Note: This is my first ever story. I do not expect it to be any good, but if it is, please give credits to reddit user u/sharkycast, who both inspired and convinced me to write this story. Also, English isn't my first language, so if there are any major mistakes, please let me know. So, without further discussions, onto the story.

„Excuse me, miss? You need to fasten your seatbelt."

Maho was suddenly awake. „Wha-?" „Seatbelt. We will be landing soon.", the stewardess told her.

„Oh. Yes. Seatbelt. Of course."

She fastened her seatbelt. The lady next to her chuckled a little. „May I ask what's so funny?", Maho snapped. „Oh, nothing, I just think it was adorable." Maho looked a bit pissed. Not only was she woken up abruptly, now a stranger decided to call her 'adorable'? She just looked in the other direction, saying nothing. The lady seemed to have decided this lead to nothing, as she left Maho alone from there on.

Looking out of the window, she saw that the plane was just flying over the river Main. Soon, she would be setting foot on German ground, for the first time in her life. What would it be like? How were the people? Were they really like the stereotype? Obsessed with rules, and cold on the outside? She was to find out all that soon. She looked out of the window a bit more as the plane approached runway 07R of Frankfurt/Main airport. „So this is Germany", she thought to herself. It looked a bit like she imagined it. Green landscapes around a large city with tall glass buildings.

„Interesting architecture style. Nothing like Japanese buildings." She continued to watch the town until the plane landed. As many people started to clap, Maho did so, too. Although she had no idea why everyone clapped, she didn't want to stand out in any way. While the plane taxied to the gate, a lot of conversations broke loose between the passengers.

Suddenly, she heard a voice next to her. „Are you from Japan?" It was the middle-aged lady from before. Maho sighed, unnerved.

„Yes, I am..."

„Great, I am from the US. I loved it in Japan. Great, isn't it? You need to visit the US at some point!"

In her mind, Maho quickly put that on her not-to-do list.

„Maybe at some point I will"

. Just as the lady wanted to continue speaking, the plane stopped and the stewardesses started opening the doors. „Thank God", Maho thought, relieved that she wouldn't have to endure this any longer. As she waited for the lady to unload her carry-on luggage, she felt some kind of discomfort growing inside her.

„Here I am. In Germany. Alone." She was unsure what she would do, what she could do. After reaching Hannover, that was. „No. I will not think about that again. I am a grown woman. I can look after myself." At least she had already rented an apartment so she did not have to stay in a hotel for the night. After leaving the plane, she went to collect her two huge suitcases which were filled to the brink with everyday utensils. Clothes, nightwear, things like that.

After she left the arrival hall, she decided that the first thing she would do was observe people. What they did, how they acted, the interactions between them. Even though she felt bad doing it, she was, after all, in a foreign country and had to get a feel for it, otherwise she could have problems later.

So this is chapter one. A small one, to be fair. As I said, it is my first story, I am still learning. If you liked it, a favourite would mean a lot to me. If not, why not leave constructive criticism? Also, I will try to upload two chapters per week, but looking at my school schedule... I am not sure whether that will work. But I digress, thanks for reading, everyone.