Before I left for Japan this January, I decided to make a promise to myself, that I would take up every opportunity that put itself in my path, even on the chance it happened to be something I wouldn’t normally do. Within reason, of course ? I literally can’t do everything, and I also won’t do anything that conflicts with my personal morals. However, this promise has been the basis for the way I’ve been spending my time in Japan so far, and you’ll hear me refer to it a lot in the coming entries here. I call it The Promise, and I think it’s by far the most important thing you need to know about me this year.
For the rest (which counts for less), my name is Kimberley. You can either call me that or simply Kim, which is probably easier and is what everybody else does at any rate. Personally, I don’t think self-introductions are very interesting, so I’m going to skip most of the dull parts like age and hobbies and go straight to the more fun bits. *1
They also tell me I’m supposed to write about my first impression of Japan. Well, I could do that, but for the fact that this is actually my second student exchange to Japan, so my first impression would be seven years old and naturally rather outdated. Even so, I had an absolutely brilliant time on my last trip (that’s why I came back for more!), and it would take far too long to say it all here. This time around, Japan seems more cold than anything else, because I’m Australian and arrived straight from summer.
The only thing I regret from my previous time in Japan was that I wasn’t able to do as many things as I wanted to, and I felt as though some of my time had been wasted staying at home with nothing to do. I plan to make up for that this year via The Promise, and it’s my utmost intention to fill every last spare second of my time with something fun or productive to do.
THEREFORE!! I am signing up for everything this year. And I do mean everything. Even this blog was part of said everything. The only time I will not sign up for something is if it clashes with a prior arrangement or is too expensive. I still have blank spaces on my timetable and I’m definitely still open to more suggestions, so if you have some, send me an email (or say hello if you see me on campus) with your idea! I will try to do it, and then I’ll post it up on this blog with photos as proof I actually did it. Of course, I’d prefer short-term events and commitments, because I want to cram as many different things into my stay here as possible, but aside from that, I’m very open!
So far, the “I’m going to try everything possible in Japan” approach has been quite successful, and definitely very fun. For example, I’ve been here for just over three weeks now, and already I’ve visited Kiyomisudera in Kyoto, played with the snow at the Hokkaido Yuki Matsuri, signed up to a Japanese Sign Language circle, and eaten okonomiyaki at Osaka’s Doutonburi village. As far as nightlife is concerned, I’ve been to several fantastic restaurants already and a couple of bars ? and even a nightclub which was a bit too smoky and full of drunken stumbling people for my taste, but still an experience I’m glad to have had. With friends, I’ve taken purikura photo stickers, tasted delectable parfaits and mochi dumplings, and had the absolute best hot, cheesy, bread-filled gratin I have ever tasted in my life at a Japanese Italian restaurant. My next goal is to go to karaoke and inflict my singing on other people whom I will not let escape from it!
I’d love to elaborate on any of the above, but for the time being I shall leave this introduction here. If you see me around campus, please come up to me and say hello!*2
Cheers,
- Kim.
*1:Though if you really want to know, I’m 21 years old, major in the four areas of Japanese, Asian Studies, Asian Business and Business Law, and my hobbies are songwriting, singing, shopping, eating food, reading, trying new things, writing, and collecting tacky travel spoons. Additionally, one of my business classes thought I looked like a poodle, but I don’t necessarily agree with that opinion.
*2:Or konnichiwa!
picture 1:Comet-spotting last month at my local beach.
picture 2:Due to luggage restrictions, I made sure I packed only what I really, really wanted to take with me.