in this week’s newsletter: adjusting to the countryside, my new favourite japanese word, and thoughts about adapting to new changes
dear penpals -
in preparation to move to japan, i created the ultimate master list of things that i thought would be the essentials to live in the countryside. looking back at what i packed vs. what i actually need… my list sucks hahah. and one thing i never thought i needed actually became the very thing i cannot live without. this newsletter is to share with you the hidden secret of the number on thing to bring with you in case you ever find yourself living in the countryside of japan.
when i was younger i would sometimes think of what my favourite japanese word is based on both meaning and the way it was written in japanese calligraphy. i thought it would be words like, 夢 [yu·me] meaning ‘dream’, 星 [ho·shi] meaning ‘star’, or 運命 [u·n·me·i] meaning ‘destiny’. but all of these words pale in comparison to my new favourite japanese word…
蚊帳 /ka·ya/
(noun)
mosquito net or curtain hung around a bed to keep mosquitoes away (japanese dictionary definition)
the greatest invention created by mankind that not only blocks out mosquitoes, but also bugs of all sizes, a security blanket, safe space, and the thing i cannot live without (definition by mina)
content warning: talking about bugs (but no pictures shown)
here’s the thing - i’ve always known i’m afraid of bugs. however, what i wasn’t prepared for when coming to the countryside is just how BIG the bugs here are. i knew there were bugs and i knew there were big, but holy smokes, these guys were beyond what my imagination could conjure up.
on the first day moving to kamikatsu, i saw a spider in my room (that wasn’t caught) and i was terrified. i suddenly had this irrational fear that there were bugs chilling on my bed while i was sleeping and my poor sister had to stay by my bedside to comfort me to make sure that i was able to fall sleep. then, on day 3, i saw a ムカデ [mu·ka·de] (giant centipede) and told myself that i would never be able to sleep ever again.
then came the kaya. and when i tell you that it was night and day having the kaya in my life i mean it. this shield finally allows me to have a good night’s sleep, and whenever i see a bug that freaks me out i run into my kaya to calm down. friends, i am in a much, much better place.
a little illustration i made within the comfort of my kaya.
it has now been 3 weeks since moving to kamikatsu and i don’t think i’m adjusted to countryside living. it feels embarrassing, it feels silly, and it feels childish to be so scared of something realistically so small that i need the help of something else to feel human again.
but i’m learning how to be gentle to myself when i’m feeling frustrated at my pace of growth. to extend kindness and remind myself that i’m doing the best i can with what i have right now. i have the whole year to figure this out. and if i never do fully adjust to the countryside, that’s okay - that too is part of the learning process.
i hope you don’t deny yourself the opportunity to ask for and receive help from people or things if that’s what you need most. i don’t (nor do you) have to rush the process - it’s okay if adjusting takes time.
I'm not sure how big the bugs are there but you are not alone when it comes to not liking spiders. Here in Florida, I have come across spiders as big in diameter as a plum. Creepy things!