Settling in: Classes, Friends, and Exploring Tokyo!

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been getting into the swing of things with my classes and adjusting to my new schedule. I actually had to register for an additional class after realizing I forgot to sign up for one that was kind of important; oops! Luckily, I was able to fix it without too much trouble.

I’ve also been making an effort to meet people in my classes, and I’ve had some success! One of my classes is a smaller group, and we do a lot of interactive activities with the people sitting around us. It’s been a great way to connect and find study buddies. One of my new friends is doing a year-long program at Waseda, and another is a full-time Waseda student from a different department. It’s really cool to see the different paths people are on, even though we’re in the same classes.

After class, my friends and I like to grab lunch together or find a spot to study. Some of my courses are pretty challenging, so I’ve been spending a good amount of time reviewing and preparing outside of class. One class in particular is tough: my professor speaks only in Japanese and moves so fast. Half the time, I can’t keep up with what she’s saying! But since it’s just a one-credit course and I’m not the only one struggling, I’m treating it like a fun challenge and sticking with it.

This past weekend, I got to travel a bit and hang out with friends. I even met someone on the train who goes to a different language school and happens to live near me. I also made a Japanese friend recently, and it’s been awesome sharing parts of our cultures with each other, especially the parts that differ significantly! Hanging out, talking, and exploring Tokyo together with my friends has been such a highlight. It makes everything feel a little more special.

This past week, I took various photos from places that I went. Firstly, I went to Senso Ji, which was extremely busy. I liked it, but it definitely was not my favorite. Then, I went to Shimokitazawa, which is a second-hand shopping district with my Japanese friend, and it was super fun! I didn’t end up buying anything because were just talking the whole time and it was quite expensive, but I still had a blast. After that, my train friend and I watched some live music at a local coffee shop next to our house! I got to meet some more locals and practice my Japanese. Finally, I just added some random flicks from Ikebukuro, my school, and a cute station cat in a sweater on a chilly day.

Here are some photos from this past week:

That’s all I have for now, but I have some big plans this weekend that I am going to keep a surprise until I post about it hehe. See you next time!

Checking In: My Mental State After a Month in Kyoto

This past week has been another slow one. Classes have been fairly easy so far, but we already have a break coming up for Golden Week, which will be a busier week for me. Since not much happened this week, I thought I would share a little about how I’m feeling now that I’ve been living in Kyoto for over a month.

Overall, I think I’ve adjusted pretty well. I’ve gotten a schedule down — balancing groceries shopping, homework, and finding time to hang out with friends or explore on my own. I’m still working on managing my budget better, especially with all the free time before classes started and now another week off for the holiday. After Golden Week, though, there won’t be any more big breaks for a while so that will help me spend less.

Of course, I still get homesick sometimes. I miss certain foods, my family, and my friends back home. Living on my own can feel lonely at times too. It doesn’t help that I haven’t made many new friends yet. I know I need to be more social if I want to meet people, but I haven’t really asked anyone to hang out yet, so it’s not too surprising. Still, I’ve started talking to a few people from my classes and someone from my dorm, so I’m making small steps.

Even with the moments of feeling homesick and lonely, I’m proud of how much I’ve adapted to the point that Kyoto feels a little like home now. I have places I like to visit occasionally, favorite restaurants I like to go to, and sports on campus where I like to do homework at.

Sometimes on the weekend I will also spend a day explore somewhere new. Like this weekend I visited three different shrines that were each about 20-30 minutes away from each other. Getting out of the room and spending a couple of hours outside really does helps to improve my mood, and I don’t need to spend a lot of money to do so which is a plus.

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to be a little more social. Even just asking someone to grab lunch or study together would be a big step for me. I know making new friendships take time, so I’m trying to be patient with myself.