Walking down the streets of New York, there’s an overwhelming rush of people speedily walking in multiple directions trying to reach their destinations. As you continue to walk down, you get a whiff of burnt pretzels and the rancid rat-infested subway smell. Be it in cold or hot temperatures, you see a few people with cardboard signs pleading for some spare change. Yet when you look up, it’s a whole new world. You see tall corporate buildings with big billboards plastered all around. The bright neon lights shine brightly keeping the atmosphere lively and busy. Having being accustomed to such surroundings, I guess I cannot recall a moment where I felt sublime in nature. It was not until I had the opportunity last month to travel 6,000+ miles to Tokyo, Japan. I was in complete awe not only because of the city’s infrastructure, but also the people, both foreigners and locals. As a New York native, I was used to litter in the streets, puddles of mystery liquid lingering and funky smells all around. Upon arriving to Tokyo, I was in complete astonishment-not a speck of dirt on the floor! Unlike New York, pedestrians actually waited to cross the street until the signal permitted us to do so, regardless of no cars in sight! While waiting on a subway platform to board the train, a man appeared in front of me. I tried to avoid making eye contact as that is what I was accustomed to back at home. He then politely handed me my wallet. I had accidentally dropped my wallet loaded with 100,000 yen (approx. $1,000 US), and most importantly, my passport. I was forever grateful yet was in complete shock. Had this happened back at home, it would have been forever lost. Although the comparison is of minimal importance, it was then and there at that moment where I paused and was in awe.