything from this trip - and moving the story forward.

Despite all the beauty of Japan - the architecture, the culture, the food, the people —one of the most defining moments of that trip happened during a simple dinner in Osaka. A dinner where I was this close to bursting into tears. I don’t even fully know how to explain it...

When Gary and I first met in Paris, he was open about his intentions right away — but I thought it was just some typical man’s sweet talk. I didn’t take it seriously; I mostly laughed or rolled my eyes. It was the first time I’d ever met such an exhibit, to be honest)))

When we met again in Portugal, I got to know him better — and he turned out to be one big green flag. But he kept repeating how serious he was about me. And I… wasn’t planning to change my whole life that quickly. We agreed I’d take another year of dating .... I also wanted to spend the winter in Tenerife, see the lilacs bloom again in Kyiv, and then finaly move to Texas in summer. It was the perfect plan.

But back then, we didn’t know Trump would win the election 😅 And, well, that messed up my plan quite a bit.

During that dinner in Osaka, Gary shared his worries and suggested we start the visa process right away — while it was still open for Ukrainians. By that time, I already knew he was my person. I saw him as my future husband. I had no doubts about him — and I understood that what he was suggesting made perfect, grown-up sense. But inside me… all my fears of change, my need for gradual transitions, my resistance — everything hit at once. I just sat there listening, unable to speak without my voice trembling. That’s when the full seriousness of us, of our relationship, of my own adulthood — really hit me. And I said yes.

That moment marked the beginning of a deep, painful, but conscious transformation. Separation from my parents, loss of familiar surroundings, a new move, the engagement, so many existential questions — all at once. As if life decided to hand me the whole therapy package in one go)))

So our next stop after Japan will be Ukraine - meeting my parents, my friends, and, of course, discovering borscht. And I’m not joking about that - I’ll keep saying it forever: in Ukraine, food is delicious everywhere, and honestly better than in all of Europe (sorry, Italians).

We’re still not in Texas yet — but I’m genuinely glad everything turned out the way it did.