文字サイズ
文字サイズ
The genesis of my journey in Japan stems back to an artistic and adventurous childhood. Funnily enough, that initially drew me to this island-bound nation was the Katakana syllabary’s minimalistically mesmerizing design. That said, the true explanation falls on my family’s obsession in tourism. Among the sixteen countries I have landed on, our red sun state stood out with its unmistakable culture, customs, and cuisine laid atop the most picturesque landscapes. For an aspiring photographer, the latter lured me in. This time around, however, I did not merely step foot here as a sightseer, but also as s student. Fascinating me via all the aforementioned factors, Japan is where I wish to lay the foundation for my future, paving a secure base through a curriculum beyond competent.
Within school fences, two elements struck me profoundly: participation and punctuality. Regarding the former, pupils here possess willpower to express their opinions, demands, and supposed solutions confidently without a need for obligation. Back in Thailand, class members lack courage to even raise their hands, let alone speak out loud. Alike said involvement, you could only yearn for a ”saved by the bell” moment in my home country, while every Japanese academy makes it a common occurrence. All periods end on the dot, enabling a healthy and consistent work-life equilibrium. Both aside, extraversion comes to a close third, shock value-wise. Prior to my arrival, I admittedly grasped onto the generation of Japanese people being misanthropic introverts, but now that my friends treat me warm-heartedly, I must deem it debunked.
Reaching the halfway milestone, it can be sanguinely stated that my goals and improvements are forming a direct parallel. I undertook this exchange endeavor with the intention of bettering my Japanese and broadening my experience arsenal, both of which have been advancing on a steep trajectory. From not comprehending a single sentence Doraemon says to conversing with countless native tongues on a daily basis, proficiency is at its peak. In a similar sense, the version of me that did not receive this opportunity would be on entirely different person as far as wisdom is concerned. Whether it be exploring destinations non-existent anywhere else, partaking in traditional practices, or befriending faces from another origin, not one event has yielded a memory I would trade.
If you were to gather every exchange alumni on earth and ask them this question, you would hear or would exclaimed in unison, that word being ”maturity”. I cannot stress enough how literally studying abroad translates to stunted growth. Thousands of miles from those you know and a couple of inches from those you met yesterday, there is no help but yourself. Isolation breeds desperation, and discovering self-reliance means discovering a more mature you. Although arduous to accept, it is undeniable that much of what we call ”life” revolves around spending time alone. With such realization in mind, going on an independent voyage serves as the quintessential introduction to living life itself.
Please do not succumb to fear. You are probably afraid of loneliness, disappointment, embarrassment, failure, regrets, judgement... The list goes a long way, but have you noticed how these are feelings you have once felt? This is why I did not tell you too stop fearing, but rather to never let fear stop you. Why do people wait in line for a rollercoaster ride with their legs shaking? And why do they always come back down with a smile? Simply because terror lasts tens seconds, but recollections of overcoming terror last a lifetime. Consider the food you will eat, the faces you will meet, and the flashbacks you will see and grin at years from now. Are you actually about to turn down a timeless memory just to avoid anxiety for another day? Get on that ride, trust me.
6:15 Alarm / Getting up
6:30 Breakfast
7:30 Departure to school / Morning Shower
8:10 Arrival - school
8:30 Start of class
17:00 End of class / Departure from school
18:00 Arrival - home / Dinner
18:30 Video call with parents
19:00 Video call with grandparents
19:30 Evening shower
20:00-22:00 Leisure time / University application
22:30 Bedtime
