This study abroad trip was probably the most stressful thing I’ve prepared for in my life. I spent a little under a year prepping by signing up, filling forms, working to save money, and saying goodbye for a bit to friends and family. The place I had dreamed of visiting since middle school was now where I would be staying for five months. This was one of my biggest dreams, and it actually came true. Sure, I had a rough time when I got here at first with being in such a different culture, but after a week I was all good. I mean, I was in Japan. I finally got here. The first month was spent messing around with friends by traveling and exploring. I was basically on vacation. It was all amazing.
Instead of going for the more touristy spots of Tokyo, I went to a local night market instead that wasn’t something I had seen before.School then started, and I developed a routine. The time started to fly by quickly until, finally, I am a little over a month away from leaving and going back home. The trip of a lifetime is coming close to an end. I’m starting to stress trying to get the things I still want to do done—and picking between enjoying life as a student here and wanting to travel around. So many thoughts run through my head and stress me out at times. I’ve started walking around more and more to get the stress off my mind. And by walking around, I’ve realized something I forgot at times: I am in Japan. The place I wanted to visit all those years. Yet, the magic is gone. I am not blown away by everything I see. Taking the train at times is annoying. Going to school feels the same as back home. I am living my normal life, just in a different place.
A simple park in Shibuya where you can sit and take in a beautiful view. It isn’t talked about a lot (from what I’ve seen) but is one of my favorite spots.I came to Japan and was blown away by everything. Now, it all seems normal. I see it all in a new light. I see it as someone simply living life here and not a tourist. With the dilemma of choosing between tourist and student, I chose student life. I do school activities and enjoy a simple life here. By not always trying new experiences and traveling around all the time, I got a glimpse at what it feels like to not be a tourist.
Taking the train to places around Tokyo at first was so exciting but now feels normal and isn’t as exciting.While losing the rose-tinted glasses may seem like a bad thing, I am actually quite happy I’ve lost them. My goal when coming here was to experience what it was like actually living in a different country, not simply being a tourist. I see now it is not all quite what my imagination and social media made it seem to be. Sure, there are imperfections and things aren’t all quite what they seem. But that’s OK.
The simplicity and beauty of a garden in a temple always is stunning. Each one is unique in a special way that makes the normal still so beautiful.I used to think in the past how great it would be to move to Japan and just enjoy all that there is to do. And now that I’ve done all that stuff, has my opinion changed? No, but my view of everything has. I still would love to move here and hope that one day I can. But what is my view now if I don’t have rose-tinted glasses? What is still making me want to move here? The people. The places. I have met so many people that, in this short time, I have grown to love at school and church. The places where I sit and just take in the simplicity of a nice park or watching the train pass have become special to me. I love everything here in Japan, even though there are things that aren’t as great as I thought. But I also love my place back home in the United States. Now that I’m gone from Arizona, I realize how nice it is there still sometimes and the beauty of it.
A view of the city from my room. I like to spend a lot of time on my balcony overlooking everything.At first, I viewed Japan compared to the United States as the grass is greener on the other side. But I have realized there is beauty and things to appreciate in both. One is not better than the other. So, no matter where I am living, I want to appreciate the beauty in it all. I don’t want rose-tinted glasses to cause me to think that one place is better. I have learned to appreciate wherever I am because of this trip. If you can learn to do this, too, you will be able to appreciate more and be happier in general.
Henry Larson, Arizona State University, is studying abroad in Japan with TEAN.
