The Epilogue?

Hello everyone!

If you’re reading this, this would mean that my 5-month exchange period in Tokyo has come to an end. I’m back in the Netherlands and getting ready to start my next term of classes back at Erasmus University Rotterdam, while writing up my beloved exchange report.

The past 5-months in Japan have been a really great experience for me, even if there were some hurdles related to finances or me being salty for all the awesome events happening later after leaving Japan. Apart from being able to explore more of Tokyo in comparison to 3 years ago when I first did a solo trip to Nagoya and Tokyo, I also managed to visit part of Kansai area (Osaka and Kyoto) during this Fall Semester; so that still leaves me satisfied even if I wasn’t like other people who insist on going all around Japan.

And yes on the subject of Japanese language, I was able to make full use of it. Apart from taking Japanese classes at Keio, I used it almost every day be it in school, public or even back at my living quarters. Gradually I was also able to identify a bit more kanji on the streets and in texts, although I would still respond with a: “I know the meaning of this word and how to say it in Chinese… but man do I not know how to say it in Nihongo.” This makes me so motivated to try and take Level N3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) if I can make it for the July session in Leiden.

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Wait, does that mean I’ll stop updating this blog even if I failed to update often during my exchange period?

Probably not, as I actually have some more stories to tell of my time in Japan.
Also, I could actually write more things, be it about the classes at Keio or any practical matters about Keio or Japan.

So I guess that means I’ll be updating this place every so often until I announce an endpoint later on.

Until then, stay tuned!

The Last Day in Rotterdam

It’s here.

My final day in Rotterdam.

From a scale of 1 to cheese, how ready am I for my exchange life in Japan?
Well… (sweats)

Most of this last day is definitely dedicated to sorting out any last-minute preparations, from getting some passport photos to checking in to returning library books…

WELL DOESN’T THIS SOUND FUN~

So I’m all packed and ready to go, hopefully my luggage doesn’t exceed the limit and everything goes fine.

“Please don’t exceed 23 kilos…”

Also about the exchange student who took over my room, her mother actually came to visit this week. So after a whole day of sorting out things before departure, I wasn’t sure what to get for dinner and prepared to resort to either kapsalon or pizza. That was when she came over to say goodbye to me before heading back to the hotel to stay with her mother, and she was wondering if I would like to join the two of them for dinner.

I accepted the offer, and we went for seafood nearby.

The Italian exchange student & her mom~

Then again the Netherlands is famous for its seafood too, from kibling (fried fish bits) to haring (raw herring).

At least I was able to hang out with the new tenant before leaving Rotterdam, and I gave some suggestions for nice museums in this city, what types of Dutch food to try and places to visit during her stay here.

(And goodness me I couldn’t thank her mother enough she treated us to this meal…)

So that’s all for the Netherlands this year I guess?
Till then Rotterdam, see you again in 5 months!