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Today marks a special milestone in this journey we call life. Well, my journey anyway.

Six months ago I boarded a plane, leaving relatives, friends and loved ones behind. I journeyed to the land of the rising sun, and started a new chaper of my life on the largest of four islands the world knows as Japan.

Both my heart and my head were full of questions, doubts, and a slight fear of the unknown, yet in the past six months some of those questions have been answered, my doubts have been for the most part assuaged, and the fear has been replaced with a feeling of accomplishment and pride.

More questions have since appeared, and I will work on finding those answers in the days and months ahead, but for now, I will just live day to day, finding enjoyment in little things, and not worrying about the bigger picture just yet. I want to share with you some thoughts and reflections of the past half year.


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1. You live where?

Some of the time, I still can't believe I live in Japan. The past 6 months have rushed by in a blur, and it feels like only last month I was unpacking my bags in an 'asparsement' (one light, one kettle, one futon...) Before that, was the mad rush to get organized, the lingering feeling of forgetting something, and the many doubts and fears of whether or not I was doing the right thing. The idea of not living at home, let alone not living in Australia, seemed so unreal at the time, and it was only after coming here, that I realised the immensity of my decision. Everything that led up to leaving, the job applications, interviews, and varied arrangements, were in such bite-sized pieces, that it didn't feel like such a huge issue. My mind couldn't contemplate not seeing those familiar faces every day. Though home is just a phonecall away, I can no longer walk 10 paces or drive 10 minutes to see those people. It takes a lot of getting used to. I still don't think I am, hence the constant flashbacks to time spent back in the land of Oz.


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2. You do what?

Another major change I had to get used to, was the average age of my students. I went from teaching people older than me, to people who think of '24' as old age. My students range from the age of 5 to the age of 15, and I can no longer sit and have a chat with them (or a beer), as they don't have enough english ability (or years under their belts). Now that my Japanese is coming a long, it is a little easier to communicate, but at the same time, we don't really get past the 'What's the weather like today' or 'Do you have a boyfriend?' Some of the 3rd year boys however are a bit more cluey, and they are trying to dig deeper and find out if I 'house play'... Disturbing. At those times, I am very glad of the language barrier, and hot foot it to the staff room. Over the past 6 months I have connected with these students, as it's the longest amount of time I have spent with any one group. It will be difficult when the time comes to leave them...but i'll cross that river when I reach it.


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3. Did you say something?

Ohayou. Konnichiwa. Arigato. Gomennasai. That was about the extent of my Japanese language ability when I arrived. I look forward to going home and playing a game of charades with friends, as I have had the last 6 months to hone my miming skills. Life was indecipherable when I first arrived, and everything seemed so difficult, like figuring out whether to push or pull a door open, or picking up a carton of milk? cream? yoghurt? Once I had gained some semblance of control over the hiragana and katakana written forms, it was easier to understand what the signs around me were saying - if not what they meant. I can tell milk from cream now, and plum wine from sake...so that's a start. I also started actual Japanese classes and live a double life. Teacher by day, student by night..It's like being a superhero....and sometimes, I feel like I have accomplished feats of wonder...in the realm of communication. Why, just the other day, after only 15 minutes of sweating and frowning in puzzlement, I realised that my neighbour had taken issue with my reversing into my parking space, as she could not open her boot. (And it probably took her 6 months to get up the courage to mention anything).


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4. What's this called?

The food here is an education in and of itself. Japanese people have raised dining to an artform, with vegetables sitting like miniature sculptures on your plate, and sauces swirling like oil paint on canvas. The food here is delicious, if not always recognizeable. I have basically stopped asking what things are, and just dig in and see if I like it. They have 50 different ways to prepare the simple radish, 'daikon', a multitude of seaweed shapes, textures and tastes to choose from, and you can find just about anything from the sea on a plate somewhere. I was never a picky eater, but I am now much more adventurous, not baulking at anything you put in front of me (unless it's sea urchin- I went, I tried, I failed miserably). I eat fish with heads on them - often eating the head (eyes included), I prepare my own octupus snacks, and have tried chicken cartilage, giblets and other wierd and wonderful things. My food vocabulary has expanded, and I will no longer be lost in restaurants with all-kanji menus...so long as they stock Yakisoba. The only problem is, if i'm not careful, my waistline will grow along with my repertoire of food related words.


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5. And your plans?

I haven't been thinking too much ahead, as I don't want to pressure myself into making a rash decision. My contract is one year long, and I am halfway through. I won't stay here for years and years on end, and it will be very difficult to leave, whenever that happens. I want to see more of Japan, and learn more about this strange land I live in, but at the same time, I don't want to lose connections from my past - and my home. I'm leaving the 'contract renewal' decision as late as possible...planning ahead to leave it to the last moment if you will.

Right now i'm not looking past the day 12 weeks from now, when I step off the plane in Perth, and see happy, if tired, faces of family and friends waiting for me at 2am in front of the arrivals gate. I'm going home for Christmas, which makes me super happy. I think having something to look forward to like that, softens the blow of not having those people near me now.

In the beginning, it was a bit easier to be apart, what with the distractions and frustrations of settling down in a new house new city new country.....but now i'm settled in here i'm looking over the hypothetical fence, and the grass is looking, well, browner, really, if you think about Australia... but you get my idea.


*Edit. No more typos DaB

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