I can’t believe it’s been a month. Only 30 days in, and it feels like I’ve been living here for over a year, yet at the same time like I just moved in yesterday. Since then, a lot has happened, let me catch you up.

The first day I arrived can only be described as crazy. After delayed flights, changed itineraries and a nightmare customs line, I finally made it into the city. I have nothing to compare it to. If New York City is a concrete jungle, then Tokyo is a planet. My commute to my dorm was nothing less than jaw-dropping; I’ve never imagined such a place where the buildings are so dense and stretch for miles and miles.

My first few days were full of greetings and orientations. I tried my hand at the Japanese placement exam, after only self-studying using Duolingo for a month before coming here! After about five minutes of staring at my test booklet, I excused myself and self-toured the area around campus instead LOL. Despite this, I really appreciated Sophia’s dedication to making us feel welcomed. They heavily encouraged all of us to attend Freshmen Week, where we could meet all the various clubs offered. I’ve actually already been in contact with the Ultimate Frisbee team, so it was super exciting to finally put a face to the person I had been messaging online.

So far, I’ve hung out mostly with other Sophia international students in my dorm. I’ve met people from all over the world: Italy, Germany, Australia, Scotland, Hawaii, California, Denmark, Lithuania… I could go on and on. Our house manager, Kurihara-san, hosted a party where everyone brought food and made dishes from their home country, and this really set the tone for the comradery of our dorm’s culture. I made a gooey-butter cake with another Mizzou student, Shane, to show off our St. Louis pride!

Each day has been a new adventure. By far my favorite part of each one is the new food that I’m trying. It’s been 30 days, 90 meals, and I don’t think I’ve had a single bad one. Sashimi and the conveyor belt sushi are just incredible; this is how all seafood should be. My two surprising favorites, though, are 7-Eleven food and Takoyaki. 7-Eleven is less than a five-minute walk from my dorm, and its microwavable food is on a whole other level. I shudder thinking about the rolling hotdogs they keep in the QuikTrip’s back home. My first Takoyaki experience was a memorable one to say the least. The chef prepared them in front of us, and then served them fresh off the grill. After watching my friend, Minh, pop one in his mouth I started to dig in. Instantly I regretted that decision. The dough ball was so blazingly hot, the roof of my mouth started to sear to a crisp. Meanwhile, the chef was watching us eat, hoping the foreigners liked his cooking. Of course I didn’t dare spit out the food, so I just looked at him and smiled, tears streaming down my face.

As far as my adventures go, they are so unique. The nightlife here is definitely one of the highlights. Just a couple days ago a couple friends and I from the dorm started talking to a group of younger Japanese businessmen at an Izakaya, and we ended up finding ourselves singing Karaoke with them all night. Then, I woke up early the next morning to get a guided tour of Meiji Jingu shrine, saw Shinto ceremony and witnessed a Japanese wedding held at the shrine. Finally, I capped the month off by cooking a live oyster (yes, it was MOVING).

Overall, this month has been the most memorable of my life. I’ve met so many cool people, and everyone has been so open and kind to making any sort of plans to explore the city. Given my reflection of my first month, I really have no clue what’s going to be in store for me in May. Until then, signing off!

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Sophia University