Between Packed Trains and Quiet Mountain Trails: My Daily Life at Language School in Japan
The Morning Battle on the Train
Commuting in Japan is its own experience. Especially in the morning, you quickly notice that the system is efficient, but also that it definitely has its limits.
The trains are extremely crowded during rush hour. So crowded that sometimes you really cannot move freely anymore. At first, that takes some getting used to, especially if you are not used to standing that close to other people all the time. Everything still works smoothly, but comfortable it is not.
In the meantime, I have found a better time window for myself. The train is still pretty full, but no longer completely overloaded. That makes a big difference in everyday life. If you can stand normally and do not constantly have to make sure you are not bumping into anyone, the day starts a lot more relaxed.
News from Language School
My impression of the classes has become clearer by now as well.
We have different teachers every day, which is turning out to be an advantage. Everyone brings a different approach, both in terms of teaching style and content. That keeps the lessons varied and gives you different perspectives on the same topics.
There is a clear focus on communication. We speak a lot, often spontaneously, which is especially helpful for listening comprehension and expressing yourself. That is currently still the biggest challenge for me in daily life, so it fits well.
Of course, there are differences. Some lessons are more traditional, with more teacher-led instruction and less interaction. That is not necessarily bad, but you quickly notice how much more effective the more interactive sessions are.
Finally Making Connections
At the same time, I have also started settling in socially.
That happened pretty quickly in class. Since everyone is in a similar situation, conversations start naturally. After a few days, we were already going out together, which made getting started here much easier.
I also made contacts through Discord. With some of them, I went to Kamakura for a hike. The route was longer than expected and pretty exhausting in parts, but the landscape and the views more than made up for it.
My Regular Spot in Iidabashi
One steady part of my routine has become Caffe Veloce in Iidabashi.
I usually go there before or after school to study or just to kill some time. The place is quiet enough to focus, but still open enough that you can end up talking to people.
That is exactly where I met my first Japanese friend. We started talking and just had a normal conversation. My Japanese is still far from perfect, but good enough to make myself understood.
That is an important point. The jump from classroom practice to real-world use is very noticeable. You quickly realize where your own gaps are, but also that communication can still work anyway.
Japanese Bureaucracy and the Mailbox
A small glimpse into daily life: mail can be a bit more complicated here than expected.
In my sharehouse, the mailboxes are only labeled with room numbers. In principle, that is enough as long as the address is written correctly. In my case, though, I had to go to the post office once to confirm my identity and residence before certain deliveries could be completed.
Since then, everything has been working without problems.
Sometimes letters for previous residents still end up in the mailbox. Those get marked accordingly and sent back. It is not a big deal, but it is something you have to keep in mind.
Alone in the Mountains: The Route to Oku-Tama
Last weekend, I went hiking by myself.
The original plan was to go with other people, but the timing did not work out. Looking back, that turned out to be a good decision.
The route went from Kori Station to Oku-Tama, about 5.3 kilometers. The distance is manageable, but the elevation is not. Especially in the first sections, it is a steady uphill climb.
At times, it was physically pretty demanding. There was one point where turning back was a realistic option. But I decided to keep going.
The section by the dam was the highlight of the route. It felt much calmer than the city and overall the hike was very varied.
Going alone also has one clear advantage: you can completely decide the pace and the route yourself. No coordination, no waiting around. For hikes like that, it definitely makes sense.
Overall, the trip was absolutely worth it, and it definitely will not be the last one like this.