My First Semester Recap - Abroad in Nagoya, Japan

I'll start this off with a brief self-introduction. 

    Hello, to those who may find this post, my name is Ma'ila Kambel. I am from Oahu, Hawaii and as of writing this post, I am a Junior  / 3rd year student at Hawaii Pacific University. I started my journey abroad on August 24th, 2023 (technically the 25th given the timezone changes), heading to Nagoya, Japan, where I'd be attending Nagoya University of Foreign Studies [名古屋外国語大学], or NUFS for short.

Dorming - NUFS International House

    At NUfS, for study abroad students, there are 3 dorms to choose from, that of which are NUFS Global Village, NUFS-NUAS Residence, and the dorm I happen to be staying at, NUFS International House (referred to as "I-House").

    The other two dorms are more apartment-style, in the sense that it's less communal, whereas I-House is more of a shared space. We have a central courtyard (seen above), and a common room / spacious lobby area in the dorm. Additionally, there are also two study rooms or kotatsu (炬燵 / こたつ) rooms, which are amazing to hang out in, especially when it's cold. One of them even has a projector you can hook your laptop up to.

    Truth be told, I was pretty skeptical about having been given this dorm, as my original choice was the NUFS-NUAS Residence. However, after being here and meeting the then-current residents from the previous semester, and everyone else who arrived around the same time as me, I wouldn't give it up for anything now. Much like at HPU, I was able to make further connections with people from all over the world, rather seamlessly given how communal the dorm is. I was actually a little worried about how I'd be making friends here, but literally the night of my arrival, I met some truly amazing people.

Classes at NUFS - Fall Semester

    Here at NUFS, the semester here was very enjoyable. The schedule is pretty flexible, whereas much like HPU and many other places, it comes down to the classes you pick and how you format your own schedule upon registration day. The only gripe I had with picking my classes is that it is a lottery-based system when they are, or get close to being full, I think. I unfortunately didn't get two of the classes I had chosen originally and had to swap them with something else, but it was super easy as you just do it all online through the school website like how you pick classes at HPU. 

NUFS Class Timetable (as of Fall 2023):

For the Fall semester, my schedule looked like this:

Monday - Period 3 - Japanese Literature

Tuesday - Period 1 / 2 - Japanese Langauge

Wednesday - Period 1 / 2 - Japanese Language

Thursday - Period 2 - Japanese Culture and Hospitality; Period 3 - Japanese Film

Friday - OFF

    So, all around, my schedule was super manageable for this previous semester. Additionally, they also had a paid language tutoring program, (I had to pre-register for it, due to the need to declare it at customs), which was a very convenient way to connect with domestic students here at NUFS. I had signed up to work for two days, Tuesdays/Wednesdays, during the lunch period. Also, with the Langauge Lounge program, I was able to hop in with the Japanese language tutors inversely, to practice, well, my Japanese. There were quite a lot of domestic students who wanted to join the English Language Lounge, it was like a 1:4-5 tutor-to-student ratio. The most I had was seven people at the same time, still enjoyable nonetheless. It was genuinely fun, and overall an overall great experience. I made a lot of new friends that I currently talk to and also tend to hang out with on an almost daily basis.

In Summary

    Other than that, I've been trying to travel and go out with friends as much as possible during the three-and-a-half-month winter break, since I was more preoccupied during the actual semester. It was crazy to actually be in a foreign country for many holidays, especially the New Year. I aspire to continue to meet new people, make new friends, and build lasting connections while I'm here until July 2024. Should choose NUFS when studying abroad in Japan, I look forward to possibly seeing you next semester, or if you happen to see this when I've already left, just know that you are in good hands, and with good folk. It may seem pretty crazy at first, but it'll pass a lot faster than you think. So, enjoy your time here, and live life to the fullest; make the most of it. If you have any further questions about my time here, shoot me a message on Instagram @mr.alxha, or email me @mkambel1@my.hpu.edu. 

A Final Reflection Before Returning Home

It has been a while since my last journal, but so much has happened since then and it was about time I posted my final blog post. For starters, as in the writing of this blog this is my final week in Japan. To say that the phrase "time flies" is true would be a large understatement. Somehow it feels like I have a lot of time left before returning home and not enough time simultaneously. 

Cherry Blossoms at
the Park

Here are few updates about the semester. There were moments during the middle of the term where it felt as though I had lumped myself into a cycle. I would wake up to go to class, attend all of my lessons for the day, come back to the dorm, do homework, and then get ready for bed. See in the beginning of the semester the workload was quite light and there was not much to worry about in terms of homework. It probably was because they want to ease the students into the change in environment before piling on the assignments. 

But as the semester began to continue forward more and more homework began to pile on top of one another. Since I came to Japan to study, I pressured myself into solely focusing on homework and projects to not fall behind. I thought I would be content with this since it was my decision to study in Japan. 

Lake at the Park Near the Dorms

Yet what I did not realize is what I was doing to myself was harmful to my mental health. Fortunately, with the support system that I have both here in Japan and back home I was able to quickly realize what I was doing to myself. One night when I called my mother she told me that I should relax and enjoy my time in Japan. 

While yes it is important to keep on top of the workload in school, I should not forget to take a break for myself every so often. She then suggested I try to do things for my own enjoyment and not worry so much with school. 

With that piece of advice I started to do things to help balance out the stress and break out of the routine that I developed. Some of the small things I began doing was talking walks around the park that is near the dorm, going with friends to fun little excursions together, and taking part in school activities. One of which was an excursion to Nara and Osaka. Out of all the excursions I went to with the school

Osaka

I think this trip was the one I had the most fun on. A few friends and I were able to explore temples, eat amazing food, and learn more about Japanese culture. For example, we took a class on woodblock printing and, while admittedly harder then it looks in person, was insightful to how ancient artist would painstakingly work on the beautiful artwork that we see in museums to this day. As for the food I mentioned earlier it was delicious. One of the items I had eaten was grilled eel and although it looked scary at first when I took a bite of it the amount of flavor that was there was unbelievable. Also the owner of the cart was really nice and was trying his best to converse with me and my group of friends. 

Todaiji Temple

At first, he tried to speak to us in Japanese, but once one of us
explained that we do not understand Japanese all that well he immediately switched to English. Although he kept apologizing for his lack of English we all told him that we appreciated his efforts for talking to us. Afterwards, he recommended us other vendors and places to visit while we were in Osaka for the brief period. 

Volunteering Opportunity

Another experience I was able to have while in Japan was interacting with some local Japanese children. This semester I was in a class about learning Japanese culture through picture books. My teacher for the course also volunteers with the local library near the university and one of the volunteering opportunities was to read English books to Japanese children. So she asked for students to volunteer with the event and I decided this would be a great chance for me to interact with some of the local people in the community. 

Needless to say, the event went well. There was a mini origami lesson for the children, singing nursery rhymes with them, and of course, reading the English translation of beloved Japanese picture books. Although there were a little hiccups along the way (for example, on this day it was quite raining), I was never the more grateful to my teacher for allowing me to join in and help with the event. 

Outside of school I was fortunate enough to be able to plan a solo trip to Kyoto for my birthday. There I explored a bamboo grove, the local aquarium, eat in the market, and much more. Although I am not much of a big spender, I was encouraged by my mom to use my birthday as a time to step away from the workload for the weekend and have fun. So I did and, in my own opinion, feel as though this is one of my favorite birthday memories for years to come. 

All in all I would never had experience all of what I had done had I not taken a break from the school work. Now I am in no way, shape or form advising to not do work while studying abroad. What I am advising is to allow for periods of time to not think about work and to enjoy the scenery. It does not have to be as big as planning a trip to Kyoto or going on excursions every week that is planned by the school. The breaks can be as simple as going to the local park to watch ducks swimming in the lake or taking pictures of the local flora and fauna. Whatever makes the stress easier to handle should be done. Otherwise it could leave to a severe case of burnout. 

Before I conclude this journal here are a few of my favorite places that I recommend for people to visit:

1. Nagoya Castle
• Nagoya Castle is a beautiful sight to see in person. Along the way there is a lot of history and more to discover. There is a lot of walking so do bring a bottle of water if planning to visit the site. Although I may be recommending Nagoya Castle, Japan has other castles in the different cities that people can enjoy for the historical background. 

  

  Nagoya Castle

2. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 
• If wanting a tranquil get away from the busy everyday like then this bamboo grove in Kyoto is somewhere I would suggest visiting. The bamboos are tall and surrounds the people as they walk through and along the way there are shrines and other places to visit within. I do recommend going in the early mornings or the late afternoons if one wants to avoid large crowds of people. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove does see a lot of tourists and locals going to take photographs. 

  

  Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

  
  
3. Kyoto Aquarium 
• Now there are other aquariums that are in Japan. For example there is the Port of Nagoya aquarium. However, the one that I went to was the one in Kyoto and I thought it was absolutely breathtaking. Especially with how large the tanks were, the diverse animals in the museums, and the vast amount of exhibits to behold while in the aquarium. Definitely a place where I would visit again and would recommend to a friend. 

  

  Viewing Tank within Kyoto Aquarium

  
  
4. Tokugawa Art Museum 
• The art contained in this museum puts any of the visitors into the mind of the past. Containing pieces from the Tokugawa family and others who have donated to the museum it tells a story of each owner of the item. Though no photography is allowed, it is still worthwhile. Side note: if attending NUFS at the time of visiting Tokugawa Art Museum then admission is free for students. All that is required to take advantage of this deal is to bring the student ID to the front door and show it to the ticket collector. At least that is what I experienced it may change, but that is how I know it is done currently. 

  

  Tokugawa Art Museum

  
  
5. Nagoya Science Museum
• For those wanting to see a museum with a lot of interactive components that is both educational and fun then the science museum is the place to be. It has a lot of fun interactive exhibits that is connected to the theme of each floor. In addition there is a beautiful planetarium inside. However, avoid going here on holidays and weekends since there will be a lot of families visiting the establishment. Additionally all the exhibits are in Japanese with no English translations so do keep that in mind. 

  

  Exhibit within the Science Museum

  
  
6. Kuromon Ichiba Market
• If anyone finds themselves in Osaka then Kuromon Ichiba Market should be one the list of places to visit. There are a lot of food stalls and shops to visit. And all of the food is delicious from the takoyaki, fried crab legs, candied strawberries, and so much more. Although again plan accordingly if large crowds are not ideal. 

  

  Kuromon Ichiba Market

Hopefully there was something that anyone who comes across this blog post was able to take with them for the next time they travel or study abroad. Thank you for reading about the last leg of my journey through Japan and I hope whoever reads this has enjoyed the contents within the blog. 

Time Flies in Japan: Mistakes and Growth Go Hand in Hand

Nagoya Tower

It is unbelievable how quickly time flies while studying abroad. As of writing it has been about two months since coming to Japan, but it only feels like I have been here for a few days. Although, the journey to get to this point has not been so smooth sailing if I had to be quite frank. 

First and foremost, for anyone who is traveling by themselves for the first time I highly advise them to learn how to use Google Maps properly. It sounds ridiculous, but knowing how to use Google properly will save anyone the stress. Why is this a piece of advice that I am highly emphasizing? Well, it all starts the second I get off my first flight. 

In order to get to Nagoya from Hawai'i there is a layover flight that stops in Haneda, Japan and the next day I would catch a two hour flight from Haneda to Nagoya. For some important background information, I have been on flights before and have had to do layover flights when traveling within the states. Additionally, when I booked my flight and saw that my next flight would not be for the next day I thought it would be the best idea to book a hotel room in the airport's hotel. So needless to say I felt that I could confidently navigate through the airport once I got off that first flight.

Sakae

And that is probably where my first mistake comes in, which is overconfidence in my abilities. Now if this was a flight within the United States or a country where English is the native language I would have no problem. However, that was not the case since I am in Japan where English is not the native language, I am flying alone and this was going to be my first international flight. So it essentially became a trifecta of disaster waiting to happen and it most certainly was, as fate would have it, a disaster. 

Once I left baggage claim after going through immigration I was now stuck with navigating to the hotel. I thought no worries I would use Google Maps to figure out where in the airport I would have to go and then I would be fine. Now here is a key detail that will come back again: see Haneda Airport has three terminals that are spread out. They are so far from each other, in fact, that there is a free bus system for airport patrons to use to get to each terminal in a sufficient way. 

I was currently at terminal three because that is where the international flights land and when I looked on Google Maps it made it seem as though the hotel was in terminal one, so after about an hour of poor Japanese and figuring out how to get to the free bus terminal I finally got on the bus. At this point I just wanted to get to the hotel and put my bags down since the two luggages I had were both very heavy and one had a broken wheel. But it would not be much of a story if there was no twist. 

Once I was at terminal one and off the bus, I made my way into the building and pulled my phone out again to see where specifically in the terminal was the hotel. But something in my head told me to zoom in closer to the hotel and so I did just that and immediately my spirits had deflated. Remember how earlier it was mentioned there were three terminals and that they were very spread out from one another? Well, while I thought the marker was on terminal one, it actually was in terminal two which was on the further back side of the terminal I was currently at at that moment.

Cherry Blossom
on Campus

At this point, and something I do advise if anyone is in a similar situation, most people would wait at the free shuttle station to catch the next available bus to the correct terminal. However, I did not think of this because instead I decided to go through a long underground tunnel that connected terminal one and terminal two. Which again it would not have been much of an issue had it not also been the fact that I had two heavy suitcases with one of said suitcases having a broken wheel. 

After a few mishaps with poor attempts of communication, I finally reached the hotel and was able to rest for the night. Fortunately after that entire series of events nothing else went wrong, though I did again almost get lost trying to find the pick up area for the shuttle service the school offers to take students from the airport to the dorms. 

Other than the directional challenges, school life has been pretty good. The classes that I am currently in are interesting to learn about especially since a majority of the classes are centric on intercultural interactions. This means how to best understand and interact with those of differing cultural backgrounds. Also at the school there are many opportunities to interact and mingle with students and starting this coming week from when I am writing this the Japanese Language Lounge is supposed to open up. So, I will definitely be checking that out to practice my speaking skills.

Miso Mochi

Even outside of the classroom I have been able to explore and interact with more of the local people. For the most part while I have been here in Nagoya I have been making it my goal to travel to as many places in Japan. Fortunately, some of the excursions the school has offered and hosted has gotten me out of the house. For example, during orientation week we traveled to Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village which preserves the traditional way of life and has different demonstrations for woodcarving, blacksmithing, traditional dye jobs and much more. Though the reason we were there is because of the miso mochi class that we were taking and I can personally say it was really tasty. But if you do try it do not expect a sweet mochi because it has quite the umami flavor. 

Now while that was an amazing experience, it was the after events that nearly got me panicking. See in Japan and once at the school all of the administration officials advise students to have all of their documents on hand. That includes the residential card (once it is registered at the city hall), passport, and visa. All of these items are crucial to have in case a police officer decides to randomly stop us and ask us for our information. I, being responsible and not trying to get into legal trouble, put all of those documents in my backpack before heading out. On this day in particular it was predicted to rain, but I thought I would be okay with just a rain jacket since it rains a lot back in Hawai'i and I can usually get away with just a jacket. 

However, this rain was heavier than I had anticipated and I decided to search for an umbrella. After looking for a few hours, these two nice women who owned a bookstore/home goods shop gave me an umbrella they found in the back for free. Which was amazing, except for the fact that I and all of my possessions were still soaking wet. And once we got back to the dorms I had finally remembered that all of my documents were still in my soaking wet backpack.  

Outside the Gate of Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village

Fortunately nothing was ruined and everything is still fine. Afterwards everything up until then I have gotten better with navigating through the country and my passport and other documents now stay inside a nice Ziploc bag. So to end this blog off I would like to give some advice to those who are planning to study abroad in Japan. The least I could do with these experiences is to make sure you do not experience what I did throughout my time so far. 

First, know how to read Google Maps or at the very least learn enough vocabulary that is commonly seen at airports. It sounds like common sense, but like myself and the navigation situation, sometimes being thrown in a new environment can cloud one's sense of judgment. So if anyone is reading this and is like me where when I am stressed I go into autopilot mode, knowing a handful of vocabulary words that are commonly seen at airports will make a big difference. Also learn directional words because those were some of the biggest help for me when trying to navigate through the airport.

Glimpse of the Rain

Second, if anyone who is reading this thinks they can handle the rain, erase that thought process. Buy an umbrella, waterproof passport case, and a nice rain jacket. But if not the umbrella or the rain jacket, at least invest in a waterproof passport case. For if anything happens to the passport or the visa that is attached in the passport then there will be consequences and one would have to take a trip to the United States embassy in the designated city. So if you want to avoid that trip invest in waterproofing or at the very least get an umbrella. 

Finally, double check the condition of the suitcases that one plans to bring for studying abroad. Rolling around two heavy suitcases is not an easy task. So I would suggest before leaving, practice rolling the suitcases at the same time. Although if it is something that one has done then it should be fine, but if this is something that one has never done the practice would help. The practice will not only help one get used to rolling two suitcases at the same time, but it can also show if the suitcases have any issues that need to be fixed like a broken wheel. 

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next update!

What to pack, and what not to pack…Nagoya University of Foreign Studies is Gorgeous!

     To be honest, when travelling, I don’t pack light at all. I always overthink and say “Maybe I need to bring my hair products with me, I probably can’t find it there?” or “If I bring a lot of stationary with me, then I’m saving myself time and money for when I get there!”. These were some of the many thoughts I had as I began my journey to study abroad for 1 year at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies in Japan. Now, I flew over to Japan with an immense amount of luggage, literally the maximum amount allowed on Delta airlines. I took two checked in luggage’s (both being overweight at the maximum, 70 Ibs), a carry on full of my electronics, a backpack filled to the brim, and a purse to keep my necessities needed checking in the airport.

The items I would definitely recommend packing personally for me would be:

•   A blanket
• Pillows if you have preferences
•  Specific Cosmetic and Hair Products
• Adapters for 3 prong plugs because Japan only uses 2 prongs (You don’t need a voltage adapter changer because Japans voltage is 120 and the US is 110 so it is safe)
• Any items that help you keep your room feeling cozy honestly, for me it’s plushies 😊

Items I think you can buy when you arrive in Japan:

•    Lots of great Skincare products/ great makeup brands such as Etude House
•  Clothing! I brought way too many clothes from home with me, and ended up purchasing a lot while there, especially from thrift shops! Japan has amazing fashion senses!
•  Stationary! In Japan stationary is a huge market, it can be a bit pricey however, but if you’re a pen addict like me, that won’t stop you!
•  If you’re into gaming and collectibles, you can buy tons of Anime figurines from places such as Book-Off for super cheap! (Or you can be like me and be obsessed with the claw-machines at Taito Station in Osu) (I won quite a few figurines at least!)

Here is a photo of my room after some unpacking upon arrival!

The balcony view from my dorm room in Global Village on the 8^th floor! The campus is right there, so it was super convenient getting to class comfortably every day. 😊