Category: Japan

A Reflection at the Halfway Point

Published on by lizgwebbLeave a comment

In my mind, I haven’t been in Tokyo for long. Two months in, and I still feel as if I just stepped off the airplane in late August. 

I suppose it’s a good thing that time is flying, since that probably means I’m doing enough to warrant busy days. Despite this fact, I still feel a ball of sadness in my stomach when I think about my semester abroad coming to an end. 

In the past month or so, I’ve noticed a lot of changing feelings. At first, I started to feel more comfortable speaking with my host mom and talking to my peers in class. Then, I noticed how better situated I was to address my culture shock that I was feeling for quite some time. Even now, I see ways in which I could continue to grow as a student overseas, and it makes me sad to think that I may not have more opportunities to do so before my time is up.

This first half of the semester hasn’t been perfect. In fact, I’ve struggled with my fair share of anxiety and loneliness. On the surface level, I’m very happy to be in Japan, and I love all the opportunities I’ve had available to me. Deeper than that though, I’ve been struggling with my personal reflection and motivation.

Being abroad gives me the opportunity to work on adapting to changes more independently. However, it also means having to rebuild a support system by myself. At this point, I feel better situated to address any issues that may pop up, but I still feel uncertain much of the time. 

I love being able to study in Japan and experience a different way of life. I’m already so sad thinking of having to say goodbye to this little part of the world that I’ve temporarily made into my home. However, I think it’s important to realize that, like all things in life, it isn’t without its flaws. It makes me happy though, seeing as I’m able to grow from these moments of uncertainty. I’m grateful to be where I’m at now, and I’m happy to see how I’ve changed even in this short time. Come December, I hope that I’ll have plenty more things to reflect positively on too.

As of now though, I have lots of fun memories and pictures to enjoy! If you’re interested in seeing some of my recent favorite photos, feel free to take a look at the links below!

https://flic.kr/p/2nVvC3n / https://flic.kr/p/2nVufeS – Tokyo seems to have vending machines on every corner. Not only are they convenient, but they’re enjoyable to look at too!

How to Spend Your Weekend in Japan

Published on by lizgwebbLeave a comment

One of my favorite things about Japan is that there’s never a shortage of things to do.

For example, I recently spent the day on a bus tour with my host family. Early wake up aside, I had a great time trying out lots of fun things such as picking grapes in the countryside, taste testing locally made wines, and visiting a shrine on Mount Fuji. Though it was a long day, it was a really exciting experience.

Earlier this October, I also met with some friends and traveled to a part of the Tokyo prefecture called Asakusa. Known for their older architecture, Asakusa is a throwback to the more traditional Japanese style. As a result, it’s quite a popular spot for tourists such as myself who want to see something a little more historic. While there, I spent a good part of my Saturday exploring the Senso-ji Shrine, meandering through some souvenir stands, and having lunch at a ramen shop near Tokyo Skytree.  

https://flic.kr/p/2nVryWd – A photo of the walkway to Sensō-ji Shrine

https://flic.kr/p/2nVvC3N – Entrance of Sensō-ji Shrine

https://flic.kr/p/2nVwykw – A picture from the ramen shop

Most recently, I also spent an afternoon in Yokohama. Though my trip was fairly last minute, the weather was perfect for a day out. I spent time sightseeing in Yokohama’s vibrant Chinatown and had a very enjoyable lunch at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Later in the day, I also went on a boat tour of Yokohama Bay and saw some really cool things such as a giant gundam robot and the Yokohama ferris wheel. 

Surmise to say, Japan certainly has no shortage of fun activities available to fill up my free time. These experiences have resulted in a number of great memories, photos, and souvenirs for me to bring back home. Though I’m often busy due to a mix of travel, class, and homework, I’ve been able to try out many new things, even when I least expected to. I’ve also started to realize the importance of making the most of my time. Now that my semester is close to halfway through, there’s much more incentive to do what I can while I still have the time.