Connections, Confidence, and Conclusions: My Last Week In Japan

There are a few days left in my program. This time next week, I’ll be home. Like I was feeling before I got here, it came up so fast and almost doesn’t seem real. This program has made me realize how short six weeks is, yet you can do so much. You can make meaningful connections and step out of your comfort zone. You can explore new places and make memories. 

But at the end of this eventful six weeks, it will be time to say goodbye and conclude the program. It may feel a little sad, but you get to bring home all the memories and stories you’ve made here. It is also exciting to be reunited with everything you missed as well as finally getting some genuine downtime.

This past week and a half was filled with more fun and new experiences. I finally got around to going to Yokohama, one of the places I was most looking forward to seeing. The second my friends and I walked out of the station, we saw a massive Ferris wheel. That’s where the first pictures there were taken, and later at night, it lit up all different colors. 

It was soothing to see the sea and stroll around the many parks, mainly Yamashita park, which was filled with an array of beautiful flowers (and a big dog playdate in the middle of the path). Across the way, was the Rainbow Bridge. It wasn’t lit up, but it was still a great view. There was also the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, which we didn’t even scratch the surface of. They’re filled with shops, and one woman even gave us free stickers. We also explored Chinatown and had dinner there. It was really fun to see it all lit up once it got dark. It wasn’t a bad ride from Tokyo, though the ride back was a little longer. Still, totally doable and a great place to visit from where we’re located. 

Also during the school week was our final cultural activity, chopstick-making. It was so cool to watch someone experienced make them and teach us how to use a tool called the kanna to do the same. Mine may have turned out mildly lopsided, but they’re usable (probably). I’m glad I was able to participate, and it made me grateful to have taken advantage of the opportunities the IES Abroad staff gave while we were here. 

Once this last weekend came around, so did another exciting part of my time here: a weekend trip to Kyoto. This was something my friends and I organized and paid for separate from the program. One of my friends knew the area well and took the lead on recommending a spot to stay and how to buy Shinkansen (Bullet Train) tickets, so I’m very grateful. It was a lovely weekend, and I was so excited to see and ride the Shinkansen for the first time. 

Seeing it pull up to the station was really cool, and the train itself was smooth and comfortable. After a ride between two and three hours, we arrived in the crowded Kyoto Station. Where we were staying was a few subway stops away. 

The Kyoto trip was filled with shopping, trying amazing food (and drinks such as the matcha I've been having almost excessively), and seeing lovely sights. I ended up buying a beautiful pair of pants and a tote bag that I’ve been using every day since getting it. I wish I had more time there but am grateful for the time I had. 

Now, I’m in the middle of my last school week, which means our final exam and speech are coming up. It’s a little overwhelming having to prepare to take another long journey and readying myself academically at the same time, but I’m confident that I can make time and get everything done. I started packing ahead of time to ensure I have enough luggage space for everything. 

It’s strange to think that the next time I’ll post a blog will be when I’m home. It all goes by faster than you would believe, so take advantage of every moment you can.