Three years ago I was sitting in my room, reading TAB blogs. Today, I am writing a TAB blog in Japan. Quite a change in scenery. I arrived in Osaka three weeks ago, which gave me ample time to explore the city and neighboring places like Kyoto. I was fortunate enough to have a host mom who has been so kind, and helped me to navigate the city and participate in various cultural activities like the Omatsuri!
My experience in Japan, thus far, has been everything and more than I expected. Some tips I have gathered are to learn some basic Japanese before arriving here because English is very limited here. From going to conbini (convenience store) to shopping at stores, saying common Japanese phrases like onegaishimasu will go a long way! The highlight of my trip so far has been going sento (public bath house) and onsen once a week! Stepping out of my comfort zone, I went to a sento on my third day in Osaka and completely fell in love with it. Infact, I cannot stop recommending it enough to others; it is truly a part of local Japanese culture.
Our liason at the school, Yukari san, has been very accommodating and kind. She has helped us to settle in at school and is easy to communicate with. Teachers and staff have been very welcoming and I am thoroughly enjoying my experience at Suito! So far I have been mainly observing classes since school just began, but I am hoping for more teaching opportunities throughout the year which the school has promised 🙂
I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks. I will keep you posted!
