*This was written specifically for a school writing competition. I’ll write another one exclusively for this blog sometime in the future ; )
In life, change is inevitable. We all grow up, move around, lose friends, gain new ones, experience joy and heartbreak… The list goes on. As a person who was born and raised in Malaysia, I was used to a life of stability. I was used to the laid-back lifestyle, the expectations and the year-round hot and humid weather it offered.
To give it all up in order to study in Japan was a tremendous change. Yet it was a change that I took to willingly. Albeit with occasional bouts of nervousness and panic, wondering if I would do well at all in Japan. I had studied in another country before and that experience wasn’t pleasant.
But fast forward about two months later and I am still here in Japan, and loving every second of it. There are so many things to learn here; it’s wonderful. This is because Japan is not only extremely rich in culture, it is also jarringly different from my home country too. This makes just about every moment a learning opportunity—and with these opportunities, come change. Here are some of the ways that this country has changed me:
Consideration. Now, we Malaysians aren’t barbarians, but living in Japan has taught me different ways of showing consideration. The way Malaysians show consideration to others differs on many instances, so learning it the Japanese way is refreshing. It has allowed me to broaden my mind, and shown me other ways of being kind to people, which delights me.
Independence. I live on my own here, so that means I have to rely on myself. A lot. And the meaning of this sentence is taken to its limit due to the language barrier. I have to do my own cooking and cleaning, and my own shopping (who here has to use Google Translate while out grocery shopping? I know I do). I also have to familiarise myself with my surroundings and try to figure out how to get things done around here.
Humble. Aside from learning from the Japanese culture of being humble, there is also something incredibly humbling about speaking in another language, isn’t there? It has taught me to be less prideful, and to be more forgiving and patient with others. This is especially true whenever I stumble to find the words I want to say in Japanese, when I could very well say the same, and more, in English!
Appreciation. While no country is perfect, there are certain aspects of Malaysia that I appreciate more now that I’m away from it. For instance, the food. I’m unable to eat certain food items, so I’m constantly checking the ingredients list whenever I do my groceries here, whereas in Malaysia, I didn’t have to do it. I could just take whatever I wanted from the shelves without thinking twice. Bless!
That being said, my appreciation towards Japan grows with each day I spend here—and I have maturity and the experience of years to thank for that too. I’m glad that I’m old enough to truly appreciate this opportunity I have been given, and I’m happy for the chance to study in the Land of the Rising Sun.
