Alex's Blog
Sharing all the things I learned and experienced while living in Japan and figuring out life for the past 10 years. If you're studying Japanese or planning a career in Japan, I hope these will be helpful!
11 Years in Japan: My Very Strange Career So Far
A personal retrospective on 11 years in Japan: from the JET Program to Mercari, learning to code, becoming a software engineer, and the winding path since.
Why Kyoto Is My Favorite City in Japan (After 10 Years and Three Different Cities)
After living in Shimane, Tokyo, and now Kyoto, here's why Kyoto has become my favorite place to live in Japan: the balance, the cost, the vibe.
3 Language Learning Tips That Actually Got Me to Fluency in Japanese
A few unconventional tips. These are my biggest takeaways after many years of Japanese study, and they're things that no one really talks about.
What It's Actually Like to Be a CIR on the JET Program: My 3 Years in Izumo
A detailed look back at my three years as a JET Program CIR in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture: the job, the office, the apartment, and the honest pros and cons.
How I Became a Software Engineer in Japan With Zero Tech Background
No CS degree, no coding background: just a translator job that pushed me into tech. Here's exactly how I made the switch to software engineering in Japan.
The Real Cost of Living in Kyoto
How I get by for around $700 per month
Shared Living in Japan: What's It Actually Like?
Thoughts from someone who lived in 4 different share houses across Tokyo and Kyoto: the good, the bad, and what I learned about picking the right one.
How I Learned Japanese From Scratch: My Full Timeline (Year 1)
A semester-by-semester account of my first year learning Japanese as a complete beginner in college, and what I actually knew, month by month.
How I Learned Japanese From Scratch: My Full Timeline (Year 2)
Everything I learned and experienced during my second year of learning Japanese: Keigo, a month hosting Japanese exchange students, and my first trip to Japan.
How I Learned Japanese From Scratch: My Full Timeline (Year 3)
The year I finally reached fluency in Japanese: diminishing returns, facing my fear of speaking, and studying abroad in Kyoto.