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Simran VIJAYAKUMAR

Student of Murdoch University, Australia
Exchange to Kansai Gaidai University, Japan

Japan has a culture that is very unique and exciting. During my time here I have travelled to various tourist and local hotspots as my host university, Kansai Gaidai University ("Kansai Gaidai"), resides in a central location.

From the famous Fushimi Inari with my Japanese speaking partner, to a delicious ramen shop near the station, my experiences have all accumulated into an extraordinary view of Japan as a culturally and historically diverse site.

I remember my birthday soon after arrival when I decided to explore the area and test my language ability. I walked to an arcade near the station and upon my visible confusion, an elderly Japanese woman showed me how to use the machines. After that we talked for nearly half an hour in simple Japanese as I was brushing up on my gambling skills and I was then surprised to see that she had bought me another round of playing chips as a "birthday present" despite only knowing me for a few minutes. It was a simple gesture but it warmed my heart.

Another aspect of Japan I have come to love is that despite being a string of islands, travelling in Japan is both simple and easily accessible. During spring break, my friends and I visited the southern island of Kyushu via an overnight ferry (approximately 12 hours). We first went to the city Beppu in the Oita prefecture and utilized our time in various hot springs (onsen) before travelling three hours via a bus to the party capital of Fukuoka (on the opposite side) where we spent our time at Nagasaki and the reclining Buddha. Kyushu, albeit being so close to where I study, was completely different! From their speaking style to the views of mountains and even the ramen flavour – it felt like I was visiting another country! Furthermore, on the ferry back from Fukuoka we met a group of students who had decided to attend a concert in Osaka. They only expected to be there for a short time and yet it surprised me that they were willing to spend 24 hours on transportation!

Lastly, as Kansai Gaidai has connections with countries all around the world, it attracts both Japanese and foreign students who are both friendly and eager to make the most of their time while abroad. Therefore making friends with common interests and unique skills all from different countries has been one of the highlights of my time here in Japan as I have met various people I do not wish to forget. Japan's rich historical and cultural diversity as well as its easily accessible transportation has made it easy to live every day to its fullest potential.

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