Standing on the train platform after seeing the most intense fireworks I have ever seen. It's summer, it's humid, it's Japan.

Moved here over to teach English 2 months ago. Came to expand my horizons, get out of my comfort zone and see the world.

On the platform and writing a text post to Seddit saying how it's been over two months since I've been laid. Behind me four girls in Yukata cue behind me. I notice them but then continue to write my post.

Then something snaps and I turn and motion for one of the girls to fan me. She does, everybody laughs and straight into conversation.

What snapped? Well a few days I was watching this series on rejection therapy done in Japan. The concept is to go in and try to get rejected. This leads to crazy social bending ideas. My challenge I set myself was to be fanned by a stranger. It worked and better than I thought.

Back to the platform and I'm talking to all the girls. I find one is studying to be an English teacher. Since my Japanese is rubbish and only one girl can speak English quite well I gravitate to her.

When we get on the train, I move to the standing area and her friends sit down away. I could tell she still wanted to talk so she came over to me and we had a nice one on one conversation. I did some light kino, got her facebook and organized a date. I forget that the Japanese don't really hug so she felt awkward when I hugged her goodbye. Next time I will preface with "In my city we hug goodbye".

When I got off at the station I waved to her friends who were all grinning approvingly. It felt so surreal. Being alone in a whole new country has been a challenge so it's nice to meet some locals.