821. A rough estimate of the total number of days I’ve spent in Japan. It’s probably a little lower, as this year hasn’t ended yet, but I am rounding up because the higher the number the more impressive! That’s how business works!

I mentioned previously that I’m leaving on August 11th and going back to university. I went into depth in the previous post about what’s going on in the future, so if you’re interested go read ‘Next Year & Beyond‘. Today I’m going to take a look back at what I’ve done in my time here, what I still want to do and everything in between. I will try and keep it fun and light so it’s not too boring to read, with gratuitous use of poorly edited images and non-sequiter jokes. SUDDENLY, GIRAFFES.

Comparing my gap year (when I was 18-19) to this study year abroad (21-22), the most obvious change, and the thought that I find the most comforting, is my language ability. I’m essentially self-sufficient now – back in 2006 I would run for help every time the big bad scary man spoke that weird language. It’s refreshing to think this year I managed to contract a mobile phone, book transport and poison myself with undercooked chicken all by myself.

On the flip side, I do feel like the ‘magic’ has gone a bit. I’m aware that makes it sound like Japan and I are sexual partners, but geography turns me on. I feel like this last year there’s been much less personal discovery for me than last time. I remember my first trip to karaoke, first trip to a shrine, first time realising I’ve been on the wrong train for the last hour. They are still fun (except the last one) but the element of ‘Oh wow!’ is gone. But there’s not much you can do about that. Although she’d been before, my mum’s visit made me check out a couple of places that I don’t really go to anymore, and our last day in Hakone was one of the best days of this year for me.

The other day I was feeling content and happy, like a cat who just ate a whole bunch of fish. So to snap myself out of this mood and return to being the pessimist you all know and love tolerate, I went and re-read this blog post, which I wrote before I came here on my exchange year, in which I set myself some goals. Here’s the final tally;

I am pretty happy with my Japanese. It’s still got a (disturbingly long) way to go before I’ll understand even 10% of what my people always yell at me in the street. Something about how I should put the gun down and step away from the bank teller? I don’t know. Other than that though, pretty much failure on all accounts. Regarding Korea and Hokkaido, I’ve really not done a huge amount of travelling in general this year. Plenty of day trips, but the only real trip I took other than Hakone was my voyage to Nagano, which was awesome. Korea and Hokkaido will still be there next year, so I’m sure I’ll make it then!

As for performing something and Shorinji Kempo, both of them just weren’t going to work. I did go to Shorinji practice once, but it was on Wednesdays which helpfully I work on. As for performing something, I suppose I could have lived my dream of fronting an electro-rock-jazz band, but in the end I joined the racquetball circle instead. It’s all the camaraderie and sweat of being in a rock band, without any of the fame, money or financial potential! Yeah!

I guess it just goes to show you never really know what’s going to come. I made those plans with an image of Sophia University that just wasn’t accurate. I still had a great time, and I even managed to land a job here. So all in all, a pretty cool year. Here’s to another fun 821.

Thanks for reading this huge amount of words about me and nothing but me. I am aware it’s becoming a bit Hollywood-happy-ending, so I will finish with a picture of a t-shirt that my friend Andy and I discovered the other day. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions as to it’s meaning.

Possibly Related Content:

1. Hokkaido: Early Days
2. 2008 In Review
3. It’s my birthday! I’m 21!
4. 2nd Year Japanese Studies At Sheffield
5. New Style / Changes