So, it has been an entire year since I've been back home... The night before my departure, I squeezed in a pint with two lovely Fukushima folks. I also had a lovely dinner with my cousin at a restaurant overlooking Harajuku. We had a night cap on a rooftop patio, which had amazing views of Shinjuku's skyscrapers in the night sky.
I vaguely remember my last day in Japan. I woke up early to say good-bye to my cousin, who had graciously let me crash in his spare room in Tokyo. He left work, while I ate breakfast and left some Taiwanese sweets and a thank-you note on their dining table. I chatted with Buster, their big Maine Coon. He was especially comforting when I fled from Fukushima after the earthquake that March; I still miss that cat! And when I was ready to go, I kicked off my journey to Narita Airport by taking the bright pink Ginza subway line. When I transferred to the Skyliner train bound for the airport, it was then that I realized I would be leaving "home." I bawled, but luckily the car was pretty empty.
When I got to the airport, the feeling of leaving solidified even more. As I cancelled my phone at the Softbank kiosk, I made a quick phone call to my ex-supervisor who had transformed into my Japanese "papa" while I was there. More tears followed. And then I dawdled around the waiting area upstairs, looking for a weight scale to measure my bags. Of course, It was near-impossible to find one that day! I think I paid excess baggage fees for one suitcase, but that was fine. Everything after check-in is quite the blur. When I got off the plane in Ottawa, I was greeted by my fam, and even one of my brother's friends at the airport dropped by to say hi at the luggage carousel.
***
The conferences, reading materials and sempai all flagged the challenges in tackling reverse culture shock. And unfortunately, I've found it extremely challenging to re-adjust to life back in Canadia! Sure, it's extremely comforting to be around family and some old friends again. But at ti
Posts
