Firsts, Feelings, and Finding My Place Abroad

It’s been a little over a week since I got to Japan. I had my first week of classes, my first program-included field trip, and a whole array of other firsts in the meantime. With so much new being thrown at me at once, I’m feeling a lot of things. Excitement, worry, joy, anxiety, a beautifully tangled mix of everything. 

And you know what? That’s normal. I’ll have moments when I'm feeling uncertain and out of place, but more so, I’ve felt excited and grateful for the people I’ve met here. Being more introverted, I was nervous about coming to a new country knowing no one. But I wasn’t the only one! I met such wonderful people, and they have truly made this wild inundation of firsts manageable and fun. 

Having social anxiety and being anxious in general, I knew Tokyo would be a little overwhelming at times from crowded city streets to trains and buses and the hustle and bustle that comes with life here. Even so, I didn’t want to let this limit me. 

During this week alone, I did so much, and being in Japan has helped me understand the language and culture in a way I couldn’t grasp in the United States. I took the train from place to place, from Shibuya to Harajuku to Akihabara to Ginza and more. It’s all very exciting but nerve-wracking too. The biggest obstacle I faced was figuring out how to balance keeping up with schoolwork and my studies while also making the most of my short time here. 

Again, I wasn’t alone in these feelings, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway I got from studying abroad thus far. You build a community while you’re away from home. We had study and homework sessions together, which turned out to be super helpful. When an opportunity presents itself to explore somewhere new, I try to take it as often as I am able. 

The best advice I could give is just to be. It sounds a little ridiculous, but it’s so easy to get stuck in the future or past. Appreciating the present moment for what it is and where I am has helped me in times of doubt since arriving here. Sure, I’ve had moments where I was exhausted and wanted to stay in my room or when I was stressed with schoolwork and the new style of living. But I’ve also had a lot of fun. I went to Shibuya twice in a row. It was bustling and filled with flashing signs, shops, and a whole lot of things to do. I went to an arcade and somehow managed to win a little penguin. Maybe the arcade ate up many of my coins, but it was so much fun. I was also excited to see the Shibuya Scramble Crossing for the first time, which was crazy to experience in person. The second the “walk” light flashed, as many people as I had ever seen use a crosswalk merged from all sides. It was horrifying and incredible at the same time. 

At the end of this week came the Hakone field trip. We stopped at a volcanic valley, the Hakone Open Air Museum, the Hakone Shrine, and then stayed overnight at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. The next day, we got to learn about and partake in a Japanese woodwork technique called yosegi zaiku and then went to visit Odawara Castle. The latter was stunning despite the rainy weather. Though hard to choose, my favorite part of the experience was probably visiting the Hakone Shrine. We learned a lot about shrine etiquette and traditions, got fortunes, and bought protective amulets called omamori that were each meant to protect different things. The torii, a large structure that is usually near the entrance of a Shinto shrine, was so beautiful and was partly submerged in Lake Ashi. 

Overall, this week has been exciting, exhausting, and a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience new things. 

After a week as busy and filled with movement as this one, let’s just say I’m glad I decided to get a new pair of sneakers right before the trip.