When I left Japan in 2015, I promised to come back for a visit once I would be studying in China. Originally I had planned to go in January, but then the thesis ...happened. In April, when my Japanese "aunt and uncle" came to visit, I realised I needed to get a move on and … Continue reading Japan again
It’s funny that I had my first farewell party six weeks before leaving Japan, and yet now it feels like leaving happened too quickly. For my last month in my little town, I had two or three farewell parties a week. I think I gained a few pounds from all the beer. When it came … Continue reading Leaving Japan
Chatting to a friend at a party in March last year, I was alarmed to find that word had already got around about me purchasing a guitar. This friend, the Vice President of our international association, and friends with my mum on Facebook (still not sure how that happened), asked a lot of questions about … Continue reading Playing in the mountains
Natsukashii is an adjective referring to feelings of nostalgia for the past. When I first asked, I was told that it directly translates as ‘nostalgic’. I must say that, because I heard it used so often and in so many different contexts, this led me to believe that the Japanese were permanently dreaming of the … Continue reading Feeling natsukashii
To continue the mini-series I started at the beginning of the month, I would like to introduce this very important element of my life in Japan. Honestly, the prospect of its absence fills me with dread. I knew surprisingly little about Japanese food before I came to Japan, having formed most of my opinions on … Continue reading Japanese food
Before leaving for Japan, I told my family and friends that it was just for a year, but that if I really liked it, I would perhaps stay for two. It was always firm in my mind that I would soon get back to business and study for a masters in the UK or France. … Continue reading Europe calling
Back in April last year I wrote about my typical day as a language assistant at a Japanese junior high school. Four of my five working days are spent at junior high, but once a week my schedule is a little different. My base on that one day is the Board of Education in my … Continue reading My experience of assisting with English in Elementary School (a sort of part 2 to my “Day in the Life” post)
