Josephine ADAM

Student of University of Queensland, Australia
Exchange to Ritsumeikan University, Japan

The sound of bells from temples, smells of cherry blossoms, seeing bicycles and vending machines everywhere - these are the memories I have when I close my eyes, remembering my trip to Kyoto. Going on exchange for a semester to the ancient capital of Japan had been a life-changing experience and one that I would never trade for anything else in the world. It is an experience that had taught me independence, and most importantly, the value of friendships.

Before leaving for Japan, I was both nervous and excited and I kept wondering if I would make any friends at all or have any adventures in Kyoto. My thoughts changed when I started University life in Ritsumeikan University. I met other international students and realised that everyone was experiencing the same bout of nervousness as I was and slowly, we became friends with each other. Because of this, we were able to travel together throughout Kyoto and other cities during the weekend, such as Kobe, Nara, and Osaka.

Looking back, making friends was the first challenge that I had overcome during my trip; however, my challenges did not end here. Not only did I want to experience studying abroad, I also wanted to enrich my knowledge of the Japanese culture by immersing myself in it. For this to happen, I decided to befriend the local students by joining the piano club, which also turned out to be a rewarding experience as I learnt many lessons from the club members. I was touched by their passion for the piano and have never witnessed such determination, motivation and discipline before.

This piano club, although it was only a simple club, was determined to achieve their best at piano despite music not being their coursework and having busy lives filled with internships, part-time jobs and studies. Despite all that, their love for piano was real and gratifying.

This taught me that dreams could become reality if you are willing to work hard. It gave me hope that one day my dreams can come true too.

Taking one step outside my comfort zone by going through this exchange was indeed, the best decision that I have made. I have learnt more about myself through my one semester exchange than I have throughout my 20 years of life. I have learned how to push myself, be more determined and in doing so, was able to create many memories that will last for the rest of my life.

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