Expanding the map of understanding
The reason for the lack of updates is simply that the motivation to write is lacking. I already wrote a 1-year blog on Tokyo that covered all the spectacular and strange impressions that overflow you while living in Japan. Now I'm here again roughly 2 years later, this time in possession of a lot of previous knowledge and experience.
Does that mean Japan doesn't surprise me anymore?
Short answer; No!
Just such a minor detail as coming here as a university student instead of a language student changes everything around. It is possible to get a grasp and start to think that you know what's going on here like I did after one year in Tokyo. But just taking one step to the side tears that perception of understanding apart making you realize the simple cold truth: that you really have no idea, although you thought you did.
What you do can be compared to unraveling small random spots on an endless clouded map. Your findings on their own might with some hard thinking lead to some logic, but when you try to put it all together it just makes no sense. And the fun thing here is that the more of the language you master, the more you realize that its not a language barrier that makes the whole thing weird. It’s just fundamental differences in ways of living and thinking. The language though is the key tool to unravel the map and connect the otherwise isolated parts. I would argue that if you live here for some time without knowing the language you would probably think you have everything under control while in reality you will never even realize that the map stretches outside of your own bubble.
Now this sounds quite negative, but it's also the biggest strength of Japan! Everyday I wake up I know for sure that today something unique is going to happen! Everyday situations occur where I get challenged! And I have thousands of examples. It's like listening to Kent, the lyrics in their own makes no sense at all, unless you create your own meaning out of it. And that’s exactly what I'm doing with Japan here. I make my own interpration of it all.
It's great to be here! And this weekend I'm heading to Tokyo!!!!! My schedule is perfectly planned in detail down to each minute! I can't wait! Reunion with almost all the big players!!! After that, expect some pictures, and a fun easy going post! Kind of ironic how the first post about an actual happening on Kyototrip likely will be from Tokyo.
I miss you all at home, and I know I've really been horrible with keeping people updated! But rest assured; everything is fine here!
Peace!
Att lägga ihop ett puzzel!
Inskaffandet av telefon, bankkonto, inflyttning, nationellt ID-kort, nationell sjukförsäkring, olycksförsäkring, kursregistrering, cykelregistrering (ja, det finns ett komplett cykelregister, ja man kan bli stoppad om man lånar en kompis cykel), parkeringstillstånd, hemleverans av madrass och annat som inte ingick (ofta man får en säng utan madrass), arbetstillstånd och så vidare.. och så vidare.. Men jag tror allt är på plats nu faktiskt.
