#iamvirtualvikki

1. Plans NEVER perfectly fall into place. 

When plans didn’t work out for me, even better/greater things came my way. It came in the form of new human connections, newfound passions and opportunities. Plan for your future but don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t work out or you don’t hit the goals you’ve set for yourself.  

2. Live a little. No. Live a LOT.

If you’re on a wake up - go to work - count down the hours - go home - sleep - repeat type of cycle, I’m sorry to break it to you but you’re not actually living. Ok. Hear me out. I know how a lot of us are neck deep into our career and life goals or are pressured out of our minds from societal expectations of success but please. Recognize the fact that you only live through your 20s once. Do things that make you feel alive.

3. Grow at your own pace.

As a naturally competitive person, I’m constantly out doing strides towards self-improvement and career growth. It took me a while to just calm tf down and do my own thing. The more people I met and the more conversations I had, the more I came to realize that we all have different backgrounds, different goals, different passions. The fact is, we’re all just figuring life out.

4. Don’t be afraid to try!

May it be a new opportunity coming your way or on days curiosity sneaks up on you - there’s no harm in giving it a shot! As Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. It gets scary at times especially when it involves big changes like a new job, leaving home, or a difficult skill but trust me when I say, trying is better than living with ‘what ifs’.

5. Impostor Syndrome sucks.

A friend once told me mid convo at work, ‘Why are you putting yourself down? You’ve done great work!’ That was the moment I realized I get Impostor Syndrome and how it has prevented me from being the best I could be. From that moment I became more self-aware and learned to not let self-doubt get to me. But it happens, even to the most accomplished people out there. 

6. Don’t let unnecessary pressure get to you.

Coming from a traditional Asian family, there are certain pressures and expectations that have been ingrained in me growing up. From when to get married to the career path I choose and well, everything else in between! But honestly, moving out after uni, leaving a toxic relationship and deciding to build my own life was the best thing I ever did for myself. Remember, this is your life and nobody else’s. Prioritize your happiness.

7. Invest in yourself.

This spans out to a number of things: self-care, health, mental health, education and more. Go on a trip, buy yourself that online program, or treat yourself to a spa day! We tend to forget about ourselves in the midst of dealing with our quarter life crisis. But really, if anything, this is the time for you to focus on yourself more.

1. I still suck in nihongo.

I have been studying the Japanese language for a total of two years now but I never took it seriously up until a few months before flying out here. I mean, of course I have gotten better compared to when I was in the Philippines but it’s still pretty bad. But you know what, I still have less than a year left here so let’s hope my future self won’t slack off.

2. I’m way more quiet now than before.

My friends here would definitely disagree but that’s only because they didn’t know me when I was in the Philippines. I don’t know, man. When it’s dead silent around you, there’s just no other way to go but to conform. You don’t want to be that obnoxious gaijin who knows nothing but disrupt the social norm and order of things. 

3. I’m drinking like it’s 2010 all over again.

Yes. I’m ‘bout that life again. If you knew me personally from 2010 until roughly early 2013 then you would know how much I loved drinking and partying. Well, I’m back at it! Why? In Tokyo, it’s either you party until midnight and catch the last train or party until sunrise. Plus, nomikai and nomihoudai. You must be wondering what that is, right? Well nomikai is pretty much a drinking party while nomihoudai is something offered by izakayas or bars wherein you can have unlimited drinks for a fixed price! How can I say no to that?

 4. I have wasted a lot of money in arcades.

Those cute plushies just waiting to be masterfully picked up by me in the claw machines are just so damn hard to say no to. I’ve gotten lucky a few times but I’ve lost 10000x more. It’s a trap, guys. Don’t be like me.

5. I can’t shop like a local yet.

Which is why I hate grocery shopping here. I just can’t help but compare the huge price difference! A small pack of chicken wings (which has like four pieces btw) costs about what one whole chicken would cost in the PH. Don’t even get me started with the fruits and vegetables! It’s quite frustrating but it is what it is. So what do I do? I buy everything that’s on sale because unlike the Japanese, I don’t mind freezing my meat way past the expiration date (yes, meat here have expiration dates.) But don’t get me wrong, fam. I ain’t broke. It’s not like I can’t buy it. It’s just my stingy side acting up. 

6. I have learned to live small.

At first I couldn’t stand how small apartments are in Tokyo. Like in the grocery store, I couldn’t help but compare. The rent I’m paying in the tiny apartment I’m living in right now could get me a three bedroom condo in central Manila. But then again, the biggest perk of this place is how close it is to my uni plus it is quite big in Japan standards. I hated it at first but now I’ve gotten the hang of it!

7. Patience as an art form. With how fast-paced life in Tokyo is, it’s quite normal to feel frustrated and impatient at times. But living here made me realize that following the social order actually makes things easier and more efficient for everyone. May it be waiting for the train to arrive at exactly 10:24am or the specific time you can come in a sushi bar based on your queue card, it all works. The sense of order here made me more patient than I have ever been before. Instead of just thinking of myself, I follow the proper flow and order which, to be honest, works way better than bumping heads with everyone.

8. I’m not sick of Japan yet.

A lot of gaijins have warned me about seeing Japan lose its charm the longer I stay here but so far, I still love living here! There is still so much to see and do in this beautiful country. I have barely scratched the surface. If anything has changed, really, I think it’s my thirst for more adventure and further immersion in the Japanese culture and way of life.

I graduated with a degree on International Relations majoring in Japanese Studies, I interned at a Japanese owned publication in Makati, and all the companies who actually called me back after the uni job fair were all Japanese firms. No shit though, right? Those were the obvious answers. But here’s the lowdown, I hated my undergrad. When I graduated, I couldn’t even introduce myself properly in Nihongo. (Fun Fact: my Nihongo sensei back in uni hated me lol) I vowed I’d never open another MNN book nor utter anything Japanese ever again. But alas, here I am. Sitting on my futon in this 5 degree weather typing this instead of working on my happyou (presentation). 

I may have hated my undergrad and everything that came with it but I instantly fell in love with Japan during my first visit back in 2015. I have always planned to study abroad after graduating but I have always been dead-set on taking an MBA like my brother did. After going to MBA events and orientations I realized that I wanted to step out of the fixed path I have set myself. I initially didn’t want to but with a bit of push from my brother, I realized that it felt right to give Japan a shot.  I only applied to the best universities in Tokyo because, honestly, I had nothing to lose. And well, here I am! I honestly couldn’t believe it. From then on, everything happened so fast. Next thing I knew I was flying out to Tokyo without a return ticket in hand. 

So, why Japan? Here are the top five reasons why:  

1. I hated my undergrad but I had to make it work to my advantage. 

2. As brave as I am to be away from home, I am also pretty scared and this is the safest country I know. 

3. Personal circumstances showed me that it was meant to be.

4. I am never going to get this chance again. (I think.)

5. This whole thing gave me a chance to grab life by the balls and charge through it without a single care in the world. 

Plus, sushi and ramen, man. How can I say no to that? 

That’s pretty much why I chose to take my postgrad here. I think I made a pretty good choice considering I decided on a whim and practically said yes to everything that came along the way. Let this be a reminder that you can truly have whatever you want as long as you claim it. Don’t be afraid to take a chance.

GOALS:

1. Create content on this blog and on every other creative platform consistently this year. - I have officially hit my quota of disappearing and reappearing on the interweb. I am now back for good, I promise. I will do my best to post at least two blog entries every week on IAMVV.

2. Be fit enough to do something extraordinary. - I like working out but I love food. Yup. A never ending conundrum. This year I am not making any excuses anymore. I will get fit and do something I have always wanted to but couldn’t! Maybe run a marathon or idk, climb Mt. Fuji?

3. Actually save money (and not spend it at the end of the year). - Yes, I do save, but I also spend a lot. As part of my adulting initiative for myself, I have to be financially practical and secure (or at least try to be) this year. I have to have savings not only for my material and immediate needs but as well as for my long-term plans.

4. Be able to naturally converse in Nihongo. - As some of you may know, I currently live in Tokyo. So far, I can perform basic conversations like ordering food (duh) and expressing some of my thoughts but I have yet to find the confidence nor have I acquired enough Nihongo skills to have an actual conversation in the language. By the end of this year I should be able to express myself in the language without stuttering or pulling out my jisho.

5. Learn how to cook 5 things like a pro. - Fun fact! I grew up in the restaurant industry but due to medieval provincial beliefs, I never learned how to cook. It sucks, I know. But I currently live alone and I have an extremely tiny kitchen where I plan to make magic and burn tons of shit this year. Hopefully by the end of 2017, I can share photos of incredibly delicious and edible plates of food.

RESOLUTIONS:

1. Be nicer. - I can be quite mean at times especially when I’m pissed. I will do my best to be more aware of what comes out of my mouth from now on (no matter how true it may be).

2. Learn to see the good in people, things and situations. - I am an extreme pessimist and over-thinker. I live by Murphy’s Law but I know I overdo it at times. Time to be more positive!

3. Get out more. Live more. - With all the shit that went down in 2016, staying home was basically all I did. This year I shall go out and live more which means more adventures!

4. Be less vengeful. - I like doing karma’s job but I think I should just sit back, relax and let her do her thing this time.

5. Be happy about something everyday (if possible). - I’m not crazy. I don’t want to be ecstatic 24/7 but I would love to smile about something everyday instead of sulking about everything.

August: I moved to Tokyo! I am taking a postgrad program on language and culture in Waseda University. I will be here for about a year and a half. Lived in a cute airbnb and lived off of crepes and famima chicken.

September: I meant to update my blog by this time (and I was even supposed to start a vlog!) but so much shit went down and a lot of adulting was required so obviously I failed to post any content. And oh, I celebrated my first month living in Tokyo by going to Ultra Japan with the gorgeous woo girls of Tokyo (hihi)! #winningatadulting

October: To say that halloween in Japan is crazy would be an understatement. Partied at WOMB and took lots of photos with my IJ girls at Shibuya. Definitely one for the books!

November: A lot of shopping and eating and hauls that never made it to this blog. That one’s on me. (Yes, those are real LVs piled up on a long table. ILY JAPAN.)

December: Been living in Tokyo for 3 months now but I’m only starting to become touristy all because of bubba’s Christmas visit.

That’s pretty much it. Obviously a lot more went down in between but those were the highlights that I can still vividly remember today. Sorry for being gone for so long. This year will be better. I promise!