James Ley

Monash University, Australia
Exchange to Osaka University, Japan

Whilst I had been to Japan several times prior to my exchange to Osaka University in 2010, the 12-month period I spent travelling and studying provided me with a much fuller picture of Japanese culture and society.

But what really stood out to me was the contrast between city and country life in Japan. Many people have an image of polite, hardworking Japanese salary-men, but thanks to cycling trips to the north and south of Japan, as well as a short holiday to the island of Ishigaki (located in the subtropical islands of Okinawa near Taiwan), I was able to see a very different side of the country.

I had been quite concerned about being stuck in the concrete jungle that is the city of Osaka, and had decided to take my bicycle with me, having met a bicycle-touring Dutchman on a previous trip. I set off with a very rough plan and end destination, in addition to the goal of not paying for any accomodation (my Dutch friend managed to, at times, be offered lodging by a supermarket manager and sleep in a massage parlour). I had to travel at one stage by train with my bike covered in garbage bags, I made a friend at a donut shop and was able to stay at their house, and one kind truck driver gave me a lift (and a bottle or two of the sake from the company he worked for) when I had to stop descending a mountain because of the pouring rain which made things both cold and dangerous.

My second trip showed again the generosity of Japanese farmers and residents of rural towns and cities. I was able to stay with the friend of the owner of my local bike store in Osaka, and then with a friend of a friend of that friend. After a lift up to the highest road in Japan, I was delighted to have fresh local apples and peaches (fruit, along with meat and good coffee being expensive and not widely available, something I found very hard to bear) on the roadside, to say nothing of the fantastic coast, mountains and Japanese farmland I had as scenery.

From the above you might be forgiven for asking whether I actually did any studying. I found Japanese culture and society to be very different to that in Australia, and this was compounded at university with classes having a completely different structure (and of course, language) and students a different approach. It was a terrific experience to be able to study in a foreign language, and as this study was separate from my main degree in Australia, I was able to study anything I wanted.

Whilst I am extremely keen to go on exchange again (although this time to explore a new country) and would love to travel more in Japan, I am somewhat hesitant as there are very big challenges involved - do not underestimate culture shock and being away from the comforting environment of friends and family back home. However, it is a very rewarding experience and no matter whether you have the time of your life or the hardest time of your life, you will gain a lot from your time overseas.

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