Tamaki WATANABE

Student of Akita International University, Japan
Exchange to La Trobe University, Australia

Trying something new in Australia

My name is Tamaki Watanabe, and I am from Japan. Almost two months have passed since I arrived in Australia and I would like to share with you what I have experienced during my study abroad.

As English is my second language, I hesitated to speak English with native speakers, and I was so afraid of not being understood. However, I met a lot of students coming from non-English speaking countries and it helped me to overcome my hesitance by communicating with them in English. In addition, by making friends from all over the world, I was able to not only learn about foreign cultures but also to spread Japanese culture as well.

Besides seeing the sights in Melbourne where I live, I have also visited nature attractions such as Great Ocean Road, Wilson's Promontory, and Anglesea. I had never explored nature much, but I became more interested since arriving in Australia which has a beautiful landscape. I had always preferred urban areas when I was in Japan, and I could not believe it when I started enjoying the great outdoors.

Studying abroad gives us opportunities and the courage to start something new. Experiencing what I can only do in Australia would be the greatest treasure in my life. I still have more than half a year living in Australia, so I would like to involve myself in various experiences and broaden my horizons.

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