I always thought I'd settle down in Canada. Living in Japan for a year changed my mind.

Living in Japan changed my plans for the future.

Alessa Hickman After spending most of my life in Ottawa, I moved to Japan expecting to head home after one year.

Living abroad showed me how much I value spontaneity, travel, and a life that feels like my own.

Now, I'm heading back to Canada with a different perspective on what I want from my future.

I was born and raised in Ottawa, and aside from a handful of vacations abroad and summer road trips to nearby Canadian cities , it's where I spent almost all of my time.

Most of my family lives there, and the relatives who don't are only a few hours away.

Growing up, the path modeled to me was pretty straightforward: Stay close to home, take vacations when you can, and build your life nearby.

As I got older, though, I felt a growing need to see what else was out there.

I was also feeling the pressure of rising costs in Canada , and my apartment lease was ending, so the timing felt right for a change.

I'd visited Japan a couple of years earlier and loved it, so when I found out about the yearlong Working Holiday Visa program, it felt like the perfect fit.

I assumed that once the year was up, I'd just come back home and sign another lease nearby.

However, after my first night out in Tokyo, I was already looking into how I could stay away longer.

Living in Japan has been better than I ever imagined I've missed Canada at times, but Japan has felt like home in a way I didn't expect.

Alessa Hickman For most of my life, I've craved adventure.