I found out about this program one random day while checking my emails. I already had an interest in Japanese and Korean pop culture, so the title of the email stood out to me, and I applied for fun.
Because this was my first time travelling anywhere further than the Pacific Islands and with a group of students I had never met before, I didn’t really know what to expect. I just knew I was going to another country, and that in itself was really cool.
Despite my uncertainties, the programme led to what I felt to be, a once in a lifetime experience. Our supervisors were extremely accommodating and I got along really well with the other participating students. This made the trip extremely enjoyable, and I felt that even if I got lost in Tokyo, I’d at least be lost with someone else.
This programme exposed us to a number of activities and locations important to Japanese and Korean pop culture. For example, we visited landmarks that often appear in our favourite Korean Dramas, such as Namsan Tower and Nami Island, and also visited the KBS building, where these dramas are broadcast. We got to see the K-Pop world from behind the scenes at HiKRGround, being shown replicated sets for music videos for groups such as Aespa and BTS and even got to experience a snippet of the Kpop life by having a Kpop dance class! We were taught EXO’s Love shot by a choreographer, and it was an extremely humbling experience.
Japan offered us the chance to explore our favourite anime, Japanese music and arts. We visited Akihabara, a lively shopping district with rows of anime stores and figurines, absolutely perfect for weebs and anime fans! We also visited the Ghibli museum and relived our childhoods, reminiscing on our favourite movies like Ponyo and Spirited Away, as well as caught a glimpse of the maker’s life and studio.
However, as much as this was fun, we also got the chance to appreciate and immerse ourselves in Japanese and Korean life and traditional culture. We explored the cities, towns and subways and grew accustomed to the Japanese and Korean social norms. We were even lucky enough to visit traditional palaces and shrines, wear traditional clothing, like the hanbok and kimono, attend a Japanese tea ceremony and learn so much more about the Japanese and Korean culture as well as their history.
To tie it all together, we also attended lectures to gain more insight on these things and ask questions if we were curious.
This experience made me appreciate the traditional Japanese and Korean cultures and how they’ve evolved into the countries they are today. It also made me appreciate my own culture by seeing similarities in language and traditions and the importance they have for our heritage.
The accommodation was great! I have no complaints; the breakfast in Tokyo wasn’t my favourite, but I’m grateful I got to try Japanese breakfast.
My only advice would be to be respectful of the local people and our supervisors.
Were you satisfied with the cross-cultural experiences this programme provided?
I was delighted with the cross-cultural experience. Being Māori and Niuean, it was cool to hear similarities between te reo Māori and Japanese and Korean, as well as compare our traditions and architecture. I found the Japanese tea ceremony interesting. We participated in the ceremony, following many protocols and their tikanga, which had been passed down for generations.
I also loved interacting with the people living in Japan and Korea. When they asked where I was from, I would reply Aotearoa, New Zealand, and most people knew the haka, which I thought was really interesting.
Simply living in Japan and Korea as well, I found to be extremely culturally immersive. Often, we had to communicate with the local people ourselves and abide by their societal norms that don’t exist in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
What skills do you think this experience helped you gain, and how so? How might this differ from the experience you could otherwise gain in New Zealand?
I developed my confidence and the ability to adapt to different environments further. I didn’t know anyone before going on this trip, and I was a little nervous about going to another country, so I had to make sure I was confident enough to make friends as well as speak proudly in a completely foreign language. I wanted to make the effort to try to speak as much Korean and Japanese as I could, and this took a lot more confidence than I thought it would.
Additionally, when you’re in countries that are way different from your own, like Japan and South Korea, in terms of culture, and societal norms. You need to adapt to the change in environment and make sure that you’re being respectful.
One of the main things that I found a little challenging, was not drawing attention to myself. I have quite a loud laugh and I laugh at almost anything, so I needed to make sure to tone it down on the train and public transport because it can be considered rude in Japan and Korea.
Did you encounter any particular challenges in preparing for or during this programme that might be important for future students to be aware of?
Other than nerves when preparing for the trip, I can’t think of any challenges I experienced.
You rated this programme as one you would Highly Recommend to a friend. What makes you say so?
I loved the experience!