Well guys, this is my last post. I don't know if anyone will even bother reading this, since I arrived home last Friday and am no longer living in Kyoto.

Even though I went a long time without posting during my last few weeks in Japan, I felt it appropriate to write some sort of final entry before abandoning this blog.

Studying abroad in Japan is an experience I will never forget. While it was at times harrowing, it was ultimately rewarding and a time in my life that forced me to grow into a stronger person.

Will I ever go back to Japan? Yes. Japan's natural beauty and the sense of spirituality and history that permeates the country enchanted me. There is still so much of Japan I want to see. Temples to be explored, mountains to climb, shrines to make offerings at...

That being said, would I live in Japan? Would I settle there, even for a year or two? No. Maybe it's because I cannot shake off my Western upbringing, but I could never get used to living there. I was glad that I went to Japan with very few expectations (and my advice is you do the same), because if I had, I would have been disappointed.

Japan is a country of great beauty, but it is also a country of great social problems. Many issues are swept under the rug, such as the very much present glass ceiling in the workplace, the lack of true individual expression, and the lack of animal rights. But I won't go on. If you're interested in Japan, then by all means, visit! Find your own take on Japan.

I am very glad to be back home and have this experience under my belt. Hopefully it will be just one place on the list of countries I visit during my lifetime. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to go abroad at all. Thank you all for following my blog and supporting me during my journey.

まった今度〜

Until next time,

Kate