The Ties Brought Through Being A Volunteer Guide

The Ties Brought Through Being A Volunteer Guide

I had been requested for an airport transfer by two couples from Miami I had met through my experience as a two-day volunteer tour guide, which I sometimes do on my days off. I had chosen the Toyota HiAce van for the transfer vehicle this time.

My guests had arrived to Tokyo by cruise ship earlier in the week. As a volunteer tour guide, I went to Ueno Park to see the cherry blossoms and also to Shibuya for the first day, and for the second day, to Odaiba bay area and TeamLab Exhibitions with them.

On this day, I went to the pickup place a little early. My guests had already been ready to go and they helped with loading their luggage to the van. I handed my guests a gift I had prepared. My guests gave me Japanese sake and snacks, and it surely made my day!

After crossing the Rainbow Bridge, I showed my guests the Olympic Village for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and Toyosu Fish Market from the car. We talked about how much fun we had in Tokyo and about their dinner experience last night during the ride to the airport.

At Haneda Airport, I suggested that one of the guests try out a shop on Edo-koji shopping street in the airport building, as she wanted to find the Japanese-patterned earrings I had worn the day earlier. Then we took a photo of us all together at the airport, and I sent my guests off from there. Later on, my guest let me know that she was able to buy the earrings. I was very glad to hear that she had found them.

I had so much fun spending time with my guests and getting to know more about them. When my guests told me that they were happy to meet me again and again, and I was deeply moved to hear this. It was such a wonderful experience to meet my sweet guests through volunteering.