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Jun 25, 2017

City to Country - the struggles!

My family and I are currently in the process of moving from the city to the country in Japan. We've been in Tokyo the last four years (the first year in the very inner city, the next three in the outer suburbs of Tokyo Prefecture), and now we're moving to Niigata Prefecture for the next three.


So what's the big deal, you might be asking?

There are definitely some nerves on my part, going from this...

City to Country - the struggles! photo


To this.

City to Country - the struggles! photo


Now don't get me wrong. I've lived in more rural parts of the world before - in my home country I was in a small-ish town before I moved overseas. But in a country that isn't mine (although I love it like it is!) where I have the language capability of a three year old (at best) I'm a little intimidated about how life will be.


How will I make friends?


How easy will it be getting to a doctor? A dentist? The supermarket?

(That all sounds crazy, maybe - but we will be living in the middle of snow country - and driving in the snow scares me!)


In Tokyo I think it's easy enough to get by pretty simply as an expat, even if you don't speak Japanese. You've got a ton of people all in the same boat living overseas, so making friends is relatively easy - get a couple of shared interests, and bam - instant besties. I've got multiple different international supermarkets a short drive from my home, and even international clothes retailers like H&M, Zara and Gap. What am I going to do in the boonies?


I'm excited for a change, but there's still a level of unknown about it all - we still have to finalize a place to live (house hunting out here also seems way more difficult than anywhere else I've lived!) but I'm trying to take it one step at a time and not get too overwhelmed.


Life as an expat. So many great things, so many frustrating things, so many stressful things - but what an experience, am I right?


4 Comments

  • KamaT

    on Jun 25

    It looks like you're moving to a beautiful part of the world anyway. I've been in the Tokyo area for my whole time in Japan and sometimes wonder where I might live (in Japan) other than Tokyo. I think I quite like the idea of getting out of the city for a bit. Anyway, sounds like you're starting on a new adventure, which is exciting. Sure everything will fall into place.

  • genkidesu

    on Jun 25

    @Tomuu it definitely is a beautiful part of the world. I'm trying to just take the move one step at a time - but yes, there are lots of elements that have me really looking forward to it. We are pretty outdoorsy people so hiking and enjoying the nature there will be great.

  • KamaT

    on Jun 27

    @genkidesu Yea, I recon Niigata will be a great place to get out and do some hiking, not to mention the winter sport possibilities.

  • bluerobot

    on Sep 5

    Mrs. GenkiDesu said "I have the language capability of a three year old (at best) " As for me, two-year-old :) Ha ha.