The transition from knowing zero Japanese four years ago to bar tending in Japan is still surreal to me.

I'm still getting acclimated to living here, but I love every second of it. While I can't say I feel fully prepared to take the N2 in a few days, when putting things into perspective, I've come a long way (both literally and figuratively). The best advice I can give to others is to stay persistent. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. Progress will never feel immediately obvious, but the breakthrough moments of lucidity you experience along the way make the journey worth it.