Aaron Lassey (AUT) at Waseda University 2008
My name is Aaron Lassey. I’m currently attending Waseda University on a one year language programme in Tokyo, Japan.

Accommodation
I live in an international student house organised through Waseda University. Everyone here is an exchange student from various countries. I was a little anxious at first, because it seemed as though many of the students already knew a great deal of Japanese. I have learnt though that you can use this to your advantage. You can learn a lot from the friends you make in the dormitory. If ever you run into a problem or there is something you can’t understand there’s always someone who can help you out.  Also, the fact that their Japanese was better than mine when I started has been noticeably helpful in improving my own Japanese skill – and this is only at home! Once you’ve settled in you will find yourself becoming more independent and more confident in your Japanese, and less reliant on your dormitory friends anyway. 

People may argue that dormitory life is too strict or doesn’t give you any privacy. I however, am very comfortable, and find the advantages outweigh any disadvantages. Everyone in the dormitory has a room to themselves, so privacy is not really an issue, and the dormitory rules are so few I hardly have to think about them. Accommodation costs in comparison to an apartment are much more affordable too, a plus for any exchange student on a tight budget!

Classes
At Waseda University, I’m part of the Intensive Japanese Language Program. Before taking classes your Japanese proficiency is determined by a small test. From this you choose classes suitable for your level, with classmates whose Japanese is at a similar level to yours. There is also an orientation period where you can trial different classes before registering for them.

Classes here are of course taught in Japanese, which may seem a little daunting, but you will be surprised at how quickly your listening skills improve. Just remember always to have an electronic dictionary handy for those unknown words that pop up every now and then. Other than that, the learning environment is very relaxed. My class became very close-knit with each other as well as the teachers, which made learning all the more easy and enjoyable.

General
Outside the dormitory and the classroom is a whole other experience. Embracing the Japanese culture and living as part of society is an amazing feeling.  For me, simply being able to get around the complicated Tokyo train stations is a reward in itself! The transition from foreigner to “one of the community” is a somewhat vague shift that happens before you even really realise it. Suddenly you’re able to say or do things, go places and just generally know things you didn’t know before. It’s a strange yet liberating feeling that is proof of your improving and understanding.

A universal understanding amongst all exchange students is to watch your money! It’s a trap I’ve fallen into numerous times, but it is important to spend your money wisely. Japan is a country with so much to buy, which isn’t such a good thing for an exchange student! Simple things you can do to save money are to go grocery shopping and cook dinner at home, rather than dining out 7 days a week. If you use a train daily, buy a train card that has a monthly plan on it. I have a train card which costs 6,000 yen and is valid for a month. 6,000 yen is about 10 days worth of train tickets, so it’s HIGHLY recommended. A mobile phone is a handy if not necessary item to have here. Just keep your phone usage to a minimum as the monthly bills can get pricey.

My biggest tip - don’t be afraid. A chance like this doesn’t come along often, so take each day as another opportunity to further yourself. Don’t worry if your Japanese isn’t perfect. A lot of Japanese people speak a bit of English and have no issues trying to speak to you whether they make mistakes or not, so why should we be any different? Use your Japanese any time you can, that’s all there is to it. You’ll see the difference in very little time.
At almost the “halfway point” in my exchange, I would say my experience so far has been extremely beneficial in so many ways. First of all, my confidence alone to use Japanese has grown. Being in an environment where using Japanese is a must has been just what I needed to kick-start myself. From here, my enthusiasm for using Japanese has increased dramatically, and in turn has helped develop my skills faster than I thought. You’ll be amazed how often you’ll hear something and not have to think twice about what it means.

It’s hard to put in words what this experience has meant for me. Despite language barriers, money woes, etc. it’s purely a sense of fulfilment I feel.  Even though only one semester has passed, I can already sincerely say that this has been THE best experience of my life. With one semester left, I’m going in hands-on with the sole intention of making what has been a dream experience even better and more memorable.

Photos:
1. Koenji (where I live) at night.
2. In the dormitory.
3. Out with friends for Hanabi (fireworks festival).
4. In the classroom.

Aaron Lassey, October 2008