I was born and raised in Ottawa, and apart from a few overseas vacations and summer drives to nearby Canadian cities, that’s where I spent most of my life. Nearly all of my family lives there, and the relatives who don’t are just a short drive away. Growing up, the expected route seemed clear: stay close to home, take trips when possible, and build your life nearby.
As I got older, however, I felt an increasing urge to see what else existed. I was also feeling the squeeze of rising costs in Canada, and my apartment lease was ending, so the timing seemed right for a change.
I had visited Japan a couple of years earlier and loved it, so when I learned about the yearlong Working Holiday Visa program, it felt like the perfect fit. I assumed that once the year was over I’d simply return home and sign another lease nearby.
But after my first night out in Tokyo, I was already researching how I could extend my stay.
Living in Japan has exceeded my wildest expectations
For most of my life I’ve craved adventure. I grew up hiking, taking little road trips with my mom, and looking for any excuse to leave the city for a day. I’ve always loved novelty, and living in Japan has given me plenty of it.
Since moving here, I’ve lived in several places, including Tokyo and Osaka. I’ve traveled to over a dozen more cities and towns, tried countless new restaurants, and met people from all over the world. It feels like there’s constantly something new to see or explore.
The train system here makes it easy to indulge my spontaneous side. I love being able to hop on a train to a new city on a whim, whereas in Ottawa doing the same thing usually requires more planning and a lot more money.
The more I’ve experienced this kind of lifestyle, the harder it is to imagine giving it up. I don’t necessarily want to spend my life in one place just because it’s where I’m from, and now I know a future filled with new places and experiences is available to me.
I’m going home, but I’m not done exploring
Returning to Canada is the next logical, short‑term step for me. My visa is coming to an end, and making a permanent move abroad would require far more planning and paperwork.
That doesn’t mean I’m done exploring the rest of the world, though. After I leave Japan in a couple of months, I plan to spend some time in Southeast Asia — and if I can, I might squeeze in a couple more stops on my way home.
Once I’m back in Canada, I’m sure I’ll jump into planning another trip, or maybe I’ll start looking into another yearlong visa. I can see myself living abroad again, or at least spending more time traveling internationally, whether that’s in Japan or somewhere completely new.
For now, though, I don’t plan to settle back into life in Ottawa the way I once thought I would. While I’m in this up‑in‑the‑air phase, I’d love to move (or drive!) across Canada and see where life takes me from there.
I’m looking forward to exploring more of my home country. Since moving to Japan, I feel like I’ve changed, too — and I’ve reflected on how little of Canada I’ve actually seen. I’m excited to experience my home with a new perspective.
I’m still in my 20s, so I feel lucky to have the freedom to keep figuring things out as I go. And living in Japan didn’t give me all the answers, either. If anything, it gave me more questions.
As I head home, I’m taking everything I’ve learned and felt this year in Japan with me — and I’m so excited to see where I’ll go next.