Hey guys!~
Thanks so much for leaving all your questions in the comments in my last video
I got tons of really good questions about...
Tips for travelling in Japan
Tips for learning Japanese
Lots of questions about myself and my history of living in Japan
So we've got tons of stuff to cover today
So go grab a tea and some snacks
And I hope you enjoy the video
Assan says:
What I like to do is incorporate Japanese or...
The language that I'm currently learning
Into my hobbies
So if you can find some Japanese music that you like listening to
Or some video games that are in Japanese that you like playing
Just something that you can use in your downtime like when you're relaxing
But at the same time you'll be hearing the Japanese
And even if you're not completely focused on it
And taking notes and studying
It'll still be entering your brain
And you will learn something from it
Dylan asks:
I've actually never had problems with being homesick
I don't know if this makes me a horrible person
Heh
I just...
I don't really hav--
Struggle with any problems like missing my family
Or missing Canada
I talk to them very frequently through e-mail
And sometimes I call them on Skype
So... yeah I've never really struggled with homesickness
So I can't give you much advice there other than...
Invest in a webcam and...
Some Skype credits so you can call up your family anytime you want
Yeah that's really all I can say
vicospiano asks:
I do not speak any French
In Canada we are forced heh, required to study French from...
Kindergarten until grade... 8?
And after that we're allowed to choose another language
And I switched to Japanese, obviously
So I've forgotten all the French that I did learn
I remember one sentence because I used it to get out of class
As often as possible:
FalconDiaries asks:
Only one time actually it was right after I moved to
Morioka the first time
The police showed up at my door and I was like
"Oh crap what have I done..."
Did I like...
Not throw away with garbage properly or something
And I as freaking out
So I was just like, "sorry, no Japanese"
And they apologized to me? and left
It was great
Seth asks... Seth... Seth USK...
ASKS:
I really liked the videos that I made in Akita when I was staying with a homestay
I just had a really good time there
So I would recommend you watch those two videos
I will link them down below
And up in the cards here as well
So go check them out after this video if you haven't seen them yet
MsKestrela asks:
No, they do not
I actually...
Didn't know this either and I was wondering...
A few years ago
And I looked it up and no they don't
They are not fruit-producing trees
So... you won't find BILLIONS of cherries in Japan after cherry blossom season
It's actually cherry blossom season at the moment down in Tokyo right now
And all my friends are posting really pretty photos
But up here in Morioka it's still very much winter
There was like a blizzard two days ago
And I don't think we're gonna be seeing the cherry blossoms up here anytime soon
Lacey asks:
It's actually exactly the same as it was when I was back in Korea
I've got a set of products that I absolutely love and that work really well for my skin
And I can get them sent to me here in Japan
So I use the exact same ones
I will have a list of them right here and you can find the links to them down in the description box if you like
However, next month uhh, May I believe sometime in May?
I will be doing another skin care box!
If you're new to my channel
Every 3 or 4 months or so
I work with a company called Wishtrend
To put together all my favorite skincare products
And they give my viewers a really good deal on them to try them out
So if you are wanting to try some new skincare
Or if you are looking to stock up
Then maybe wait until May before you get anything because it'll be a really good deal
veronica asks:
When I did my university transfer here in 2011
I was required to keep a blog of my experiences at university in Japan
So that the students back at my home University in Canada
Could look at my experience and see if it was something they would want to try themselves
And I really suck at writing
So I asked my University if it would be okay if I did videos of my experience instead
That's why the first videos on my channel, I'm just sitting in front of the camera and
Talking about what I did at school that day
It's nothing super exciting
They were really just designed to go to students over in my home university
To give them an idea of what my days in Japan looked like!
So that's how I got started heh
And then... lots of people all over the world started watching my videos
And having an interest in them
And that's really what keeps me motivated to keep posting today
I find it really cool that I can inspire you guys to cum to Japan or just travel in general
It's really just stuff like that that keeps me motivated to post!
So, thank you so much!
Kristin and a few other people asked...
I have taken the N2 exam
It was actually required for me to take it when I decided I wanted to...
Enter Japanese university as a full-time like... regular student
I studied for three months prior to the exam
And I had no problem at all passing the N2
I was a lot more worried about it than I needed to be
But I have...
YEARS of prior Japanese experience
It really depends what your level is but I've heard that N3
And N2 there's a huge jump in level between them
So if you've passed the N3 and you feel like you just made that
And that you're comfortable with the N3 level
You probably want to give yourself at least 3 months of solid
Really getting into studying for...
Preparing for the N2
The part that I found the hardest about it was actually...
Not related to my Japanese skills at all
It was my memory skills?
During the listening section they tell you a whoooole story
Like a really long story
And then they ask you questions about it
I didn't have problems understanding the questions in Japanese
I had problems remembering all the details of the story
So my biggest tip would probably be to work on your memory skills before taking the test
And I'll put a couple of suggestions of books that I love for the JLPT
Down in the description box
If you guys want to try the same books that I did
Emily asks:
What made me decide to live in Japan so long?
I...
Just...
Enjoy it heh
It's interesting to me
I feel like I'm learning things when I live here
'Cause there are still things that are new to me
And of course, I'm constantly learning Japanese
It's a continuous learning process
So that's cool!
I just feel like I'm improving myself
And I feel like I really need to challenge myself to be successful here
Whereas it might be a lot easier for me back in a country where I speak the language
And I'm really comfortable with it?
So I think it's the challenge that I like about living here
And that's what's kept me living here so long?
I didn't really have a plan when I originally moved here
I didn't know how long I was gonna stay
I just knew I wanted to live here and it ended up being for a really long time! Heh!
As for will I go back to Canada someday?
Probably someday?
I don't see myself living here until I die?
Because I don't think I would want to...
Retire in Japan?
I'll probably want to go back to a country where I can just relax and not worry too much about things
Not worry about visas and all that stressful stuff
So, yeah one day I'll probably return to Canada
I really like this question from James:
As for where would it be, I have no idea
I haven't traveled enough of the world to really...
Be able to say where my dream home would be?
But as for style, I'm actually working on
Designing my current apartment exactly how I would want a place to look
I like things to have textures
Like natural textures like woods
And uhh, leathers
Well, fake leathers
Fake furs
Metal, lots of metal, copper stuff like that
I'm trying to go for that vibe right now in my apartment
And I'm kind of...
Gathering pieces that I like as I see them so it's taking a while
But hopefully once I get everything together
I will be able to do a little bit of a tour for you guys so...
Look forward to that
ErzieWerzie asks...
After grade 8 in Canada
You need to choose another language
You can stick with French if you like and continue that
Or you can choose another language that your school offers
And my school had Japanese
Russian
German?
Spanish I believe
And I really had a hard time choosing between Japanese and Russian
I had no specific reasons why I wanted to study either of the two
I just thought they were cool
And I eventually went with Japanese for some reason
And yeah that's really how my interest in Japan and East Asian culture began!
I highly recommend taking a second language if you have the opportunity to in high school
Veronica asks:
I really like to go for a walk when it's not freezing outside
Which it has been for the past few months
So that won't be happening for probably another month or so
And when I don't go outside
I like to just chill at home and either watch movies or play video games
I'm probably more of a homebody than I am a social person
So I really enjoy just being by myself
And doing something like watching Netflix or...
Playing Final Fantasy!
I just got a PlayStation 4
I haven't had a PlayStation for
Probably over
15 years heh
The last one I had was the PlayStation 2
So it's pretty exciting and I am probably going to download the remastered Final Fantasy X
X-2, so I can replay those
I'm really looking forward to that
As for shows I recommend
I just finished watching "Sex Education" on Netflix
It was hilarious
I felt like it was really well made
Some people were criticizing it because the school seemed way too American to be set in the UK
I don't know anything about that
But heh, watching it from a Canadian point of view
I f--, I really enjoyed it
I found it really funny
So I really recommend that if guys have Netflix
Laetitia, I hope I'm saying your name correctly, asks
*sniff* Okay, I can tell you something that I hate a lot right now
It is hay fever season, which is insanely intense in Japan
I actually never had hay fever before coming here and I have it so bad
Now that when I wake up my eyes are like red and swollen
And my nose is running
And if I go outside
It's a million times worse, that's just in my house
The pollen levels are crazy here for some reason
There are just so many plants that produce
High levels of pollen that anybody with hay fever uh
Will have a really hard time
During the spring
As for the thing I love, it probably how safe it is because
Like I said, I like walking around outside
I like exploring and I really like that I can do it myself as a girl
At night time and not feel unsafe
I think that's really cool!
That isn't something I can do in Canada
So I really enjoy the fact that I can do that here in Japan :)
Another question about the JLPT
from Jionni?
That really depends on which university you wanna study at
Like I said, it was necessary for the university I went to
Because it was a Japanese-speaking university
My classes would be all in Japanese
But there are a few universities in Japan that will offer a full degree program
All in English in which you wouldn't need a JLPT to enter
So just look up all the different universities
See which one has a degree program you're interested in
And then from there you can figure it out if you'll need the JLPT or not
If it is a Japanese speaking university
You will most likely be required to pass the N2
Which is the level that I did
This is an interesting question from littlebell215:
You could totally wear your own shoes
I am pretty sure nobody would complain if you said you would rather wear like sneakers
I went to a kimono place recently
It was actually my first time going to a kimono renting service in Asakusa
And they were super cool
They were super chill, super friendly
I'm totally sure it would be okay for you to wear your own shoes
PeacefulPagoda asks:
I'm sure lots of people are wondering why I...
Decided to move all the way up here in Morioka, which is quite far from Tokyo
Heh
Even when I have a job down in Tokyo
But I really just like how there's fewer people here and the scenery is gorgeous
We're surrounded by mountains
There's a really big river running through the city
It's just really nice here!~
The people are really friendly
I feel like people aren't rushing as much as they are in Tokyo
They're not as stressed
I don't know I just like the vibe
I think that's what I like
It feels more relaxed
So I feel more relaxed when I'm here
As for my job down in Tokyo
I take the Shinkansen
Which doesn't take very long at all
It's really fast heh
And...
The only problem is it's expensive
But my job is really cool and I can just go there once a month
Stay there for a week or two
Get all my work done and then I can come back up to Morioka
So it's not like I have to commute every day back and forth to Tokyo
PamelaTV asks...
Yes! I have four, five? four lucky bags in my closet at the moment
Full of clothing
Japanese clothing lucky bags
And I will be opening them up so...
Keep your eyes out for those videos
Crystal says:
Can't really say much about the least amount of tourism
There really seem to be tourists here all throughout the year heh
But as for the weather, I really like the fall
I feel like it's a season that people don't really think to come to Japan
Most people think to come here in the spring because of the cherry blossoms
But the crowds in the spring are crazy :(
So if you're looking for a season that will be a little less hectic
I would recommend probably around October? Late October
And then it'll just be starting to cool down from summer
Which is... insanely hot heh
If you are not a fan of...
Heat and humidity
Don't cum anytime before September
It's hot here from like May 'til September
And the final question from zizzee:
That's a really good question!
Actually green tea in Canada that they sell at the grocery store, say like...
Tetley or Lipton or something like that is so different from green tea in Japan
I find that the stuff in Canada is really bitter
Whereas the stuff here is quite sweet and it kind of tastes like...
G R A S S
Which sounds gross but that was like the first
Impression that I got, I remember the first time that I tried real Japanese green tea
Now I absolutely love it
But I find that it might be kind of an acquired taste for some people
But once you get used to it
You go back to drinking like the green tea from
Canada, and it just tastes so bitter and crappy heh
And they have all kinds of tea here
There's loose tea which is probably the most common
Umm but you can also get green tea in teabags at the supermarket
There's all different kinds and they all taste really nice!
Alright! And that is it!
Thank you so much for hanging out with me for this really long question and answer video~
I hope you learned something
Hopefully I taught you something helpful that can assist you in your trip to Japan
Or your Japanese studies
If you guys would like more videos like this in the future
Please thumb up this video so that I know that
And I will see you guys really soon for lucky bag videos~
Those will probably be the next ones so look forward to those :)
Thanks for watching
Bye guys!~