A typical Japanese scene of people and vehicles on a busy street. | Photo by Mash Down Babylon, Flickr

Three countries represent different stages of my life: the Philippines, Japan and Canada.

Born to a Filipino father and a Japanese mother, I grew up in the Philippines for almost two decades. I lived in a high-society Manila community where I found the culture to be more confusing than amusing. From having a full time maid to a personal driver, I was abundantly catered for and was never asked to think twice about whether that kind of life was normal.

But I constantly did. I learned how to speak, read and write Japanese from my mother and she also exposed me to some basic Japanese cultural traditions: tea ceremonies, ikebana flower arrangements, and girls’ day dolls arrangements to name just a few.

But my real first-hand cultural experience happened each year during summer breaks when I would fly to Japan for public schooling – not a typical plan for a summer vacation. Strangely enough, these became my most liberating days. I brushed up on my language skills through interacting with friends who welcomed me back each year and I began to understand Japanese culture like a native.

It didn’t take me long until I sought comfort in a Japanese culture that placed an emphasis on discipline. Whether it was commuting to places or meeting a friend, punctuality and precision were required, not voluntary. In my eyes, Japan was the opposite of the Philippines.

After many years of going back and forth between the two countries, I made the decision to move to Tokyo for university. Excited to start a life in Japan, I was still unaware of the many cultural clashes I would face. From the rush hour commutes to speaking keigo – honorific Japanese grammar – I was surprised to realize how unaccustomed I was to the culture and the speed at which Japanese society moved.

I knew that I had to make an effort to adjust and four years in university allowed me to do exactly that. Slowly but surely, I improved at speaking keigo and gained trust from my Japanese friends until I was no longer a foreigner in their eyes. When I was entrusted with directing the annual stage production for my extracurricular dance circle, I knew I had adapted.

My university years had passed by in the blink of an eye and by the end I felt ready to face Japanese working society.

But the reality was nothing like I imagined. Even though I felt I had adapted to Japanese culture, merely surviving was not the same as thriving. The increased stress and extreme hierarchical etiquette that university had once shielded me from were now exposed in their rawest form. The dense city life of Tokyo added to my already overwhelmed state.

After a few months of contemplation, I made a bold decision: to move to Vancouver, my boyfriend’s hometown. Although it was an unexpected choice, a short visit I had previously made gave me all the reasons I needed to move. From the clean air, spacious land, beautiful scenery of mountains and beaches to the diverse mix of people and cultures, I became determined to create a foundation for my future in this beautiful city.

My life is an ongoing cultural journey and I don’t know what still lies ahead. What I do know is that Canada and its culture will make up a large part of who I will be tomorrow.