What makes you happy?

For me, it's the unexpected connections and experiences that bring the most joy.

I'm from Satara, Maharashtra, and work at a small startup in Bengaluru. Back in 2022, during a solo trip to Madurai, I met a Japanese traveler in a restaurant. We only had 15 minutes to chat—mostly about food, as we both love exploring different cuisines. I casually invited her to visit my hometown.

Fast forward two years, we stayed in touch, discussing food over WhatsApp. She even opened an Indian restaurant in Japan last year! In September, she and her husband visited Satara during Ganesh festival, and I got the chance to show them the 'untold India'—our culture, traditions, people, and of course, food.

On the first day, my family was a bit hesitant to interact with them. But by the second day, thanks to Google Translate, my mom and they started connecting. My mom even taught her some authentic Maharashtrian dishes, and now she’s planning to add them to her restaurant's menu in Japan!

It was truly one of the happiest experiences of my life.

What’s your happiest memory?

Kalan Everett

Stealth

3 days ago

Such a great story!

Aaron Lee

Stealth

3 days ago

Yes, Thank you!

Aaron Vernon

Highradius

3 days ago

waking up to this wholesome story has made my day.

Jordon Lee

Stealth

3 days ago

I'm glad that you liked it!

Jordon Nadeen

Stealth

2 days ago

Adding a few more memories: Word spread quickly in our village that a Japanese family was visiting, and almost everyone came to meet them, bringing gifts like grains, vegetables, and fruits from their farms. Some ladies even gifted her a saree! Our guests were overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality. My mom gifted her anklets, too. As my mom taught her various Maharashtrian dishes, I watched from the side, listening to their conversations about my marriage, my mom's life as a teacher, and family. They bonded beautifully. It made me so happy to see them connect. Before leaving, she invited my mom and grandmother to Japan for a special chef session at her restaurant. When it was time to say goodbye, the entire village came to see them off. My mom and friend cried. In that moment, we all became family. So, eventually, I was happy. My Japanese friends were happy. My family was happy. And our entire village was happy.