Finding a Home Away from Home

I remember when I first moved to Japan. It was not my first time leaving my home country, but when your home is on the other side of the world, it can be a daunting challenge regardless. One of the key factors that makes or breaks a successful venture when living so far away from home is finding community. Today I want to talk about the community I have found.

Shooters Sports Bar was the third bar I ever went to after I moved to Nagoya. I discovered it when I was looking for neat places to enjoy a cigar in Nagoya. I was delighted to find that not only was there an American bar in the city, but that they also seemed to have a culture where I could bring an old hobby of mine and share it with some of the other guests. I'll never forget that welcoming feeling of the atmosphere and the staff, who listened to many of my wild stories while serving me my favorite whiskeys.

What was a surprise to me, was how tight knit the community was. Having lived in large cities abroad before, I had of course engaged with different social circles, but meeting so many people who had been in and out and around this place for so many years was very comforting to me. Especially as I was dealing with homesickness. I met folks who had been enjoying this space for over 20 years, meeting new faces and of course spending time with the other regulars who had become like a family.

Family, that was what I was lacking having moved out here. Japan can sometimes feel like a lonely place if you spend too much time focused only on work. Having a place where you can unwind and know that you'll be treated as a friend is often what makes living so far from home bearable. As time went by, I found myself returning again and again, until I was one of those regulars. Months passed and before I knew it, I had joined the Shooters team! A bit of a wild circumstance, but just like when I first went as a guest, I was welcomed with open arms.