Adapting to Life in Japan

Pursuing an education in Japan goes beyond academics; it is a huge transformative journey that broadens both personal and professional horizons. One of the most significant impacts of studying in Japan is an opportunity to broaden perspectives. The academic environment in Japanese universities offers students to think independently, such as critical thinking and creativity. Studying at the university not only brings all students and professors from diverse backgrounds together through group discussions, switching desks each month, and practices as peers to get to know each other, but also provides a real practical to visit some places that relate to the school’s lesson or assignments, where student can practice it in real life. Furthermore, I discovered another version of myself; I become a more resilient and adaptable person, have access to try different things smartly, and balance academics and living much better.

For instance, when I was in Cambodia; I was afraid of traveling alone, always asked for company, and didn’t know how to purchase flight tickets, use transportation, and navigate Google Maps destinations, but now I can do all of these things independently without any concerns. Nevertheless, pursuing an education in Japan comes with challenges that test personal strength and determination. Starting life with a new culture requires stepping out of my comfort zone, which can be a bit of a struggle at first. Despite the hurdles of adjusting to a different culture and language, the rewards far outweigh the struggle, fostering independence, resilience, and a profound appreciation of global diversity. This experience not only enhances professional and personal growth, but also creates unforgettable memories and lifelong lessons.

Learning Japanese

Before coming to Japan, I had learned the basic Hiragana and Katakana characters which laid the fundamental foundation for Japanese studies. Currently, I am enrolled in Japanese courses at my school, Fukui University which focuses on a full set of Japanese learning, including grammar, vocabulary, Kanji, and conversation skills. On weekdays, I concentrate on my class by interacting with senseis and classmates, such as in conversation, group studies, etc. After finishing class, I spend some time in the school lounge to interact with Japanese students to practice daily conversation with them to improve my skills.

Moreover, I spend time besides school learning from sources such as TikTok, podcasts, Japanese learning websites, etc. For example, every morning I always listen to a daily discussion podcast on Spotify, which is conducted in Japanese basic conversation. I take some time at night besides school assignments to study grammar, sentence structure, etc from websites, such as NHK World Japan, Tofugu Japanese, and Bunpro Japan. In addition, I like using TikTok to entertain besides school, but I try using it effectively by learning Japanese from it simultaneously. “Travel is an education.” Through this quote, I allow myself to explore various locations, such as Dotonbori in Osaka, Tojinbo, Katsuyama, and Asuwayama Park in Fukui, where I can practice Japanese in real-life situations. Through these travel experiences and Japanese courses, I not only improved my language skills, but also gained a profound appreciation for Japan and its people.

Dorm Life

Living by myself in a dormitory as an exchange student in Japan has been an incredible adventure, where I can discover my talent in my personal life and unwind after exploring the richness of Japanese culture and connecting with other international students and local Japanese people. This setup arrangement has allowed me to balance solitude and exploration, fostering personal growth while navigating the challenges and joys of adapting to a foreign environment. Before arriving in Japan, I was offered many options, including apartments, and dormitories.

However, I chose to live in a dormitory by myself due to several reasons. This living style allows me to enhance personal skills, such as financial management, independent living, cooking, and travel management plans. Moreover, it leverages a deeper sense of independence, which enables me to manage my time effectively, balancing my studies, exploration, and self-care. Adapting to life alone in a foreign country without family nearby sometimes led to feelings of loneliness, especially during the first couple of weeks. However, this challenge brought me to seek creative solutions, such as connecting with classmates and dormitory friends, joining volunteer events, playing soccer and badminton, and campus events.

Reflecting on my journey so far, I realize that living independently in a dormitory has been a huge transformation experience. It has taught me invaluable life skills, such as time management, adaptability, expanding networks, and problem-solving, which also foster a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Financial Management

Studying abroad is a transformative experience that pushes me out of my comfort zone and teaches me invaluable life skills. I feel some challenges in which I feel a bit of struggle to manage finances effectively stand out as a crucial lesson. On average, I spend between 600-1000 yen per day, covering meals, transportation, and occasional activities. To manage my cost of living, I dedicate weekends to grocery shopping, and travel costs, and spend around 5000-5500 yen per week. The Japanese government takes a high responsibility for the population even though you are an international; they support you through offering rice, meals, fruits, etc to help you save some cost of spending. I normally go to 100 yen stores, Daiso, etc to save costs by purchasing cheap products of good quality from Japan to save costs. From my practices, I have seen that all of my experiences in cost of living contribute to keeping me in good financial health. Furthermore, I adopted cost-saving habits like walking instead of taking public transportation to nearby places when I travel a bit. These lifestyles taught me the value of discipline and creativity in managing a student’s budget while living abroad. Cooking at home, walking, shopping smart, and searching detailed information not only rescues the cost of expenses for daily life, but fosters independence and self-reliance.

Transportation

Using transportation has been an essential part of my daily life in Japan since I first arrived here. It has allowed me to navigate many cities in the country independently. Trains are exceptionally on time. For international passengers and beginner Japanese learners, English announcements are helpful, reflecting Japan’s respect, cleanliness, and safety standards, which include silent environments, clean interiors, and extensive security measures. The cost of transportation is relatively high, with the Shinkansen costing around 7000 Yen one way from Fukui to Osaka. However, discounts are available for students and early bookings.

Challenges include fewer train lines operating at night, particularly in rural areas like Fukui Prefecture. As I remember from the trip to Tojinbo, The railway line had limited evening service, causing a 1.5-hour wait for the next train at 6:30 pm. Expanding evening and nighttime train lines would greatly benefit late-night travelers in rural areas. Japan’s public transportation system is a vital part of daily life, offering punctual, responsible, clean, and safe services that reflect the Japanese culture of respect and order. Overall, these experiences have deepened my knowledge of using public transportation and my appreciation for the Japanese government for operating an amazing transportation system and its impact on people’s lives.