Category: Japan: Kansai Gaidai

Well, this is it. My finals are done, the other exchange students are moving out, and I’m getting ready to say goodbye to Japan. Although it’s a bit sad to be leaving what I have grown to consider my second home, I’ve made so many great friends and memories so I can’t say that I…

Preface this for me: I’m not a singer. I’ve never sung or played in a band nor enjoyed doing anything in public. I have nerves. And they freak out when people are focused on me. Even if it’s just helping someone fix their computer issue, if you’re lording over my shoulder –  I can’t think…

Here is a quick little video of my time in Japan! Some of the things that I did by myself and some of the things that I did with my friends. I had an amazing time in this beautiful country and I am excited that I am going to be able to come back. I…

There’s only a few more weeks left and although I’m anxiously trying to make sure that I get to do everything I wanted to do in Japan, I’m still incredibly happy to be coming home. There’s a lot of things that I’m going to miss here, but I feel like Japan is like a second…

Why Living in a different Country has been so good for my Health So I have been living in Japan for almost four months and unfortunately my fall semester is coming to a close! It all went by so fast. I only have about 4 more weeks of school and that’s including finals. Within these…

This is what you call the “shift” I guess Last time, I half answered the questions and feelings I came to Japan with. Because I didn’t really have an answer. From here on, I’ve found what I’m looking for and it needs no introduction. Before this project turns heavy to one side, here’s a little…

Japanese pop culture has become famous all over the world, and for good reason. Sometimes it’s interesting, sometimes it’s beautiful, and sometimes it’s just plain wacky. I’ve been taking a pop culture class while studying at Kansai Gaidai, and we’ve been given many opportunities to learn about and experience many elements of Japanese pop culture…

Hello and goodnight! I didn’t get to post before Halloween, before my Tokyo trip. To be honest, that weekend I wanted to call the whole trip off. But I didn’t, and the reasons and the carnage and the life changing events that ensued afterwards will have to wait for Japan: B Side. So to end…

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…

There is no shortage of interesting things to do in Japan even after staying here for two months, and I’ve found myself completely immersed in all different kinds of cultural festivals and interactions. Along with this, the weather has started to change from scorching hot humidity to freezing wetness, and it’s brought with it a…