What inspired you to travel abroad?
I've always wanted to travel and experience different cultures. I like communicating with people and finding out more about any culture that is not my own. I believe that the world is so incredibly vast that we get to have many opportunities to see new sceneries and meet new people.
As I studied Japanology, going to a program in Japan was a given. I wanted to travel without studying being the sole purpose. I only look forward to finding ways to travel to other countries, too.
A home version of a rakugo performance
Why did you choose World Campus International?
I wanted to go to Japan, but not necessarily to a student exchange program as I felt that studying there can't give me the experience I was looking for. I feel like most exchange students end up spending their time with other exchange students not experiencing the true Japanese culture.
So when I saw how WCJ is organized I thought that it's exactly what I've been looking for. Living with host families, experiencing the usual daily life of a Japanese person, and also visiting places that cannot be called typically tourist-like.
What was your favorite part about Japan?
The country itself is amazing, as most people would agree. Japan is one of the most sought-after destinations. Suddenly things and principles that don't work in my home country seem to be done so effortlessly in Japan. People are considerate, polite, and courteous.
Even though Japanese people are usually shy to speak in English, they are always willing to help. I'd say my favorite part of Japan was the people then. Observing their habits, living in the same home as them, and becoming a part of their family were my favorite parts. That of course is a perk of WCJ, not the country itself.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
As I said, meeting new people was very extraordinary. However, the opportunity to live with Japanese families was not the only valuable experience connected to the relationships I had there. The participants of WCJ are still one of the most important people in my life.
Being with them in a very different and distant country for multiple weeks, experiencing day-to-day life with them was a wonderful adventure. Now I have not only people I can call my family in Japan, but I also have multiple friends all around the world.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff there are always very helpful and easy to communicate with. In this program, there are two types of staff. The first are counselors, the people who are also present as participants, their job is to take care of the participants while doing the activities and also being the middleman between the participants.
The second type of staff is local people who prepared the activities and are working throughout the whole year to create a wonderful experience for the participants. As I was a counselor myself, I can say that working with the local staff was always smooth and respectful. I also felt safe communicating information and instructions between participants and local staff members.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
There aren't many things I can think of. I enjoyed the program both times I went there, the first time as a participant and the second time as a counselor. Maybe the only thing I feel like was a bit shameful is that I wasn't a bit braver.
The whole program is about stepping out of our comfort zones, which I do believe is a very important thing to do for self-growth, so I wish I pushed myself a bit more. However, I still did enough and my self-growth during WCJ was more than noticeable.
Practicing swordsmanship
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
As a counselor, I had a bit more responsibilities so my day was a bit different than those who were only participating, but mainly I would wake up and go have breakfast with my host family chatting with them about our plans for the day. Then I'd either walk/transport myself to a location of the given day's program, or my host family would drop me off. As counselors, we would have a quick meeting, preparing for the day. Then we would go through the daily activities, which were different every day.
I can think of an elementary school visit, going to a shrine and having a discussion with the local priest, visiting a blacksmith, experiencing traditional martial arts, meeting the governor of the Ibaraki prefecture, traditional cooking class, summer festivals, international cultural exchange with the local residents and so on.
Everyday's activities were different, however, once we finished the daily program, we would go back to our host families, have dinner with them and spend a nice evening with them, just like at any other family home. Memories of these mornings and evenings are very valuable to me.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
There were two types of free time at WCJ. Usually, there is a personal day every week. As the location changes every week, we would have an opportunity to see the location on our own. Those were the days we would do the usual touristy activities such as going shopping or to an amusement park.
There is also a host family day. A day dedicated to the host family we were staying with. Those days were usually dedicated to trips or regular relaxation. Every family is different, so every host family day had a different program. On one host family day, we went to watch my host sister's baseball game and then we headed to karaoke. That day is still one of my most precious memories.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
As mentioned, we lived with host families. Every week is at a different location meaning that every week, we would live with a different host family. One week I would live with an elderly couple and the other I would have young parents and three little siblings.
Some houses were old, some houses were very modern, some big, and some narrow. One week I would sleep on a big western-style bed and the next week I would sleep in a tatami room on a futon. I was never in any discomfort.
What is one thing every future participant should know about The World Campus Japanese Experience before their program begins?
I think that it is important to know that this program is not a study program. Of course, you get to learn a lot of new things, you might even practice Japanese a lot, but there aren't any classes. At least not those that solely focus on learning Japanese. This program is more about cultural exchange than anything. Also, as I enjoyed the program very much and plan to attend again, the program can be physically challenging.
Usually, a participant attends three weeks of the program (meaning three cities and three different houses). Also, the program is packed every day, and for some, it can be exhausting, especially in the Japanese summer heat. However, this is an issue only for those who have some health problems. For an ordinary person, it should be no problem at all.
Okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese savory pancake
Would you recommend World Campus International to others? Why?
I would most definitely recommend it. For me, attending WCJ was life-changing. I learned about how people - families - in a different culture function, which made me think about my own habits and customs. I was put in various situations that were completely new for me and thanks to that I got to know myself as a person. It seriously made me rethink my values and life goals.
I gained friends that are very important to me and I feel like I know them better after going through the program with them than I would get to know them in any other exchange program. I do not think there is any other program that would let people experience the true life of Japanese people. All the experiences are first hand and that way we got the chance to truly understand what it means to live there. And that is extraordinary.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
When a person travels to a different country, they get to see different aspects of human life. Experiencing different lifestyles, customs, and habits is very good for setting one's own values and philosophy.
Getting "lost” in an unfamiliar environment, for example struggling with the language, is a great way to broaden our creativity, using different ways to communicate. Also, sometimes people can truly relax once they leave the environment they are familiar with.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I really feel like I came back a different person. Or more accurately, I finally understood what kind of person I was, to begin with. People from various countries shared their views with me, making me rethink a lot of things.
My first time attending also made me go back to school, proving to me that my efforts were worth it. The second time proved to me that I am capable of leading and aiding people, making me more ambitious. The friends and family I gained while being there continue to have an impact on my life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Traveling becomes meaningful once there is a small amount of gain of any sort. Even if it's just for holiday and I gain a bit of peace and quiet there, it is already meaningful.
When it comes to the more adventurous type of traveling, experiencing different cultures firsthand is the most meaningful aspect for me. Something that is unusual in my home country can be a common thing in others and I am more than willing to experience that. WCJ gave me a lot of opportunities to do exactly that.
