The City Life

Living in Tokyo as a college student has been a fascinating and eye-opening experience. The differences between these Hawaii and Japan are absolutely striking and everyday has been an absolutely refreshing and invigorating experience. Everything from transportation, technology, food, culture, and people all feel entirely unique and there's a stark contrast between the bustling city life of Tokyo and peaceful yet stagnant Hawaii. It quite literally feels as if I am living in an entirely different world from the one that I was born and raised in.

It's also quite interesting to note that living in Japan has been the first time I have ever felt like a minority. While it's obvious that 99% of people living in Japan will comprise of Japanese people, actually witnessing the nuances of being a minority in a homogenous society has been an eye-opening experience. From navigating subtle cultural differences to occasionally encountering language barriers, every day presents new opportunities for growth and understanding. Despite the challenges, I've found that the warmth and hospitality of the Japanese people transcend cultural differences, fostering a sense of belonging even in unfamiliar surroundings.

Overall, adapting to life in Japan has been much smoother than I thought. I have previously visited Japan once and I also have experience working under Japanese companies back in Hawaii which allowed me to easily adapt. The only part that feels lacking here in the city life is the lack of a social group that I once possessed. Tokyo is much larger and denser than that of Oahu and the amount of people you meet stretch far and wide. I have met up with countless amounts of people some of which I get along and some of which I don't necessarily but overall it has become an experience where I am able to learn more about others along with myself.