On February 1st 2020, I got on a plane headed to Newark, NY. I went with the intention of staying for a short time. A few months. Maybe a year if I really needed to, and then heading back to Canada for University. I had made a plan, my SO and I had talked and talked about how things were going to go...
And then the Corona Virus hit. Covid-19 was a whirlwind which very few people in the world even knew about. When I traveled to the US, I knew of it's existence. My mother told me to carry hand sanitizer and be careful. Wear a mask, stay safe. When I was in Tokyo visiting my brothers, I had brought them a case of 50 masks in a large Ziploc bag. Even in February there was a shortage of masks in Tokyo.
At the airport, we were among very few people who were conscious of the virus and trying to be safe. I like to think that we were ahead of it, but in reality none of us knew the monsoon that was on it's way.
I have lived here in Morristown NJ for over a year now. Have been working at Kohl's since early 2020, and honestly, it has been interesting to see how things have changed. It has been a slow progression here but it is definitely is changing everyday. Now we are at a point where vaccines are rolling out, and things feel a lot more... Hopeful. Sure there are a lot of things to still be afraid of, but the first steps are in full gear.
The US is in a time of political unrest, and that doesn't seem like it will change anytime soon. The whole year has been a nightmare when it comes to protests and people taking charge. Many took advantage of the chaos and began rioting and looting stores, hidden behind the guise of peaceful protest.
But enough politics. That isn't what this blog is for! I agree that it is a big part of my life here in the US but it is important to focus on some of the good things that has happened. You see, the reason I am in the US is minimum wage is far higher here than it was when I was in Japan. In Sapporo the minimum wage was around ¥820 when I was working part-time. In NJ however, it was $12.00. That converts to about ¥1300 an hour. That's 62% more than I was making an hour in Japan.
Additionally, I did it partly for love. I had been in a relationship for over 3 years. But so much of my relationship had been long-distance. I was ready to see my boyfriend again, even if it meant leaving my family in Japan behind. It was a very personal decision, but my end goal was to get back to Canada. That was the goal I was focusing on. Unfortunately, the circumstances of 2020 really slapped me in the face.
Being here for a year has made me realize something. Regardless of whether I'm in Japan or in the US, I do feel at home. Being fluent in both English and Japanese, I have learned to explore not only the American culture around me, but also the Japanese culture within the US. It is amazing how many Japanese people I have come across and have been able to have a conversation with whilst being here.
I found my new favorite markets here in NJ, and maybe in the future I'll devote a blog post to that. My absolute favorite by far is the one my parents frequented when they lived in NJ, called Mitsuwa Market (Yaohan at the time). According to my Mom, they started out as a small fish store which then exploded into a full on market. It is amazing that years later, it still remains and is still just as amazing as it was back then, if not better!
Anyway, that's all I have to write for now on my topic of a year in NJ. Have a good day and stay safe out there! Do what is best for not only yourself, but those around you.
-Amy
