100 days. That’s how many days I had from when I finished my last UOA exam for semester one to the day I flew to Japan to start semester two. 100 days to get excited, to get nervous, to reassure me, to overthink, to relax, and to freak out. 100 days to do nothing but wait. 100 days was the perfect amount of time to put me down a rabbit hole, asking myself questions like: Is this a good idea? What if I’m not ready? Why would I want to leave NZ? My 100 day bubble of no responsibility felt predictable, secure, and comfortable. And as the 100th day crept closer, I knew it would all flip on its head.
After what felt like an eternity, day 100 finally came. Going to the airport felt very surreal. The only solo trip I have done was once to Wellington. Wellington is 641.5km away. Tokyo is 8,841.09km. So this was a big deal for me. However, despite my severe lack of solo travel experience, I made it to Tokyo.
Moving in was overwhelming. I had thoughts of doubt flashing through my mind about whether I was up for the challenge. My dorm felt empty and quiet, and my room was small and bare. I started to miss my 100 day bubble.
However, as the days passed, more and more international students started to move into the dorm, looking just as nervous and doubtful as I did.
It’s a hard step to approach a total stranger, not knowing who they are or the language they speak, but thank goodness I did. As I met more people, I no longer missed my 100 day bubble. We would share stories about our countries, laugh as we struggled to pronounce each other’s names and empathise with each other’s anxieties when living abroad. Then a lightbulb moment hit me. This is what an exchange is all about. The people you meet.
In my experience, I got close to my exchange friends very quickly. Likely because we share similar passions, fears, and goals while away from home, it’s not every day that you’re spending the most exciting and challenging months of your life with a group of people you met only a few days ago. I have already made incredible memories with these people, and I cannot wait for all the new adventures that await us.
155 days. That’s how long I have in Japan. This period is a bit less predictable than the last. However, it is more exciting, adventurous, and thrilling. I have 155 days to meet new people, laugh, share stories, try new things, and challenge myself. Instead of ‘enjoy every day,’ I wrote ‘appreciate every day’ on my whiteboard because I know there will be stressful and unhappy days; it’s natural, but I also know that when I am back in my secure bubble in Auckland, I will miss this adventure.
My advice to current and future exchange students is to be present. Be open to meeting people. Take it day by day. Don’t let the number of days distract you, but excite you. Please make the most of each day because before I know it, it will become my 155th.