'I am Glad I Wasn't Scared to Go to Japan': Student of 'Asian and African Studies' about Internship in Tokyo
Victoria Shirnina is a student of the Bachelor's programme 'Asian and African Studies' at HSE University-St Petersburg. Now, the girl lives in Japan where she studies under the student exchange programme at the Tokyo International University. In the interview, Victoria shared her impression of the studies in Japan and gave some advice to those who are only planning to participate in the mobility programme.
How to get an internship in Japan
I got an internship as a result of selection which was held by the International Office of HSE University-St Petersburg. In autumn, they update the lists of universities which accept HSE students in the current academic year. Among these universities, I selected two appropriate options in Japan: the Tokyo International University (TIU) and the Kwansei Gakuin University. Then, I started preparing the documents according to the list. In general, it wasn't hard. Besides, I got a helping hand from my groupmate who also went on an internship but in the autumn semester. As a result of the selection, I was accepted for the mobility programme at TIU which was my priority choice.
How adaptation to a new city and new lifestyle went
My host family helped me adapt—living there was a part of my programme. Together with my host mum, we went to the town hall and were dealing with the registration, pension fund and medical insurance. Of course, I could go by myself but it would definitely take me much more time and effort. Besides, the host family recommended shops, cafes and other interesting places nearby which I could visit. It also helped with the adaptation a lot by making an unfamiliar place a little safer.
I live not in Tokyo itself but in Kawagoe, around an hour’s drive from the Ikebukuro district (Tokyo) where the university building is located. Perhaps, trains were my second fear after the town hall but I figured them out surprisingly quickly. I am grateful for it to the application 'Japan Transit Planner' which shows convenient routes from point A to point B.
How studies at HSE University-St Petersburg and TIU are different
At TIU, I attended two Japanese language courses—Advanced Japanese 1 and Advanced Japanese 2, which is why I had twice as many classes as my groupmates. Studying Japanese here is completely different from the format I was used to in Russia. All classes in each course are delivered by one professor. The classes are held four times a week and last for an hour and forty minutes with a short break in the middle. Thus, I had eight classes a week.
By contrast with HSE University, TIU does not divide Japanese into aspects: during one class, we could read texts, practice kanji and grammar but the focus is still on text analysis. All classes were held fully in Japanese which scared me a little at first. In fact, my level was enough to understand everything, even the explanations of grammar.
The system of knowledge testing also surprised me: tests included only things we worked on at home. This means that all tasks in tests were fulfilled in advance, checked during the class and only after that were included intact in the tests.
What you can do in your leisure time
In my leisure time, I prefer to go out for walks or travel somewhere. At the weekend, I sometimes go out with my host family but most often I go to Tokyo with my friend—we got accepted for the mobility programme at TIU together.
As a rule, I travel to places which are just a couple hours’ drive from Tokyo. For example, I was in Hakone—a complex of volcanoes famous for its hot springs. In addition, together with my friend, we went to the city of Kawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, it was cloudy, which is why we couldn't appreciate its beauty at the fullest but even the part which was peering through the clouds looked amazing.
I was in Kamakura and Yokohama—this is the city which we with my friend want to visit again because one time was definitely not enough for us. One of the most memorable trips is a visit to Tokyo Disneyland. One should go there not even to try the rides but to feel the atmosphere of a fairytale.
We also roam about Tokyo a lot: we have already visited the districts of Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, climbed up the Tokyo Sky Tree, walked down the gardens of the Tokyo Imperial Palace, visited the National Diet Library and the House of Representatives (the last one was in the framework of an excursion organised by the university).
What impressions the internship left
Though I faced some difficulties, I am happy anyway that I wasn't scared to apply and go to Japan. Though stories of other people are interesting and insightful, they can never replace your own experience of staying in the country the language and culture of which you are studying. That is why my impressions of the internship are the most positive.
I think the most valuable part of the experience I am gaining in Japan is practical. I learned more about life in Japan, some daily things which you are not likely to find in a textbook. I also learn to understand other non-native speakers of Japanese. My group in the Japanese course gathered people from absolutely different countries, so everyone had a different style of speech and accent. I believe that the skill to understand not only native speakers but also other foreigners will be helpful in work as well.
How to prepare for the trip to Japan: advice
Talking about practical things, I would recommend taking bigger suitcases because Japan truly has plenty of things one would like to buy: from sweets to books which are hard or even impossible to find anywhere else.
Do not repeat my mistakes—don't be stingy with a local SIM card. Of course, if you don't have a card from a foreign bank, you will have to pay extra but without the SIM card, it can be extremely hard sometimes. For instance, buying tickets to Disneyland without a Japanese number and/or foreign bank card is almost impossible.
And the most important thing is not to be afraid of the new. Yes, Japan is very far, and the culture is very different but it is not as scary as it might seem.
The students of 'Asian and African Studies' at HSE University-St Petersburg participate in the international student exchange programmes and go for studies to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries. If you are also interested in Asian cultures, you want to learn several foreign languages and practice in a real language environment, apply for the Bachelor's programme 'Asian and African Studies' at HSE University-St Petersburg! You can apply via the applicant's personal online account.