Jeremy BATT

Student of Griffith University, Australia
Exchange to Akita University, Japan

Coffee in a can. When I think of my experience in Japan, coffee in a can is the first thing that comes to mind. You can go to any one of the 5 million vending machines and for less than $2, you can get a nice hot can of coffee, tea, or even hot chocolate. In my mind, it sums up everything that is Japanese. It's polite, it's efficient, and there is absolutely no hassle. My experience in Japan was quite the same.

I lived in a northern city called Akita for one year whilst studying Japanese language and culture at the local university. Akita is quite small by Japanese standards, only 323,000 people, and it's considered a country town. For me, it was the perfect place to study. The people of Akita were incredibly friendly, and due to the low gaijin population, they were always interested to know where you were from. The university program was intensive, but fun, with plenty of support for international students.  There were several, all-Japanese language classes a week, with extra culture and communication classes in English. I studied alongside many international students, however for most of the time I was the only Australian (or even a Westerner) in the room.

I lived in a self-contained apartment in the international dormitory of the university. Myself and the other students in that dorm would often have gatherings, picnics, short trips to nearby towns, and parties together. I made some very close friends. I will never forget the nights of loud, out-of-tune karaoke, or the days we spent racing each other down nearby mountains on snowboards.

The greatest highlights of my year were my experiences of travelling Japan. I participated in a dozen cultural festivals including the famous Kanto Festival in Akita and the Snow Festival in Sapporo. I danced my way around ancient shrines in the seasonal bon-odori. I hiked Japanese rainforests on tropical islands and saw 5000 year old trees. I sampled the sometimes peculiar local delicacies (Grilled cow-tongue with tail soup!) from all over the country. I spent many nights curled up on the soft floors of a Japanese internet café. And I even climbed the iconic Mt Fuji and watched the sun rise from its peak. I travelled by myself, with only a backpack and a travel book, and it was fantastic. The Japanese train and bus system is so efficient, and once you learn the tricks, there's nothing you can't do.

The Japanese culture is like nowhere else on earth. The politeness and sense of community is overwhelming. Everyone bows, everyone says welcome, everyone respects each other, and it's an example for the rest of the world. One year was not enough for me to experience all Japan has to offer. I cannot wait to go back.

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