After completing my fall semester at Waseda University and celebrating the 2020 New Year in Tokyo, I was looking forward to many more exciting experiences during the remainder of my one year study abroad program.
During the spring semester at Waseda University, “Circle Recruitment Week” takes place, where student clubs, known as “circles” in Japan, recruit new students to join. I was hoping to participate in this event and join a few circles, because extra curricular activities are a great way for international students to meet and share common interests with Japanese students, who can be shy and difficult to approach. As the end of winter break was approaching in March, I was fortunate to start working as an intern at a small art gallery called Oped Space in Kokubunji, Tokyo. Meanwhile, March was also the start of the sakura (cherry blossom) blooming period and hanami (flower viewing) picnic gatherings.
Unfortunately, by March 2020, COVID-19 had already reached Japan, and cases began to increase throughout the country.
