today marks exactly one year since i embarked on my study abroad journey to japan!
although i definitely have some regrets - not traveling to as many places, not making as many friends (both japanese & non-japanese), not bringing 2 suitcases - i still really enjoyed my time there and i’ve definitely been feeling nostalgic lately - occasionally i even have dreams about being back in japan.
some of the most important things i learned:
your experience is what you make of it. you are the one in charge of shaping your experience.
keep an open mind - some people go into it with very high or very specific expectations and then blame the country for not being what they were hoping.
don’t settle into a routine. this can be scary for people who need to have a routine in their lives, but i think it’s really important to force yourself to deviate from it even if only in small steps, like trying a new restaurant or exploring a new area of the neighborhood.
go to as many places as you can, whether it’s 30 minutes away or 3 hours away; some of my best memories were the short trips i took outside of tokyo.
i’m always active on tumblr even if i don’t post often on this blog, so i’m always open to chatting & answering questions!
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