Life Update
Hello again from Tokyo, long time no blog. I thought it was about time for a life update. I've really enjoyed sakura season, and managed to get out and about to a whole bunch of different parks and gardens to see the cherry blossoms in all their glory. Sadly, this was short lived, and recent wind and rain have blown away the last sakura that were left standing. If you want to see the cherry blossoms, you really do need to time it right, because they don't stick around for long. Up in the north of Japan though, winter is still hanging around, and the sakura don't bloom till about the end of April! Last week, my friends Paulina and Danh came up to Tokyo from Kyoto for a visit, so it was great to catch up with them. I also visited the Aoyama Flower Market Tea House, which is a flower themed cafe, and each week they have a flower of the week! The cafe is decorated with that particular flower for the week. I'd highly recommend it for a relaxing cafe experience, although it's best to get there at opening time to avoid waiting too long. My friend and I went on a Monday at around 12.15, and we waited nearly an hour!
I'm also working a lot of overtime in the next two weeks, as well as preparing for my parents to arrive on the 29th. I'm really excited to show them around, especially my dad because he's never been to Japan before! I'm really curious to see what he thinks of the food, the trains, the convenience stores, everything! I also need to get planning what we're going to do in Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima. I have a fair idea of the main attractions, but it's going to be a pretty action packed trip! I'm not really looking forward to the crowds that I'm sure Golden Week will bring, but what can you do? We're gonna have to catch early trains to try and avoid the hoards of people I think!
Recently, I've been contemplating how long I'll be in Japan for, and I think this will be my last year here for a few reasons. One is that I'd love to do a lot more travel to other parts of the world soon, and I just can't do that with my current job. I only get 10 paid holidays a year, and that's simply not enough time to travel somewhere like Europe, where you need at least 2 weeks, even a month. Another is that I'm actually really not keen on being in Tokyo for the Olympics next year! It sounds like a great thing to experience and be a part of, but I can't imagine working in a city when an event like that is going on. It's fine if you're on holiday, but living and working here... not so much. The crowds will be absolutely crazy, trains will be packed to capacity and there'll be a lot of people who don't know where the heck they're going, and don't know the cultural rules here in Japan. It will be (very well organised- this is Japan after all) chaos.
Thirdly, I think I'm done with living in a culture where I just don't feel like I belong. I can't adapt to the insane pressure of the work culture, the pressure to look like the cookie cutter girls and women with their perfect hair, makeup and sheep-like fashion, and the emphasis of doing what's best for the collective group rather than encouraging individuality and different ways of thinking. I feel like Japan has mentally worn me down, especially being in Tokyo, where everything is so fast-paced and busy, and people are stressed. Like, all the time. It's not healthy for anyone I don't think.
On the other hand, I also can't imagine living in a city where the public transport isn't very good (every city in New Zealand), after living in Tokyo where it's fantastic and so well utilised. I mean, I lived in Dunedin for 3 years, but I never had a car, as I was a student and always lived in walking distance from university. I did drive in Wanaka, but you don't need to pay for parking there, and you also don't spend lots of time sitting in traffic. So I think that would be a huge adjustment for me, going from not driving at all for 2 years to driving in a city where traffic is so bad, especially when I've only really driven in small towns before.
I'm also not too sure what kind of work I'd like to do and where I'd like to base myself. I think I"d like something in administration or human resources, but who knows? Something that interests me will hopefully come along at the right time!
So there it is, a bit of a life update for you all. Not really a whole lot to report, as I've pretty much been just chilling in Tokyo the last few weeks, but a Osaka/Hiroshima trip blog will be coming up very soon.
I can't believe we are in April already, the year is absolutely flying by! Another scorching Japanese summer will soon be upon me, although the weather has been so up and down lately and it's messing with me! Hopefully by the time Golden Week comes around, it'll have improved. I've heard New Zealand is starting to cool down as well, winter is coming, as Game of Thrones fans would say.
I think I'll finish this blog up here, but as always, thanks for reading, and I'll be back soon with another update!
From Japan, with love,
Hannah. xx
I'm also working a lot of overtime in the next two weeks, as well as preparing for my parents to arrive on the 29th. I'm really excited to show them around, especially my dad because he's never been to Japan before! I'm really curious to see what he thinks of the food, the trains, the convenience stores, everything! I also need to get planning what we're going to do in Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima. I have a fair idea of the main attractions, but it's going to be a pretty action packed trip! I'm not really looking forward to the crowds that I'm sure Golden Week will bring, but what can you do? We're gonna have to catch early trains to try and avoid the hoards of people I think!
Recently, I've been contemplating how long I'll be in Japan for, and I think this will be my last year here for a few reasons. One is that I'd love to do a lot more travel to other parts of the world soon, and I just can't do that with my current job. I only get 10 paid holidays a year, and that's simply not enough time to travel somewhere like Europe, where you need at least 2 weeks, even a month. Another is that I'm actually really not keen on being in Tokyo for the Olympics next year! It sounds like a great thing to experience and be a part of, but I can't imagine working in a city when an event like that is going on. It's fine if you're on holiday, but living and working here... not so much. The crowds will be absolutely crazy, trains will be packed to capacity and there'll be a lot of people who don't know where the heck they're going, and don't know the cultural rules here in Japan. It will be (very well organised- this is Japan after all) chaos.
Thirdly, I think I'm done with living in a culture where I just don't feel like I belong. I can't adapt to the insane pressure of the work culture, the pressure to look like the cookie cutter girls and women with their perfect hair, makeup and sheep-like fashion, and the emphasis of doing what's best for the collective group rather than encouraging individuality and different ways of thinking. I feel like Japan has mentally worn me down, especially being in Tokyo, where everything is so fast-paced and busy, and people are stressed. Like, all the time. It's not healthy for anyone I don't think.
On the other hand, I also can't imagine living in a city where the public transport isn't very good (every city in New Zealand), after living in Tokyo where it's fantastic and so well utilised. I mean, I lived in Dunedin for 3 years, but I never had a car, as I was a student and always lived in walking distance from university. I did drive in Wanaka, but you don't need to pay for parking there, and you also don't spend lots of time sitting in traffic. So I think that would be a huge adjustment for me, going from not driving at all for 2 years to driving in a city where traffic is so bad, especially when I've only really driven in small towns before.
I'm also not too sure what kind of work I'd like to do and where I'd like to base myself. I think I"d like something in administration or human resources, but who knows? Something that interests me will hopefully come along at the right time!
So there it is, a bit of a life update for you all. Not really a whole lot to report, as I've pretty much been just chilling in Tokyo the last few weeks, but a Osaka/Hiroshima trip blog will be coming up very soon.
I can't believe we are in April already, the year is absolutely flying by! Another scorching Japanese summer will soon be upon me, although the weather has been so up and down lately and it's messing with me! Hopefully by the time Golden Week comes around, it'll have improved. I've heard New Zealand is starting to cool down as well, winter is coming, as Game of Thrones fans would say.
I think I'll finish this blog up here, but as always, thanks for reading, and I'll be back soon with another update!
From Japan, with love,
Hannah. xx
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