I arrived at Miyazaki airport around 10pm on October 4th, after a good 17 hours of traveling. It was dark but rather warm and humid. Kaori, Hirase-sensei, and Iwamoto-sensei were all at the airport to meet me. My first experience of Miyazaki was driving from the airport to the university, noticing how dark it was. There was just open expanse of darkness, no light of buildings or street lights. The hills and fields were dark. It was so unlike anything I had seen around the Seattle/Olympia area. There, one can always see the lights of houses in the hills or buildings. Once we dropped off my luggage at the dorm, Kaori and I went to the nearby Joyfull. Once I ate and returned to the dorm, I unpacked some of my items and settled down for my first night at Miyazaki.
My first few months were full of new experiences, sights, sounds, and smells. It was a little hard to adjust all of it at first, but after about a month I felt as though I had gotten used to my surroundings. I was able to meet my tutor, who helped me set up accounts, apply for alien registration, purchase a cellular phone, and just be an all around great friend. I decided from the very beginning that I am going to make my experience the best it can be. Miyazaki and Japan are new and different places. Life here has its own rhythm it follows. I take things as they come, always working toward my goals, and experiencing life here to the fullest.
After meeting with Hirase-sensei, the professor in charge of the exchange students, I set up a class schedule for my Japanese language study and environmental studies. I decided to take all of the elementary level and one of the beginner Japanese courses, a total six Japanese language/culture studies classes. For environmental science, I was able to work with my professor, Iwamoto-sensei, and his students on field studies and an environmental conservation class. The environmental class was in English and was comprised of other international students. During the last month of the quarter, the environmental conservation class turned to Japanese, which was a good challenge for me and my Japanese language skills. Even in Japanese I was able to understand most of the class, with my trusty electronic dictionary next to me for the difficult times.
Outside of class, I have met many of the other exchange students and Japanese students, participated in Japanese cultural events, and visited many sightseeing areas. The students living on the same floor as me (the fourth floor) have all been very kind and understanding. They helped explain how to clean on the group cleaning days, and how to sort and take out the trash. I always enjoy learning and talking to people while making dinner and lunch in the communal kitchen on the fourth floor. As for events, I attended a Kimono festival with exchange students from China and Korea. We were taught how to wear a Kimono and had the opportunity to wear one in a contest. Another community event I was invited to join by my Tutor and her family was a soba wheat harvesting festival. It was a great community event in a little town north of Miyazaki city. People came from many areas to assist in harvesting the soba grains. The tools used were tools invented back in the Edo period, but still work extremely efficiently. There was no need for gas powered machines or extension cords, the tools were powered by the people using them, and used simple things such as wind and gravity. After the harvest, we gathered in the community center and shared our thoughts and gave thanks to those who helped and gave their guidance. Throughout all these events and meetings with people, I have noticed a flow of information, whether it being a person wondering how to speak another language or someone being curious about the world around them. I am glad I can be a part of this flow of information. I am happy to share my experiences and thoughts about America as well as absorb information and knowledge about Japan as well.
Traveling has been another part of my experience in Japan. I have traveled to Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kagoshima. Each city has its own unique personality consisting of the people who live there, the architecture, and the surrounding landscape. Through the books I have been reading and the documentaries I have watched, I have been noticing the great impact that the natural environment has on the people of Japan. It is so deeply rooted in their culture, but as large cities and industrialization happen, I am afraid that this respect and awe for nature may be shunted into the background. But one can always see little bits of it pop up in modern culture. Take Hayao Miyazaki’s movies for instance. Many of them have environmental messages which are trying to be conveyed to people today. I believe there is still hope for the environment and nature in this ever growing world.
I will continue to do my best throughout my remaining time here in Japan. I am planning to do an independent research project on the bird populations in different ages of forest surrounding Miyazaki. I will continue to enjoy myself while I am here as well, since I believe that enjoying oneself is an important part in gaining the most out of an experience.
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