Japan
is a tremendously different country with an altogether different culture
that will open the eyes of any gaigokujin. It’s a country of 128 million
people, familiar in that is full of Japanese things we see at home like
cars and electronics but also completely different in a way that is both
wildly exciting and a little bit scary. To tell you about it with my
words alone wouldn’t begin to describe the real essence of being here
and living it. Japan is something that has to be lived and breathed in
person to be fully appreciated and with the help of Sasakawa Fellowship
Fund I have been able to do exactly that.I don’t consider myself an ordinary exchange student. If you have looked at my name you will realise there is something odd. I am Japanese. However if Kiwi brains and Japanese brains looked different you would clearly identify mine as Kiwi (not the furry bird – my brain isn’t that small). I am a Victoria University student studying at Osaka University of Foreign Studies (Gaidai for short) and like any exchange student I struggle with sentence patterns, get my tongue twisted with pronunciation and struggle to make sense of those little hieroglyphics everyone calls Kanji. I have lived in New Zealand for 20 of my 21 years and see Japan through the eyes of a New Zealander.
I have learned many things in the 6 months I have spent here. The most important would be to make the most of any opportunity. There are endless opportunities here which means how much you take home will depend on how far you challenge yourself.
The moment you arrive here you may find yourself alone but as long as you keep your head up and spirits high you will soon find many people who will be your key to opening up your world here.
To distinguish yourself from a tourist it is important to make local friends. Study is important but having friends here will make the experience far more real. However without scaring potential exchange students, making local friends can be a little difficult at times and requires some understanding of the subtleties of Japanese culture. Here at Gaidai the Japanese students want to make friends with exchange students but it’s not always easy. There is a lot of etiquette that needs to be understood but once you get the hang of it you’ll be a hero in their eyes. If you follow the saying ‘In Rome, do as the Romans do’ you’ll be the one saying I came, I saw, I conquered! There are always other foreign students with the same issues so you won’t be alone and most Japanese will understand if you make mistakes. If you are like me and studying is difficult, finding a “koibito” (that special person) is a good way of making the study worth it.
It is common sense to spend wisely but how much you spend differs greatly from person to person. If you are single and smart you could live as cheaply as 1000-2000\ a day. If you plan to really dig deep for an experience, the sky is the limit. The dormitory here at Osaka Gaidai is cheap (14,000¥ a month) and the cost of food isn’t that different to NZ. So you can put your money towards more important things like the all famous 100\ shop, local conbini (24hr convenience store; but on a different level to the New Zealand 24hr Night and Day) or if you catch one, your “koibito”.
In order to make the most of my time here I have added the experience of a part time job. I have found myself a hakken arubaito which means the company I work for sends me to do jobs around the city. Sometimes we set up and take down events for famous people and labels such as Cartier, but its not always glamorous and I sometimes end up doing dishes or holding a sign all day on the side of a road, but I meet all sorts of people and see different parts of Osaka, not to mention getting a little cash on the side. Part time jobs are allowed on student visas as long as you get permission from your school.
It is of course important not to forget about your classes. If, like me, things like Kanji just stress you out, as the Japanese say “shikata ga nai”. What you learn in school will be the foundation of your experience and everything you learn in class you can quickly apply to your daily life. The more you learn the better prepared you will be in society. This is what makes an exchange far more rewarding than studying at home.
Here at Osaka Gaidai, I take 12 classes a week (each 1 1/2 hours) ranging from sentence patterns to history to Japanese Culture. There are many classes and teachers to choose from so you can adjust the level to suit your needs.
If
you can, stretch your legs and get out there. If you have means, go as
far north as Hokkaido and as far south as Okinawa. If you don’t, walk
around the city or country as much as you can. Wherever you go in Japan
things are different to home and that’s why an exchange here is so
amazing. Don’t lock yourself in your room except when you need to rest,
otherwise the time here will be remembered by the posters on your wall
and not the sights, sounds, tastes and atmosphere of this amazing
country.Some quick tips.
- Forget that you speak English. People may try to talk to you in English but just tell them that you are Russian and they’ll have to speak Japanese.
- Get out there and see new places – Japan isn’t all city. There is countryside too and it’s beautiful.
- “Natto” may smell funny but try it. There is a lot of food that won’t agree with your tastes but try it anyway. At least it will make for a good story.
- If you can afford 5000¥ a month, get a cellphone – its convenient.
- Interact with society - join a club, circle or find a part time job. It’s the best way to actually interact with Japanese.
- Carry a dictionary - its amazing how much you will use it.
- Smile - a happy person is a lot easier to approach
- Climb Mount Fuji
If you have any other questions send me
an email at
small_south@hotmail.com
PS. Thanks to the teachers, friends and family and everyone, especially
the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for making it possible for me to be here.