Even though my exchange timing is a bit odd due to Japan's school schedule, I have still had a lot of time to reflect on my time here in Tokyo. It has been over a month now since I arrived in Japan. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was getting my bearings but at the same time, I feel like I have been living here for a lot longer. Over this past month, so much has happened. Ao many of my preconceived views of Japan have changed, and I have developed skills I never thought I would have. I still have so much to learn, and this is only the beginning!
I remember arriving like it was yesterday. Getting off a plane at 4:00 am, going through customs and getting my residence card, barely awake, checking into a pod hotel using Japanese for the first time -- my heart racing because I was so nervous. Looking back, I would say I have come a long way. At the start, anytime I wanted to do anything in Japanese, even small things like ordering food, checking out at a conbini, or just trying to ask for a bag would make my heart race and cause me to choke on my words because I did not want to mess up. And, well, I did. A lot! Sometimes worse than others. But it has been those moments that are pushing me to improve and continue working on my language ability.
