Kimberley Swan was brought up in the heart of New Zealand’s tourist Mecca,
Queenstown. As a youngster, she became fascinated by the unique culture of
Japan. She frequently came across Japanese in the tourist industry, and on
the ski field. At High School she took the opportunity offered to study
Japanese and in her final year, 1995, she moved from Wakitipu High School to
St Andrews College in Christchurch. Form 1996 – 1998 she worked towards a
Bachelor of Arts in Japanese and Psychology at Canterbury University. During
the summer holidays at the end of her second year at university, Kim was
selected along with four other New Zealanders to participate as a young
working holiday maker in Kurumaya, Nagano ken, Japan. This was Kim’s first
time in Japan and she made sure that she gained a lot from the experience.
Her language skills improved, she made good friends, and saved some money.
This chance to experience Japanese culture whetted her appetite to return to
Japan on completion of her degree.In December 1998, having finished her tertiary studies, Kim obtained a TEFL qualification in her attempt to secure employment and a working visa for Japan. From March 1999 to April 2000 she worked at an English Conversation School in Tachikawa, Tokyo. She spent her spare time socialising with Japanese friends. Her time in Japan, her qualifications, and her high-level Japanese skills, lead her to a job in London with Lloyds Bank, dealing with Japanese in the insurance department. The combination of her skills, qualifications and experience, meant that she was successful in her application for a working visa. Kim very much enjoys her job and is still with the bank at time of writing (2003).
profiled by Matt Crosby, 2003