Self Discovery- Japan (1.5 Months)

It is now February 25th, just a little over one month here in Japan and my life has drastically changed! It’s hard to put into words how life has been…I don’t think I will ever fully adjust to life here, but things have drastically improved since I got here. Life is no less crazy than when I first got here….I am just learning how to deal with stress and cultural differences better. I have pretty much had a boyfriend since I was 15 years old, so I think the most difficult transition was learning to be completely alone, something that is totally new to me. My first month here was complete chaos, but I have managed to turn that chaos into productivity and creativity in the last few weeks. Meditation has become extremely important to me… I think my first month here has really given me anxiety, but by meditating just 5 minutes every day… I feel like I can handle any stressful situation now. Traveling without a friend, boyfriend, or family member forces you to sit with being alone and I’m getting more comfortable eating out at restaurants by myself and am starting to make small conversation in Japanese with the locals and my fellow co-workers.

            I feel as though for the first time in my life, I am discovering who I am! For the past 8 years or so, I was so invested in my romantic relationships that I never invested in my own interests. My interests in meditation, yoga, and Indian cuisine really subsided for the past few years, but all of a sudden I’M REMEMBERING HOW MUCH I LOVE THESE THINGS! There are tons of hidden treasure troves in Mito, one of them being INDIAN FOOD. I discover a new Indian restaurant each weekend, all hidden among little alleys in the city.  The community is definitely different from any part of Japan that I’ve been to~ apparently Mito folk are known for being grungy and retro (I can dig it). They have things like a bar called “Ola Munchies”, for little Mexican tapas and drinks and hip-hop, as well as vintage clothing shops like “The Magical Mystery Tour”, which I ADORE. The people are relaxed and chill, and it makes me feel like I’m at home just the slightest bit. ^__^ Yesterday after my Japanese lesson, my new Canadian friend and I were invited out to eat by my Indian friend and her family, who took us to one of the best Indian restaurants EVERRR! It was definitely a spontaneous moment…riding in a car with people we just met (maybe not the safest move…ha ha) eating curry with our bare hands with a huge group of Indian people…and they even treated us!!!

            To make things even better, I discovered that my gym has HOT YOGA, with an instructor that speaks English and Japanese!!!! She was so sweet and kind and very helpful to me. I plan to take her class more often.  It is wonderful because for the first time since I’ve gotten here, I’ve finally found my flow and routine that I’ve needed. Weekly yoga, Japanese lessons, mini excursions to cool cafes, shrines, temples, and shops, and blossoming relationships with new friends and co-workers.

Speaking of blossoming, it is officially Ume-Matsuri season, or Plum Festival season here in Mito! Apparently the ume are all in bloom, and there will be events every Saturday and Sunday for the next two months! The festivals here are incredible~ fireworks, prizes, vendors, and amazing food. Some friends from Mito International Center and I will be going to Kairakouen Park next weekend to see the plums and enjoy free lunch together!

Deep breathing- I can’t believe I made it out alive this past month. It was so incredibly stressful, but today is a new day. I feel much more positive about living here, and transportation has become easier and actually enjoyable! I feel like I can handle any physical or mental challenge that comes my way. I can’t express enough how humbling this experience has been. I rely on God more than anything. There are moments when I feel a loneliness I’ve never felt in my life. It’s frightening. But I’ve grown more in the past month than I have in my entire life. I am now comfortable using the buses, I can comfortably pay bills and use the ATMs, buy groceries with ease, ride my bike without getting lost, and I am learning how much I value friendship.  Every day is a new challenge. I’ve survived the harshest winter I’ve ever been in, with freezing nights (no insulation in my apartment). I’ve cried a lot and I’ve laughed a lot with new friends. I have to constantly step out of my comfort zone if I wish to be a part of this new culture~ there are countless awkward but funny moments with my students. I remember I was dipping my rice into the soup during school lunch, and all the students started giggling (I started laughing too) I’m learning to not take my job or life too seriously because you will not make it out alive.

Friends are so important to me. This past weekend I went to our local mall with new church friends- Jonna, Matt, Derrick, Nicole, and Logan. They are an amazingly funny, diverse, and charismatic group of individuals, and I hope to get closer to them as the months go by. Today, I spent time with Dominique, shopping for cute clothes, talking about how our lives have turned a complete 180 after moving to Japan, and then ending the day with failed attempts at capsule machines and playing DDR.

Life is what you make it, and I don’t think it’s as complicated as my mind makes it out to be. We have two choices- to be isolated, scared, worried, and give up, or to be scared and do things anyways with all our heart. This year, I plan to give my 100% in my relationships, my job, my students, my family, my pursuit of happiness, and my faith in God. The message in church today was a powerful one. It went like this:

If you were on a ship that you just discovered was going to crash in 20 minutes, what would you do?

A)    Grab the greatest riches you can find on the boat

B)    Get one last good workout training session in before the ship sinks

C)    Help others onboard get to safety

It seems like a pretty obvious choice, yet it’s interesting how much we put our activities and accomplishments first on a sinking ship (our fleeting lives). I think God is working in me in ways that I did not expect. I came to Japan for adventure- a gap year abroad to try new foods and explore another culture…but he is giving me so much more than that. I no longer value success, riches, material goods…I value my family, my friends back home, and the little connections I make with people every day here. I value my faith more than I ever have in my life. Of course, I’ve still gotten to enjoy the adventure through it all. I’ve been to Tokyo, Sendai, and have explored SO much of Mito and Japanese culture in just one month. I am constantly reminded to invest in God and be more loving and selfless every day, because there is no value in my appearance or my wealth if I’m empty inside.

I ask for your prayers. I am still having a tough time here. I hope that everyone back home is healthy and well, and I think about home and my family more than you can imagine. We have a few holidays coming up- stay tuned on my youtube page Deepartures for the adventure side of my new life, as well as my facebook page for pictures of delicious foods and sights of Mito, Ibaraki :)