First-time visit to Japan: A personal account

I clearly remember the total confusion I felt the first time I arrived in Japan. After living and travelling in Russia for several years, I was quite adept with both Russian language and Cyrillic alphabet by the time I arrived in Fushiki on the ferry from Vladivostok.

I felt welcomed into Japan not only by people I met in Fushiki and Toyama, but especially by a close friend in Tokyo. After my time in Russia, and experience with other languages through a German class London and French class London, I thought I’d be ready to take on anything.

How I was wrong in that regard! General fatigue after travelling through the Caucasus Mountains and then across the Siberian expanse meant that I was quite exhausted by the time that I arrived in Japan. Furthermore, I’d got so used to seeing the Cyrillic alphabet and only occasionally the familiar Roman alphabet, I just didn’t know where to look when trying to read signs to make my way around Tokyo!

As a result - and I’m almost ashamed to admit this - for my first three days in Tokyo I didn’t even catch public transport. I just stayed in my local area, wandering aimlessly and endlessly, until the sights and sounds were familiar – and then all of a sudden I was able to see writing in English all over the place!

Now I’ve been back to Japan several times, including as an English teacher. I can’t get enough of the place, and I feel it was a little silly to be so daunted on my first arrival. Living and working in Japan isn’t something that can be prepared for by a German lesson London, an Italian lesson London, or any other language for that matter! Just come and experience it for yourself, and come to relish life in Japan! Forget the Spanish class London, challenge yourself and learn Japanese. It’s really worthwhile!