I woke up at 4am and was ready to go - I had everything packed. We got out the door a bit late but it was fine, I got to the airport with like an hour to spare. I left everyone at security and they watched as I went through. We waved goodbye and then I found my gate.The sun was coming up as we took off and it was so so so beautiful. I took a picture but it doesn't compare.
The flight to Japan was long. I tried to just sleep most of the way (I didn’t realize the movies were free lol). But it was okay. Narita was pretty fast from landing to exiting the gate. I didn’t have any trouble finding my bags and going through security and everything. I met Michiko-san right after I got out and I was the first student to arrive.
All the people here are really cool. I love my roommates. We drove through a bit of Tokyo and it was really cool. It actually reminded me a bit of West Palm Beach.
We meet the other half of the people tomorrow. This hotel is super fancy! They had a bento box and other stuff for us when we got here. My roomates and I went down to a Family Mart right next door. It was super cool!!
this is the second post in my series about exchange trips! this is the section where you’ll find out what to do during the exchange as well as any cultural things.
previous post: (x)
the journey.
exchange trips are cultural and/or academic. in this case, it was cultural. we mainly did sightseeing, experienced some traditions unique to the region that we did the exchange in, and reported our findings to the parent organization of the exchange. (the japanese government)
the sights
typically, on an exchange, you will be given a strict schedule. sometimes, you will be asked to wear different outfits depending on the day. in the case of meeting with government officials, i had to wear business casual. but this is a rare exception. nevertheless, be sure to look up what you need to wear.
the necessities
you can typically go sightseeing with just a small bag/other necessities. however, this will be determined by the organization sponsor/your host parent. sometimes, you will have to bring your backpack along. in this case, unless if your suitcase is being shipped, it’s best to have the following inside:
backpack:
water bottle
small bag with necessities
expandable tote bag (if needed)
pads if it’s that time of the month
raincoat/umbrella
fan
folder with any official documents
guidebook (if necessary)
dictionary
small bag:
portable charger
phone
wallet/backup money in your country’s currency
hand sanitizer
camera
be sure you have extra room for souvenirs!
the people.
you will meet many people while on an exchange trip. oftentimes, this is the only time you’ll meet them in your life unless if you exchange contact information with them.
the family
typically, you will have a homestay during the exchange. your host family will introduce themselves one by one as you gather around the dinner table and feel the awkwardness seeping in. they’ll typically state the level of fluency in your native language and their names. (honestly, it felt kind of awkward to learn my host parents’ first names.) to compensate for first dinner awkwardness and language barriers, exchange programs will likely give you a phrasebook in the language of your country’s exchange program and make you fill out a form describing who you are. they’ll give that form to the host parents so that you guys can at least make some small talk around the table. during the first dinner, your host parents will also mention any rules within the household. this varies, though. in addition, you may exchange gifts with your host family. (although, most people did that at the farewell party.)
on days where the schedule is more relaxed, your host parent(s) will take you to various places within the region or do some cultural activities with you. if any problems happen, let your host parent(s) know and they will be accommodating. (my ticket fell while i rode a ski lift; thankfully this wasn’t a problem) you’ll typically make some sort of cultural dish with your host family at some point. (e.g. the one group who was late to a schedule because they were busy making soba noodles)
at the end of your homestay, there will be a farewell party between all the host families. bring tissues-- you or your host family may need them.
the friends
there will be a school exchange in one way or another. since i happened to come during the local high school’s summer break, there was a club exchange as opposed to a school exchange. if you are coming during the school year, there will be a classroom exchange. you’ll probably meet at least one person at the school exchange who you’ll bond with. for club activities, they may be randomized or you can pick and choose.
if you happen to meet someone you click with, exchange social media with them. it helps to know the general vocabulary for communication and which platforms people in your host country communicate with. (e.g. in japan, it’s instagram and LINE, at least for younger people) it also doesn’t hurt to exchange phone numbers.
the culture.
the one thing that divides and bridges people. it can be difficult to adjust to culture, and some things can seem like quite a shock-- especially if you usually do the direct opposite. with these in mind, it’s important to research thoroughly on your host country’s culture. when in rome, do as the romans do, especially in places where standing out is frowned upon. try your best to blend in, etc. sometimes, you’ll learn this the hard way. (e.g. me shouting my friend’s name a bit too loud in a mall causing everyone on the escalator to stare at me, etc.) learn the typical mannerisms, as well as the values. unless if it’s in a friendly conversation, do not speak badly of your host country. it will create a negative impression on you (and especially if there are any officials present).
On our way to Narita International Airport to leave for Hokkaido!
And what is that in the last pic...? Mt.Fuji!! We were surprised by Fuji for a split second while on the highway.
I was looking out the window and blinked for a few seconds when I saw it. "Is that...? Is that FUJI...?" I thought, flabbergasted. I was actually seeing it. I whipped out my phone and managed to get a pic of it before we lost sight of it! Some people on our bus didn't see it before it was gone. I was very lucky!
I started my journey at 4am, 1/7/19 and arrived in Tokyo at 3pm, 1/8/19. The flight was a long one, but well worth it! For a foreigner, navigating Narita International Airport wasn’t a problem at all. I met with half of the KAKEHASHI Project participants here (it took the rest of the afternoon for everyone to arrive - it was dark out by the time we boarded the charter bus!)
this summer, i went on a week-long exchange trip to japan. this is a guide to that experience and part one of a four-part series. this one will focus on the paperwork/logistics behind the trip.
paramount point: chances are everything
i was fortunate enough to go on this exchange trip because i was a high achiever in my japanese class and my high school was selected for this trip. i could have easily rejected going on this trip for one reason or another, but i didn’t. oftentimes, these trips will be the only ones you will make in a lifetime. if you ever come across such a chance, take advantage of it. you won’t regret it in the long run.
the process
1. the paperwork/selection
it had been six years since my school was a part of the japanese government’s week-long exchange program. (you can read about it here) when i found out about it, my japanese teacher said that he would directly email people who would go on my school’s group of 20-something people for the exchange. in this case, i happened to be one of the top students in my japanese class. high-achieving criteria are something prestigious exchange programs, such as THE university of tokyo’s PEAK program and the us government’s NSLI-Y/YES programs, look for. japanese exchange programs, especially those affiliated with big-name universities, place a large emphasis on academics. (e.g. Waseda’s Global Fellows Leadership Program primarily works with universities like Berkeley, Columbia, and Hopkins)
there’s a lot of paperwork you’ll have to fill out. for this exchange trip, i had to fill out various permission forms including an official form for the trip itself. renew your passport if it expires soon. you don’t want to be stuck in a foreign country because of immigration issues. double check if the information you entered on the form is real. these are official programs. if you mess up things like passport information, they won’t secure the right plane tickets/etc.
1a. the fine print
be sure to read up on financial information for the exchange program. sometimes you’ll have to pay fees. oftentimes, with government programs like the one i took, the only fees you’d be paying are the following:
excess baggage
souvenirs/snacks
replacement flight tickets
nonetheless, always take note of financial restrictions. they differ per program.
2. the logistics
typically, programs will provide a list of what to pack. however, the list often doesn’t end up being the important things. in general, the bags you will need are a suitcase, a carry-on, and a small bag for your passport and other necessities. read up on your local country’s security policy to be sure you pack as efficiently as you can. below is a rough guide for americans on what to pack:
suitcase:
enough sets of clothes/pajamas to last the entire trip without any laundry trips (not applicable for those staying over a longer period of time)
toiletries (shampoo/etc, including pads/tampons/etc if you need those)
washcloth/towel
an extra bag
gifts for your host family
carry-on:
a set of back-up clothes/toiletries in case your baggage gets lost
sunscreen!!
be sure the liquids are less than 3 fl. oz each and are all in one quart-sized bag
headphones/large electronics
airplane/airport snaccs (preferably starchy so that there’s no problem with customs)
wet wipes
fan/hat for the summer
empty water bottle (bc u sometimes get dehydrated)
small bag:
phone
charger/battery pack
passport
tiny pencil case with pens
camera
tissues
pack your bags around 2-3 days in advance at the latest. be sure to attend the information sessions/read the packing guide thoroughly.
lastly, wear comfy clothing for the next day. you’ll need it for a 12-hour flight.
the experience
this section will be elaborated on further in another guide, but here are some pointers:
don’t get lost.
be sure you have a method of contact at all times.
stay hydrated.
exchange contact information with friends you meet and your host family.
if in a group, always stick together.
coffee’s your best friend when it comes to jet lag.
have cash on at all times.
you’re gonna cry. hard.
for anyone applying to exchange programs: good luck, and i can’t wait to hear all about it!
The “KAKEHASHI Project” is an international youth exchange program created and promoted by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The goal of the project is to promote “friendship ties” between Japan and other countries - the “KAKEHASHI Project” was created to encourage a stronger relationship between Japan, the US, and Canada specifically.
The project is meant to “build a basis for future friendship and cooperation” through “mutual trust and understanding among the peoples of Japan and the US/Canada”, to “encourage an appreciation of Japanese culture, history, and language”, and “to share information and generate worldwide interest in Japan” through exchange.
“KAKEHASHI” means “bridge” - a “bridge” between nations and cultures. Following JICE’s motto, “Share knowledge and experience. For the world. For the future.”, I hope this blog of mine will spark in you some interest in Japan!
the trip first started with the usual: check-in at the airport, loading the baggage, etc. however, this felt more special because this was the first time i went abroad without my parents, just a group of high schoolers who were excited to take on the journey. beforehand, i took advantage of a free netflix trial, but that didn’t last long since my phone died on the plane :’))
i ended up watching a small bit of the in-flight entertainment, then promptly fell asleep throughout the flight. to be honest, my heart was throbbing at the time since this was the first time i went back to japan in around 3-4 years. since it was to an area i had a vague memory of, i had no idea how it would go, yet this excited me.
naturally, once i saw daybreak and a familiar-looking slice of land, i knew that this would be exciting.
day 1 was getting adjusted to the time and sweating a lot in the tokyo summer. to be fair, it was during the intense heatwave, but the moment i stepped out of narita airport, it felt hotter than the philippines! do keep in mind that japanese summers are humid, so it’d be best to pack a towel or two just in case.
afterwards, we were greeted by our supervisor, who handed plenty of water bottles to everyone to make sure there would be no heatstroke. honestly, we were handed so many water bottles to the point that, later on during the exchange, some of us refused the water bottles just because we had too many already.
since day 1 was to decompress, most people simply ate the heavy western/japanese buffet-style dinner, then went straight to shower and the bed.
although the hotel rooms were kind of cramped, considering that i was roommates with two other people, they were pretty fine. there’s green tea satchels, incredibly good washcloths, convenient hairbrushes, nicely-packed toothbrushes, etc-- all for free. in addition, inside the shower, there were huge bottles of shampoo/conditioner/body wash (yay for long-haired people!!) so it wasn’t a problem.
being asian, there were no particular culture shocks when i visited except for the toilet being in a separate room than the shower as well as some of the technologies involved. i know that’s in some western homes and hotels, but the toilet room was undeniably cramped. (even for my 164cm self) on the brighter side of things, i did not expect the dual sink/shower combo that’s the norm in japanese bathrooms. in most private japanese bathrooms with a shower, there’s a knob on the sink faucet that directs the water to either the shower or the faucet depending on which way you turn. personally, i’d like to figure out the engineering behind it since it saves a lot of space!
there was nothing else in particular that struck me, at least except for knowing that this was only the start of one of the most pivotal experiences of my life.
Tokyo to Iiyama City. So grateful for my second visit to Japan with @jacl_national for the #kakehashi2018 program. Words can't explain my experience and my gratitude. #jice #JACLKakehashi (at Iiyama, Nagano) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrrFVcTgV2te87xyGKdbP-2kcbEQzdXPRelpIU0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1991of8jef3gx
