Linda during her internship in Tokyo, Japan

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in Tokyo?

It was very clean and actually quite beautiful; everything felt very cute and suburban.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and Tokyo?

Being deliberately ignored as a woman: during meetings, men would talk right over me in the middle of my sentence to discuss things that were irrelevant or to take over the conversation.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?

Almost never, I Skype a lot with my friends and family in the Netherlands.

Do you feel at home in Tokyo? Why (not)?

At first, yes; I look Asian and I understand the culture, cuisine, and landscapes. It’s still super exciting to discover new places. Because I don’t speak the language and I’m not a local, I realize I will never really be part of this society. Especially in Japan, where the culture is very much “us” versus “them,” and I don’t really fit in the “us.”

Give us tips on who you should befriend abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

I live in an area where many expats live. In Tokyo, I meet them at events — sometimes it feels like a competition about which socialite can bring the craziest friend. Lots of nice people, but you wouldn’t want them in your house. I also started aerial hoop and working out in the park, and through that, I met some really nice people.

Meeting people is always difficult in big cities, especially if you don’t speak the language. But luckily, there are many Facebook groups for internationals, and going out helps too! Try especially to become friends with Japanese people; they are more open to it. After a night of dancing, everyone wants to eat ramen — the perfect moment to make friends!

Describe the inhabitants of Tokyo in three words.

Different, shy (at first), outgoing (when they trust you).

Was there a certain type of food you couldn’t handle?

Hmm, I don’t think so! Japanese food is quite mild within Asian cuisine. Everyone loves sushi, and I’ve never come across anything I really didn’t like.

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details.

Taxis are very expensive in Japan, so I often try to cycle. Also, if you really want to discover the quirks of the country, visit the cafés! Tokyo has owl cafés, rabbit cafés, cat cafés… There is also a ‘maid café’ where girls dance in maid costumes. The funniest part is watching the visitors: business men over 40 who know all the dance moves by heart and actively join in!

People aren’t very good at English, sometimes when you ask for an English menu in a restaurant, they give you a drawing of their food. There is also a Pokémon center that you absolutely MUST visit if you’re a Pokémon fan!

It really doesn’t matter where I am, there are always places in a culture and country where people share the same ideas and values as I do. I was quite shy at first, not very vocal, to avoid being rude or disrespectful. Soon I learned that when you do speak up, there are always people who come by to hear what you have to say — and if you’re lucky, they’ll even add to your vision.