|
|
|
|
|
 THIS
YEAR'S EXCHANGE STUDENT'S EXPERIENCES At present, we have many students from Canada, Croatia, Brazil, Sweden, Venezuela, Kenya, New Zealand, China studying in our International Program here at Sendai Ikuei. Let's take a look and see how the students are doing, and what kind of experiences they are having. Let's see what their impressions are. |
|||
|
|
|||
| ■Sweden | |||
|
I've
always been interested in Japan, so for me it felt very natural to come
here once I got the opportunity. The trip itself was very tiresome, almost
14 hours. But once I got here it felt really good, actually it was very
hard to believe. I was finally here in Japan. I remember feeling utterly lost the first weeks, since I didn't study any Japanese back home in Sweden. Even buying lunch the first days was a minor adventure. Everything was written in these strange characters that I had no clue on how to read, but that came to change. Regarding studies in general I've been positively surprised. Back home in Sweden I was very tired of studies, but once I came here it changed for the better. Actually, I never knew could be this fun. One thing that's hit me is how incredibly nice everyone here is. My host family has treated me like a son. I find it hard to believe a Swedish family would do the same thing. I've been here for almost five months now, it feels like it's been two or three weeks at most. I have no clue where the time is going; it just passes by without any notice. I've done so many things already, gone to Matsushima, aquarium, thank my host family for making all this possible. I am so glad I took the opportunity to study here in Japan, at Sendai Ikuei. I've had some great experiences so far and as I continue my language studies everything gets increasingly funnier for every day that passes. |
||
| ■Brazil | |||
|
I left Brazil for Japan with high expectations and uneasiness. My image of Japan was that of abundant culture. I was right! The Japanese people have carried a rich culture from a long time, and I'm leaning all of these things day by day with my host family and JSL teachers. I'm doing my best to absorb everything. Lots of things have surprised me here because it is so different to Brazil, but it isn't very hard to adapt to the Japanese lifestyle. I'm spending a good time here, principally with my host family, and I can feel that I'm their daughter (Japanese people are so friendly to foreigners; I've heard exactly the opposite, so I was happy to find out it wasn't true!) And also, I have met friends at school with people from various countries! I like very much to study in a special classroom only for exchange students in the Sendai Ikuei Gakuen. It is very helpful because after learning the language grammar we can talk better with Japanese people. I'm sure my stay in Japan will be a special memory for the rest of my life. And when I go back to my country, I expect I can transfer all the knowledge and experience that I'm getting here. | ||
| ■Canada | |||
|
I
can't believe almost 5 months have already passed
by. I can still remember how I felt when I first met my host family. At
that moment, I was a little scared, shy, excited, and happy. Come to think
of it, a lot of things have happened since I came to Sendai, Japan. The weather here is actually quite similar to Vancouver, Canada. It has all four seasons, it's quite hot in the summer and it's quite cold when it's winter. Not only that, the air is fresh and the water is clean. As for the people, almost every person I've met has been very kind to me. Friends and families always treat me to feed whenever they buy it. Teachers always teach us in a good mood. Every clerk is so polite to consumers that I sometimes felt embarrassed when I received these kind words. What surprised me is that ever since I came to Sendai, I haven't seen a single person get mad, except for dramas on TV. Most people here are always happy. It's January now and recently I integrated from the JSL (Japanese as a Second Language) class to the Personal Advancement Course. Here I've met new friends and experienced a new background. After integrating to this course, I've realized my Japanese has improved a lot, from only understanding the basics to understanding normal conversations what I like about this course is that there's a 10-minute break after each block, or subject. So everyone gets a bit relaxed after each lesson. The best part of this exchange program was having a host family. I really love my host family. I couldn't ask for more. There's always something interesting to do every weekend. We've visited shrines, gone to movies, been shopping and done many other activities as a "family." After experiencing all that I really felt as if i was a part of them. But on the other side of the program, it is also said that we will be experiencing different host families. I felt really sad to be parted from them (and it is really a pain to repack all the luggage and move them). But after moving to a new host family, although I still miss my old host family, I am starting to get used to their habits and once again. I am beginning to feel the "family" relationship. Nonetheless, up until this very moment. I haven't regretted coming here at all and I wish I could stay even longer! ! |
||
| ■Canada | |||
|
Four
months have already passed since I came to Japan. It certainly has not been
a long time but it sure is the most memorable tide I have ever spent in
my life. During the time, I have gained many precious memories and life
time experiences I will never forget. Deciding to come to Japan was not a very simple decision. I believed that taking one year out of my teenage life can really change my future. Therefore, how I spend it would be a very important decision. So I was a bit worried weather coming to Japan would be a life time opportunity, or the biggest mistake of my teenage years. But, when I look back at all this, I haven't regretted coming to Japan at all. I felt absolutely blessed that I, out of all the people, got an opportunity to come, where I could meet people, experience a completely different culture, and lean life lessons. All of the new friends and host families I've met in Japan made every single moment of my life a special time. I really want to thank each and every one of them for making everyday of my stay in Japan a total different experience. I can see how much I've grown since coming. I have gained knowledge, courage and independence that I couldn't have experienced in my home county. However, I still hope to gain more of life changing experiences during the rest of my stay. I will value this opportunity of being an exchange student in Japan and make the most out of it. |
||
| ■Canada | |||
|
Wow-!
Almost 5 months has passed since I came to Japan and it has gone really
quickly. Time sure passes by fast while you are having a great time. Sendai
is a beautiful city with lots of sightseeing places, malls, entertainment,
etc. In Sendai, there is Sendai Ikuei Gakuen, the school that I am currently
attending. It is a great school with lots of neat facilities, kind teachers
and students. There are 5 different courses in the school, such as Personal
Advancement course and JSL (Japanese as a Second Language) course. At first, all exchange students have to attend the JSL course and study Japanese. In that course, I met more than ten exchange students from all over the world. However, a month later I had integrated to the Personal Advancement course and I met new teachers and friends. Then I realized that the Japanese school system is different from Canada but it is the same as Hong Kong, where I was born. I also realized that Japanese people are very kind to foreigners. They treated me to lunch and lent me things that I needed. Also, they always by to talk to me in English, which is good because when I talk to them in Japanese, they can answer me in English, and therefore, both sides can learn from each other. Now my Japanese is a lot better than before. Now to my host families- I am currently in my 2nd home stay and I really enjoy both of them because they are very kind to me. In these 5 months I have realized that Japanese culture is very different A from Canadian's, such as taking a bath everyday and sharing the same bath water. At the beginning, I really had a hard time overcoming the culture-clash. However, I have already got used to it as time goes by. Living in another county and experience different culture is always good. This is my second time moving to a new place, it feels really good and I am happy to be here with all of my new friends, exchange students, teachers, and everyone I have met. But I sure do miss my family and friends in Canada and Hong Kong. |
||
| ■Croatia | |||
|
For me, coming to Japan was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was and still is a chance to learn and have fun at the same time. When I came here I was surprised with the politeness and generosity of Japanese people. I have changed my host family three times, and every single time I was surprised with their intention to make my staying as comfortable as possible. Also, I was fascinated by Japanese culture and their way of living. They keep their customs alive by using them in everyday life, like Ofuro, drinking tea, and wearing kimono. In tea ceremony and Naginata (traditional Japanese combat sport using pole swords) you can sense the spirit of old Japan. Since I came to Japan, I have made a lot of friends, have leaned the language, culture, customs and of course, how to use chopsticks. I have only good memories about my stay in Japan, and this is a journey I will never forget. Japan is a beautiful county, and I am enjoying every moment of it. |
||
| ■Croatia | |||
|
I
came to school at 9 o'clock, changed my shoes, sat at my desk in the front
row, took out my books and started chatting to my friends. And there he
is....I took through the window see him - a man walking backwards. Today,
yesterday and every single day. Now that's not weird or crazy..... just
different. And that's what Japan's all about: contrasts and differences.
Japan's not a bunch of assimilated, robotized working people in black suits
or military-disciplined uniform-wearing school students. Japanese people have their own styles. Some wearing all the things you can find in the store (at the same time), some having their hair died in colors I hadn't even known existed. Everybody having their own beliefs, points of view - both conservative and modem - freedom of speech and though and expressing themselves however they want. But every single step forward is made from a well - known path of respected tradition and culture. Where in the word me you see wooden old temples right next to tall sparkling skyscrapers, beautiful and carefully-maintained gardens with Japanese trees in the middle of a city terror of huge grayness of buildings and traffic or traditional Japanese food restaurant with waitresses' wearing Kimono opposite to McDonald's? Even westen culture, which has already ruined many specifies of European counties, comes to Japan fully refined - only the aspects that will comfortably fulfill the holes in the puzzle of Japanese world preserve existence. That's why the Japanese country, stunning with the codes from the Samurai era in today's life and dazzling with the new, modern things are so easy to love and so easy to live in! |
||
 |
|||
