Looking over the letter that I sent myself via FutureMe, I can see that I have grown a lot. I had expressed that I was shy and scared and anxious, and that I wasn’t sure that I could live on my own in another country like this. I was terrified to speak Japanese and I was just hoping that I would be alright and learn new things and actively participate.
I’ve certainly done just that, and my fears about being independent weren’t so necessary. It was rough at the beginning, of course, but I’ve gotten used to it and I’m doing alright. I’ve also made LOTS of Japanese friends and I have something to do just about every day, and I learn something new and fascinating about the culture at about the same frequency. I’ll be leaving this experience with even more interest in Japan than I had when I first came here, and I have far more interest in mastering the language than ever before.
I’m doing what I hoped I would do and more. I’ve tried all new foods, seen all sorts of places, made tons of friends, and have learned a lot about the language and culture. So, to Past Me, I can say that your fears were valid, but things get a lot easier and you’ll surprise yourself with everything that you learn and do.
