My Three Month Travel Experience in Japan

In the midst of getting used to Japan, it is almost time to leave. Within the three months in Japan, I have experienced an overwhelming amount of culture. I came here knowing nothing about this unique country except the norm, the giants - Sony and Toyota.

Even though regular day life in Japan is filled with abounds of unexpected memories, the high peak of this stay was when we went on the culture trip to Aizu. The Aizu trip opened my eyes to how Japan was really formed.

Life from past eras was scrutinized in those two days. We explored from temples and shrines from the past, to modern day hotel stays with onsens. Japanese is filled with family pride and respect, stories of how samurais' would kill themselves for disrespecting others amazes me even to this day. Why would they do such a thing?
When I first came to Japan, all I saw were bright lights everywhere.

Aizu was something totally different, it is up north where people are not packed together going on switching from train to train. Up in Aizu there was snow, mountains, and not so many lights. It was a nature's call showing me how different Japanese life is up here than in Tokyo.

I noticed that I never appreciated the blue sky in Tokyo. Everywhere is jammed packed with people. Time is everything I get on the train, go to school or go anywhere I need to without thinking about anything else. In Aizu, I got a chance to appreciate the scenery, Mother Nature; something I have neglected since I was young. I believe that Japanese people would also neglect the beautify sky in Tokyo being busy with just work everyday.

The onsen at the hotel is the first onsen experience I have ever had. It was interesting being in a hot tub with many men naked. There is no such thing in America and the experience was different. How different? First being dipped in very hot water outside with snow coming in just seemed contradictory, but enjoyable. Onsens are used here to relax after a hard days work, yet Americans are so carefree that they instead use it as a place to socialize with friends.

Many things about America and Japan are different, but even more so opposite.
Japan is a very enjoyable place to be, after the first one or two months it was the time of my life. I was carefree and looking forward to all the new things. I finally realized how tough life in Japan must be. Observing everyday life, I noticed that Japanese people work very hard, always busy with work for long hours a day.

The culture is completely different whereas America is a lot more carefree and the culture tends to be more relaxed about enjoying life. I work nowhere near as hard as a regular Japanese person but fatigue is starting to hurt me, I'm tired everyday and I don't know if I could handle Japanese life for another year.

All this information is very vital for me because I am a business major back home. I would definitely try to hire some Japanese workers as I could because I know the majority would be trust worthy to get the job done.