Hello, I am Verdiane Yemata K. I come from the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon, anthropology major, medical option. I was under the university exchange program with Tokyo University of Foreign Studies . I arrived here in Japan in April 2024 and my program extended over two semesters (10 months), namely from April 2 to February 28, 2025. I was receiving JASSO Scholarship.

I was really excited to come in Japan because I heard about the Japanese culture especially food (ramen) and clothes (kimono), Japan was the right destination for me as a student in anthropology which is based on culture. My dream come true when I got this opportunity.聽 I have had lots of memories of my life here and I will talk about some of them in this report because they are so bombastic that I cannot mention them all. I鈥檒l go into greater details about my experiences in my social and academic lives while I was living in Japan.

But before anything else, I would like to express my gratitude to JASSO for giving me a scholarship that permitted me to cover all my different expenses at TUFS. Also, I would like to thank the African Study Center, the Student Exchange Division, and International Student Support Association (ISSA) for the great support they provided to me thereby facilitating my life and my insertion as a student. Finally, I wouldn鈥檛 finish without saying thank you to my home university of Yaounde I , to my supervisors Prof Antoine Socpa and Oishi Takanori Sensei and to the students who were very caring towards me escorting us to every unknown place and making sure that I will not lack anything.

1. My academic life

As a student, I started classes during the spring quarter in early April, I then discovered a new way of teaching and learning with a lot of interactions between students and professors. We were very busy by making presentations, doing 聽homeworks, documentary research and discussions but it was interesting and amazing. This allowed me to have more experiences, get more knowledge. In the end, it was such a beautiful experience that every student should live. The second largest challenge for me was to succeed my Japanese classes because I was discovering Hiragana and Katakana characters. It was not easy at all, but I did it the end and I am now able to carry on a basic conversation in Japanese.

2. My social life

Living in Japan was such an amazing thing because I have also participated to many events and outings such as zoo visits where I saw some animals for the first time, music concerts, cultural events in traditional Japanese homes and so on 鈥 these are moments that allowed me to have pleasant and joyful experiences. The most striking thing was especially the exchanges that took place about Cameroonian and Japanese habits. I was curious to know more about Japanese customs and I also received lots of curious questions about our customs.

3. Challenges

Living in Japan was not easy every day, sometimes I faced difficulties due to language, culture, education system and daily facilities. I realized so soon that someone couldn鈥榯 be able to easily live here alone without being able to ask something on the street in Japanese, to understand the railway system which is not easy for a person who used to take car and bikes, I can forget how I struggled at the beginning and I lost myself many times while going somewhere, finally by practicing, it become easier and funny that I got confidence and I started moving everywhere.

I also faced the climate change with the weather in Japan which was very rude and cold for me especially during winter. I noticed that all the seasons are actually extreme in Japan, the summer is really hot, much hotter than in Cameroon where I come from and the wind is also so cold that you have the feeling that your bones are taking a hit so you have to take precautions at the risk of catching a fever.

4. Outside tours

Time flies very fast that we finally came to the end of this exchange program but I still want to live in Japan. I hope I could come back again and get more experiences. From my time in Japan, I keep interesting memories that I cannot count on paper. I think about it with peace of mind and joyful heart. I sincerely think that every student should be able to have such an experience and I wish it to all my classmates here and elsewhere.

Long life the exchange program!
Long life TUFS!
Thanks!

Teaching Methods at TUFS

The teaching methods at TUFS were fascinating, as they differed significantly from what I was used to in my home university. The study of Japanese intellectual history, as well as other subjects, was rooted in research-based learning. Classroom discussions, structured coursework, weekly quizzes, and writing assignments required me to pay close attention and actively participate in class. Unlike passive learning methods, TUFS encouraged independent research and deep academic engagement. This approach not only helped me understand the topics better but also improved my academic writing skills. My experience at TUFS will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on my educational journey. Today, I am confident to say I can conduct any academia research from the experience I gained during my study at TUFS.

JASSO and Toyota Ghana

Over the years, strong collaborations between the University of Ghana and Toyota Ghana have made it possible for Ghanaian students to study in Japan. Toyota Ghana has taken full responsibility for providing students with their flight tickets to Japan and back home. This initiative has been life-changing for many, including myself. Additionally, I was fortunate to receive a JASSO scholarship, which provided a monthly stipend of 80,000 JPY. This financial support played a crucial role in making my stay at TUFS comfortable. Through the scholarship, I was able to cover my monthly rent, utility bills, and basic living expenses. I am incredibly grateful for the JASSO scholarship sponsors and the opportunities it provided.

Networking and Social Life

My time at TUFS introduced me to people from diverse backgrounds, creating opportunities for meaningful connections. Being a social person, I cherished these interactions, as they allowed me to form friendships that would have been impossible without this exchange experience. One of my favorite activities was attending mini-parties at restaurants every weekend, where we engaged in conversations and learned about different regions of Japan. TUFS also organized networking events, such as the monthly Wednesday lunch for African students, the University festival among others. These gatherings played a massive role in helping me build lasting connections, some of which will continue to influence my life even after my stay in Japan. My cooking hobby also played a crucial role in connecting with others. I would usually cook different meals and invite others to come and experience the process and taste of African cuisine. I was excited about sharing the African cuisine to the world.

Cultural Shocks

One of the biggest cultural shocks for me was the respectful and helpful nature of Japanese society. The level of appreciation for even the smallest gestures was remarkable. Everyone I met was always willing to assist, even when it came to minor things like giving directions. Another significant cultural shock was the exceptional cleanliness in Japan. From detailed instructions on how to separate and dispose of waste to the tidiness of public spaces, everything was meticulously maintained. It was rare to see litter, even on campus. Adjusting to this level of cleanliness was both interesting and inspiring for me. I can not over emphasize how amazed I was by the tourist sites in Japan. I visited lots of places including Mount Takao, Roppongi hills, the sky tree, marine tower in Yokohama among other places. These moments were the best for me.

Conclusion

My time in Japan was a life-changing experience filled with learning, cultural exchange, and personal growth. From the people I met to the teaching methods I encountered, every aspect of my stay at TUFS shaped me in ways I never expected. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, and I will always cherish the memories I made during this incredible journey.

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My name is Rita Tembo and I’m from Zambia. I am currently a student at the University of Zambia studying Economics. I came to Japan on an exchange program for ten months at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) from September 28, 2023, to July 29, 2024. I was under the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) and I was a recipient of the JASSO Scholarship.

It is no secret that Japan is one of the best countries to visit in the world and I got a chance to stay for close to a year on an exchange program at TUFS.聽 In this report I will talk about a few culture shocks I experienced living in Japan, the classes I took, some extracurricular activities and lastly my recreational activities.

CULTURE SHCOKS

While being in Japan came with so many amazing experiences, it did not come without its difficulties. Exposing myself to something new has always been a challenge, let alone a new country that comes with its own culture, language, education system and so on and so forth.

1. Transport System

Coming from Zambia, where our main mode of transport is by roads, it was quite an adjustment to get used to using trains. The intricate railway system that Japan possesses is truly one of a kind. I remember the first weeks I was there, I couldn’t take a fifteen-minute train ride from the University to a nearby station called Musashisakai for fear of getting lost. It wasn’t until months later, with time and practice, that I gained confidence in moving around Tokyo with the help of google maps.

2. The garbage system

Japan has a very well-organized garbage system and when you’ve lived your whole life throwing all kinds of trash into one trash can, it can be quite stressful to sort out your trash. The first time I went to throw away my trash in Japan, I stood for five minutes straight staring at four different trash cans trying to decide which dirt belonged to which bin. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to figure out where plastic goes, where paper goes and especially where Styrofoam goes. Eventually, I learned which belongs to recyclables, which belongs to burnable, and which belongs to non-burnable.

3. Weather

Experiencing Japan weather was one of the most interesting parts of living there. In Zambia, there are three distinct seasons and just like Japan, each bleeds seamlessly into the next. Living in Zambia, I had the notion that Africa’s dry and hot climate makes it one of the hottest places in the world. How wrong I was to assume that before coming to Japan. Summer in Japan is heat unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Combined with the high humidity, there’s almost no difference between you being in an onsen and you being outside. Luckily, Japan is a very technologically advanced country, so things like portable fans and cooling vests helped me get through the summer. Another aspect of the weather is the winter. Despite being so cold I could barely feel my toes some days, I was so excited to experience snow for the first time. Touching it with bare hands may have been an oversight on my part (I was convinced I had hypothermia because of how painfully cold my fingers got) but it still didn’t take away from the experience.

CLASSES

The second thing I would like to elaborate on are the classes I took at TUFS. My major at my home university, University of Zambia, is Economics and unfortunately, the only economics classes at TUFS were in Japanese so I could not take them. However, for the first time in my academic life, I had the opportunity to take classes I had always wanted to take but never got the chance to. Specifically, literature classes which allowed me to learn more about Japanese history and society. I learned about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and how it affected people’s mental health. I got to learn about slavery and racism in America by reading Mark Twain鈥檚 Pudd鈥檔head Wilson in an American literature class.聽 Film making class allowed me to learn about modern Japan society and had the bonus of working with others to create a film of our own. Watching movies made by Japanese creators every week taught me more about Japanese society than I would have guessed. One of the things I learned in this class was the reality of homelessness in Japan and the challenges minority immigrants face in trying to incorporate themselves in Japanese society. A few other more practical classes I took are business classes, peace and conflict studies, international cooperation and of course, Japanese language.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Staying in Japan, I had the opportunity to work part time for a multicultural organization known as Global Leaders Japan (Lbe Japan). As an international student with basic level in Japanese, working for Lbe was one of the best part time jobs I could get. Being a Global Leader meant me interacting with high school students in English and sharing my culture with them. This could be indoors with PowerPoint presentations or an outdoor tour around Tokyo, conversing as we explore. I loved working with the kids and being part of their journey in learning English. Watching them overcome their struggles or discomfort in practicing a foreign language really motivated me to continue to work on my Japanese.

I also got to take part in the famous and beautiful Sakura festival on March 1^st. I had the opportunity to wear traditional Japanese clothes known as a Yukata and dance a traditional Japanese dance as we walked down the streets of Fuchu city. A big thank you to ISSA for organizing the event and providing people to teach us the dances and practice with us in preparation for the festival.

I had the opportunity to discover a community of African people on a mission to share the African culture with as many people as possible. I attended a cultural exchange party where African fabrics and dances were showcased.

聽

RECREATION

Japan has plenty of places to visit, plenty of places to explore and plenty of places to try new things and I definitely took advantage of that fact as I toured and explored as many places in the country as I could manage. Some highlights I won’t ever forget;

1. Sunset at the Beach

Coming from a landlocked country, I had never been to the beach before and seen an ocean until I visited one in Numazu. Needless to say, the scenic view of the sunset against the waves was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. To use the words of a famous quote, 鈥淚 have never met a sunset I didn鈥檛 like.鈥滭/p>

2. Amusement parks

Visiting amusement parks was one of the things I wanted to do before coming to Japan. As a little girl I would watch people in movies go to amusement parks and imagine a day when I would one day ride a rollercoaster. I finally got the chance to do so and while the experience was beyond terrifying, the exhilaration I felt took me back for more.

Being in Japan, I took the opportunity to go to the best amusements parks in the world. I went to Tokyo Disney Sea and Universal Studios Japan and had the best time.

3. Fushimi Inari Taisha Sembon Torii

Another memory I won’t forget soon is hiking up the famous Thousand Torii Gates in Kyoto. The journey to the top was long and strenuous but the hike up was fun enough that I didn’t give up.

There are so many memories I created in a year while staying in Japan that I can’t pick just one as my favourite. Getting to meet new and amazing people from all over the world added to the experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity granted to me that allowed me to live one of the best years of my life. A big thank you to ISSA for the activities they organized, JASSO for the aid given, and finally the聽 IAfp and ISEP offices and of course the University of Zambia International Relations Link Office for all your hard work in organizing the student exchange program. I hope many more students get to have the same life changing opportunity.

Report on My 10-Month Student Exchange Program at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Introduction

My 10-month student exchange program at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) was a transformative experience that broadened my academic knowledge, deepened my cultural understanding, and fostered personal growth. I got an opportunity to meet new friends and learn various aspects about life in Japan. As a student with a keen interest in Japanese culture, the opportunity to live and study in Japan was a dream come true. This report provides an overview of my experiences, challenges, and reflections during my time at TUFS.

Academic Experience

Studying at TUFS was academically enriching and intellectually stimulating. The courses I studied aligned perfectly with my academic interests. I was enrolled in a variety of courses, most of them related to research as I did the program during my research stage of my masters program at my home university.

During my studies, in the fall semester, I had attended many graduate courses which helped me improve on my research and thesis writing as I was in the second stage of my studies in my home country, working on my dissertation. Among the courses I learnt, some of my favourite ones where the English for academic purposes courses. One of them was taught my professor Cherry Yap. In her course, I learnt about research. During the course, she taught about various research approaches and how to communicate academically. I learnt a lot about how to write academic articles and how to communicate academic findings. We had many in-class presentations of our research as masters students and she gave positive feedback. This helped me so much to improve on my research which I was working on from my home university. The many presentations prepared me for my defense. Another interesting course I attended was the international organizations course by professor Obi Nakao. In this course, I learnt about international protection of refugees and about humanitarian organizations and what they do to protect refugees. This course enriched my knowledge and substantiated my interests to work for an international humanitarian organization someday. In addition to all my other courses, I took the Japanese oral language course by Lee Kyutae. This helped me improve my communication in the Japanese language. It was nice to learn a new language, and I learnt interesting and important phrases that I need to go by in my day to day life in Japan. In the spring Semester, my favorite courses were on gender studies, global Agri-food systems, sustainable development and climate change.

The Japanese language classes were challenging but rewarding. The classes were conducted entirely in Japanese, which was initially challenging but greatly improved my proficiency. The instructors were highly skilled, employing a variety of teaching methods such as group discussions, presentations, and oral interviews. Over the months, my speaking, listening, and writing skills improved, enabling me to communicate more effectively and eased my interactions in daily life.

Cultural Immersion

Living in Japan provided countless opportunities for cultural immersion. From everyday interactions to participating in traditional festivals, I was constantly surrounded by the rich and vibrant culture of Japan.

TUFS has a vibrant campus life, with numerous clubs and organizations catering to a wide range of interests. I participated in the sakura festival, where I learned the intricate art of the traditional Japanese dance ceremony. This experience taught me about the importance of respect, and the beauty of simplicity, which are central to Japanese culture. I also participated in the international student exchange activities to interact with high school students, allowing me to interact with both Japanese students and other international students.

During weekends and holidays, I took the opportunity to travel and explore different parts of Japan. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene temples, the beauty of the parks, and some historical sites. Each place had its own unique fascination. These travels allowed me to witness the diversity within Japan, from its modern urban centres to its traditional rural landscapes. Visiting these places deepened my understanding of Japan鈥檚 history, culture, and regional differences. Travelling on the busy trains was always interesting, and the efficiency of the public transportation system is amazing.

I had an opportunity to try out some traditional Japanese food, some of which include sushi, sashimi, and ramen. I drunk and enjoyed various traditional Japanese teas and my favourite was the green tea and the Jasmin tea.

Personal Growth and Challenges

Living in a foreign country for an extended period was both exciting and challenging. I encountered several challenges, particularly during the initial months, but these experiences contributed significantly to my personal growth.

Language Barrier: Despite having studied Japanese language at the university of Zambia (UNZA) before going to Japan, the language barrier was one of the first challenges I faced. Simple tasks like grocery shopping, reading ingredients on food or asking for directions were initially overwhelming. However, with time and practice, my confidence grew. I made a conscious effort to speak Japanese as much as possible, even in situations where I could have resorted to English. This not only improved my language skills but also helped me integrate more seamlessly into the local community.

Cultural Differences: Adjusting to cultural differences was another challenge. Japan鈥檚 social norms, such as the emphasis on group harmony, indirect communication, and the hierarchical nature of society, were different from what I was used to. There were moments of cultural misunderstanding, but each of these situations provided learning opportunities. By observing and asking questions, I gradually adapted to these cultural nuances and gained a deeper appreciation for Japanese social etiquette.

Homesickness and Independence: Being away from home for an extended period was challenging, especially during holidays and special occasions. However, this experience taught me independence and resilience. I learned to manage my time, finances, and responsibilities effectively. The support from my friends, and university staff (IAFP office) also played a crucial role in helping me overcome these challenges. The friendships I formed with both Japanese and international students became a source of comfort and support, making my stay in Japan more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Looking back on my 10 months at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences, knowledge, and relationships I gained. The program not only enhanced my academic skills but also allowed me to grow personally and culturally. I returned home with a deeper understanding of Japan, a higher level of Japanese language proficiency, and a broader perspective on global issues.

I am more confident in navigating cross-cultural environments and look forward to applying the skills and insights I gained in my future endeavours. The time I spent in Japan was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I am grateful Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and IAFP for providing me with this incredible opportunity.

My name is Peggy Chamucisa. I am 22 years old and I am from Zambia. I studied and stayed in Japan from April 4th, 2024 to July 29th 2024, I was at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies as an exchange student.

I was invited by IAfP for my airplane tickets. In addition, I was a recipient of JASSO scholarship for my living expenses. My life in Japan is divided into two parts. Mostly I spent my time studying, I was taking courses of Development studies and International relations. During weekends, holidays and free time, I did different things related to social life. Below are some of the things that described how my life in Japan was.

I came to Japan in April and was very lucky to witness the cherry blossoms which only lasted for two weeks, but it was beautiful and I enjoyed it very much. I learned Japanese which is very different from my mother tongue in term of the structure of the sentences and letters. But the most important thing is that I liked the Japanese language and wanted to learn more about it and the people of Japan. The time I spent studying Japanese was a good time for me to learn more about Japanese culture, especially the norms and values of Japanese society. Even though studying Japanese was quite difficult, and it required to spend extra time studying it privately, I still liked studying Japanese and it helped me to get a lot of new vocabularies within a short period of the time, this helped me to get along with other students from different countries and cultures especially the Japanese students.

I was also lucky to be invited to a lecture by Chihiro Sensei, I was invited to talk about my country Zambia to the Japanese students, it was a very interesting and exciting experience I enjoyed talking to the Japanese students about my country and how beautiful and wonderful it is and the students where very interactive and asked interesting questions. I also enjoyed learning other courses like climate change and Development with Dr Glorious. This was one of my favorite courses and I never missed any of her classes because it was always interactive and interesting, I got to learn a lot about other countries and their living conditions in regard to the climate crisis the world is facing. It was interesting to know the different problems each country was facing and what policies they put in place to resolve it, I got a lot of ideas that I might use for my country鈥檚 climate crisis.

Apart from studying, I also visited different places in Japan, places like temples around Japan, parks and also historical museums. On weekends I mostly visited the park, luckily there so many parks located near the school so I mostly took a walk with a friend to the park. And there we would have picnics and sometimes little discussions with my Japanese friends, I always looked forward to weekends. I had a good time to learn more about Japan and its culture. As a country Zambia is a Christian nation so it was a really good experience to learn more about the Japanese religion by visiting different temples, I lent more about buddhism and also other religions like Shinto, it was exiting to know that these religions have existed for more than two centuries in Japan. I also got to see different festivals including children鈥檚 day that is held in May to celebrate the health and wellbeing of children.

I also took part in different activities like volunteering to participate in an English teaching camp for children, going to gatherings of different races and interacting with different people and teaching them and also learning from them about their culture and country. During my time in Japan I lent the true value of keeping time. Unlike other nationalities Japanese people value time and I got to know why during a cultural exchange part that was hosted by JICA, on my way to the party鈥檚 location I delayed to reach the train station and the train left me but luckily another train arrived shortly and I was able to reach the party on time, this was a good experience for me because I realized that even a second in life is of importance and once an opportunity passes you, it might never come again.

In addition to all the above is that I enjoyed the flower festivals that were held from when I arrived and also the cultural exchange with Japanese students as well as international students and having friends from different countries. This was very good for me because there are stereotypes that I had before meeting new people from other countries that changed through interacting with different people from different places. I realized how good diversity is because I got the new insight into different things from different places of the world from people whom I was interacting with, this helped me to open my mind and see how we are interconnected despite the different backgrounds and nationalities.

Despite all the small challenges that I faced during my stay in Japan, challenges like language barriers, at first it was really difficult to communicate with the locals in Japan but thanks to the Japanese language course I could at least speak basic Japanese and it helped me connect with the local people. Another challenge was that it was very hot and humid, but as time passed I got used to the extreme weather. Apart from these two challenges, my stay in japan was amazing, full of interesting experiences and I have benefited a lot from it not just in my academic life but also in my social life and it has changed my perspective of the world. I want to address my sincere appreciations to the African Studies Center, to JASSO scholarship administration, All the people that helped me to go to japan and to all my friends in Japan.

My name is Mupelwa Namfukwe. And I am 22 years old, and I come from Zambia. Early this year in the month of April I had the privilege to study in japan at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies as an Exchange Student from my home University, the University of Zambia in the Spring Semester. I stayed in japan from April 3^rd to July 29^th 2024 and I came as an exchange under the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). Through the African Studies Center, IAfP and JASSO Scholarship my air ticket and living expenses were covered. Therefore, this report on my stay will be in two folds my academic life and my social life.

Upon arrival, I was amazed at how clean and beautiful japan is, I arrived in the week when the Sakura were blossoming, being a lover of nature and flowers so I instantly fell in love with the place and I was egger to visit, explore and take lots of photos. As if that was not enough, I found the people extremely nice and welcome. The African studies Center and IAfP hosted a welcoming party for the other exchange students and I, there I met a wonderful person called Miho, she was so welcoming and she made me feel at home. We later exchanged contacts and continued to keep in touch ever since, we shared and exchanged our cultures through stories and showing each other photos of what happens in our countries, the differences and the similarities she further introduced me Japanese food but the one that I liked the most was the famous Takoyaki .

I had never visited any other city apart from Fuchu and Kichijogi until Miho decided to take me to Harajuku. It is a very beautiful city with so many tall buildings, we roamed around and she took me to Harajuku street, I was so amazed at how crowed it was, apparently the street is famous because Justin Bieber was there once and aside from that the street had tasty food. She also took me to Shibuya, where we took photos of the Shibuya crossing and took pictures on a statue that is just near the crossing and lastly we went to Shinjuku were we had lunch at the government office and went to the 45^th floor just to see the beautiful view of the city. Another very interesting visit was Akihabara the city of gadgets this city throw me off for a bit, as I experienced a cultural shock just by how some ladies would stand in the side of the road and give out flyers while dressed as maids.

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I also got the privilege to attend an African-Japan cultural party at the JICA office where I met and connected with other Africans from my country and countries such as Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. I also got to connect with some Japanese where we played awesome and fun games.

Aside from that, my Zambian friends and I decided to visit Disney sea, it was a very awesome and emotional experience for me in that I was taken back to my child hood, the time I used to watch Disney princesses on Television and hoping one day I would meet them in real life .I had never been on a roller-coaster so getting on one was the most frightening, thrilling and exciting feeling I loved it !

My other aim was to get settled and familiarize myself with the learning system. I am development studies major at my home university, so I was really interested in taking classes that encompassed around this topic and I was beyond amazed at how many classes there was. My most favorite thing about the courses I was taking was that they encouraged me to critically think and not just relaying on what the books say or what the professor said. Despite this being new to me, it posed as a challenge and a push to work extra hard as a change maker I ascribe to be through the presentations and the discussions we held in class.

During my stay there, I as well faced some challenges as everything is different from my home country especially when it came to the language. I was not very familiar with the Japanese language so understanding and communicating with people especially in the convenient store and also during the Japanese class was a challenge especially if I didn鈥檛 have my phone for google translate hence making a lot of friends was very difficult or having to communicate with people was difficult. Another challenge I faced was the food, I am allergic to pork so I found that most of the Japanese food was somehow mixed with pork. That limited me to having Japanese finest foods, and not only that, the cooking methods were very different in that everything in Zambia is cooked but I was shocked to find out that some of the foods especially fish was ate raw or just glazed and lastly the weather pattern. It was not something I was used too hence the beginning spring for me was cold until it became hot.

The heat was new for me for the fact that it would get hot and humid when in my country it just gets hot and since we have a lot of tress outside it is to go outside and get some fresh air. So I would find myself sweating a lot. But my friend Miho advised me to buy a fun and ensure my AC is on and also drink enough water to rehydrate.

All in all, me visiting and staying in Japan was the highlight of my year, as I got to experience a different culture, a different type of language and a different type of people therefore I can say I had a great time with making long lasting friendships and connections despite all the challenges. And if given more time I would have definitely become used to everything. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and I鈥檓 looking forward to coming back. Sayonara!