Alone in a foreign country 
Learning words and routes 
Traversing points of interest 
Making small talk 
Back hurt from backpack  
Stomach grumbling in anger 
Eyes bereft of slumber 
Exploring streets and shops 
 
Meals are appetizers  
Floors are chairs 
White is weird  
English is rare 
Presents are daily 
Activities are firsts 
Pushing a bus stuck on ice  
Meeting people diverse and nice 
 
Body naked and shivering  
Igniting a stone, stew simmering 
Open-air bath hopping 
Head dizzy, hot, and throbbing  
 
A different climate 
A different culture 
Different cuisine, intriguing norms 
The same sun 
The crunch of snow 
Changing mentality 
A cool robe 
 
Everything is new 
Everywhere, everyone 
Time is different 
And I am too.