I didn’t have a problem with culture shock because I had been to Japan before. I honestly think the biggest culture shock I experienced was visiting the grocery and trying to figure out what was milk (It turned out the stuff in bottles was actually a yogurt drink…) Japan is a pretty safe country so ensuring my safety wasn’t much different than what I do at home; don’t walk down dark alleys, keep an eye on your purse, etc.
However Japan is a cash based society so I sometimes end up carrying a lot of money for hotel payments and stuff which was a little nerve-wracking. Going to the dentist was an unexpected challenge as firstly I had to find one that spoke English and that I could book without a phone. However it turned out to be pretty simple actually and even cheaper than back in Australia!
Tips and Benefits:
- One must have item: is a computer that accepts a LAN cable. A lot of students had problems with their tablets since the dorm only has LAN and wireless routers aren’t allowed.
- Research what you want to see and do before you leave. Time passes quickly and it’s easy to run out of time for trips. But don’t actually book anything until you get there as it’s more fun to travel with other students.
- Nagoya is quite hot and humid in summer and gets rather cold in winter so you’ll need both summer and winter clothes.
- I like Jetstar as they fly direct to Osaka or Tokyo from the Gold Coast and you can buy up to 40kg They also use the new Dreamliner which is nice.
- STA Travel will sell you travel insurance for after the QUT insurance ends; unlike most which wanted me to pay for the full 4 ½ months.
This exchange has given me a greater understanding of both Japanese culture and how Japan does business. Doing 7 classes in a semester also pushed me harder academically as I had to time manage more since I had 7 classes worth of assessment not just 4 classes. It’s also gave me the opportunity to make friends and work with people from many different countries. I would really recommend that students should go on exchange as you learn a lot not just about the host country but also about yourself and it’s a great opportunity to make friends and work with people from all over the world.
