THIS YEAR'S EXCHANGE STUDENT'S
EXPERIENCES

At present, we have many students from U.S.A., Bolivia, Canada, Finland, Croatia, New Zealand, 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.

　
■U.S.A.
Melinda Sarnicki
Rotary Exchange
Coming to Japan I anticipated I would experience many differences in language and culture. But I never imagined how much I would grow as a person. Being in Japan has allowed me to experience a whole new way of life. I have met so many people from all different walks of life that I feel now my life wouldn't be the same without. I go to class everyday with students from Croatia, New Zealand, Kenya, Bolivia and many other countries. Though being with them I have gained a lot of respect and understanding for different cultures.

Before I came to Japan, I knew no Japanese. It was definitely a difficult first month (lots of gesturing) which is why I am very thankful to be in JSL. Everyday I study Japanese Kanji & Grammar. The teachers make learning Japanese so fun!! Many times the teachers have stayed after school to explain to me Japanese I did not understand. In September I joined the soccer club. Clubs in Japan are really intense, I have practice everyday! But being a part of a school club has allowed me to make many friends and practice my Japanese. The girls on my soccer team treat me as part of the team and that means so much to me. My favorite part of being here is having a host family. They do so much for you! I have had 3 different families so far, each where I have had one sister. But they have all been really different. It is little things like going out to breakfast every Saturday with my dad that has made me feel like part of the family. I am so glad I came to Japan and am looking forward to 3 more months here.
　
■Bolivia
Paola Hernaiz
AFS Exchange		 My first 3 months in Japan were very difficult, because I didn't speak Japanese and I don't have good English; at first I studied all the time, in the school (JSL classes), in my house and in my free time. It was really difficult to understand the other people if you can't speak the same language, but when you can, it is very funny. To be in a totally different culture is exciting and learning to understand why they do some strange things is better. The time passes really fast, so you must try to enjoy and have a good time all the time.

There are bad moments too, but they help you to be stronger and to know that you can do all by yourself. It's better to think that perhaps you will not have another opportunity to make an exchange travel, and milk it for all it's worth.
　 　
■Canada
Judy Chang
H. J. Cambie Secondary School
I could study Japanese in Canada for ten years, but without the necessity to use Japanese in everyday life it was difficult to get myself to speak the language without feeling embarrassed. It's only natural. However, when put in an environment where I depend on Japanese to interact with others, I learned to overcome the self-consciousness and found myself to really start improving on my conversational skills. I find that being active and having the courage to approach Japanese classmates is very important if you want to get the most out of your stay in Japan, especially if you are Asian like me and tend to be assumed Japanese and therefore have fewer Japanese students coming over to talk to you out of curiosity. If you try hard to converse with them, they will all respond to your efforts.

Contrary to my expectations, the school as well as the homestay atmosphere is very cheerful and relaxed. Everyone here has a sense of humor and is patient about waiting for you to finish your sentence. Some exchange students seem to find their host families' protective nature difficult to get used to, but I think it's a sign that the host families really care about us. If you come here with the mindset to learn about Japanese culture, then be enthusiastic about adapting to the Japanese way of life. It was through the little things like house rules, family meals, etc. that I learned most about Japanese culture, and I find Japan a country with so much culture that she will be occupying me with new knowledge everyday until my departure.
　 　
■Canada
Mark
Ryane-Sneddon
Sentinel Secondary School		 I'm not sure how to put all of my experiences of Japan into words. Despite this, I'll do my best to tell about my wonderful experiences. In the three months that I've been here, I can't say I've met an unkind Japanese person. During my remaining time here I hope not to find any, as it has been enjoyable. Next week we are all going to Kyoto, which should prove to be a fun trip. The school has provided lots of interesting trips already, such as a Zazen temple meditation and Yamadera mountain temple climb. With many more trips and outings to come, I don't think anyone could not enjoy their time here.

As for my host family, I can't believe there are such nice people around, welcoming a stranger as family. Not many people in Canada would be able to do the same, or adapt as easily. Together with my host family, I've gone to temples, been to the gym, and eaten many delicious foods. Thankfully, I'm most likely to be with my host family for the remainder of my stay. On the other hand, I won't be able to meet, and interact, with new host families. Don't think that that is getting me down though, as I'll have plenty of opportunities to interact with Japanese people. Over all, my stay in Japan has been enjoyable, and my Japanese has improved greatly. To the people who have come to Japan to learn this complex and interesting language, JSL will do the trick. Having exhausted my supply of words, I'm afraid I must end this. I hope those who come to Japan after me enjoy it as much as I have thus far.
　 　
■Finland
Joosua Jaaskelainen
PIEE Exchange		 I have always been interested in Japanese lifestyle. The reason I came here was to understand Japan better by experiencing the Japanese lifestyle firsthand. In the first three months I was surprised by many things. For example, I didn't think I would like Japanese food, but in the end I turned out to really like it.

But on the other hand, an unpleasant surprise was how cold it is in the house if you don't use the heater. I'm grateful towards my host families for helping me get the most out of my exchange experience in Japan. They let me into their normal life, and made me feel like part of the family. Through talking with my host family I learned many conversational skills. They also took me to many famous places so that I could learn about Japanese culture.

For the first three months I studied Japanese in JSL. It gave me a good base in the language. It was also unexpected that Sendai Ikuei would be so generous towards exchange students as to offer the opportunity to go on trips where we are educated about Japanese culture. I'm really glad that I could come to Japan because it opened my eyes up to a completely different culture.
　 　
■Croatia
Matea Kobescak
II Zimnazija

After 3 months spent in Japan, I almost forgot what I was thinking about this country before coming here. My opinion about Japan changed a lot. Some things in Japan disappointed me, some turned out better than expected and some old preconceptions simply disappeared. The first and most important topic is, of course, language. For the first time I have the opportunity to speak English with native English speakers as everyday communication language. And I successfully proved my point to my English teacher in Croatia: you know language if you can talk to people, not if you know all the grammar! As for Japanese, this is the fastest progress in the shortest time that I've ever had before. You cannot learn a language if you're not surrounded by it in everyday life. That is the reason why we are all here.

There are big cultural differences between Japan and not Croatia and Europe, but the rest of the world. On the other hand, western countries influence Japan via all parts of everyday life (food, fashion, language etc.), changing the whole Japanese lifestyle. As exchange students we are lucky that globalization in Japan is strong because that helps us manage in culture that is still unknown to the West, especially Europe.

　 　
■Canada
Eric Youn
West Vancouver Secondary School
After a few arduous but brisk months of staying in Japan, you start to realize many significant things. One of the most notable factors is the family. You will be able to discover family values and learn that nothing can replace your own distinctive family. The next thing you will be able to perceive is maturity. Japanese people tend to mature socially among friends at an early age. Thus, they become personally adequate after graduating from high school. Over the time you stay in Japan, you also become independent. You learn to take care of yourself and make your own decisions in life.

Furthermore, Japanese culture is unique and different from any other. If you focus on the differences between your country and Japan, you will only find faults. Instead you should realize that you are in a great and unique country that has welcomed you with respect and sincerity. To be truly able to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity, you must think positively and be open minded. Many things will be different and sometimes you will have a hard time adjusting to the culture. However, to live in a foreign country, especially Japan, you have to endure the tough times and learn to move on. If not your whole year will just become a waste of one of your golden teenage years. So, if you can think positive and endure and realize what is so distinctive about Japan, you will walk away with much more than memories of all that went wrong.
　 　
■New Zealand
Tom Loffhagen
Christchurch Boys' High School		 Before coming to Japan I had "studied" Japanese for 5 years. I thought that this would have prepared me for what I was to encounter in my first few weeks here in Japan but no, I was like a turtle without his shell. When I first entered the JSL room I was introduced to a crazy Swede from Fluug Duugenberg or something like that, a Bolivian from Bolivia and a Finn from somewhere in Europe. After getting used to the language and crazy Swedish antics from someone I'll leave unnamed I settled into a groove. A drone I may have been, but there was still time for fun. For example, a friend's Sayonara (goodbye) party which involved sitting outside Sendai station and drinking ... orange juice and lemonade.

After summer break I was into the dormitory because the International Center was "unable" to find me a host family. Despite the dorms being the worst possible place imaginable, I was still able to enjoy myself and am glad I had this wonderful opportunity to study at Ikuei.
　 　
■Canada
Ivon Leung
H.J. Cambie Secondary School
Seven months ago, I never thought I would be able to join this program. I always thought my life would all be about studying. Finally, I made the decision to challenge myself. For the past 3 months in Sendai, I have experienced many different things like attending a tea ceremony, a wedding ceremony, meeting new friends, and learning the culture that I always find curious. I feel the freshness of a culture that I never knew back in Canada. Moreover, I feel the open heartedness of my host family as well as friends here. You will never know how sweet they are unless you're here to feel it yourself. As an Asian Canadian, I am always being treated as Japanese instead of an exchange student. This is the part I find the hardest! However, this does not stop me from trying! I keep trying and learning.

Before I knew it, they treated me as a Japanese who had grown up in a foreign country. This is what I find the most interesting! Furthermore, I cherish the time when they make the effort to speak Japanese slowly to me so that I can understand. Although 9 months seems short, I know that the time this program ends there will be a different me. A different me who knows what I should do with my life. A different me that will have gained many wonderful experiences. A different me that will have improved my knowledge of Japanese as well as the different views of youths. All the amazing memories will make me mature and will be filled my heart forever!! みなさんがんばりましょう！！
　 　
■New Zealand
Michael Hamilton
Christchurch Boys' High School		 My time in Japan has been rather grand
rice and tofu
and me and Gustavs' band
I've made heaps of friends
I'm really gonna miss
but these friendships surely won't stop
even till that sad old day
I'm thinning on top.
Even when times have been up and down
I was never met with a frown
not even by a clown
I've lived in the dorms
I've lived by the sea
both with memories I'll never forget
In a world of experiences:
Trains fast, slow and happy confusion and randomness, festivals, Kimonos, rain, beaches, huge spiders, friendly people, Yankees, E-Beans, HMV, S-PAL signs, Cherry Coke, karaoke, host families and crazy Judo friends. We all find our groove. And somehow everything that seemed so strange that seemed a million miles from home has become home. I look around my class. The Judo boys are sleeping heads tucked into their chests, others are mailing under the desk and the Japanese history teacher is ranting on in a language I barely understand. Everything feels normal.

Unfortunately my time in Japan is coming to an end. Soon it will be my turn to catch that Shinkansen. But if there's one thing I've learnt during my stay it's that everyone in the world is connected in some way. All it might take is a smile and a wave and a new friendship is made and you might find that soon you have a crazy Swedish friend who talks like a loon! Michkey!! XX
　 　
■Croatia
Marcela Peric
VII Zimnazija		 I don't want to say that there are opportunities that life never gave me. That is why this is an opportunity I decided to use. Coming all the way here to Japan wasn't an easy decision, but definitely the right one. The things I learned here I probably wouldn't be able to learn anywhere else. That is the main reason why I will always be grateful for everything to Japanese people and respect all things they gave me. Their behavior is beyond anything I could possibly imagine. They are kind, nice, always smiling and ready to help you. It is not too hard being separated from your family and friends back in your own country because here you make new and interesting friends and live in a family, so your life doesn't change much. Being surrounded by various different things is what makes Japan special and that is why I enjoyed it. If you look at everything on the bright side, your integration here won't be difficult at all. You just need to be ready to study and except things as how they are. It is too bad I couldn't stay here longer, but that is the thing that taught me how to respect every moment I have and use it in its entirety.
　 　
■Canada
Calder Akio Tomlinson Tsuyuki
West Vancouver Secondary School
I've been studying at Ikuei for around three months now, and it's been an amazing life-changing experience so far! I have learned and experienced so many things during my stay here that I would never have the chance to do in Vancouver, Canada, my hometown.

I'm truly thankful that I was accepted to be an exchange student at Sendai Ikuei Gauken High School. I have been having such a good time learning Japanese at Sendai Ikuei through the JSL course where the other exchange students and I are taught Japanese everyday. The JSL teachers are very nice and fun people, they will help you with anything you ask and they are always happy and cheerful. The JSL course is a very effective way for teaching Japanese at a fast rate so we are able to be integrated in Japanese classes later on during our exchange year.

When I arrived in Sendai, I didn't really know what to expect. I had been to Tokyo before, but I heard that Sendai was a smaller city and it was more of a country city. Because I really like Tokyo, I had negative thoughts about the city before I came. But over the last three months I've come to love the city. It has a very good contrast between the new modern Japan, and the old traditional beautiful Japan. It is a very beautiful city and in many ways better than Vancouver.

I have had two host families so far, and they've both been very nice and caring and treat me like I'm family. I've learned many things about the language and culture from my host families, they've also brought me to many places around Sendai and taught me many important things that are vital to live in Japan. I am very thankful to them for showing me such a good time!

I have been having such a great time during my exchange year, I doubt I will feel I want to go back to Canada even once throughout my stay here. I still have six months left in Sendai and I plan to do as much as I can in those next months that will make this year in Japan as good as possible!