by Stefan Smart

Only a week into my semester exchange and I’ve experienced so much already. I do visit Japan to see family members, so it’s a good chance for me to experience Japan from a different perspective. The first few days I did a lot of exploring around the area of my halls and didn’t seem to come across many students on my floor, as they were all out exploring as well.

But as everyone settled in, more people started to interact with one another and I’ve already made good friendships. It’s also so cool being around a wide range of cultures. I would have never thought I would be hanging out with people who live on the other side of the world. The fact that I’m the only person from New Zealand at Kansai Gaidai Halls surprises me, as does the fact that there aren’t many Australians—I’ve only spoken to two of them so far.

This was my first time being in another country alone so I knew I had to be more responsible and manage my time well. It’s a good learning curve as you have to deal with things by yourself and not rely on your parents. The fact that I know what Japan is like and have an understanding of their culture helps me not get homesick. My body adjusted well to the change in temperature and time zones. Japan is only 4 hours behind so the jetlag isn’t bad at all.

I can’t wait for all the new experiences that I’m going to experience here in Japan. I’m going to make sure I get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I start class tomorrow so wish me luck!