UPDATE | December 28, 2023
Studying abroad in Japan is a series of new experiences. A variety of memories are engraved in your heart, from happy moments to sad events and embarrassing episodes. Based on my memories from my experience as an international student, I would like to introduce 10 anecdotes from studying abroad in Japan that you will be able to empathize with and say, ``I had that experience too!''
INDEX
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that when I try to communicate in Japanese, Japanese people for some reason immediately say, ``You're good at Japanese.''
I don't think the reaction has changed much between when I first arrived in Japan and now. I'm quietly thinking that perhaps it's a hidden form of kindness, used like a greeting to foreigners.
Have you ever been told something like this?
Have you ever had the experience of not knowing what to say when someone asks you to try speaking in your native language? I don't think it would be a problem to know what to say, as long as it's at least ``Please introduce yourself'' or ``Try saying this line,'' so I think that's what I want them to ask. How do you respond when someone says something like this?
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This is often the case especially at tourist destinations, but sometimes even though you've spoken to them as best you can in Japanese, they still reply in English!
I guess it can't be helped if you try to communicate in Japanese and it doesn't work out, but if you don't ask and get a reply in English, it makes you feel a little sad.
I'm better at Japanese than English, so I get in trouble when people speak English! How do you deal with the same experience?
When I first came to Japan, the thing that impressed me most was the convenience stores.
Convenience stores not only allow you to shop 24 hours a day for food, daily necessities, magazines, newspapers, and a variety of other things, but you can also print, copy, pay utility bills, send a courier, and use the restroom.
There are convenience stores in my home country of South Korea, but there are many more products and services than those, which is always a great help.
Have you ever been helped by a convenience store in Japan?
Many stations and commercial facilities don't have trash cans, and I remember being at a loss as to what to do with all the trash when I first started living in Japan.
Of course, I know from past events that this is a precaution for safety, but I find it inconvenient when I don't have a trash can that I used to use without thinking about it.
However, I have now gotten used to it and have started to have a bag in my bag to put my trash in.
Have you all gotten used to the lack of trash cans?
It may be similar to homesickness, but there are times when you suddenly want to eat the familiar foods of your home country!
I often have a craving for spicy food, and when I can't get enough of what I can get at the supermarket, I go out to town to buy the ingredients or order them from overseas!
What do you do when you want to eat food from your home country?
Of course, it's reassuring to make friends from various nationalities and from the same country, but since I've come to Japan, I want to make Japanese friends! ! You may think so.
However, I still had a hard time making friends at first.
In the end, you end up becoming friends with other international students, and in many cases the people you talk to and hang out with are also friends of other international students.
However, when I think about the reason for this now, I realized that when I was a student, I was trying my best to speak correct Japanese, and I wasn't able to express my emotions and feelings when I spoke, so I couldn't make friends. I think so.
If you have the same experience as me, don't be afraid to make a mistake and let's talk! It may lead to meeting great friends.
``Reading the atmosphere'' refers to taking actions and words that ``suit the mood.'' Before I came to Japan, I learned about the idea of ``reading the atmosphere'' in a book and thought it was strange, but now I realize that I actually act by ``reading the atmosphere.'' When I realized this, I had a strange feeling.
Are there any Japanese ways of thinking that you used to think were strange, but have now become commonplace, including ``reading the atmosphere''?
This is a question that I get asked as a joke, especially when I talk to my native Japanese friends about world-famous sporting events such as the Olympics and the World Cup.
It's like the ultimate two-choice question, ``Which do you like more, Mom or Dad?'', but my answer is ``I support both.''
This may not be the answer, but I'm actually rooting for both, so it's not a lie! Which one are you rooting for...?
When you start studying abroad and live alone, you have to take care of yourself even if you catch a cold, which can be very difficult...
In particular, if we are unable to communicate with each other when we are suffering physically, we feel extremely depressed not only physically but also mentally.
I'm the type of person who gets fevers easily, so this may be more like a personal experience. Everyone, please take good care of your health and hygiene.
Up to this point, I have talked about ``anecdotes'' from various areas such as Japanese, friendships, and daily life. If you find any of these episodes that make you think, ``Ah, something similar happened to me!'', please share it with your friends! Next time, we will bring you a more interesting episode!
Born in Seongnam, South Korea. He came to Japan in 2019 and graduated from Nagoya University Faculty of Agriculture in 2023. He studied organic chemistry at university, and is currently involved in supporting international students in pursuing higher education and employment, something he has been interested in for some time. I like Japanese culture, history, transportation, and town planning, and traveled to all 47 prefectures when I was a student. Hokkaido is my favorite prefecture.
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