After not going home for almost a year, I finally went back to visit my family this past August into September. The experience was both exactly what I expected and not at all anything I could have ever seen coming. When you tell people that you are going abroad, whether for a week or, in … Continue reading What They Don’t Tell You About Culture Shock
Category: Thoughts
‘Kao’ versus ‘Cow’ and Other Misunderstandings
The new Japanese students have arrived, and with them a chance for me to constantly use my Japanese. However, recently it seems that no matter what I do, everyone seems to find it unwarrantedly funny. Clearly, we have reached that point in friendship where we switch from trying to be as nice as possible to mocking eachother's every error. Unfortunately for me, there are still many.
Confessions of Love: A Japanese Valentine’s Day
after spending approximately 40 hours making chocolate over the last two weeks, I will probably never look at a Hershey's Kiss the same way again. But hey, when in Rome! Or in this case, when in Japan for Valentine's Day.
Getting Sick in Japan
This may be the longest I have ever gone without getting sick, but the streak is now over; I have officially caught a cold, which has brought up some interesting challenges I was not expecting.
Otsukaresama Deshita: The Most Commonly Used Phrase in Japan
Whether you are coming back from classes, finishing up a club practice, or just look like you had a long day, this is a phrase you will hear all the time living in Japan. But what does it mean exactly?
Why I am Going to Japan
Ever wanted to know why I will be moving to the other side of the planet in a few months? Well here is the unabridged version of how I ended up going to university in Japan.