2019 -‐ 2020
MARCO POLO FUND
Study / Traineeship report
Osaka University exchange semester winter semester 2018/2019
This form needs to be completed by every student who has received a scholarship from
the Marco Polo Fund.
Last name
*Please write your name as shown in your passportPilhofer
First name
*Please write your name as shown in your passportAnne
RUG registration number (S)
S3030334
Please enclose a 2 page report on your experiences abroad, using the following headings:
1. Preparation
1.1 Study Abroad Application
How did you inform and prepare yourself for the study abroad application?
All information for the study abroad application was provided by the master program study coordinator. To write the application, which included a motivation letter part, I looked into my former study semester to be able to argue how the study abroad contribute to my study.
1.2 Application to the host university
What did you have to arrange for the application to your host university once you had been selected and nominated?
There was nothing to arrange, since the Euroculture study coordinator took care of informing the host university about my selection. The courses at the semester abroad in Osaka were arranged by the host university.
1.3 Visa
If applicable: What did you have to arrange in order to apply for a visa? In how far did the host university support you with this?
After I was selected by the host university by the end of February, I got an information e-‐‑mail by them in the beginning of April about the visa application process for Japan. For the visa, I had to apply for a certificate from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, to be taken the Japanese embassy in Berlin (Germany) (since it is my home country, stated in my passport). The application was made through an online form with detailed information on your person and especially your financial support during your stay in Japan is asked for. After applying for this document, I was informed shortly after via e-‐‑mail that my certificate is in the made. But it was just sent to my home country address (no other way of receiving of the certificate is possible) by the end of August. The long term for the visa process was communicated with us by the host university. Receiving the actual visa in my passport by the Japanese embassy in Berlin took then around one week and was for free.
1.4 Language
The language proficiency level for English was the same as for the whole Euroculture program, C1. Therefore, a former preparation for English was not necessary. Even though I highly recommend to achieve an A1 level or at least some introduction phrases in Japanese. I myself prepared with language text books and mobile apps for Japanese (phrases and the alphabet).
1
2. Stay abroad
2.1 Arrival and orientation
The arrival did not go completely as plant, since due to the hurricane in the beginning of September in Japan. The Osaka Kansai International Airport was still under constructed at my arrival, whereby my flight was rescheduled to Nagoya (1,5 hours by fast train from Osaka). Already at the immigration desk at the airport I experienced the Japanese strict organisation spirit. I was guided to a line to wait for the long-‐‑term (student) visa process, which took around 1 hour. A SIM card was easily available at vending machines or service counters, which provide special contracts for foreign tourists. In such just mobile data is included (which is fine to live with by just telephoning and texting via online messengers). Buying a train ticket and finding my way around to arrive safely in Osaka was a bit challenging, since even if the English level of the Japanese is good they are very reserved or shy to speak to oneself in English. Moreover, signs and other visuals are mainly in Japanese language. Therefore, it is very much advised to research on the route and the specific train one have to take when arriving in Japan. One advice is to print out route descriptions or save screenshots on the phone.
2.2 Your study programme
Which courses did you follow? Was it possible to select courses outside of your major and if yes, were there any restrictions? How well did you manage to follow classes in the language(s) of instruction?
The courses at the Osaka University for Euroculture students were already pre-‐‑arranged and it was not possible to select additional courses. The classes covered the topics of Japanese contemporary society, culture, history and minority politics, all in comparison to Europe.
2.3 Housing
Did the host university provide you with suggestions for housing? How difficult was it to find a room? What is the price range for a student room in your host city?
The housing situation for short-‐‑term international students, as I am, is quite difficult. But the Euroculture coordinator from Osaka provided suggestions for housing agencies and helped with the communication. The price for a women’s shared housing room ranges from 530-‐‑630 € per month, plus service fee and insurance.
2.4 Grant and costs
The grant provided by Marco Polo was 290€ per month. The high amount of the grant was needed, since Japan’s every day living costs are higher than the West-‐‑European standard. With the grand the monthly cost for food and public transportation cost could be covered. As an example, my way to the university (one station) on the Monorail was 220 Yen one way (around 1,76). From the university (Toyonaka campus in the north of Osaka) to the city centre (Umeda) by the Hankyu line was 160 Yen one way (1,28). Since food in the supermarket (especially fruits) are expensive (not unusual to spend around 2-‐‑3€ for one apple), my food came from the
convenient stores, were one could get lunch and dinner boxes for 400-‐‑700 Yen. Moreover, lunch and dinner was provided in the canteen of the Toyonaka campus for around 300-‐‑700 Yen. For interior objects, study material and washing stuff the so called 100 Yen shops are a cheap option.
2.5 Free time/ Student life
In the beginning of the study period (from October to December), there was free time on the weekends to explore the area of Osaka. With the Field Trips coming up in November, the weekends were filled. But those trips organised by the university gave wonderful opportunities to explore Osaka and its surrounding areas with local experts (mainly our teachers).
Four out of five days per week were scheduled for the five study program courses and one voluntary Japanese language course. Readings and assignments were tried to be organised to be able to be handled in a manageable way for us students. Still the short course period of 2,5 month made the finalising of some assignments before leaving for home not easy.
2
2.6 Travelling
Japan in late summer and fall season (as to be from September until the end of November) is the most beautiful one for travelling. With the Japan Rail Pass – available for foreigners – I was able to travel via Shinkansen (fast train) to Tokyo, Atami (a coast and onsen city), Nagoya, Matsumoto (in the east-‐‑northern Japanese Alps) and Kyoto. Moreover, the Field Trips in our program
included trips to Nara and Hiroshima. For Kyoto, it has to be remarked that this touristic spot is reachable in between one hour from Osaka.
Thanks to cheap flight offers and additional savings/family support I was able as well to travel to Hong Kong (4 hours flight from Osaka) and to Busan (South Korea) (1 hour flight from Osaka). In general Japan has a strategic position to explore the South-‐‑East Asian region, as going to Japan’s Okinawa island or Taiwan or South Korea or Mainland China.
3. Return
3.1 Contact with the host university before, during and after you stay
The contact with the host university before, during and after my stay was always very good. Even though in the beginning and in the end, there was the time difference of 7 to 8 hours, e-‐‑mails were answered very fast and in a friendly and close way. In any case of troubles the Euroculture study coordinator in Osaka helped out in the best way they could and always found a solution.
3.2 Your perspective on the culture of your host country
The Japanese culture or better society norms are very difficult to coop with for especially Western and Centre Europeans. Japanese are very quiet and introverted in general – some exceptions always existing – but still always polite, friendly and helpful to oneself. Still hierarchies are very important in Japan, which not so much important for the case pf the Euroculture courses as the teachers and staff were used to our European and US-‐‑American way of socialising and communicating. In my case I always felt during my time in Japan as the
foreigner and to be treated like that. It was an interesting experience to feel at once being part of a minority group, to be seen as something exotic and never been able to be part of the Japanese society. Even though it was interesting to see with how much respect I was treated just by being of German origin, since the appreciation for Germany in Japan is still very high. One other unfortunate discovery was the high value of whiteness and gender separation in Japan, which I had my struggles with, even though not directly influenced by them.
4. Your advice for future outgoing exchange student
Add around one month before and after your certain study period at the Osaka University. It gives you time to adapt to the Japanese society and culture and to slowly mentally accept the fact that you are going to live in your home society and culture again.
5. Other
