Why Living Abroad Suits Me: Rediscovering My Japanese DNA (1)

Prologue: Two Versions of Me

I carefully wash the rice and switch on the rice cooker, finding comfort in the aroma of the freshly cooked grains.

Enjoying fish and chips from my favorite shop with a glass of wine.

Whether I am in 🇯🇵 or
in 🇦🇺

Both are

the real me.

Are both of them me?

It took me a little while to realize that.

Meeting the version of me abroad

Liberation of the heart

In Japan, I used to bind myself with the idea of how I 'should' be.

Overseas, it is normal for things to be different. There is a freedom to challenge myself with what I want to do, without worrying about age or status. Even though I graduated from school long ago, I am now in a vocational school studying alongside students. I realized that no matter how old you are, there are always opportunities.

My communication changed in 🇦🇺

• The joy of conveying feelings through expressions and gestures, even when words are not enough

• The comfort of being able to clearly say Yes or No

• The capacity to enjoy cultural differences

I encountered new perspectives in 🇦🇺

• Freedom in how I spend my time

• A culture that does not fear failure

• An environment that embraces diversity

However

My DNA remains unchanged

🇯🇵 The sense of Japan remains in my heart

• The sensitivity to feel the changing of the four seasons

• The spirit of 'Omotenashi' (hospitality)

• The sense of reading the room

🇯🇵 My Japanese identity is strengthening

• A commitment to meticulousness

• Values that prioritize time and promises

• A heart that values harmony

As a bridge between two cultures

Things only I can do

• Rediscovering the virtues of Japan

• Bridging different values

• Choosing the best from both cultures

A new version of myself

• No need to be a perfect Japanese person

• No need to be a perfect local either

• Finding my own way of life in between

What I realized: Why it suits me

1. The freedom to make choices at my own pace

2. The peace of mind to enjoy differences

3. The sense of anticipation for new possibilities

4. And yet, the Japanese sensibility at my core

A message to my past self

What is right in front of you is not the whole world. No matter where I go, I am still me.

To my future self

Living abroad hasn't taken anything away from me; it has given me new choices. I can live more freely and more like myself while still carrying my Japanese DNA.
That is the biggest reason why living abroad suits me, so keep spending your days mixing the best of both countries.

Epilogue

I enjoy brunch with friends on the weekends and cook Japanese food at home.
That kind of 'authentic' life is my happiness now.
My DNA hasn't changed. But here, there is a place where I, with that DNA, can spread my wings more freely.

How do you live your life?

What does living authentically mean to you? When do you feel your own DNA, and how do you use it to live your life?