Q&A with our Resident Exchange Student

For those interested in coming to school in Japan, I interviewed our current exchange student on his life here in Japan. He came to Japan in August 2023 and will leave July 2024

Q: What made you want to study abroad in Japan? A: My mom was an exchange student when she was my age and went to Argentina. I was also interested in learning a new language.

Q: What did you pack that you definitely didn`t need? A: Extremely thick gloves. It is much colder in Iceland than here in Japan.

Q: What were you excited about before you left? A: Wearing a school uniform as we don`t have those. I also wanted to go to Harajuku.

Q: What were you nervous about? A: Whether I would get along with my host family.

Q: What is your housing like? A: I live with a host family: dad, mom, brother (same age), and a younger brother. Nearby are the host family`s grandma, grandpa, great grandpa, aunt/uncle, and cousins.

Q: Were you given a choice of what your housing situation would be like? A: It was always going to be a host family but I could request a type of area I could live in :rural, city, etc. I didn`t choose though because I wanted to be surprised.

Q: What is a typical school day like for you? A: I wake up at 6:50 everyday, ride by bike to the station and then take the train to school (about an hour total). Everyday I take PE classes and also have one study period in the library that I use to improve my Japanese. After school I go to a gym near my host family`s house.

Q: Which is your favorite class? A: PE

Q: What is the most surprising thing about Japanese schools? A: How strict the school is about not using cell phones during school hours, having school on Saturdays, and how the school doesn`t have things like dances/parties.

Q: How are classes different here than in Iceland? A: Here they are much stricter, the students are quieter, and classes are longer.

Q: Did you study Japanese before coming? A: No, I didn`t.

Q: Do you have any advice for anyone coming to Japan and not knowing the language? A: Be annoying! Ask questions “What does this word mean?” “How do you say ~?” Set goals but not something like “I`m going to study.” Make small goals that are doable to complete.

Q: How do you get around? A: Train, bike, and walking

Q: What was your favorite place to visit? A: Harajuku of course but I also liked Amerikamura in Osaka.

Q: What new foods have you tried and liked? A: Tonkatsu and karage

Q: What is the weirdest thing you have eaten? A: I had a bowl of rice with what I thought were different spices on top but it was really little tiny fish (shirasu).

Q: What food do you miss? A: Milk products, milk tastes different here. Cheese and cake. I feel like cake in Iceland is just right. In America its very sweet with lots of frosting, and here its not that sweet with just a small amount of frosting on top.

Q: What is something you definitely recommend other people do when they come to Japan? A: Just try out random restaurants, that`s usually the best way to find great food.

Q: What is one thing you don`t recommend anyone doing? A: Going to Disneyland in August. Its just too hot. If you have been to a Disney in another country then I think its overrated.

Q: What is the biggest thing you expected but it did not actually happen? A: I thought I would meet with the guys from Tokyo Drift and they would show me cars and drive me around.

Q: What is the hardest adjustment you have had to make? A: School uniforms. I thought I would like them but they aren`t comfortable and mine is too big. I`m also not good at reading the air. Sometimes I am expected to do something or say something that everyone knows but no one told me.

Q: Have you made any embarrassing mistakes? A: My first week, covid or something similar happened and classes went online. However, due to jetlag I slept through them.

Q: What was the most interesting thing you learned about Japanese culture? A: Onsens. You makes you really vulnerable but it also makes you and everyone else more at ease and easier to talk to.

Q: How do you keep in touch with family/friends at home? A: I use my smart phone. We facetime every couple of weeks. In the beginning we chatted a lot but that became less in the beginning and now that its toward the end of my time we are chatting more again.

Q: How do you deal with homesickness? A: I write songs. Talking to friends back home can be good but it sometimes makes it worse.