I told my friends, “I’m moving to Japan next month, as I got a job there !!”.Isn’t it super strange when almost all the replies from them were “It was your dream right?!” or “Finally you made it !!”
That was the time, I realized that I was super crazy about Japan. I always know that I had immense love for the country and wanted to live there at least for few years, but have never thought that even the people around me knew about it.
It all started in 2008, when I was in 9th grade of schooling. My dad is the showstopper of my life! He was the one who persuaded me to learn the language as he knew that learning a foreign language will be helpful one way or the other. He was rooting for ‘Japanese’ as he too had fell in love with the country on a business trip to Japan 20 years back.
As a teenager, without any aim / goal of why I was learning the language I went to my Japanese language school. I still remember that every Sunday I used to miss my favorite “MAD” program in Pogo channel and went for the classes. As a lover of DIY, my face had a hint of frown for missing those episodes, however now I do not have any regrets as it is all worthy. My dad used to drop me and pick me up every time from the class. Every single Sunday. Apparently, it was not a big deal for him as that’s the routine of every Indian fathers who have daughters. Okay now! Let me not deviate and continue to express my love for Japan. I cannot recall the day I fell in love with Japan. I would say that it was a process. There was a point in my life where I was crazy or even stupid enough to by heart the National anthem of Japan. I would even collect the wrappers of Japan chocolates. I was and I’m head over heels in love with Japan. But when anyone would ask me, why do I love Japan. I hush because I do not have a specific reason, Is it the language? Is it the people? Is it the culture or technology? or is it the places? I don’t know because, I just love everything about Japan.
I appeared for Japanese language Proficiency Tests (Linguistic competency test) to improve my skills. I’m that one person who learnt the language not for work /career but sheer interest! However, I had to discontinue going to classes when I was taking my board exams. But, I kept in touch with the language through J-Drama. This was a phase in my life where my sister and I used to binge watching J-Drama.
I continued to learn the language again in my college days. In 2013, at the age of 19, I got the first chance to visit the country I was always yearning. It was for a student exchange program called “KIZUNA” through my Japanese language school sponsored by Japan Government. Let me walk you through that experience in a separate post.
Coming to my college days and I was a N3 (Proficiency level in Japanese language) when I finished college. I was teaching Japanese language as an honorary faculty in the same institute I studied Japanese as well. Enjoyed every bit of activities I did regarding the Japanese language. By this time even you would realize that I’m SUPER CRAZY about Japan. My biggest dream was to live in Japan for a while. I have never thought about settling in Japan but always wanted to live there all by myself before I would marry someone. I dreamt of traveling to every corner. Mt.Fuji and Kamakura Buddha were on the top of my bucket list. Apart from this, Sakura and Meiji chocolate are the few things that pops up to my mind.
Reminiscing the days of craving towards Japan, here comes the phase of my life where I took too many risks. I started to change jobs just because I wanted to go to Japan. The flame in me was super high in 2017. I hated my first job as I never had a chance to go to Japan. That was the worst part of my life. Even now, it is a nightmare. The days where I never wanted to re-live. The role I was performing didn’t have much base on technology as well as it was focused on Japanese language. Ahh.. why didn’t I like my job then? Because, I cannot go to japan! Yes, you heard me right!
With all the risks, I decided to switch to a new job and got an opportunity to work for a data science Company in Bangalore. My Japanese language skills helped me to get the job as they had clients in Japan. I learnt data science. This was the crucial learning phase of my life, staying away from family was a whole new experience. No wonder, it paid me back as after a year as I got the opportunity to visit my beloved Japan for a one and a half month for an onsite role. I was dancing with glee! The joy was unending. That’s the moment I remembered what my dad once told me when I was a kid. “If you see Mt.Fuji on the first time you go to Japan, it is believed that you will go again”. Even when things were falling apart, I had this belief as I witnessed the majestic Fuji san on my very first trip in 2013. The onsite experience was amazing. I will cherish that forever both in terms of work; handling the clients; presenting the results of the analysis in Japanese and of course Japan by itself. No wonder I had no heart to leave Japan when my onsite tenure was coming to an end.
But reality hit me hard! Yes, it literally felt like I was woken up from a fairy tale, the morning I woke up in Bangalore after my return from the official business trip. I missed Japan so much. I missed the fresh air, the train announcements, the sound heard when crossing in the signals, the freedom to roam and everything! Amidst all these, I was grateful only about one thing. I had randomly visited a recruiting agency on a weekend and registered my details and the preferred jobs during my stay in Japan. After a month of my return, I got a mail from that company. It was about permanent roles in Japan as Data scientist. The perfect blend of the work I love to do and Japan. What more can I ask for? I gave the interviews super sincerely, I did my best. I felt like this is the chance of realizing my dream of living in Japan.
Mt.Fuji & Me
The results of the interview made me to have more belief in “Law of Attraction” ! Yes, I got job in Rakuten. I should mention that my family was super supportive for my decision to move to a new country. It was not easy for them! I was 25 when I moved to Japan and most of the girls who studied with me got married. My family was supportive and I’m forever grateful for that. Finally, On March 21st 2019, I traveled from Chennai to Tokyo. Today, it is exactly a year and I’m so happy to share my journey of how I ended up in Japan.
This one-year was a roller coaster ride. I learnt to appreciate nature; to find happiness in small things; to love my family even more; to groom myself better; to carry myself better; to cook and many more. Was super elated to meet new people and experience travelling to new places. Most of all, I learnt to be content by myself.
Now it’s time for me to set next goal in my life and work towards that! I cannot wait until to write one more time saying, “When dreams come true…” 🙂
Moving the comments section from my previous blog site for this post.
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