Lijing (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at Kyoto University

I found out about the programme via one of the 360 Alumni, who took part in an one-year exchange programme in University of Sophia, Japan. Through her sharing her experience, I found the exchange programme very interesting and started planning my own exchange. 

I chose Kyoto as my host city because it is a city where Japanese tradition and modernity coexist in harmony. The CBD area in Kyoto is very similar to Auckland, where you can find a range of shopping streets and department stores. Within a few minutes walk from the CBD areas, you can find those historical buildings, especially those Kabuki theatres, shrines and temples. The unique combination of traditional culture and modern architecture is very fascinating, which I believe everyone should come and feel those vibes by themselves.

For accommodation, I did not successfully get allocated to a university dorm, therefore looked up for my own accommodation. I ended up renting a room from a Chinese man, who lived with his daughter in Kyoto. Since we all speak the same language, it was very nice to get to talk to other people who shared the same cultural background with me. The location of my accommodation is close to a range of tourist attractions, especially those Japanese shrines and temples. Therefore when I’m on my own time, I always take a walk to visit those places for a mind-refreshing experience. 

Speaking of accommodation, it is noticeable that the cost of living in Kyoto is much cheaper than in Auckland. You can get everything you need from the Japanese 100 Yen shop with a more reasonable price (every item is about 1 NZD). In Japanese supermarkets, they sell everything in a smaller proportion so it is more convenient for me to prepare meals just for myself. Also in Japan, the 24/7 convenience store can provide everything you need but the price is a little higher than those supermarkets. 

Life in the university is very interesting. Since the programme I enrolled in is taught in English, I faced less language barriers in understanding the courses. There were also many other international students enrolling in my programme. We got the chance to meet up regularly at lunchtime to communicate with each other, as well as other domestic students who want to learn English. However, it is noticeable that for some vending machines around the university, the labels were still written in Japanese without an English translation. Therefore, it might be hard for students with little understanding in English to read and buy what they want. 

There are a few challenges I identified during my exchange. First is language. It is noticeable that people in Japan still use Japanese as their primary language, therefore sometimes it might be difficult for exchange students if they can not understand some Japanese. Second is the weather. Compared to Auckland, the weather in Kyoto is more extreme. I got the chance to watch some wonderful snow falling, but it was really cold and the clothes I bought were way too thin for the weather. 

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

I got the chance to do a presentation about the University of Auckland. It was part of an event called “Partner University Square” organized by the international department of Kyoto University. 

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

In November, Kyoto University had its November Festival, which is a whole school event. Student organizations and clubs would present different projects, such as food trucks, watching films, making their own club magazines, etc. It was an enjoyable time ^^

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Be prepared for the extreme weather in Kyoto ^^

2. Bring more cash since some stores only accept cash.

3. Try to do some travelling during your free time! The railway train in Japan is very convenient 

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

My family prepared about 30,000 cash (excluding the rent) for my exchange. It was not enough since I ended up buying more stuff and clothes than what I expected. Maybe planning how to spend your money beforehand is a good tip for future exchange students! (Also you can get much cheaper food in supermarkets so do not overspend money in those convenience store ^^)

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

The friendship I made with not only those domestic students but also other international students from different countries! I also learnt a lot from my psychology professors since they are the experts in their fields.