"The one thing I will never regret in my life is..."
More than a decade ago, I started learning Japanese. I was one of the lucky people who got chosen by the company I worked for to study the language and they promised to deploy me and the others to Japan.
Studying Japanese is actually a pain but a little fun. A little fun because it's a new language. Who wouldn't want to learn another language for free? I had a teacher (sensei) and my 8 hours of working in the company was just spent attending Japanese classes. That went on for 4-6 months.
Fast forward, I was given an opportunity to come to Japan while working in that company. I think it was my 3rd or 4th year working there. The job though was so difficult. I know I'm a little smart (oops HAHAHA sorry for boasting LOL) but I don't think I would like the job for that project. Also, I would only be there for a month because the project duration was only a month.
Because I was a scaredy card, I could not say yes. I was also not confident to say no either.
Saying yes to going to Japan would mean leaving my family and my friends for a while. I knew I signed up for the Japanese lessons so I could go to Japan but didn't think it would be like this. I didn't think I was good at Japanese that time and going to Japan and work for my client would mean I should speak Japanese fluently. I knew I couldn't do that. I also didn't want to be separated from my boyfriend at that time. I know, love sucks. 😅
I missed the opportunity. I kinda regretted it but when I thought of the project being difficult and being away from loved ones, the regrets would be gone.
I left that company after staying there for almost 7 years. I left and was not able to go to Japan despite learning the language and the promise of going there.
That was my last opportunity of going to Japan until..
One day my friend asked me if I want to apply for a job opportunity in Japan. The job description was so vague, the company just needed to hire software engineers like me.
I was in a dilemma but to be honest, I was a little excited.
I thought I would not have this opportunity again.
By the way, my boyfriend and I broke up so I was single at that time. We remain good friends but it seems like I was so attached to him again and started to develop feelings. I knew I needed to get away from him so I could completely forget him.
I was so lucky being able to pass the hiring process after just 2 interviews. But at the back of my mind, I was a bit hesitant. I would leave my life in the Philippines - my family, my friends, and my crushes everything else.
Fast forward to today, I'm now living in Japan for 4.5 years and counting.
I really thought working here would mean overtime everyday but I was one of the lucky ones that didn't experience it a lot. My coworkers here are so kind to me. The friends I made here are so helpful and they keep me company.
Despite living alone and away from my family, I don't feel lonely. Instead I'm having the time of my life - living life in the country I really dreamt of going when I was still starting to learn Japanese. Now I'm here and I don't have regrets.
The one thing I will never regret in my life is leaving my hometown and living in an unknown but fun place that is Japan.
I learned a lot of things living alone. I learned how to cook, how to wash clothes, do the dishes, clean the house, decide things on my own, how to be independent, and a lot more. I stepped out of my comfort zone and explored the unknown. I didn't know that unknown would be this awesome! I'm so glad I took the opportunity of coming here - and now, I am living my life to the fullest while being here.
Only when you step out of your comfort zone will you experience and learn more about life.
The Japanese language? Nah, I thought I wasn't good at it but I could speak and understand. My level would be average though, not yet the expert level. Turns out the best way to learn the language is to experience it everyday and I'm glad to experience it here.
I never once regretted living in Japan. It's everybody's dream to visit this place and I'm lucky to be here! (Okay maybe not everybody but almost everybody, no? 😂)
How about you? Do you have anything that you don't regret doing?
I have always wanted to share this and luckily it is aligned with the topic for the weekend-engagement by @galenkp. To know more about it, you can visit this post.
Thanks for reading!
See you around!
All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.
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This is such a great read
I also agree that the best way to learn something is to experience it. Even if you don't have any knowledge about it, you'll be surprised that the people you look up to did not know everything at one point.
You're lucky you got another chance to travel to Japan. And I'm glad you love it.
I would like to know some of the things you do that keeps you not feeling lonely.
Thanks for reading despite it being already a few days back.
Yeah I think I’m lucky ☺️
I also think that this was really the right time for me. I heard stories from my previous coworkers that their Japan experience was not good but now, I’m happy to be here.
Of course writing here makes me not lonely. The people I met here, I talked to them in discord too. Aside from that, I keep myself busy with real life stuff.
nakuuu witty kahit di mo sabihin alam namin lahat hahahaha
tawang tawa ako sa crush PART nyahahahahah
happy for you witty for living the life in japan !!!
Hahahahaha! Boastful masyadow 😂
And of course, we have crushes hahaha naiwan but we have new crushes here in Japan nyahahaha 😅
Uyy I actually did contact one of my friends who worked in TESDA to ping me if there is a slot in a foreign language training especially mandarin and Japanese hehe, why not? Just for some fun and maybe stays overseas soon.
Nice yan! Mag duolingo ka na rin to start learning new language. 😅
Sometimes the decisions you make with such great hesitation can be the best decisions of your life. I was going to go to a city far away from my family for high school and I was going to leave them for the first time. It was a very difficult decision. After about 3 months, I realized that it was the best decision I ever made. It added a different vision to my life and changed my perspective.
ikr! It's normal to be hesitant and doubtful at first because that would be a very big decision. But looking back at it now, we're so glad to take that leap. Without it, we will never broaden our perspective.
I want that, too, being a software engineer in Japan and living there. You are surely living the life, witty. Good for you. Pray for me. 🙏😅
Really @ayane-chan?! You should definitely come here. Sige, I'll gladly pray for you.
So you're in Japan!!! How's the work culture in Japan tho? Is it fun there?
Yes! It's fun! At least for me, it is. Some of my friends though had it rough but at least we can go somewhere on the weekends. At first I was so scared to talk because my Japanese wasn't that good, but now, it has improved, though still a little bit shy. 😅
it's nice to see that you're enjoying your stay there a lot uwu
baka nanan, kunin mo ko 🤣🤣🤣
Hahaha! If you come here, I'll definitely meet you!
Whenever we learn something it's helpful for us. Today or tomorrow we will use the knowledge somehow. You set example of it for everyone also.
And he as sometimes the people around us behave with a so friendly that it give us a feeling like that they are family. I think you are lucky having a family instead of you are far from family.
My family's really supportive of me so I'm one lucky child.
I'm not that super close with my family too so I don't miss them that much, and there are many ways to communicate with them.
The same goes for my friends.
I'm really glad to learn a lot of lessons while living far from home. This experience will surely help me in the future.
Yes, communication became more easier because of updated technology. It always give us a feeling like we are at home.
I am pretty much sure that it will be helpful in future.
Thank you @intishar!
You are welcome . 🙂
It's my dream place to visit too. 🙏 It is hard to go out of yoir comfort zone. It' scary but when you're out there, that is where amazing things happen. Glad you are living the life
Agree! Only when we're out of our comfort zone we got to experience more in life. Thanks! Hope you could visit one of your dream place!
Wow Japan ate!!! I think it is everyone's dream na makapag trabaho jan kaya no regrets tlga. 🥰🥰
It was as if God worked His ways for me to be here and experience more in life so I'm really glad I took this opportunity.
Yesss ate, kumbaga God will find a way pa din para mapunta ka niya don sa kung saan ka dapat so better trust the process ate. Malay mo pwede na ikaw for good diyan no? ☺️
It would be awesome if I'll be here for good. Actually, I don't see myself living in the Philippines again but who knows. I'll just keep trusting the process. 😉
Oh really ate? Malay mo noh God heard ur wish na. 🤗🤗
Very beautiful post! And such a nice experience with learning Japanese language and being able to visit Japan and stay there. Lucky you, that you had your second chance and you grasped it!
I started learning Japanese in some period of my life that I was not sure what I want to happen and what to do with it. I had been to Japan quite some times, but never learned Japanese, more than the 10 typical words and phrases that everyone knows. こんにちは、 ありがとうございます、トイレはどこですか。 etc. 😁
Then I decided to give it a push and start learning and broadening my knowledge, only from internet and YouTube videos, and I reached quite some average beginners level. I was even thinking of going to Japan and even had an opportunity to start working in the sports complex that we stayed at so many years. Maybe the thing that stopped me was being away from my family and friends. Bulgaria is a bit further away than Philippines!
Well, learning Japanese language did its job for me and I met my wife in a very curious but fortunate(for me) situation. Now, I have forgotten most of the learned, but I have two kids and a beautiful family life, thanks to learning Japanese language.
Very important question 😂
Wow what a nice story! If you had not learn Japanese, you wouldn't be able to have such a beautiful family.
Glad it somehow worked in your favor!
I guess because you didn't know what to do with your life before, destiny did its wonders and poof! Wife appeared 😅
I think destiny did its wonders on me too, for giving me another opportunity and it's better than the first. Glad I took it!
We both can say that Japanese language completely changed our life!
OMG, it's just so awesome lang no that even if we missed the first opportunity that was given to us meron pa rin sating nadating ulit, I mean di nauubusan. I'm glad you grab it na. Now look at you living in everyone's dream and that is to live in Japan and enjoy the Sakura huehue. Me is sp inggit to the bones. I also want to experience that sana but aigooo, I don't want to live my family. Not ready yet to leave my own comfort room, ZONE rather, lol. Maybe bawi nalang akk next life. Charowttt, lol. But seriously, arigakamsalamathankyou sa pag share ng kwento mo. Hahahaha
You should get out of the comfort room, ZONE rather, to grow and broaden your perspective. It's really a big leap but it will help you see things differently.
Thanksss! Ako na lang muna tutubos sa inyong lahat by living here. 😂
Hahaha, not sure if magagawa ko ba yan. Parang isip kp din ang may ayaw ee, hahaya.
Baka you need a yaya, I can apply. 5 times a meal nalang sweldo if ever. Hahahaha
If maging yaya pala kita, parang sabay pa tayong kumain ng 5 times HAHAHA
May mga kasama ako dito na first sila lang muna, then after 2 years, dinala na nila family nila dito 🙂
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Choosing to marry my husband with a one week of preparation? hahaha
Woah! That's so fast! Shotgun yarn hahahaha
Well, you have a great family now so that was a very good decision!
Haha that's what my husband says everytime he pisses me😂.
Pinikot ko lng daw siya😂
Hahaahha! Ginusto nya naman nyahahhaa
That's fate. Not wanting to leave your home because of family and friends, and the bf (of course, this is the heaviest burden. haha.) is understandable. But you cannot escape fate, now you are in Japan with a new (and very cute bf, right? He's your new bf na, di ba? The second to the last photo. Or is she a female?!). !LUV this post. 😁😁😁
Bwahahaha! I looked at it again and NOOO! He's not my BF, he is the BF of all 🤣
Fate brought me here, and it feels so nice to be here! It has been a challenge at first but now I'm becoming mature.. charot 😂
Oh, good for you. Being away from family is a good way to mature quickly. You looks like a baby pa with your family in the first photo, pero ikaw ang naiba. All of them are snowflakes people, you are just people. 😂
!PIZZA
HAHAHHA! They maybe snowflakes but still they're my family. 😂 I'm not the adopted one hahahhaa
Yeah. That's true, family is family. Wala naman ako sinabi na kung sino ang adopted one. LOL. 😁
Hahahah playful with words
😁😁😁
😁😁😁
I feel the same when i left my home country!
!PIZZA
We've become grown ups for leaving our homes. 😂
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Such a nice and inspiring story. Life is indeed full of mystery we never know what will happen next. By the way, I want to congratulate you because you are living in one of the safest and most beautiful countries in the world.
Thank you @afterglow! That's true, we will never know what will be our fate tomorrow. We can only hope for it to be favorable to us.
Thank you! It's really so safe here. I can just flaunt my phone and wallet everywhere. No robbers 😅
You're welcome, and that's what I admire about Japan, its safety. By the way, if I may ask, is it true that police in Japan do not use guns?
I didn't notice but yeah I don't think they are bringing it. Or if they do bring it, they aren't really using it.
It's rare to find crimes here like shooting and all that.
So cool! I would not regret it either, if I were you. Wish you the best
Thank you so much!
Stepping out of one's comfort zone is a fantastic experience (doesn't work for all cause some move to underdeveloped areas😂)
But yes, however you see it, offers an experience of a life time.
Glad it all worked out for you Witz❤️
No doubt you have awesome friends and coworkers, you're a lovable person. Your family must be very proud seeing you so happy and accomplished❤️🤗
Thank you @queenstarr! My family is really supportive of me. I couldn't ask for more.
I guess I'm so blessed to have all this, and for that I'm really thankful everyday 😉
Stepping out of the comfort zone is an experience one can really learn a lot. It may not be as fantastic as I have experienced it, but it will surely be an experience for a lifetime.
You're lucky, Japan is an amazing place. Not, to mention the culture and the tech vibe that it's famous for. Hope, you lead a good life in there. Stay Blessed!!!
Thank you! I'm really blessed to be here. 😌
Never regretting is always a fair deal!
I really like to read your posts !
Its like so true to life .
Beautiful pics though !
Thank you @gaurav.art!
I think I am just story telling to my friends when I have a post 😂
But even that story telling feels if you are telling that in person
I should say this first, I love your vibes.
I also agree with you when you said that one only gets to learn about life when one leaves their comfort zone.
It is just like my sister who is used to people doing things for her, I've told her to learn to do things on her own so that when there is no one around she won't be affected. Well, it is up to her to listen.
It's amazing to know that you've stayed in Japan for almost 5 years and you've learned the language even though you said you're not an expert yet.
I hope that you still try to reach your family from time to time and also maybe your ex-boyfriend😀
Wow thank you @jessicaossom!
I think I’m your sister 😂 Well, we’re similar in many ways. I’m like a spoiled daughter in our home. My father used to do things for me, cook, wash clothes and everything else. I hep from time to time, only when I’m in the mood. 😅
Guess this is really a big lesson for me to grow up and not depend on other people. And I like it! I really appreciate my parents for the things they do for me.
Time flies so fast, didn’t notice it’s almost 5 years already. I’m still not so fluent in Japanese but I understand. Speaking is hard than listening. 😅
Yeah, we’re not really a chitchatty family so we only communicate when needed. I’m still in contact with my ex boyfriend because he’s part of my circle of friends but not directly to him. Just friendly conversation with the whole group. Not to him directly, my current boyfriend might be jealous 😂
Yeah, our parents are amazing. No matter how old we get, they still treat us like a baby 😄
I understand, that's good too.😊
I thought of this while I was typing it hahaha.
It may be hard to move out from our comfort zones but this leads us to progress. The decision was hard but I believe that you are resilient wietzell. Please send my best regards to Japan. Hehe. I am having a little percent of a Japanese blood. How I wish I could visit Japan soon and of course, I wish to see real sakura.
Ohh that’s incredible! You should definitely visit Japan soon @pinkchic!
If you come here, I’ll really meet you! 😅
Thank you for the kindest thoughts. I think I am progressing at the moment..
Awesome! Not many people have the opportunity to travel and work abroad. Do it while you're still young, the learning experience is invaluable. All the best to you!👍
Agree! This experience will be forever. Thanks a lot @rebolegi!
I would love to visit Japan one day @wittyzell ! Keep safe. 😊
Thank you @chichi18! If you come here and i’m still here, let’s meet!
oo naman. kelan kaya yun? Hahahaha
That was an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing your pics.
Wahehehe thanks akuma! Very summarized story of my life charot
chariot of fire.
Thank you kittygirl!
You shared to us about your ex boyfriend, what about the current one?😅
Hahaha! No need to know about it 😂
I'm so inspired by you po!
Reading your articles makes me adore you more. God bless you and may you have a beautiful journey in Japan! ♥️😍
Such a greta place, take care and stay safe!
Thank you @teacherlynlyn!
I'm so blessed to be here. Hope you will also be blessed wherever you are~ I mean you are already, with that cute adorable fellow by your side 😍
I think learning a new language is really hard but fun to do hahahaha. Imagine pwede mo malait yung ibang tao without them knowing hahaha joke😂
Tagal mo na din pala sa Japan. It's really my number 1 county that I want to visit on my list😂
This is so true. I remembered one time we went on a trip with my friends and the fee was so high, we needed to discuss it in Japanese so others won't understand us. That was in Boracay. That was really funny 😂
You should definitely visit this country someday!
hahahahaha diba diba gusto ko na din manlait hahahahaha
Sure kapag mayaman na😂
thank you!
Aweee. Learning a new language is a life goal sis. Walang pagsisi Malaga kapag ganyan naman ang result
Thank you! Learning Japanese was really one of the greatest things I have learned in my life. 😅
Ahhh, glad you found a home there @wittyzell. Being away from home is difficult but being surrounded by amazing and kind people will certainly be helpful.
In my case though,leaving home is certainly not an option. I couldn't think of how days will look like away from my aging parents. It's just unimaginable for me. Regardless of how bright a future somewhere out of the country would be, without them, I feel it won't be complete. Well that's just me.
But I salute those who go out, it certainly is not easy. Kita kits nya pag masaag kag Cebu puhon. ☺️
It would be a different story if your parents are with you in another country, right? 😉
In my case, my parents are still young so at least I could go wherever I want. I'm still helping them from here so I guess they aren't so strict with me because of that. 😅
Hopefully masaag kog Cebu and magkita nya ta nnu!
Good story, really leaving the house does not hurt to seek life experience. Thank you. Greetings.
Thank you! It's one of the best decisions I made in my life.
Thank you are welcome
Very cool, our daughter had Japanese in school and that was super, only when you dont keep studying that will leave your brain super fast.
She is lucky she did and that helps her nowadays to have it on her cv eventhough she is not working in companies that use Japanese.
Happy weekend and good luck with the weekend engagement
Thank you @brittandjosie!
One will really tend to forget the language if it's not being used everyday.
It's good to have in her CV though. 😉
For sure , it helps with global working companies that’s why we encouraged here to do it