Kimija Adjedani
September 19, 2023
It is hard to believe that I have been in Japan for three weeks now and at Suito Kokusai for two weeks. Exploring the different regions of Japan has shown me what rich history and diversity lies in this country. First arriving in Tokyo, I was able to experience the highly urbanized and modern side of Japan. For future TABers who come to Japan you must check out the TeamLabs exhibition. It is an interactive art facility which uses digital technology and focuses on engaging all senses in order to experience the art exhibits. This was unlike anything I have ever experienced! After spending some time in Tokyo, I made a quick trip through Yokohama to visit family and continued towards Kyoto. In Kyoto I was able to explore a more historical side of Japan alongside the beautiful nature of this country. Here I explored several temples, the bamboo gardens, and the monkey park. After a week of travelling and exploring I made my way towards Osaka. I have yet to explore Osaka as I have spent most of my time settling in and focusing on school related tasks. However, in the coming weeks my goal is to do one new thing each week. I have a growing list of areas to explore and things to do, which include: Universal Studios, Mario Kart go-karts, Osaka Castle, Nara Park, and Kobe.
My first two weeks at Suito Kokusai have been so wonderful, I received a warm welcome from both staff and students. Everyone at the school is eager to teach me new Japanese words, try Japanese food, and do what they can to ensure I feel comfortable during my time here. Two teachers were so excited for me to try Japanese snacks that they made a “snack desk” featuring their favourite snacks. What has really stood out to me these past two weeks is the amount of time teachers spend together outside of school and students’ school spirit. In my first week alone, I had two dinner outings with school staff where I got to try the most amazing food. I am very lucky that I got to experience Suito’s school festival and see the students’ school spirit. Each class in the school was able to work collaboratively and creatively express themselves for two days. Every classroom decided on an exhibition or activity to host and transformed their classrooms accordingly. Some classrooms turned into cafes, airport lounges, haunted houses, or even cinemas showcasing films that the students created. In addition to this there were live music and dance performances happening throughout the day. It was so wonderful to see the students so excited to be at school and to show off their creations.
Although I have had such wonderful experiences and I am so grateful to be here, there are times where I do get homesick. I find homesickness is especially prominent when challenges arise. However, there are a few tips I have to help: schedule call times with loved ones/friends, spend some time doing things that provide you comfort or familiarity (i.e. rewatching your favourite show), and do not hesitate to reach out to fellow TABers or your coordinators! Additionally, I find that creating a list of things you’d like to do allows you to stay excited and look forward to new experiences. That is all I have to share for now, but I am looking forward to reporting back in two weeks time!