NARA -- Noriko Yamaue, 58, did not enjoy her first trip abroad.
But 12 years on, she has thousands of friends in scores of countries, a far cry from the initial lack of companions to have meals and share the excitement of travel with. The Nara resident puts it all to joining Women Welcome Women World Wide, or 5W, a nonprofit trust based in Britain.
5W, founded in 1984, aims to foster international friendship by enabling women of different countries to visit one another's homes.