1. Preparation
1.1 Study Abroad Application
As I am part of the Euroculture Master, I had the choice, for my third semester, to either study abroad or to do an internship. We were informed as soon as the first semester about those options. To be selected in one of the universities abroad we had to make two choices of universities. I chose Osaka in Japan and Pune in India and wrote a motivation letter for both options.
1.2 Application to the host university
We did not have to arrange anything specific – apart from the motivation letter - as the study abroad application was also part of the host university application. Once selected, we received an acceptance letter, and Osaka University handled most things (including most of the visa process).
1.3 Visa
As I was going to Osaka, I had to obtain a Japanese student visa. Osaka university made an official application to the Japanese government for the other students and me to receive the authorisation to apply for a visa. Without this authorisation, we would not have been able to apply for it.
On a lighter note, at the time, I did not have a passport, and I had to make several journeys to the French consulate to apply for one.
The authorisation took several months to arrive due to the former emperor abdication (in Japan, when the emperor changes the whole administration has to change). I was already back in France for the summer holidays when I received it. I then went to the Japanese embassy in Paris to apply for my student visa, which I obtained after a week.
1.4 Language
Since the Euroculture Master requires a B2 level in English, I would say that the level of proficiency in the language of instruction (English) was the same. I did not prepare for it as my proficiency level in English was C1 at the time (it might have changed in between).
1. Stay abroad
1.1 Arrival and orientation
My arrival was a bit chaotic as I did not land at the right airport. I then got a bit lost between the different trains I had to take to arrive at my house; mostly because I do not have a good sense of direction at all. Thankfully, I can speak Japanese, which allowed me to ask guidance to people and to read the signs (as none of them was written in English). Apart from this story, I had no issues with orientating myself in Osaka or in Toyonaka (where the campus was).
2.2 Your study programme
I followed six different courses: a Japanese language class, Contemporary Japanese Culture, Contemporary Japanese Society, Comparative Philosophy, Language and Society and
International migration in Asia. Those classes were mandatory, and I could not select any other courses outside of those. However, it was not an issue as I have the feeling that they helped me a lot with understanding the Japanese culture. I did not have any problems to follow any of those classes.
2.3 Housing
Osaka University did provide us with some suggestions for housing. However, they were not very useful to me (I know that they were for other students). I have the feeling that it was quite tricky to find a room. Osaka is a huge city, and it was challenging to realise the distance between housing and the university. We could not have access to student housing as we were not officially students at the university. However, I was living with eight students in a private house.
The price range of the room there was between €450 and €600.
2.4 Grant and costs
Life in Japan is quite expensive; however, the grant allowed me to cover most of my expenses (at least the food and travelling). For the rest, I used the money I earned from my previous student jobs.
2.5 Free time/ Student life
We had a lot of free time, but the workload was also exceptionally high. I would say that I did not have a “real” Japanese experience of what it is like to be a student, in the sense that I mostly hanged out with European students. I was spending most of my free time to discover Osaka and its region (Kobe, Kyoto). Moreover, I do not know if we can call this free time, but we had a lot of excursions with our professors, which allowed us to discover a lot of non-touristic places.
2.6 Travelling
As I said, we had several excursions with our professors, which allowed us to travel quite a lot.
We went to the poor districts in Osaka, to Kobe and, to Hiroshima.
When it comes to travelling to Osaka, it was not difficult. I had a flight from Paris – where my family lives – to Taipei and then another flight from Taipei to Osaka, with EVA AIR.
2. Return
2.1 Contact with the host university before, during and after you stay
I had a lot of contact with Osaka University before and during my stay. I had a bit less contact with them after the stay as there was no need to be in touch with them anymore.
2.2 Your perspective on the culture of your host country
I was already quite familiar with the Japanese culture as I studied the language for more than eight years. However, I was quite surprised by the fact by the racism you can encounter there.
Indeed, some Japanese have a strong sense of superiority which make them pictures other culture as inferior. Apart from that, I had not much surprise when I arrived. I did not even have a cultural shock, nor did I feel lost – which, in my opinion, is a bit strange. It almost felt like home.
4. Your advice for future outgoing exchange student
I am not particularly good with advising, as I think everyone is different. Still, I’d say: when you go to Japan, you have to understand that Japan is not a Western country. Everything is different there: how to talk to people, how to get on a train, how to order food. So, go there with an open mind and be ready to adapt yourself.
5. Other
