Exchange-student in Japan

When I was first informed that the Embassy of Japan had chosen me for their five-week Japan-Europe Exchange Program, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that I was actually going to Japan. It had been my dream for years, and now that dream would come true.

When I finally got there, I was so hyper and excited – in spite of a massive jetlag. Most of us couldn’t sleep properly for almost a week. But it didn’t really matter; who cares about sleep when you’re in Japan?
The first week was spent in Tokyo. We listened to some very interesting lectures about Japan and Japanese lifestyle, went to Japanese classes etc. I was relieved when I discovered that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t speak Japanese very well. I took comfort in that, and in the fact that I would surely pick up some of the language during those five weeks. And I did.
It was amazing being around and getting to know the other exchange students from all around Europe. Everyone was so different, yet we had a lot in common; our love for Japan, an interest in manga and anime and so on. We also taught each other about our own countries, so it wasn’t just exchanging our own country’s culture with the Japanese culture – it was also about exchanging between the European countries. Strong and long-lasting friendships were made.
Now, before going to Japan, the embassy warned me about the Japanese food. Sure, there’s sushi and ramen and all of those types of food that we know and love beforehand, but the Japanese kitchen is so much more than that. I was told not to expect to get sushi every day, which of course I didn’t. Besides, I’ve always had a very open mind when it comes to food. So I was very excited about that.
Boy, did I go to food-heaven. I loved everything. I gained more than a few pounds during my stay in Japan, even though their food is supposed to be a little bit healthier than in Denmark. I just couldn’t stop eating, it was all so delicious! One thing I didn’t like was “nato”, which was a sort of sticky something-or-other with beans. But I was told that even many Japanese people can’t eat that, so it wasn’t so terrible that I didn’t like it – it was almost expected of me.
Other than that, I can proudly say I liked everything. It was the most interesting and delicious culinary experience of my life. Something I really miss after coming home to Denmark is rice. In Japan, I’d get rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner – in different shapes and forms and ways, of course, but still. I got so used to it. I know a lot of people in the program got really tired of it, but not me. I really miss it.
Now, I could write about the Japanese kitchen for hundreds of pages. But there’s so much more to tell about Japan. The people, for instance. The Japanese people are some of the most friendly, welcoming, adorable people I have ever met. Everyone was so nice and interested in anything you’d have to say. Everyone was dying to know what your home-country is like. They wanted to learn everything about you and become your friend. Sometimes it would even get a bit too much, being the centre of attention all of the time.
I was very excited about meeting my host family. I’d e-mailed a bit with them beforehand, and I knew they were excited to meet me as well. From the very first day with them, I knew I couldn’t have been placed in a better home. They were unbelievably kind and helpful – they’d even studied about Denmark before I came! – and they did their very best to make me feel at home, and as Japanese as possible. I felt at ease with them, as if I’d known them for years instead of days. I came to think of them as my family.
At my school, my classmates were so nice and made me feel like I was a part of their class. They would help me understand and translate for me during class, and I held a short lecture about Denmark and our traditions and such. During the three weeks of home stay, I made so many friends I can’t even count them. My host family’s neighbors would come over to say hello to me and bring me presents – which were mostly cakes. I would help my host mom with the groceries and help her prepare dinner, and I would play tennis with my host dad and his friends. They would take me and my host brothers to see famous temples in Kyoto and to the Amusement Park in Wakayama City, where we’d go on some rides, see a juggling show, eat a huge dinner and watch the beautiful fireworks.
One evening, my host parents told me that I had brought a light and happiness into their home. I remember feeling so happy I could cry.
When I had to leave them and go back to Tokyo, I did cry. So did my host mom. I promised her that I would visit them next year, and that made her very happy.
It was great seeing the other exchange students again. We’d kept in touch during our home stays; I’d even gone to school with two of the other exchange students (Dominika from Poland and Kevin from Switzerland). We became very close and were later known as “The Three”.
The last week was spent mostly in Tokyo, but we also went on a trip to Hakone where we stayed at a traditional Japanese inn where we got to wear the inn’s kimonos and drink green tea in our rooms etc. In the evening, we had a big dinner, and then we did karaoke.

The day of returning to our home countries arrived. It was a very sad and emotional day. Everyone was saying their goodbyes, and reassuring each other that they would definitely see each other again. Some were crying, some were smiling, knowing that it wouldn’t end here. Bonds were tied.
I won’t ever forget that day. It made me realize just how fast you get attached to others.

Looking back on my trip, it’s hard for me to understand that I was there for only five weeks. How can a person have so many amazing and wonderful experiences in such a short period of time?
Sometimes it even feels like a dream, as if it didn’t actually happen. I find myself reminding me that it did happen, repeating those five weeks again and again inside my head.
I will never forget the time I had there. My love for Japan grew, and is still growing every day.
I simply cannot thank the embassy enough for this incredible opportunity this was for me.
Everyone should go to Japan at least once in their life, I say. Once is not going to be enough for me though. I’m definitely going back.

By Maria Ladekarl