What a difference a year makes
Standing on the other side of this year, I had no idea what to expect from my time in Japan. Everybody had said that it would change me, that it would be an experience of a lifetime. I honestly thought I was not going to last the year at some points, this alien culture didn't seem to suit me ad I had a terrible bout of homesickness, yet I wouldn't have changed anything for the world. That age-old saying, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger...
I love being able to speak some Japanese, that is one thing I am going to miss sorely. It's bizarre how one day a language just sounds like gobbledy-gook and a few months later, comprehensable sounds and meanings come flooding through the ears. Helena and Charlotte have always maintained that I am making Vietnamese up as I go along since the language sounds so strange to them and Japanese used to be the same for me. Nothing but tat tat tat tat tat ne.
I really do feel like I have grown up a lot in the past year, I have always seen myself as an independent kinda gal but the test was to leave home and country. I was completely shocked by how hard it was living without my support network and it certainly made me realise how valuable all my friends and family were to me. I had never been alone alone at home, people were always buzzing about, popping in, having tea. I hated being alone, but Chastity Towers was such a fortress that friends couldn't simply pop in and out of my room regularly. Emma and I hardly ever saw each other in our own block, which always made us celebrate on the occassions when we actually bumped into each other on our corridor. So slowly, I got used to the quietness and you know what, it wasn't half bad. Valuable lesson learnt.
What did I make of life in Japan? The people have been absolutely great, the food somewhat enlightening, the politics baffling, the traditions beautiful, the weather better than home, and the experience invaluable.
The thanhinjapan chapter is coming to a close; I have debated whether to keep this blog going and I have decided to let it rest in peace. My blogging dedication will definately wane with the student's hectic schedule of lunches, furniture rearranging, tea breaks, Neighbours and Diagnosis Murder, all demanding my time and attention. Alas, there is simply not enough time in the day.
Farewell, adieu!
posted by Thanh @ 1:36 pm
9 Comments:
I feel stupid following the comment of some shameless self-promoter, but let me say that I find myself on the other side of the Japanese adventure you have just experienced, since I am just about to embark on a new life there. I enjoyed reading this post, which inspires me with hope, and will have a look at the rest of your blog when I next get a moment free.
To be clear: the self-promoting comment I referred to was thankfully removed very shortly--surprisingly shortly--after I posted.
Hey Terrette,
that was me, I have been getting incessant promotional stuff masquerading as comments. I have deleted at least a dozen of them just today so apologies for the confusion. Even I got a bit baffled cos for a second there, I really thought you were calling me a 'shameless self-promoter'!
xxx
Yeah, I thought that that confusion might have resulted. Didn't at first see that one coming!
I'm glad I checked back for a comment from you because after I wrote yesterday, I checked your photo page and I was really fascinated with the quality and variety of your shots. I would love to know how exactly you go about getting your photos online, 'cause I'd like to match at least the quality of presentation. I don't mean to ask about the Web host you used (Flicker or something like that, which should be easy for me to figure out by myself), but rather the type of camera you used, and the means by which you transferred your shots online. If you look at my site, you can perhaps guess that most of my photos are just conventional photos that I scanned and uploaded with "Hello." Those that appear in the first half or so of my online photographic production at my blog were, by contrast, taken with a digital camera (all in Japan, incidentally). The former (non-digital ones) are better quality photos, but they are not as fine looking as yours.
Well, thanks for your thoughts.
Hey Thanners! :D
I'm glad your travels went well, but I hope you don't give up on blogging completely! :( I went out the other day to try a local Thai restaurant and their green curry SUCKED compared to yours. It made me very sad. ;.; I was like - why don't you make this Thai dish like a proper Vietnamese/Brit would, you fakes?! I won't be returning to that place. :p
Hope your adventures at home go as well as your time in Japan. :)
Love ya lots,
Liz "Rizu" Patterson
Terrette,
apologies about the late reply, life has been pretty hectic for me since I came home. To answer your questions, the photos are taken on my Canon Ixus 500, which is a standard digital camera but I love it to bits and it has served me well in the couple of years I have had it. To get the photos online, I simply edited the photos to make them a smaller size and then email them to blog via my flickr account. I hope that answers your questions, best of luck with your year in Japan and thanks for the compliments!
xxxThanh
Hey Liz!
Glad to see you have dropped by, m'love. Sadly, thanhinjapan will not be resurrected, but I will always keep a look out on yours to see what you are up. You have far much more dedication than I ever had. I will send you the recipe for my thai curry soon; honestly darling, its really easy to make. Take care!
xxxThanh
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