From Japan to the UK, and now the Netherlands. We left Japan at the end of 2020. Since 2021, spent two years in the UK, and have been living in the Netherlands since June 2023. It has now been five years since I left Japan, and my life in the Netherlands is about to reach the three-year mark.
For a long time, I believed that as long as I could communicate in English, I would be fine. I could talk to people, handle daily tasks, and manage most things in English. So I kept telling myself, “I’ll learn Dutch eventually,” and pushed it aside.
But yesterday, that belief completely collapsed.
The moment I felt the “language gap” at my child’s health check
My youngest—almost four years old—had her final health check before starting school. The doctor spoke to her in simple Dutch:
“What color is this?” “Stand here.” “Can you copy this?” “How was your day?”
Very basic phrases. The kind of Dutch any preschooler would understand.
But I stood next to her, listening helplessly. I could only guess the meaning from the tone and context.
And in that moment, my heart tightened.
My child has been thrown into a world of Dutch she had never heard before, learning every day, absorbing everything, trying her best.
Meanwhile, I had been relying on English, telling myself it was “good enough,” and avoiding the effort of truly learning Dutch.
I suddenly felt ashamed—and painfully aware of my own complacency.
When you’re a parent, “not understanding” becomes frightening
When children are involved, language becomes more than communication.
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What is the teacher really trying to say?
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What exactly is being assessed in the health check?
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How is my child doing emotionally and socially?
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What support does she need?
If you don’t understand the language, you fear missing something important—something a parent should never overlook.
Yesterday’s appointment made that fear very real.
Five years abroad, and finally understanding what language really means
I kept thinking, “I’ll start soon,” and suddenly five years had passed.
But yesterday made me realize something deeply:
Learning the local language isn’t just for me—it’s for my children.
And then another thought came:
This must be exactly how foreigners feel when they move to Japan.
Japan has its own complex systems—schools, hospitals, city offices, neighborhood rules. Even if someone studies Japanese, the structure is difficult to understand.
This is why I’m creating a “life setup companion” program
Language lessons alone are not enough. Grammar and vocabulary don’t help you navigate real life.
What people truly need is a companion who can guide them through the entire structure of daily life.
After moving across three countries, I’ve learned this the hard way.
So I’m building a program for people moving to Japan— a combination of life navigation + practical Japanese support.
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Understanding administrative procedures
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Navigating school culture
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How hospitals and clinics work
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Daily life rules
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Real-life Japanese
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Emotional support along the way
The fear I felt yesterday, and the loneliness I’ve felt over the past five years— I want to turn those experiences into support for someone else.
Shall we walk this path together?
Learning a new language while building a new life is overwhelming. But you don’t have to do it alone.
I’m still learning Dutch, step by step, every day. And I would be honored to walk beside you as you begin your life in Japan.
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