I moved to Japan on a one-year visa. Many areas of my life have improved, but I'm still struggling with a few changes.

I moved to Japan in December and have lived in several cities across the country. Alessa Hickman I moved from Ottawa to Japan on a yearlong Working Holiday Visa at the end of last year. So far, some of the biggest benefits have been the cost of living, food, and great public transit. Being far from family and making new friends have been some of the biggest challenges. When I moved from Canada to Japan , I traded the only place I'd ever lived for a country that couldn't be more different. So far, I've lived in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kumamoto, with more cities on the list before the year is over. Seven months in, I'm much happier than I was back home — but living abroad has come with its own set of adjustments.