Last summer, Amy and her schoolmate Kevin decided to travel to Japan on their own for the first time. Amy's mother, a successful businesswoman who traveled overseas frequently, helped them plan the entire trip. She reminded them to pack a windbreaker because the weather in Japan can change without warning. Kevin, who is quite forgetful, almost left his shaver and his favorite ballpoint pen at home, but Amy's careful checklist kept everything in order.
Their flight arrived right on time, and Kevin was deeply impressed by how punctual the Japanese trains were—every departure matched the schedule to the exact minute. As a result of their thorough planning, they navigated the busy streets of Tokyo with ease. At a souvenir shop near the station, a friendly saleswoman helped them find what they needed. "How much does this cost?" Amy asked, pointing to a beautiful bookmark shaped like a golden maple leaf.
On the third day, a typhoon warning was announced for the Tokyo area. As a result of the powerful winds and heavy rain, most outdoor attractions were forced to close. Amy soon developed a backache from sitting on the stiff hotel chair for hours, while Kevin suffered from a stomachache after eating too much convenience store food. Despite these setbacks, they stayed positive and spent the afternoon playing board games inside the hotel.
When the typhoon finally passed, the two friends explored a quiet wayside village on the outskirts of Tokyo. The village was as lively as a beehive, filled with local artisans selling handmade pottery and wooden crafts. Amy bought a few small gifts and decided to send one home by airmail. She carefully wrote the postcode of her motherland on the envelope, hoping the package would reach her grandmother in time.
Before leaving Japan, Amy also wanted to mail a special gift to her favorite teacher back home. She asked the hotel concierge, "How long does it take to send a parcel by airmail to Taiwan?" The concierge replied that it would take approximately one week. Amy chose a handcrafted journal which had a cover made of polished cherrywood, and tucked a short note inside, sending warm regards and wishing her teacher a happy new school year.
On the flight home, Kevin flipped through a travel magazine which featured articles about the oilfield regions of the Middle East and remote villages across the globe. Amy looked out the window and reflected on everything they had learned. She thought that a smart traveler must sometimes act like a superman—quick to adapt, creative in solving unexpected problems, and confident in the face of the unknown. Even the subtraction of a few sunny days caused by the typhoon could not diminish the richness of what they had experienced together.