Adulting in Japan

After turning 20 last week, I've done some reflecting on how much I've learned and grown since coming to Japan in terms of independence and figuring out how to be a "real" adult. 

     I think I would classify my year at American University last year as "adulting lite". It was a good transition period, I learned how to go grocery shopping by myself (although, I wasn't really buying things for meals, it was more for snacks). I took a lot of public transportation, including the very unreliable and confusing DC busses, and the (in my opinion) beautiful DC metro system. I got lost plenty of times, but I still figured it out. There was one time when I took a bus the wrong way and was late to my first babysitting job for a family last year, and I called my mom near tears. She told me what to do and it ended up being fine. In Japan, I can't call my parents at every minor inconvenience because of the thirteen hour time difference.

    Last year, I used meal swipes at the dining hall and meal exchanges at on campus stores, so I never actually saw the money that I was spending on food. I didn't have to meal plan, or figure out how to cook. Last year was also the first time I didn't go to cross country or track practice every day, so I had to figure out a workout routine by myself. I didn't have to pay rent for my housing, I would just forward email reminders to pay for things at AU to my dad. I didn't directly pay for any doctors appointments, medications, or any medical related items. Last year I got a taste of what it was like to budget your money, but most of the big monthly purchases I didn't pay directly.

   This year I'm learning how to actually adult, in another country, and in another language. I had to navigate customs, book a hotel, and figure out public transportation when I first arrived. Then I had to pay this thing called a "Security Deposit", which was so expensive that  my card wouldn't let my draw out the money I needed to pay for it within the first week. I had to go to a Japanese bank and was basically told push a bunch of buttons I didn't understand in order to pay my security deposit for my dorm. Then, had to go to the Kita Ward office and register myself as a citizen in Kyoto, and get my address on their record, and I had to register for national health insurance (and all of this cost money). Thankfully I had a lot of friends who were figuring this all out as well. I had to go to the doctor and get re-diagnosed, and prescribed medication by a doctor that barely spoke English. The worst thing was figuring out a phone plan. It took so long, and I had so many technical issues that I had to go in person to the carrier store and set it up there. Last week I paid my monthly health insurance bill, and my rent. Finally I had to set up a Japanese bank account, which I'm still not really sure I know how to use that well. I'm also going to have to start paying Japanese social security soon since I just turned twenty. I can get out of it though by going to the Ward office and applying for a student exemption though. 

   All of the things I've just said above have been hard, but I've had older students and RA's help me with them. I think what has been the most difficult for me to adjust to is figuring out how to balance a budget, and cook for myself. The first time I went grocery shopping in Japan I was so overwhelmed I kind of just bought some snacks and copied what my friend bought. Everything is in Japanese, and the limited recipe's ingredients I knew were either not in the store, or hidden somewhere that will take me about 30 minutes to find. The concept of meal prepping is also very hard for me to understand. The first month I was eating out a lot. I would go to 7/11 for a lot of ready-to-eat meals, or go to different cafes or restaurants. While eating out in Japan is actually way cheaper and healthier than compared to America, it is time consuming to go out and get dinner rather than have what you need in your fridge. Something I have been doing is cooking frozen chicken and frozen vegetables in a pan with a little oil, and then making some rice and eating that. It is something I've mastered, and I think I make for at least two to three nights out of the week every week. I will occasionally buy a lot of ingredients and try to make a real recipe, but it usually turns out interesting at best because all of the recipes I have found online are in English, and use ingredients only in America, so I have to substitute a lot of things, plus my lack of cooking skills makes it so that I end up burning or overcooking everything. I also just downloaded an app to help me figure out what I'm spending my money on each month so I can be smarter with my money. 

    While my adulting skills are not perfect, I am proud of myself. With help from friends, I have somehow managed to get by and figure everything out in Japan so far. When I get back to America I will have to relearn some of the American ways of doing these things, but I know it will be significantly easier than the learning curve I went through when moving here.  

    I have also developed a new found appreciation for all working parents. After struggling so much with juggling school, friendships, and all of my adulting responsibilities, I can't imagine what it must be like dealing with work, making dinner every night, balancing schedules for all of your kids, paying bills, and still having time for your own personal relationships and hobbies. Anyway thank you mom and dad, and if you are a parent or guardian reading this you are doing a great job. I will not be having kids anytime soon. 

I'm not really sure if this was a blog post about Japan, or more just me word vomiting my feelings about taking on more adult responsibilities.

To make this a more fun blog post here are some unrelated pictures (and background info) I've taken lately:

     I started working with Newbies, which is a program that helps kids 0-3 years old and their parents learn basic English at an affordable price. I went to my first session last week and it was super fun so please enjoy these pictures from it:

Pretty photo of a sunset at Ritsumeikan!

                                                       Some Cafes I've been to recently:

This Cafe is hidden in the middle of a neighborhood between two houses, and isn't on google maps. Very cute and small. I got potato soup, which had a beautiful lemon flavor mixed in as well, along with some freshly baked bread. 

This cafe is known for the owners two cats, who are very friendly to people and love to be pet. I go here to study and get their chai tea or hot chocolate sometimes.

Last weekend I went to Seika University for their school festival. Seika University is about an hour and a half commute away, tucked in the outskirts of the city, in the mountains. It was one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever visited (and I went to a lot of college visits in the U.S.). We went there to see my friend, Akane, who asked my other friend, Ruby, to be a model in the school's fashion show at the festival. We've been hanging out with Akane and her friends almost every weekend leading up to the event, and although her english skills aren't great and our Japanese skills aren't either, we are still able to communicate and have a good time. Seika University is an art school and I was astounded by all the students creativity and talent, as well as the fashion at the festival. 

                                           Here is Ruby in the dress that Akane made for her: