These were my first days in Japan. Or, to be more exact, my amazing race days.
Long story short, I signed up 2 years of my life here, without any language skills and without having visited the country ever. I have my own super-pretentious, philosophical reason, but really, maybe I was just temporarily mad. Or having a quarter-life crisis. Or looking for more social media likes. Or maybe I got it confused with a vacation.
As a Google and research devotee, I thought all those countless hours reading and learning about all things Japan have prepared me as well as I could. I also started memorising hiragana and katakana letters. But you really didn’t know until it hit you.
Japan has been nuts!!!! My small apartment is small! I have to do what at the municipal office what? I spent a lot of time being so confused about everything! Why people no speak Engrish? Phone bills are so costly! Why are there convoluted procedures for everything? Dammit I’m signing contracts in Japanese!
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My new telco operator gave me a bowl of instant noodles. Er... why, Japan? |
Why am I doing this, again?? I can’t write my own name in katakana! How do I buy a salmon bowl from this ticket machine, somebody HALP! Sumimasen! Wah! Wah! And I haven’t even started work.
But, but. I am in an amazing country of courteous, gentle people. Neon signs and cute mascot characters and cute music are absolutely everywhere.
There have been little wins and “yeah I did it, I’m awesome!” moments. Food in random places have been decent at worst and unexpectedly amazing at best. I had the chance to reconnect with a couple old friends and made new ones.
Random flower shops and potted plants could be spotted easily.
At the risk of sounding extremely cliche, a sense of wonder and a sense of gratitude are key. I hope I can hold on to that, always.
More stories to come… It wouldn’t all fit in one post!
Places featured in this post
- Shinjuku
- Shibuya
- Ueno Park
- Shimokitazawa
- Meidaimae
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