peter
“Living abroad has been my dream since high school. I have always wanted to live in Dublin; it’s a great adventure, but it can be culturally challenging. Japan is a very conservative country, and my family is no different. My parents didn’t like the idea of me going abroad; they’ve never actually left Japan. However, I have always felt a strong pull to take on an adventure. Coming to Dublin is challenging my ideas about social norms, beliefs, and ways of life in general. It constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone. It’s crazy to observe the different attitudes toward alcohol and drugs here. For example, while walking around the city, I kept feeling a strange smell everywhere. One day, I was with my Italian friend and smelled it again, so I asked her. She casually explained that it was the smell of weed. I was quite shocked because I had been noticing it everywhere, and it seems to be considered normal here? In Japan, drugs are still a huge tabu. But currently, my biggest challenge is finding a job. Most places only accept CVs in person. As I sit here, I am taking a moment to mentally prepare myself for entering businesses. I’m feeling very nervous. I have to go directly to the business and ask if I can leave my CV. In Japan, this approach would never work; people are just too shy. On the other hand, I know that there is nothing to be afraid of. I just need to quiet my mind before stepping into a place. I understand that there is no danger, and people have been nice every time. However, the voices in my head can become quite loud. I am aware that the best things happen when you step out of your comfort zone, and this is exactly why I came here.”