Previously, my knowledge about Japan mostly came from the internet and what teachers told me. In Vietnam, I daydreamed a lot. The more I daydreamed, the more I wanted to go to Japan.
Finally, I came to Japan. It’s been 8 months now. I’ve had many interesting experiences.
The most impressive thing was when I first arrived in Japan, as soon as I got off the plane, I saw all 80 of our suitcases neatly arranged. I was truly surprised. I wondered how the airport staff could be so polite. Living in Japan, I realized that not only are Japanese people polite, but they are also enthusiastic and serious.
The second thing is about the “queue culture.” This is where everyone lines up orderly at stations, supermarket checkouts, restaurants, etc. No matter how long the queue, everyone waits patiently without complaining. Truly Japanese indeed.
Next is how quiet public places are. I commute to school by train every day, and the train is always crowded. Despite being so crowded that it’s hard to move, the inside of the train is very quiet, with only the sound of breathing. Everyone looks at their phones without bothering about others. This is common in Japan, but since I like lively atmospheres, it felt uncomfortable at first. However, I’ve gotten used to it. Now, when I get on the train, I also quietly look at my smartphone.
Speaking of Japan, there are also many people who create automatic products. Vending machines for drinks, automatic doors, lights that turn on automatically when entering a room, and Japanese life is very convenient. But what surprised me the most was the toilet. Japanese toilet seats have various functions like movable warm water nozzles, heated seats, and dryers for your behind. At first, I didn’t understand how to use it, but gradually I got used to it.
Japan has a good environment, so many Japanese people go for walks every day. Whether it’s early in the morning, late at night, on sunny days or rainy days, everyone tries to go for a walk as much as possible. This is something special.
One day, at 3 a.m. while I was delivering newspapers, someone in black clothes came behind me with a dog. I was very surprised and almost dropped the newspapers, but when the person passed by, they said, “Good morning. It’s tough working so early, isn’t it?” That was when I clearly saw the person and realized they were just out for a walk. Since then, I haven’t been scared to meet people late at night and can greet them with a smile.
There are many more interesting things in Japan. I am learning new things every day. I want to continue to have many experiences and find more interesting aspects of Japan.
Now it’s already December. The temperature is gradually dropping. The moment I feel winter. Indeed, there is a unique scent of winter that one can sense when the air changes. It can’t be explained with words, but you feel, “Ah, winter has come!”