Juande
What do you find more difficult on the one hand, and what do you find more rewarding, of living in Japan?
me
Some of the most difficult parts of living in Japan as a foreigner are related to access.
Most things are available to me in English, but a lot of it is kind of locked behind language. It’s not impossible to navigate, but it is sometimes a stumbling block along the way.
This primarily materializes in government and medical areas. Thankfully, I have some friends to help me navigate them. But sometimes I do have to do them alone.
On the other hand, there’s lots to love about living in Japan. The availability of trains makes it super easy to get anywhere, whenever.
Also, there’s a culture of not-bothering-people that I really like. Sometimes that mean people are non-confrontational, but most often it is an awareness of everyone else.
But perhaps the thing I love most is that so much is new. I take comfort in places that are similar to what I already know, but the availability of places that are new is terrific.
