Natsukashii

Upon arriving in San Francisco on Sunday, I requested an Uber to the hotel I was staying at, which I realized was only two blocks from my former apartment. After settling in at my hotel, I took a walk around the neighborhood; finding my old breakfast spot, barbershop, laundromat, and corner store. I felt warmth in my body and a smile spread across my face as these memories resurfaced.

The Japanese word natsukashii describes a feeling of happiness and gratitude for fond memories in the past. It is similar to nostalgia, but instead of longing for a time or place to come back, one is content with the joy of remembering. Natsukashii describes my time in San Francisco, I’m grateful that I got to live and experience the city at that stage of my life.