Family

Written by Ammara Sheikh

When I decided to visit Japan with my little brother, I envisioned a trip full of shared adventures and deeper bonding. But life, as it often does, had surprises in store. While the trip was meant for us, I found myself forming an unexpected connection with the caravan group we traveled with a collection of strangers who would come to feel like family. Some of my favorite memories weren't even the big landmarks but the small moments in between. The conversations on the bus to mount Fuji and the game nights back at the hotel.

One evening, we visited a famous ramen shop known for its hour-long wait. Instead of feeling the weight of the delay, we passed the time sharing stories and playing contact. By the time the trip ended, I returned home with a new understanding of family: Family isnt limited to the ties of blood. It is a concept of belonging. And in Japan, I learned that belonging could be found anywhere.