elysian byBlackBerry , Gizmodo commissioned former staff writer Adam Frucci to relay his boldest experience , and here it is . Read his original , continent - span essay below to key how chicken ventriculus and the worldwide words of interest turn into an experience that altered the course of his life .
When I was working at Gizmodo in 2007 , an chance develop for me to go on a press jaunt to a manufactory in Seoul . The fellowship in question offered to pay my way , but as that was against company insurance policy , Gawker footed the bill for me to wing to South Korea , connecting in Tokyo .
Long story scant , the slip to the manufacturing plant descend through about a hebdomad before I was due to entrust . I could have just continue home , but it was too late to call off the tickets and get any sorting of refund . So since the money was being spend anyways , we decided that I would go but cut the unite flight to Korea and just remain in Japan . By myself . For two weeks . It was a total last - moment scrambled plan , a little terrifying , and the absolute dear matter that could have possibly happened .
I do n’t make love a lick of Japanese — well , I make love how to say “ give thanks you , ” thanks to Styx , and how to say “ chef ’s choice , ” thanks to fancy New York sushi restaurants . Both ended up coming in handy , but other than that , I was tossed into the realm of the lift sunlight without much prep .
One of the best things about traveling alone in a foreign country is that it drive you to really interact with the people there ; you ca n’t conceal behind your English - speaking travel companion . So I found myself cast around Kyoto late at night , hungry , trying to figure out just what the netherworld I was go to do for nutrient . This led me to a eatery that was essentially a bar with eight seats with a guy rope working a grillwork behind it . Two guys in suit were smoking cigarettes at one end of it , and that was about it . I model down , said “ omakase ” ( “ chef ’s choice ” ) , and get a six - course dinner without being able to speak a word to the chef / server other than my ordination of whatever the underworld he wanted to serve me . That ended up being some stuff that I was conversant with — chicken yakitori — and some things I was , well , less conversant with — sensitive Gallus gallus gizzards . But hey , when you do n’t know how to say “ no thanks , I do n’t want to get intellectual nourishment poisoning by myself in a country where I do n’t mouth the language , ” you have to just embrace it . And you know what ? Those crude chicken gizzards were passably damn good .
And also not the weirdest / grossest - sounding matter I eat on ! Due to the solo nature of my trip , I extend to out to the folks that run Gizmodo Japan , and they were nice enough to run across up with me , give me a tour of the Akihabara electronics territorial dominion , and then take me out for a few drinkable and feed me nutrient I never in a million years thought I would eat . Like river eel and egg casserole or bare-ass horsemeat sashimi . Do n’t judge me , but I dictate second of the Equus caballus .
Of course , there was more to pay heed out in Japan on the caller dime than eating animals beloved by tween girls . I also exit to some of Japan ’s most notable temples in Kyoto , which seem especially suitable for the sort of quiet , ho-hum wandering that solo travel encourages . Less contributive to such ruminative endeavors was mountain range - smoking vending - machine - purchased Seven Stars while becoming haunt with a unknown , drum - based colonnade game that I kept finding all over Tokyo . It was an colonnade game with a gigantic drum for a controller , which is all you really need to know about it . The fact that America still does n’t have these thing all over the place is cogent evidence that we ’re a finish in decline . Then there was the skyscraper - magniloquent Ferris wheel with the cobwebby - floored railway car . And the Japanese - game - show - themed indoor theme park in which I hinder myself by fail at some feats of strength in front of the girl execute the matter , who could n’t stop express joy at me and , I assume , insulting me and my waifish arms in Japanese . And , of course , getting lost in that incredible tube system , which was an adventure in itself .
Going to a factory in Korea with a lot of other American nerds would have been fine , sure . We would have been taken upkeep of , shown around , provided with food and tours and the sorts of thing designed to make ignorant , English - speaking Americans such as ourselves sense prosperous in a strange land . But to go to a country you ’re not too familiar with , not speaking a salt lick of the language , and figure it out as you go ? It ’s much scarier in theory than it is in practice , and pushing through that apprehension gifted me with two of the best , most exciting weeks of my life .
But really : thank god those sensitive gizzards did n’t kill me , right ?
Have you lived as boldly as Adam ? test it : transmit your 500 - word essay / blog post / larger-than-life poem / manifesto to Gizmodo at[email protected]with “ My Boldest Experience ” as the subject wrinkle . The best ( funniest , most compelling , least lame ) of the bunch will be issue here on Friday , and then you could revel in that particular gloriole and glee to all of your friend who have Internet access . submission are due by noon EST on Thursday , March 1 , 2012 .
For inspiration , check out theBlackBerry ® Bold ™ 9900/9930 , providing all the business leader you need to boldly go anywhere .
Adam Frucciis the editor program ofSplitsider , a blog about clowning . He will happily move around anywhere if someone wants to foot the bill .
By Adam Frucci
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