Good morning!
Not much has changed in my everyday life over here so far, but I have taken note of how my expectations and understanding of Japanese culture have been affected by my time here. Before coming, I was most worried about the language barrier and how I would navigate a setting so different from home. I am very glad to report neither have been much of a problem so far. There have been plenty of people who were willing and able to help me with any language problems I’ve had both inside and outside of the university. Also, there is plenty of helpful inclusions of English in the most important places, for the most part. I have never felt incapable of getting myself where I needed to go since I settled into my dormitory. Getting around Tokyo is hardly a problem, too. In fact, the number of stations and trains makes getting away from home base easy, and the number of people doesn’t stop things from moving smoothly in most cases. It can still be somewhat awkward to navigate places for the first time, especially in places as crowded as Shibuya, but I haven’t felt like I was in a human traffic jam yet. I consider that a win.
How my understanding of Japanese culture has changed has mostly revealed how limited my worldview has been, and how limited it probably still is. I had been told how to speak politely and was familiar with things like how to act in places like trains or on the street. However, I had next to no background knowledge when it came to things like traditions and holidays. Learning about Tanabata and the folklore behind it made this especially clear, since I had heard about the festival and wishing tradition, but had no idea about how that had been inspired by the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi. It made me realize that before now I had not properly considered the reasons that Japanese culture has evolved.
It’s these kinds of discoveries that make me glad to have come to Japan and that have sparked an interest in further investigating these unknown factors. Luckily, the campus museum has plenty of opportunity
– Titus
