Kaleb Uri-ke

Kaleb Uri-ke, (Canterbury University) at Bunkyo University, Saitama, 2006

Without the help of the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for Japanese Language Education, many of the accomplishments I have made during the last six months would not have been possible. The scholarship has allowed me to live a comfortable lifestyle without the hassle of worrying about money and has also allowed me to meet and see the most amazing people and places I had only dreamt about before applying for this scholarship.

I am currently a second year student studying towards a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Japanese at the University of Canterbury. To comply with requirements for the third year at Canterbury, I am on exchange at Bunkyo University in Saitama for 2006 (see photo here). As Canterbury University has successfully operated this exchange since 1997, my key aim was to contribute to the success and also build on the efforts of past exchange students.

Accommodation
I share a university-owned 3 bedroom apartment with a German exchange student. The apartment was arranged for me prior to my arrival and is completely furnished. As I am located two minutes from the station, I am also situated near supermarkets, convenience stores, shops and restaurants. Most universities in New Zealand set up accommodation for students before coming but if you have to find it for yourself, I suggest that you get an apartment as close to university as possible. I have friends who travel up to 2 hours to come to university and who feel the effects of this towards the end of the day. Setting yourself up in an apartment can also be costly. You may be required to pay two months rent in advance and other costs.

University Classes
University life is completely different to that at Canterbury. I start classes at 9am and some days I don't finish until 6pm. Classes run for 90 minutes so I found this quite a strain when I first started. Although I don't have any big exams at the end of term, I have small tests, quizzes and speeches every week. I also have to attend 80% or more classes in order to pass and I receive marks for how much I participate in class discussions.

Tips for future exchange students / mistakes I have made
In retrospect, there are many things that I wish I had known before coming and things I have learnt since being here. I have listed some of these below, together with tips which I believe will add significant value to your exchange experience:

1. Write a daily diary in Japanese. This will help with grammar, remembering new words and kanji.

2. Buy an electronic dictionary. This has been a life saver for me as I use it daily. Electronic dictionaries range from Ұ20,000 onwards.

3. Carry a small notebook and pen. You will hear a lot of new words just by riding the train or watching TV. You can write down what you hear and if you don't know the meaning, you can use your electronic dictionary. You can also use the new words in your diary.

4. Ask questions: both inside and outside the classroom. I go by the saying "If you don't ask, then you won't know ".

5. Meet as many people as possible. Not just people your own age but also children and the elderly. This will not only further your language immensely but it will show you the different types of accents, speeds of speech and different types of speech from young to old.

6. Bring souvenirs. It is a Japanese custom to give presents on many different occasions. Bring some small, light, gifts of significance to New Zealand to give as thank you presents to teachers or friends who have been of help to you.

7. Enter a sports club or circle. This allows you to interact with Japanese students. It makes it a lot easier to become friends as your interests are similar.

8. Ұ100 shop. Everything is one simple price and you can buy almost anything, from food to toiletries, towels to drinks. There is also a Ұ99 shop, mainly for food.

9. Search your surroundings. Once you move into your apartment, find out what is of use to you. I am lucky to have a gym, swimming pool and hospital near my apartment.

10. Help from a friend or teacher. There will be many times when you will require help from a native speaker. I found that certain things like joining the bank, getting a hanko , gaijin card and a cell phone were easier to get with the help of a native speaker. In order to get a cell phone, for example, your gaijin card, bank account and your hanko are required.

11. Sign up with the NZ Embassy. www.nzembassy.com This is just in case of an emergency.

12. Most of all, have fun! If you are not enjoying it then you won't want to learn. Keep a positive attitude and it will not only become easy during study but throughout your daily life too.

Mistakes I have made

1. Not knowing how to cook. I am fortunate to have been flatting with a student whose mother is a chef in Germany. There is no guarantee you will be so lucky so I suggest learning a few simple recipes before coming. There are many cheap vegetable shops so you can keep your costs down. Some supermarkets also offer half price bento boxes and other products after 9 pm.

2. Not knowing what I had to pay for initially. This will change depending on how much power you use but my total expenses for the items listed below is about Ұ15,000 a month. This doesn't include any extra things like furnishing your apartment, if you are not placed in a furnished apartment. I was also provided with a bicycle to get to and from University.

Insurance Ұ12,000 for the year.

Cellphone Ұ3,000-Ұ5,000 per month.

Power Ұ3,500 per month.

Gas Ұ1,000-2,000 per month.

Water Ұ3,000 every two months.

3. Bringing too much luggage. It is best to send most of your luggage by post (about $140 for 10kg) before coming to Japan or you risk paying $600 excess as I did. Air NZ charges $35 per kg overweight.

4. Speaking too much English. I only speak English at my apartment but I try to balance it with speaking as much Japanese as I can at university. I have found that a lot of Japanese want to converse in English but just remember the real reason you are here.

5. Medicine. I had really bad hay fever this year so I recommend bringing medicine from New Zealand. I didn't bring any medicine for hay fever but I did bring Neurofen which helped when I caught the flu. You are allowed to bring a month’s worth of medicine into Japan. If unsure, check the embassy website.

6. Returning home. I was lucky enough to go home during the Japanese university summer holidays but not only did I miss out on a lot of valuable time that I could have been speaking Japanese, I also had to purchase a return entrance visa at a cost of Ұ3,000. Although I don't regret going home, on returning to Japan I realised that my friends’ speaking abilities had risen and I was struggling to remember the easiest things.

To everyone who may be as lucky as me and have the chance to study in Japan by receiving this scholarship, I would say this: feel honoured that you have this chance and don't lose sight of why you have chosen to study in Japan. Not only make your family and friends proud, but most of all make yourself proud of your accomplishments in Japan. I feel both honoured and thankful to have been awarded the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for Japanese language Education Scholarship 2006. I would personally like to thank the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for all of the hard work that has kept this Programme running since 1995, especially Naomi Collins who has been of great help to me and the other Sasakawa scholarship students on exchange in Japan this year. I would also like to thank Canterbury University. My exchange would not have been possible if Canterbury hadn’t extended its friendship and developed strong bonds with Bunkyo University. Thank you for giving me this once-in-a-life-time opportunity.

To all Pacific and Maori students: I am proud to be a minority student of Pacific Island descent breaking barriers by studying here in Japan. My hope was to be a pioneer and a role model to inspire other Pacific Island and Maori students to study overseas and ultimately to further strengthen ties between New Zealand and the rest of the world. I challenge others to further what I have accomplished and I look forward to hearing about other Pacific and Maori students’ experiences of studying overseas.

Finally I would like to quote the words of Professor Nigel Long, Chair of the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for Japanese Language Education. “Do ensure that you make the most of this wonderful opportunity and return to New Zealand inspired to fulfil your future plans". This reminds me daily that my exchange is a stepping stone towards making a bright and successful future for myself.