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Irony Alert

As most of you know, I’m the last person to get into trouble with others for simply being myself and speaking my mind openly and without hesitation.

Okay, jokes aside.

I recently received an email from the International Center at Kanagawa University (IC). They informed me that I need to meet with them to discuss my “issues in the dormitory.” Not being aware of any such issues, I asked what exactly they were referring to. This conversation is scheduled for Monday, the 7th.

I have a suspicion of what might have happened, and I’m starting to think that someone may have a problem with my directness. Since I tend to speak my mind without sugarcoating things, it’s possible that rubbed someone the wrong way. But, since I’m posting this now, I’d rather not make any assumptions public and risk getting into more trouble.

I’m not one to speak badly about others, but I also don’t usually express if something is bothering me. However, knowing that someone in the dormitory felt the need to bring something up about me to others—rather than coming to me directly—makes me furious.

For context, most of the dorm residents I speak with are foreigners from Europe, where it’s normal to address personal issues face-to-face. However, in Japan, it’s more common for people to approach a third party to help mediate a conflict, which seems to be what’s happening here.

I’ll update this post once I have more information, but for now, I just needed to get this off my chest.

On a brighter note, my friend just messaged me to say she’s arrived in Japan. I’m meeting her in Tokyo tomorrow, and I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time, which will hopefully help me forget about this nonsense as quickly as possible.

As my first month in Japan came to a close, I realized that my progress with the Japanese language wasn’t moving as quickly as I had hoped. So, I started looking into how I could extend my stay and immerse myself more. After some research, two possible paths stood out.

Option 1: Working in Japan

The first option was to find work and support myself while staying longer. One exciting idea was to work alongside a professor at a hospital in Tokyo. However, this plan required me to reach N4-level proficiency in Japanese (which, as I understand, is similar to the C1 level in other languages). Achieving this in six months felt impossible.

Alternatively, I considered jobs where my multilingual skills would be useful. While I found some interesting opportunities, most involved working full-time as a secretary, which didn’t align with my plans.

Option 2: Staying Through University

The second option was to take the courses I need from my home university here in Japan. Conveniently, Kanagawa University, where I’m currently studying, has a School of Informatics. It seemed like a perfect fit! However, this is where things got complicated.

When I inquired about switching faculties after my initial six-month stay, I was told that it wouldn’t be possible unless I had a “good reason.” Apparently, it would only be allowed if I needed to take specific courses at Kanagawa University, which I couldn’t justify since I’m currently in the Faculty of Business Administration.

Weighing My Options

Now, I’m thinking of other ways forward.

1. Change universities – Could I transfer to another university that offers the courses I need?
2. Return home – I could finish my courses back home, and once I have more money and options, return to Japan.
3. Extend my stay via a tourist visa – Maybe I could explore Okinawa or attend the Expo 2025 in Osaka while continuing to develop my language skills.

My heart wants to stay in Japan, but my brain tells me I should return home, finish my studies, and come back when I’m better prepared.

If you have any thoughts or advice, please share them in the comments. I’d love to hear your input on what could be the best way forward.

A Morning of Insurance, Cemeteries, and Unplanned Walks to Yokohama

This past week has been full of early morning appointments, and today was no different. Despite feeling a bit drained, I headed out to finalize some essential tasks. Besides health insurance, I needed to cover other important types of insurance—because, let’s face it, being prepared is key.

On the way to the office, something unexpected caught my eye: a beautiful cemetery. I hesitated at first, feeling like it might be wrong to take photos, but the tourist in me got the better of my judgment. So here’s a snapshot that I wanted to share with you all.

The real adventure began after arriving at the insurance office. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, I was finally called up. However, there was a new problem—apparently, my name is too long for their system. Now, for context, my full name consists of four names, each around seven letters long. Sure, it’s lengthy, but it’s my name! To make things more frustrating, I already have a Kanji version of my name, which I thought might solve the issue. However, I was told that wasn’t an option, even though Japanese citizens can use Kanji for their names. The irony didn’t escape me.

Despite my attempts to negotiate, the final decision was to shorten my first name and drop my second name entirely. I can’t express how upsetting this was—after all, it’s my identity—but I was advised to let it go. Thankfully, the kind girl who accompanied us, Nana, noticed how frustrated I was and offered me a drink to calm down. Food or drinks usually do the trick for me, so I started to relax a little.

With the insurance matter finally sorted, it was lunchtime. I asked Nana if she wanted to walk to Yokohama with me. She had to head home, but decided to walk along with me since the wait for the bus would have taken just as long as the walk itself. The day was warm, and the conversation even warmer. We shared stories about cooking, and chatted about both Japanese and international cuisine.

Once in Yokohama, I needed to withdraw money from the ATM to pay my rent—a task that felt unnecessarily complicated. It’s been frustrating navigating this process without a Japanese bank account, something the International Center hasn’t been particularly helpful with so far. I ended up withdrawing a lot of cash, leaving my credit card near maxed out. I have to admit, my patience with the International Center is wearing thin due to these avoidable hurdles.

To wrap things up, Nana had the idea of taking some videos to show off my T-shirt. She wanted to post them on her blog, and while I’m not the most photogenic person, it turned into a hilarious little photo shoot.

And Yokohama at night for the END

Today was quite the rollercoaster. It all started yesterday when we had an introduction to the Yokohama Campus Gym. We were given a schedule for the gym’s operating hours, but since it was in Japanese, I couldn’t fully understand the details. From what I gathered from the chart, it seemed like the gym would be open today from 17:00 to 19:00, so I planned my visit accordingly.

When I got to the gym, I waited for 15 minutes only to realize it wasn’t going to open. There was a sign up, but again, it was only in Japanese, so I had no idea what it said. Frustrated, I headed back, and after some searching, I found another schedule posted that seemed to say the gym would be closed from the 14th to the 16th. It would have been so helpful to have had this information yesterday.

On top of that, I had spoken to the dormitory staff, who told me there was a bike rental place near the campus. I need an e-bike because the regular rental bikes don’t allow me to raise the seat high enough, which is a safety concern for me. So, after the gym fiasco, I figured I’d go check out this bike rental spot.

However, finding it wasn’t easy. The dormitory staff had pointed it out on a campus map, but once I arrived, it wasn’t clear where I should go. There’s a map at the entrance near Building 28, but since bikes aren’t allowed on campus, I had to leave mine outside. I couldn’t see the map from the street, so I figured I’d just step over quickly and take a look.

Here’s where things got tense. As I was leaving my bike on the street and walking toward the map, a campus guard started yelling at me. I tried to explain in broken Japanese and English that I just needed to check the map for a moment, but he kept shouting. He even got closer, making the situation feel very threatening. I kept trying to explain, but it became clear he wasn’t going to listen. Eventually, I decided to take my bike and leave to avoid escalating the situation any further. Even as I walked away, the guard followed me, still shouting that I couldn’t leave my bike there. I managed to take a photo of the map from behind a fence, but by that point, I was shaking.

Now, an hour later, I’m still shaken up by the whole encounter. It felt really unsettling, and as an exchange student just trying to follow the rules, I didn’t know what else to do. The whole situation was scary and uncomfortable.

The bigger issue here is that the map isn’t visible from outside campus grounds, which makes things difficult for people like me who might need it. On top of that, the guard’s reaction was far more aggressive than necessary. I understand that he was just doing his job, but a bit of understanding and communication could have prevented this from turning into such an intimidating encounter.

Moving forward, I think the campus should consider placing the map somewhere more accessible, especially for those of us who are trying to navigate the area. And honestly, after this experience, I feel like I could use some support to process what happened. I’ll be heading back to campus soon, but I’m already anxious about how to handle it if something similar happens again.

Today, we were required to visit an earthquake simulator, part of a series of mandatory activities imposed by the dormitory staff. Unfortunately, this experience highlighted some ongoing issues with the organization and treatment we’ve encountered, reminiscent of the problems at the KU International Center.

One recurring problem is the frequent and frustrating delays. Whenever we’re scheduled to meet at a specific time, we end up waiting for at least 45 minutes. This is bearable in air-conditioned rooms but becomes quite uncomfortable in the sweltering 35-degree heat, especially under direct sunlight.

Additionally, I’ve noticed a concerning trend: a sense that some Japanese people view Europeans through a condescending lens, as though we were unfamiliar with basic concepts or needing constant guidance. This feeling is exacerbated by their overly simplistic explanations and behavior, which often comes across as patronizing.

I’ll likely delve into these issues more thoroughly later, but for now, these observations are worth noting.

Despite these challenges, I’m determined to make the most of the day by learning about earthquake protection and fire fighting. Later on, I’ll shift my focus back to my Japanese studies.

Today’s training was eye-opening, highlighting Japan’s remarkable focus on disaster prevention. We began by stepping into an earthquake simulator, an intense but valuable experience. Following that, we navigated an escape room filled with smoke, simulating real-life challenges in an emergency. To cap it off, we watched an insightful short film detailing Japan’s long history of resilience in the face of earthquakes.

The walk back to the dorm, while scenic, proved a challenge. The dormitory is perched on a mountainside, so any trip out means an easy downhill walk, but the return is always an uphill battle. Today, under the scorching sun, it felt particularly exhausting.

Nevertheless, after a quick rest, I’ll head out again for groceries and cooking supplies. I’ll tackle it just like I did that walk—one step at a time, with determination.

I’ve decided that, given my current pace of learning, mastering Japanese during my time here may be challenging. However, I can accelerate my progress by avoiding English as a fallback for communication problems.

This approach will be difficult, not just because of my limited vocabulary, but also due to the environment at Kanagawa University and the dormitory. The university is highly international, which is great for making global connections but can lead to a separation from native Japanese speakers. The same issue applies to the dormitory, which is very European in style and predominantly occupied by foreign students.

While it’s beneficial for meeting people from different backgrounds, it’s not ideal for immersing oneself in the Japanese language. The dormitory’s location also feels somewhat detached from the city and its Japanese-speaking residents.

Therefore, I’ve concluded that to truly improve my Japanese, I need to immerse myself fully in the language. I plan to enforce a rule of only speaking Japanese with those around me.

Of course, some of my university courses will be in English, and I’ll assist others with their English when necessary. Nonetheless, I believe that pushing through these challenging initial months will significantly advance my language skills and provide a solid foundation for more intensive study later on.

Finally, after a lot of waiting and being scared, I am ready to leave South Korea and start my journey to Japan as “Travel Yassuan”

New Beginnings: Transitioning from South Korea to Japan

I am prepared to leave from South Korea and embark on a new journey in Japan with my recently acquired study visa. As I stand on the cusp of this exciting transition, I am brimming with anticipation, eager to discover if this new chapter will resonate with me.

Thankfully, I haven’t had to manage an excessive amount of luggage, which has contributed to my overall comfort during this transition. This sense of ease allows me to focus on the experiences that lie ahead and embrace this new adventure with open arms.