When I was all by myself... some foreign kids asked me for money...
She just put Marmite on bread!!!
Hey guys and girls on Ask Japanese. I met two girls who have studied abroad.
They left Japan and the safety of their homes to study in a foreign country.
And these are the stories, they are gonna tell us. Let's go and ask Japanese.
I heard you studied abroad, so I am curious to find out more.
Where did you go to?
I lived in Wales for one year!
The Wales from the UK!
I lived in Leeds in the UK.
I went to an educational university there.
Educational university! What did you study in Wales?
I studied bilingual education as my major.
Why did you go abroad?
Before my university years, I never went abroad.
That was why I decided to study abroad for 10 months.
Almost a whole year of studies.
I was only for 3 weeks in Leeds.
As exchange student.
What made you decide to study abroad?
I admired the UK for a while, and my parents also went there on their honey moon.
That's how I got interested in the UK.
I like the culture, the fashion there, and their afternoon tea and such.
All these things I admired.
Why did you go to Wales?
I heard that it was similar to my home town:
quiet, full of warm hearted people. That's why I thought I could study in peace there.
I always wanted to be a primary school teacher in Japan.
But recently you also have to teach English in elementary school.
I thought I should go abroad and study how to be a better teacher and learn the language at the same time.
There was a program like that at Leeds University and I went to join it.
You picked that corse for the sake of your career. - That's right.
But in Wales, people don't only speak English....
True that's right.
How did you deal with the Welsh language?
Once during a class, the whole discussion continued in Welsh.
I asked the surrounding students to explain what had been said.
My classmates were nice, so they told me what the lesson had been about.
I was surprised, but I never got in trouble.
Since you said surprised, what surprised or troubled you in the UK?
When trying to cook, I could only find meat cut in large slabs of steak meat.
But I couldn't find the thinly sliced meat that we have here in Japan.
When making Japanese dishes like Gyuudon (beef bowl)
and ginger fry, you struggle with thick meat.
True, abroad meat is cut in thick pieces. Not the super thin slices you get in Japan. - Yeah.
I went to York, which is close to Leeds...
I got separated from my friends and was suddenly all alone.
A group of kids took some of my money...
Do you mean they stole from you?
Those two kids started talking to me...
They said they needed help with their homework and I had to sign my name...
And that point they demanded money from me...
I felt like I couldn't do much else and gave them about 5 pounds.
And then I tried to get away from them.
They didn't steal from you, but you were tricked into giving them money. - That's right.
You don't get that in Japan. - I was a little shocked.
I am sure you studied hard in order to go there, what was tough about the language?
When students have a discussion with the teacher, they all speak too fast...
At the start of the year I struggled with following that pace.
How long did it take you until you were able to keep up?
I think it took me about one year. It really took some time.
After half a year, how did you realize you finally got it?
When I was able to answer the teachers question, I realized I had understood the question properly.
The moment of truth!
I wasn't good at English to begin with.
For the 3 weeks I was there, I did a homestay experience.
The host family was mainly the mother herself...
So we had many 1:1 conversations.
I really wanted to chat with her, but everything was new to me.
Not being able to say certain things was really frustrating!
How did you prepare for your studies abroad?
The best way to prepare, is to learn a lot of the language!
I found it useful to remember daily language phrases.
It's hard to imagine for some people how is is to live there.
But basics like greetings and helpful phrases...
But I thought learning easy and useful sentences like that helps in the long run.
What is the difference between English and Welsh people compared to Japanese people?
I didn't feel a difference but rather many similarities.
No main difference apart from the fact that they are all taller.
I thought there are some similarities with Japanese people.
They are not shy but they also don't push themselves on others. They are more modest...
Did you experience a culture shock on your studies abroad?
The food was a big shock for me.
We prepare dishes in many steps, cutting and preparing with care...
Maybe it was just my friend being weird, but she ordered pizza every day or
she just put Marmite on bread and that was it.
I felt shocked to see, how differently we used the kitchen.
In Japan you get told more to cook and prepare your food? - Yea
In the UK, salt isn't used as much. Did you experience that?
In total, I thought the flavors were often a little bland.
I was used to have a bath almost every day but the homestay mother said they have a tub
But they don't really use it as much.
I was sad but I tried not to take baths.
What did you do first when you returned? What had you been looking forward to upon your return?
For me it was eating Japanese style fried chicken - Why so?
It is my absolute favourite food and I can't live without Japanese fried chicken
When I tried making it myself in the UK it didn't taste good.
I was looking forward to eat fried Chicken, the way my mum makes it.
You called her and asked her to prep it for you upon your return? - Yes.
And how was that?
It was so tasty that I cried. - That moment!
I went and had a long hot bath.
I didn't end up doing in the end but...
When I arrived back in Japan, the airport smelled of tasty soy sauce.
It made me want to eat soba noodles so much.
- Like "I am back in Japan." - I really felt that moment.
Is there any advice you would like to give to exchange students?
It's best to research all the good things about that country and then see them for yourself.
Look up a lot about that country and the language!
Preparing ahead is important? - Yes.
How did you research? - The internet, friends who had been
and other exchange students.
I spoke with students who had returned from the exchange about their experiences.
If you want to travel or learn a language and you are interested into that...
especially if it's a country that you are interested in...
Then you will be ok. As long as you are motivated you can go anywhere.
When arriving in the country, you will learn a lot about the language.
Instead of learning the language, learn about the different cultures...
And if you keep working hard you will be ok.
If a foreign person who is expecting a Japanese exchange student is watching this now...
Is there anything you want foreigners to know?
Exchange students are often alone and you can help them by starting to chat with them.
Be sure to talk with them!
Let's chat with them. - Japanese people...
tend not to be the ones who are brave enough to stand out and appeal to others.
But they want to make memories.
Be sure to meet them and chat with them!
And they will become more confident.
What is your dream for the future?
I want more Japanese kids to like the English language,
And I want to use my English skill to explore more of the world too.
That's a wonderful dream. What is yours?
I want to be an elementary school teacher that can bring the fun into English class.
Iwill support you guys.
Thank you too. - Those were all our questions, thank you.
Is there any advice you can give to students studying abroad? If you have any
please leave it in the comments down below.
Maybe you are a student who is going abroad soon.
Share your worries and comments down below so maybe other people can help you.
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I hope you have a great day and I catch you soon on ask Japanese. Bye!
Bye!!!