I'm heading rear to Canada following living in Japan for a year. I'm enthusiastic to return, but there are a few things I'll miss.

One of the biggest things I've noticed during my period in Japan is how much small financial emphasis I've felt on a day-to-day basis.

Before moving here, my hubby and I paid nearly 2,000 Canadian dollars a duration for our flat in Ottawa. In Japan, I've been living in Airbnbs and mostly spending approximately 20% to 30% small on rent alone.

High-quality food has additionally been noticeably cheaper in Japan's important cities than in my residence in Ottawa. Sure, several fruit, akin apples and strawberries, can be pricey, but I've established basics akin meat, eggs, milk, and bread to mostly be additional affordable.

Then, there's dining out. A nicer date-night meal that would disbursal us anyplace from CA$60 to CA$100 rear residence power be about CA$30 or CA$40 here. Since tipping isn't really part of Japanese culture, my meals are equal cheaper.

I'm certainly looking onward to getting rear into a bigger kitchen, but I've eaten very, very well in Japan, and I'll young female how uncomplicated and affordable it is to do so.

I've been amazed by how much you can really do at a convenience shop in Japan. At a 7-Eleven, you can discover bathrooms and ATMs, command hot meals and smoothies, and equal pay your bills.

In Ottawa, I was much additional used to gas-station convenience stores anywhere I could lone go in to pay for gas, buy a lottery ticket, or catch a extremely overpriced snack. (And fine fortune finding a washroom you're capable to use whenever you're there, too.)

I've particularly loved how uncomplicated it is to discover a printer here. In Japan, I can stroll fair a few minutes to a convenience shop whenever I need item printed; meanwhile, rear in Canada, I used to have to create a particular trip to Staples.

I'll really young female having the liberty to hop on a train and expend the day in a new city whenever I awareness akin it. I don't think I would've explored nearly as much without Japan's awesome transport system.

Unlike in Ottawa, the trains current are frequent, affordable, and create it uncomplicated to say, "I've never been there before. Let's go tomorrow!"

I'll equal young female the small things, akin the songs that perform before the doors close, the art on several trains, and the adorable deer-shaped handles on the Kintetsu row between Osaka and Nara.

Living in Japan has changed me fundamentally.

I've rotate into a lot additional comfortable doing things on my own, and I think the country's solo-dining civilization has helped me get used to going location since I desire to, without needing person alternatively to go alongside me.

Beyond that, I awareness so much additional assured than I did before moving here. I've never been happier, and I really affection the individual I've rotate into during living abroad.

I'm enthusiastic to bring that type of myself home, but I'm additionally a small nervous concerning returning to the existence I had before Japan — worrying concerning the cost of living in Canada, emotion stuck in my hometown, and falling rear into the identical routines I was so enthusiastic to leave.

As much as I'm going to young female Japan, there are things I've been looking onward to.

Most importantly, I've missed my community. I've made a brace of fantastic allies here, but construction a social circle in Japan has been difficult.

I've additionally missed so many moments rear home, akin my small brother's archetypal day of elevated school. Texting and FaceTiming help, but nothing compares to sitting about a array alongside my family, and I can't delay to have a holiday meal alongside everyone again.

I'm additionally looking onward to being a tourist in my own country. Back whenever I lived in Ottawa, I wanted to get distant so badly. Now, I'll see photos or videos of Canada on my nourish and capture myself thinking, "How have I never seen this?"

Ironically, living abroad has shown me that I've barely scratched the exterior of my own country. After spending nearly a twelvemonth traveling about Japan, I'm enthusiastic to alter that.

So, as poignant as it is to depart Japan, I'm trying not to think of going residence as fair returning to the existence I left. I'm bringing a lot of new experiences, confidence, and curiosity alongside me, and hopefully, I'll use them all to see additional of everything Canada has to offer.