Everything still seems pretty surreal to me. I have such a life out here, so much occupying my time, that I can't really believe I'm going to be on a plane ride across the globe soon enough. It definitely felt similarly back before I traveled to Europe in the summer of 2011. Even on the plane to London, all that could go through my head was "this can't possibly be happening to me. No way. I'm just going to get off the plane and be nowhere different than I'm used to". I wonder if it will be the same with this trip...
A major difference, however, is how long I'll be abroad. The trip across Europe was a meager 18 days, if I remember correctly. I'll be in Japan from September 8th through December 23rd. That's a fairly large amount of time, comparatively speaking. I'll surely get homesick more than once, but I know there will be so much to do and so much to see that I'll use it all as fuel for the fire. It's been my lifelong dream to go to Japan, after all. And it will soon be a reality. And if this trip proves eye-opening in the best of ways, hopefully I'll return to live there during a JET program stay or something similar.
But I also know that these 3 and a half months abroad will not be anywhere near enough time. I hear from people that even a year is not enough time. You get swept up with a different kind of lifestyle. Different customs, different attitudes, and fall in love in a way you've never fallen in love before. I want all of that, and with some luck, will experience it in just a few short weeks. There's so many experiences to be had studying abroad in Japan that I can't even begin to name them all. Just that I'm excited.
Really excited.
And neither mentally nor physically prepared right now to handle being a がいじん in a foreign land. But in due time, I will be. And when I am, oh the adventures that shall be had.
But I also know that these 3 and a half months abroad will not be anywhere near enough time. I hear from people that even a year is not enough time. You get swept up with a different kind of lifestyle. Different customs, different attitudes, and fall in love in a way you've never fallen in love before. I want all of that, and with some luck, will experience it in just a few short weeks. There's so many experiences to be had studying abroad in Japan that I can't even begin to name them all. Just that I'm excited.
Really excited.
And neither mentally nor physically prepared right now to handle being a がいじん in a foreign land. But in due time, I will be. And when I am, oh the adventures that shall be had.
