JAPAN FAQ
Frequently asked questions about my life in Japan. Hope it helps.
HOW'S JAPAN?
It's good.
WHY DID YOU MOVE TO JAPAN?
I was tired of doing the same thing over and over again so I wanted a change in my life. Didn't exactly know what I wanted to do but I knew for sure that I wanted to experience something new and move forward in life. It was pretty last minute and I felt pressure when my mom asked me what I was doing next after I had graduated from my university.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN JAPAN?
I was a full time ALT my first year in Japan, then switched to an 英会話 company. Got promoted to assistant manager within a few months, then became the manager at the end of that year until COVID happened. When the online division was created for this company, a couple of branches closed down which included my location. Now, I am teaching online part time barely once a week. I'm also working at a bar and working on other side things.
HOW DID YOU MOVE TO JAPAN?
Teaching English is one of the easiest ways to move to Japan if you have a 4 year degree so I just did that. It wasn’t what I studied in school at all though LOL.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
HOW IS LIVING IN JAPAN?
I really like it so I wanna stay here for as long as I can. I wanna see as much of Japan as I can before I move anywhere else. Living here can be pretty tough for foreigners though but if you are passionate, dedicated, and motivated enough, YOU CAN DO IT. I actually went through blood, sweat and tears TBH. Fortunately with my networking abilities, I was able to befriend some of the LOVELIEST Japanese people who saved my ass on multiple occasions. SHOUT OUT TO MY JAPANESE HEROES. I will NEVER forget your kind souls.
HOW'S YOUR JAPANESE?
Since moving to Japan was kinda last minute, I didn't get to study properly. I used apps to help me learn how to read hiragana, katakana and a few kanji plus some basic grammar. Did this for a few months before officially moving to Japan. Currently, I'm still self studying but since I was full time working my first two ish years here, I had no time to actually study or truly enjoy life in Japan. Now, I have time so I'M DOIN MUH BEST when I can. My listening and reading are definitely better than my speaking.
CAN YOU BE MY TOUR GUIDE WHEN I COME VISIT JAPAN?
I couldn't be your tour guide even if I was back in Texas and you visited me there. :) I lack absolutely ALL tour guide skills. FYI: never ask me for help with directions. There's a high chance I just unintentionally make it worse for you.
WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT I SHOULD DO WHEN I VISIT JAPAN?
Like I said before, I didn't have time to actually enjoy Japan when I started living here so I have yet to experience all of the cool things you think I might have experienced already. I will make a blog or something with more info about this when I have time.
CAN YOU SEND ME SOMETHING FROM JAPAN?
So… this is really hard for me to do. It was so much easier back in Texas when I had my own PO box, car to carry things, more free time, and ENGLISH. Here, I have to get someone to help me and I didn’t realize how much work it was until I did it the first time. For some reason, the second time was more complicated than the first time cause I think they changed some things. So if everyone could refrain from asking this favor of me, I would truly appreciate it. Especially if you don’t really know me. The better option IMO is if we’re cool, I could bring stuff to you whenever I visit the states next. Just don’t request gigantic things and you’ll have to be in the state I’m visiting, heh.
DID YOU EXPERIENCE CULTURE SHOCK?
Actually, I didn’t really. The only couple of times when I felt slight worry about living in Japan was actually my first night here when I slept at the police station (CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT IT) and eating at my first restaurant here a couple of days after that which was during my training week in Kitakyushu for work. I was with a couple of other trainees and we went to a little ramen restaurant. The entire menu did not have any pictures or English. I was able to read the kana but that still wasn’t enough at the time cause there were just too many kanji I couldn’t understand. I had a little moment of wondering to myself how I was supposed to survive in Japan like this. Of course, it’s all better now though. Other than that, my dedication for staying in Japan is too strong to have any further thoughts about moving back for now.