Happy Chinese New Year
Hahaha wow...it's been five months since I've updated. I really meant to update more often while I was in Japan, but somehow, that just never happened XD;; Every time I would open the window, it would be like 'oh man...I have like a month's worth of stuff to write about!' and that amount of time kept increasing. And plus, a lot my happenings was easily summed up in pictures via facebook XD
Oh well, regardless, I'm currently back in the US right now since we finished the first semester at Keio University and their spring break is super long (I have like two months!!). My family decided it would be good for me to come home to celebrate Chinese New Year and my birthday so, here I am. I suppose since it's technically a new year for me, I could make it my resolution for Chinese New Year to update more, but I rather feel like it's a lost cause in many ways since I always make that my resolution and it never works haha.
My feelings for this past year can be basically summed up as:
has it really already been a full year...???
(gif stolen from ohno_daily )
I mean, I really can't believe how quickly time has passed o_o;; it really doesn't seem like I've been away from home for that long.
My experience in Tokyo so far has been both really great and really difficult in some ways. It's always frustrating and stressful to not be able to completely understand or fluently communicate in a foreign language. I also feel a little guilty since I feel like I didn't get in as much Japanese practice as I wanted since a lot of the friends I made were other exchange students (ironically, I also got in Cantonese practice since haha some of my classmates are from HK). So it just rather feels like, despite all the learning I did, I just feel like it wasn't enough. But maybe it's just cause I never feel like I put enough work or effort into anything and so somehow, everything always comes out feeling half-assed or mediocre.
On the other hand, thanks to this study abroad experience, I was able to meet and develop some close friendships that, no matter what happens from here on, I think will be unforgettable for me. It's just really given me insight into the dynamics of relationships and really strengthened my belief that there are such things as perfect balance in groups. I also got to experience a lot of things that I wouldn't be able to at home for sure due to how overprotective my parents are haha. The culture difference has also been interesting, especially when you realize...there's the general stereotypical Japanese culture and then, naturally, you also encounter people who break from that norm (a.k.a. there's crazy people in every culture).
I'm looking forward to the new adventures that will probably come with the new semester, but I think I really need to resolve to buckle down and study more. Last semester was constantly full of outings and hanging out with people, but since some people have left, I feel like I'm more than likely to fall back into hermit mode (which has its advantages and disadvantages naturally). We'll see I guess. There's still so much to see and so much to do, but time passes by scarily fast as well. I really want to hold onto those precious moments and people that I have with me right now so that I can do the best I can to not disappoint them.
Oh well, regardless, I'm currently back in the US right now since we finished the first semester at Keio University and their spring break is super long (I have like two months!!). My family decided it would be good for me to come home to celebrate Chinese New Year and my birthday so, here I am. I suppose since it's technically a new year for me, I could make it my resolution for Chinese New Year to update more, but I rather feel like it's a lost cause in many ways since I always make that my resolution and it never works haha.
My feelings for this past year can be basically summed up as:
has it really already been a full year...???
(gif stolen from ohno_daily )
I mean, I really can't believe how quickly time has passed o_o;; it really doesn't seem like I've been away from home for that long.
My experience in Tokyo so far has been both really great and really difficult in some ways. It's always frustrating and stressful to not be able to completely understand or fluently communicate in a foreign language. I also feel a little guilty since I feel like I didn't get in as much Japanese practice as I wanted since a lot of the friends I made were other exchange students (ironically, I also got in Cantonese practice since haha some of my classmates are from HK). So it just rather feels like, despite all the learning I did, I just feel like it wasn't enough. But maybe it's just cause I never feel like I put enough work or effort into anything and so somehow, everything always comes out feeling half-assed or mediocre.
On the other hand, thanks to this study abroad experience, I was able to meet and develop some close friendships that, no matter what happens from here on, I think will be unforgettable for me. It's just really given me insight into the dynamics of relationships and really strengthened my belief that there are such things as perfect balance in groups. I also got to experience a lot of things that I wouldn't be able to at home for sure due to how overprotective my parents are haha. The culture difference has also been interesting, especially when you realize...there's the general stereotypical Japanese culture and then, naturally, you also encounter people who break from that norm (a.k.a. there's crazy people in every culture).
I'm looking forward to the new adventures that will probably come with the new semester, but I think I really need to resolve to buckle down and study more. Last semester was constantly full of outings and hanging out with people, but since some people have left, I feel like I'm more than likely to fall back into hermit mode (which has its advantages and disadvantages naturally). We'll see I guess. There's still so much to see and so much to do, but time passes by scarily fast as well. I really want to hold onto those precious moments and people that I have with me right now so that I can do the best I can to not disappoint them.